From roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Sun Jul 16 09:33:41 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k6GFXfjb022338; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:33:41 -0600 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 k6GFXe5J023090 for ; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:33:40 -0600 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 k6GCuEFI032358 for ; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 08:56:14 -0400 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8/Submit) id k6GCuEuM032357 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 08:56:14 -0400 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 k6GBRoFI032115 for ; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 07:27:50 -0400 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) id k6GE577k032332 for roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 08:05:07 -0600 X-Envelope-From: treviawbeverly@houston.rr.com Sun Jul 16 08:05:07 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k6GE57jb032323 for ; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 08:05:07 -0600 Received: from ms-smtp-05.texas.rr.com (ms-smtp-05.texas.rr.com [24.93.47.44]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k6GE52u2022995 for ; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 08:05:02 -0600 Received: from oemcomputer (cpe-24-162-26-136.houston.res.rr.com [24.162.26.136]) by ms-smtp-05.texas.rr.com (8.13.6/8.13.6) with SMTP id k6GE5PkC015728; Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:05:26 -0500 (CDT) Message-ID: <005901c6a8e1$e9f7d8c0$6401a8c0@oemcomputer> From: "Trevia W Beverly" To: , References: <2d3.b2362dd.31eb0290@aol.com> Subject: Re: [ROOTS-L] Sloppy Requests!! Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:12:46 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1807 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1807 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 Sender: roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com I do not disagree with this. One problem, of course, is that we have new people joining the list from time to time ... and I am presuming that they are new to genealogy! But then I know some are not -- just lazy. Most of us old-timers, or more experienced researchers, want to help. And we have the opportunity to when we send a note back with suggestions for how they should post. But to give the help you want, you must help us .... My pet peeve is that people will not put where they are located below their name ..... this is an excellent way for us to suggest a specific repository (be it archives, library, society or even an individual). Heck, when someone tells me they are in the same local calling area as I am, I often tell them to call me on the phone - lots quicker then several e-mails back and forth .... and the conversation can be more productive as I ask questions as we go along..... Then, as Gretchen says ... give us some help. The least you can do is to give the name of the person you are researching ... not the just the last name .. and a time period with that state. Be sure that you have already done the basic research. On more than one occasion I've found that after I looked up a couple of census records, I've been told "Oh, I've already done that!" PLEASE! Let us know what you've done ... we are all busy and if I've spent even half an hour looking up something the person has already done --- my blood pressure goes up just a tad. Those requesting help should remember that we are here and willing to help with a specific problem and guide you if we can ----- not to do basic (or all) research for you. And do not depend on the Internet to do all your work ..... while it is a wonderful tool, and you can certainly find good information with documentation .... you should use your library. Do as much as you can to get your 5-generation chart filled in and do the census research for each person on it. By that I mean, every census year from their birth to their death. Now if you have questions, give it to me. I'm more than willing to help all I can. And I encourage membership and participation in your local/area genealogical society ... lots of help can be found here. And find a good class to take - yes, it may cost a few bucks but a good teacher can save you lots of time and many errors. Go to a conference *** if you can. Last year we had a full day workshop on basic/refresher genealogy. Trevia Wooster Beverly Houston, Texas *** still time to register if you live close enough to attend. July 20-22, Lufkin, Texas http://www.angelina.edu/genealogy.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 9:46 PM Subject: [ROOTS-L] Sloppy Requests!! > To All Requesters........... > > This is not directed at anyone in particular but there are some very sloppy > requests coming thru asking for information on people. > > One instance - Asking for Census information. They state they have found > someone in an earlier census but the person might have moved. > > They give no approximate birth date or place for that person, who else might > have been in the census they are looking for, where parents might have been > born (after 1880 Censuses only), etc. > > Please..............if you have "ANY INFORMATION" that will assist the rest > of us that's what you need to put into your request. None of us are mind > readers and unless it's a name so uncommon we need more data. > > One name I tried in one census there were over 2,500 (where supposedly the > person was found but did not show up in the county mentioned). The next census > there were over 9,000. Little hard to pinpoint someone without enough > information. > > In other words......think thru what you're asking for and give enough data > to maybe find the person you're looking so they can be found. > > I read at least 3 others that I knew it was hopeless even looking for so > didn't bother to check them out at all. > > You might not care for my comments but most of us, who have been searching > for some time, bypass these types of questions as we know we can't help and > consequently you'll never get a reply. > > Other than that......hope you all have a great weekend, Gretchen > > >