GenesReunited

[Steve Ley]

GenesReunited attracts a lot of newbies who wouldn't know about the other ways of contacting other researchers or using other message boards/mailing lists/newsgroups.
GenesReunited is not a site for helping each other with look-ups (even though you can do that on one of their boards) it is primarily for matching names in your tree to names in other trees.
I don't want to wait for people to contact me i want to contact them and for £7-50 i don't mind doing that, Many people on GenesReunited will more than likely never look further than that site and so will never get to know about my tree or anybody else's.

Steve.

[Nick Carver]

I reached the stage with my tree where I had most of the direct line sorted out (after a fashion) and am trying to work out what else I can do short of actually visiting register offices hundreds of miles away. I figured that if somebody spots a link to me through GenesReunited, then hopefully they can provide me with more information. The same goes in reverse. I am yet to join as a full member and none of the approaches I had as yet are from rellies, but I have spotted some of my known ancestors in other people's trees so know I can get something out of it.

If a link is established and I supply the other person with (say) the details on 200 mutual relations and get 20 back in return, I'm not bothered about any inequality - I look at it as providing me with 20 sets of details I would have had to work hard for in other ways. It's a bit like giving relatives your whole tree and getting nothing in return. You'er sowing the seed and from tiny acorns...

[gazza]

  Hi Bryanbid. Cahat button What is that please?

[trystan]

Bryanbid - delighted you found us - I hope everybody who goes on genesconnected mentions RootsChat

Gazza - I think he means the "chat" button (it's at the top right for people who are logged in)

[gazza]

Ahh, I see. I thought it was some new genealogy source I was missing out on 

[Keith Sherwood]

My experience so far is, after nearly 6 months on genesconnected and a similar amount of time on Rootschat is that on the genesconnected site most people who have contacted me have been keen to pursue the whereabouts of quite recent - I mean living- and often quite young members of their own families who for one reason or another they have lost touch with.  There seems little in-depth interest in the distant past or genealogy itself - the whole approach is for a quick hit and then, as others have found, not even a thank-you or a single word of acknowledgement.
Recently I have been plagued by someone wanting quite sensitive info about a living relative of mine which I am unable to give.  This person's messages are, for want of a better description, nothing more than quick text-messages.
As regards Genealogy and Family History, Rootschat versus genesconnected just isn't a contest at all.  I really think they ought to stick to their FriendsReunited site, which is quite a good concept.
I must admit I haven't read through all posts on the 7 pages of this thread, so I hope I have not gone over the same old ground TOO much!
Keith

[down-under]

There are all types of people on GR i myself have helped people with nothing to do with my family or even the area I am interested in.  I have seen the can you help and have searched  for then and I hope the information given was of help. Sometimes that extra date or person breaks down a wall for them to go on.  And I have been thanked.
Sometimes on RootsChat I have been ignored.  Even if the information was not what they needed, I did try for them.  I have only access to certain areas and do my best.!!

I like this site very much and also like GR I was  helped quite a lot in the beginning when I asked on GR.  I had felt like giving up.  It was from GR i was told about this site. They are always giving the name of sites to help others.

On RootsChat I have asked for help for a friend and was greatly helped. Also One side of my family. My grandfathers sister was found. I was profoundly greatful for all the help.

But for the rest I have been searching for no help. It has not detered me I keep looking and one day I will post again maybe a new member might be able to help me.

I,  if I ask on GR say my ancesters name and their parents and siblings and say are they connected .
I  do not ask to look at their tree.  Usually I am emailed back saying thay are not and good luck with my search.

Kindest Regards
Pam

[Hackstaple]

Down-under - I looked at some of the help postings you have made - like for Dogwood. Neither you nor the other member who contributed were thanked. I even looked to see if he had ever used the boards again but he did, as recently as 14th January!
Regrettably, quite a few people pitch up on these boards and post enquiries which are answered well and promptly but it never occurs to them to say a simple Thanks. I suspect that I have over 200 postings that were never acknowledged. Such is life and such is society.
However, the pace of activity on Rootschat is furious and hundreds of posts are being answered all the time. Some posts lead to fascinating mini-debates.
I have found on GR that it is pretty sterile. You make a posting and every few months someone pops up and,seeing you have a name in common with them, asks if you know where their father went when he walked out. Or someone says "I am interested in the Jenkins family in South Wales".

[Heather D]

I agree with you Hack - sterile is a good word to describe genesconnected. However it's functional and after a year I'm still averaging one new contact a week ...some who want my info, others who can add to it.

Rootschat is just a different animal. I've "met" loads of great fellow obsessives, learnt an awful lot and been able to feel I'm making a useful contribution.

As for those who don't says thanks, well I just bypass their queries next time round!