From roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Wed Feb 8 12:33:46 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k18JXkE0013563; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:33:46 -0700 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l.rootsweb.com [66.43.16.22]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k18JXiCi009254 for ; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:33:44 -0700 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l [127.0.0.1]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with ESMTP id k18H5EFI030569 for ; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:05:14 -0500 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8/Submit) id k18H5Ekf030568 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:05:14 -0500 Received: from lists5.rootsweb.com (lists5.rootsweb.com [66.43.27.41]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id k18Gv4FI030493 for ; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 11:57:04 -0500 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) id k18JPMJe010574 for roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:25:22 -0700 X-Envelope-From: mscheffl@twcny.rr.com Wed Feb 8 12:25:22 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k18JPME0010563 for ; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:25:22 -0700 Received: from ms-smtp-02.nyroc.rr.com (ms-smtp-02.nyroc.rr.com [24.24.2.56]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k18JPKww004298 for ; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:25:22 -0700 Received: from 1070n (cpe-24-92-248-107.twcny.res.rr.com [24.92.248.107]) by ms-smtp-02.nyroc.rr.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with SMTP id k18JPJq5027493 for ; Wed, 8 Feb 2006 14:25:20 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <08ed01c62ce5$65975fb0$6801a8c0@1070n> From: "MScheffler" To: References: <004e01c62c81$16395fe0$a5812340@eozfaqvf> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 14:25:18 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 X-Virus-Scanned: Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 Subject: [ROOTS-L] Postings to Genealogical Sites Sender: roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Like most of the rest of you I would not think of writing to correct the spelling on messages sent to these rootsweb lists. I myself have sent lots of messages where the spell check did not catch all the errors because the misspelled word was actually a word, though not correct for the context where I used it. Also the spell check will not catch the missing "ing" to make the verb the right tense, because the wrong tense was actually a word. That being said, good genealogy research requires us to be precise and accurate and have acquired at least basic communication skills. If we can carefully state our needs, the more likely we are to get a response that is helpful. Most people who contribute to these lists lead busy lives, and if we wish people to take time to help us out, we should be as careful as possible in posting our requests. Usually that means we use a meaningful subject line that includes the SURNAME if that is appropriate to the posting and some idea of location and date. In addition I think we should expect most people are well educated enough to start sentences with capital letters and end them with periods and not to type in all upper or lower case, which makes long postings almost impossible to read. I realize there are some people with physical handicaps that need to use all one case, because that is easier, and we can all learn to live with a few of these. However, it is up to each one of us to maximize the possibility that our message can be read by people with poor vision and limited time. Some of our older list members with visual handicaps are the most willing to help and may have the most expertise. Words strung together with no punctuation are difficult to read for the most perfect eyes/ Not all of us have had the same opportunities for education, but everyone of us has been a beginner at some project or another and we are all capable of improving our skills. Isn't that what life is all about -- to learn and grow. I answer several queries every day, particularly if the person provides me with enough information that I can relatively quickly check the reference books I own or my database. I usually do not respond to queries that say the are searching the SMITHS, ROBINSONS, etc. because there is not enough information to know where to look, but if they add the person lived in Hartford Co., CT in the 1770's, I might have some chance of finding something for them. We can all make this hobby more enjoyable by being tactful in responses and as concise as possible in our questions. There is really no excuse to be unkind. We can always write back and say thank you, even if the person who answered us missed the point. There is nothing more discouraging to take time to respond to receive a rude response saying that is not what they wanted. There are wonderful helpful people on this list. Let me say thank you to the people who answer both specific and general questions. I have learned so much from a lot of you. Margaret Scheffler