Genealogy Chat

Anything I can help with?


Or did you burp?

Pardon?

Ah, well, there was an option when this was done on TTF to close the instructions text.

Look up, way up, and see "How can the Genes community help me?"

If you click on the ? the text opens up. Click on the X and it goes away again.

That's how the instructions on the TTF Add Topic page were. We could all just click the X to get rid. The instructions appeared the first time, then didn't appear again once the X was clicked, but one could click to open them back up again.

(For some reason the text also appeared when one edited a post in a thread. Same thing, click X to close.)

At least someone had to actively ignore them by scrolling past or clicking to close them.

JC, I agree, good suggestion.

Nudge tip, nudge tip, nudge tip, serves no purpose at all. In fact I would go as far to say that most new readers wouldn't even see it, or if they did they would not have a clue what it meant.....!

Only slight concern is that click to start a post instructions did not appear more than once, otherwise regular posters might get a bit annoyed.

Unless threads like this and various others are nudged hourly to keep them at the top of this page (and oust others that get bumped to page 2), no new users are going to see them.

Even if they are at the top of the board, few new users are going to read them.

We really do know this from long experience.

The only solution is to present information/instructions to users when they click the "Add topic" button to start a thread on any page here.

This was done on TTF and a couple of other boards last fall in response to my pleas. When the latest reorg happened, the instructions/information was removed from the Add Topic page.

There's a post about this on the Suggestions board:

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/suggestions/thread/1270201

Please add your voices to the call for GR to include instructions and information for new users -- including what may be posted on the particular board, how to find replies, etc. -- on the page that users see when they click to add a topic (start a thread) on any board!


and

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/suggestions/thread/1268802?page=1

where I said

The thing is that this needs to be done on *every* board.

Clicking to start a post on the General Chat board should produce instructions that say that the board is *not* for family history help.

Clicking to start a post on the Suggestions board should produce instructions that say that the board is *not* for family history help.

Clicking to start a post on the Success Stories board should produce instructions that say that the board is *not* for family history help.

>>> And Clicking to start a post on the Genealogy Chat board should produce instructions that say that the board is *not* for lookup requests, it is for discussions *about genealogy* -- it is *not* for pursuing your own family history, it is for tips about doing family history in general.
[note that this proposal was implemented almost immediately, in a lesser form: the new post PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING pinned at the top of the Genealogy Chat board ... which no one will read before posting, of course ...]

-- and of course the text should also include information about how to find replies in threads, etc.

The text that was incorporated there last fall for TTF is what is now seen at "Help Clinic" ... which not a single new user has ever clicked. Why would they?


Oh, see also Phil's posts on this page:

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/suggestions/thread/1268802?page=1

>>>>> "Yes, we need to add something to the Add Topic page as well based on the board you have selected. This has been logged too."

nudged tip

nudged tip

I am a virgin ov trying to trace my family . But would like to say thanks to Peter Bolton for lending me a hand

If you click on Help Clinic, above left, GR have have now put advice re getting help on there, based on this and similar threads.

- for new readers

Hi Manitou,

Just in case you get back to this thread I have sent you 2 PM's (private messages). Genes will send you notification of them to your email address.

Cathy

Hi Manitou,
You are not doing anything wrong but basically you need to save answers as soon as posssible because some members like to delete their old messages.

Hi Cathy,
I am new at this boards business. I posted a question about my Grandfather and Granmother a James Hazlett and a Susan Jane Payne. I got answers with information regarding them both unfortunately I did not save it and when I went back on and clicked on boards and then my threads all I got was my messages but the answers are gone. What am I doing wrong?
from Manitou

nudge for Michelle~~~~~ wave to Barbara , Ken and all~~~~~~~

Nudge

~~~~~~~~~to Ken and Cathy ~~~~~~~~~~~ and of course to all on GR~~~~~~

Hello Barbara ~~~~~~

I'm getting a bit confused with the changes, have you seen the help board yet? Hope people give them a chance....... I like having the add reply at the bottom!

Cathy x

nudge

~~~~~~~~wave back to Cathy, Ken and all ~~~~~~~~

and up this great tip goes

Wave to Barbara, Ken and all~~~~~~