General Chat

Hello Ann, SRS, BC, M&S, H&C and allPS,
I hope you are not too cold today, no snow in the SE but it's fair perishin'

I've never got on with 'unthreaded' boards as I can't type quickly but can see the speed they move at can be a source of hilarity for those who can keep up. I think GR chat must have been that way before I discovered the forums.

I much prefer threads and have to confess that at times I just check 'my threads' otherwise I would spend too much time here!
Sometimes I look at 'general' and the front page seems to be full of very old games hreads so I don't bother. Obviously the games are popular with some.

I'd vote for a general threaded board, a fast moving chat board and a seperate games board.

I have no interest in rows and can't keep up with who's been banned but whether someone is right or wrong bickering is off putting for others.

Wasn't there a group of people from here who set up a family tree forum a few years back because they were fed up of GR for whatever reason?

Have to say though, I think the main reason for people no longer posting is that the novelty has worn off.

Wrap up well and keep waaaaaarm :-)

Hi Sue

I'm guessing the question is 'why don't people answer my messages'?
Someone did get a particularly unpleasant response recently.

GR are to blame there. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has suggested a sticky on the subject to prevent upsets. I still haven't had a response after about a month.

Island, it was a very good reason that it was formed -
http://www.familytreeforum.com/index.php

I would recommend, too -

http://genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/index.php

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php

http://www.bbcwhodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/forum/

dear Ann and others, this is a very interesting topic.
I've been reading different topics for quite a few months now, and up until now really only felt ok about contributing to the Rhyming and Poetry. its intention is to keep in touch with each others activities through rhymes.
I feel that sharing my activities this way is easier, and the others made my efforts very welcome.

whereas I tried earlier to add a thought on another topic, and was not acknowledged, in fact i was skipped over, and the following person was spoken to. So I never got "stuck in" again. But I
guess I should have persevered.
I'd like to take heart and make a friend or two around the world.
I used to have what was called a pen friend, but that idea has long been rolled over.
I agree it certainly takes quite a bit of courage to get started.

Annette

Thank you Joy
I'm not sure of the tone of your first line though. I certainly wasn't implying anything untoward as I was only vaguely aware that a group of people had left to form their own site.

Annette, you do have to persevere and I have been known to say, "excuse me did anyone see me here" when I was ignored. People will soon apologise. What happenes is that people are busy typing and the post is timed from the time you start typing so if somebody is a faster typist they will appear to jump over you. I try and check back a few posts when I have put a post on to see if I have missed anyone.

You could go on the Aussie thread, it is not what it says, there are people from all over on there. Or start your own thread. Something like "I want to chat to people in non UK countries as well as UK. Make allowances for the time differences and I bet people would go on it. ~there was agood thread started about Christmas customs in other countries you could try and find that one as well. But welcome to the boards and please stay in touch.

Hi Annette

I'm not skipping over you - I'm a slow typist and you weren't there when I started. I know what you mean though. Welcome aboard. :-)

For me, the answer to the question of the title of this thread is yes, it has.
I have been a member for 3 1/2 years, and like many, have seen many changes in the contributions to the boards.
When as a new poster, you get used to seeing peoples names and their contributions, and eventually, sooner or later, you join in. After a while, some of the 'names's' that have contributed so much, leave for varying reasons, and though some manage to stay, and continue to contribute, it is the troublemakers that prevail. They always survive, whilst the good people are no longer with us. The troublemakers are not genuine contributors, keeping the boards going, day after day, they just post to make trouble. And so this cycle continues.
Since this summer, I have wondered many days why I even bother to have the lid up on my lap-top, as there are only subjects that I am not/would not be interested in. I do not join in the political/religious discussions, as I was always taught at home not to discuss either in public, for the very reasons that manifest themselves on these very threads on those subjects.
If someone posts on a subject, and as in real life, are constantly knocked down for their opinion, then they are, sooner or later, are going to be made to feel worthless and of low inteligence. No -one wants that, so they stop posting.
But I do miss discussions with people that have something of interest to me. However, are getting few and far between. And yes, I do miss Daff, both for her contributions, and the fact she is so poorly.
Julia in Derbyshire

Okay, then - there was a very good reason, said with a smile :-)

(At that time, 4 years ago, GR closed the site for a while, and removed some people without good reason.)

Emoticons would be handy in this site :-)

I don't think Joy was insinuating anything Island. The new site was formed after there was some real nastiness on here which we wouldn't want dragged up again, unfortunately I believe they have had problems on that site too of some sort and a further site has been opened. I guess there are no sites that don't have problems of one sort or another eventually, because the members are all human.

Hi Julia, thank you for your input. The answer could be to add some posts yourself on topics that interest you and see if they take off.

Ann
Thanks, that's great.
Your explanation of the post jumps makes a lot of sense. I am quite a slow typer, but its more the thinking thats slow this time of night, and Im making a lot of spelling errors. so have to go back and check that it makes sense.

Yes I am from Aus, and I have looked into that 'Aussie base" you mention.
the time differences certainly take their toll. in fact right now its 1.45am here on a tuesday morning, and its the only time I can get replies.
However
I think You will see a new topic very soon, but let me sleep on it first;

best wishes and a very good night (or day ) as it is for you

Annette

Ann and Joy

Thank you but I wasn't asking for the reason, just pointing out that people do leave en masse sometimes.
Yes, emoticons would be a good addition. I often say 'where are the smilies when we need them.

Hi Julia,have you had a postcard with windmills yet?lol

Now there is a top bird - Julia has a great sense of humour I reccommend her threads :-)

I'm wondering why I only get responses if I seem to be grumbling?

Boo Hoo Island, I'll answer you, and you were not grumbling to me LOL
That thread started off as a genuine enquiery as to the whereabouts of the gent, as I had not seen him on here for a week or two. He was always polite and inoffensive, but as the thread took off, I could not resist the wind up. He was really game for a laugh, and played the part well.
I hope he soes remember to come back to us again when he returnes from hi adventures abroad.
Ann
I do try sometimes to post to see what happens, but sometimes/somedays, you hope someone else has, and then join in, thouhg that is not always easy.
Julia in Derbyshire

PS. Island, I still await my windmill postcard LOLOL

Island, she may be a top bird with a great sense of humour but she still has,nt sent my Pickled Shallots yet. Grumble Grumble. mutter mutter.**M**.:o)>.

Ah Island, it is either the weather making people miserable and complaining threads conversely make them feel better. Or just that people enjoy complaining threads best Lol!!! (joking people!)

Lol Merlin

I got mine ok Merlin :-))


Ann
I was being tongue in cheek after you said you read through the thread then post replies. :-)

Have to say though,I sometimes think it's worth being contraversial (sp?) just to get a response. There's a very rude line in a play called 'Boys in The Band' which I've been tempted to adapt for here when I am posting in invisible ink LOL

Hi Ann,
I always try and read what you put on this board. We did have that book exchange about the boy in striped pyjamas. Also your Slow Cooker recipes.
I get fed up coming on here because of having to wade through so many on going threads that are a few thousand long.
Sue.