Find Ancestors

VERY old dates on threads.

Hi everyone, i'm just have a general moan, but when you are searching the boards by name, can you please check the date on the thread before you reply!!

Today as with every other day we are having alot of threads being pulled up that are ancient.... some are over 4 years old.....!!!

Genes keeps all threads in it's database so people looking for family members in time to come can find out who else has been looking.....

....but PLEASE, if you are searching check the date on the thread before you reply. If the thread is relatively old, i mean does anyone check a thread they posted in Jan this year let alone 3 years ago??

The best option is to PM the person the thread belongs to (click on their name), make reference to the original thread and sit and wait for a reply. Alot of people may not even be here anymore, and those of us who are still here have to wade through all the old messages trying to get to the new ones!!

Sorry to have a moan on a lovely afternoon...

Tracey

Hi

Thanks Tracy, I've just spent the last 30 mins finding info for a post that was 3 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wished I'd have seen your message before.

Cheryl

Hi Tracey,

I have said this myself many times recently and DO second (AND third!) what you have just posted.

The person MAY still be looking and appreciate a contact but by PM is best.

It may be that they have found all the info since posting and it is really a waste of people's effort when they could be finding out things for someone else.

Dea x

I think the main bug bear for me is that people when they have found what they want... do not go back and close the thread.

This for anyone who doesn't know merely means you add the additional words **Closed** after your subject line.

This can all be done quite simply with the edit command on your first post of a thread.

What can i do if the person doesn't get back in touch even after a pm?

cos i'm waiting for a couple of people to get back to me but i don't think they will.

A lot of the old threads are pulled out by newbies who do not understand that their reply then appears on Trying to Find. With the old system we never knew what, if any, information had been supplied because it was all pm's.

Michelle,

The chances are they are no longer a fully paid up member?

Maybe they joined the site and lost interest and no longer check for their messages.

Altho i have to say i had a reply from someone who replied like i messaged yesterday... it's been 9 months!!! i had to go back 30 pages nearly on my pm's to find the original message!

So don't give up hope!

*note to self, need to clear up pm's*

n

I think newbies think that all messeages posted on the boards will go direct to the posters e.mail.

This DOES NOT happen.

...but it DOES if you send a PM (click on the name)

Then if your lucky, they still have the same e.mail account.

Well said Tracy

Gerri x

great thread ... fully agree!

I def think they need to consider an 'Archive' link on the left.... so those who want to view messages 2 years or more old can go there....

The problem is there is no real solution... or timeframe !.... To me last months messages are old unless they are long running ones...

So where does the line start?

Tracey

Thankyou will take on board we should have a new users code by the ones who spend so much time helping us maz

June 2003 must be the record so far


Maureen

Old posts need to change colour after a year, most people leave by then.

Very new to computer and it's jargon what is PM?

A pm is the private message instead of clicking on add you click on to the persons name and can contact them direct .I think I have got it right maz

This info should be a Sticky for Newbies

n

I just ignore them as i don't think people realise that when they reply to a thread through the name summary it will bring the thread to the front of this page & the same will happen on the History board

Older thread usually show the original poster's surname