General Chat

Don´t think this question was meant to turn into a major barney.
I was under the impression that John was just wondering why GR didn´t post a similar feedback to the one that DeTecTive has given us.
Must admit I had wondered myself why we had heard nothing.
I would have thought that once the volunteers had been selected, Genes would have said so & posted the date that the event was going to take place.
I certainly have no axe to grind here as there was never any possibility that I could volunteer because I live abroad, as do many members, but that doesn´t mean we have no interest in the outcome.

Who's Major Barney?
I hope your post wasn't in response to mine wisechild :-0

Not at all Island.
Just an observation about some of the posts that went before.
As for Major Barney, I think he´s a periodic visitor in most households.

Thanks wisechild :-D

Please note that the de-brief posted earlier, was my opinion and may differ from that of other participants.

We probably all had different priorities if the opportunity arose to ask questions rather than sticking to the script.

"I was under the impression that John was just wondering why GR didn´t post a similar feedback to the one that DeTecTive has given us."

Couldn't have put it better myself, Wisechild :-) In fact, I obviously did not put it better myself :-D :-D

I can feel the next post coming - "John, how dare you be so sarcastic. Wisechild is only trying to help you" :-0 :-( But we rise above that in a civilised and polite thread :-P :-P ;-)

John

I cannot see how you have decided the boards have got quieter in the last 6 weeks?

When you started using the boards there were many unhappy bunnys like yourself, who were posting here there and everywhere, that they wanted the old tree back or they would be off. As perhaps 50% were new posters to the boards, it was very unlikely they would return anyway.

Have you noticed any brand new members posting, membership dates Aug/Sept 2012? Because I have noticed quite a few.....So as the old members go (not that I have noticed any) new ones are joining, just as they have for the last 10 years no doubt

Didn´t think you were being sarcastic John.
I´ve always been known for having a way with words.....although not always in a positive sense. ;-) :-0 :-0 :-0

Jax There is a free trial. They are signing up to it, coming on and asking questions all over this site (never the correct board, it seems) and then disappearing before the subs become due with their nice new tree. You know that as well as me. Loads do that on An.....y - I never get answers to any queries on there because people are no longer subscribing.

Facts are short in supply (not my fault or yours) to have an informed discussion, but I think very many of us are noticing things are not what they were 6 weeks ago. Whern I raised the falling off of interest on Community (and Tree Contacts) at end of August, I was told it was holidays. Not many go to Skegness on 23rd September.

What is really most concerning is that people (not just one or two like me) are losing interest in their hobby due to this forced update from a Model T to a Ford Edsel :-( :-(

John

There have probably been thousands over the years who have only ever posted once and then disappeared? that has been quite apparent by the amount of old threads dragged up by new posters. That does not mean they have lost interest.

I have not seen any say they have taken up the free trial, although of course that could be the case.

I will just say that the boards are no quieter now than they have been for over a year.If anything facebook could be the reason, I prefer to chat there in private than on here for the world to see. There are also many pages like GR, FMP or Ancestry where people will help with genealogy problems...so they are not posting on here...because why pay when you do not have to

I'd never lose interest in my family tree, it's too important to me, if I don't like one site I use another, I've been researching my tree too many years to not bother with it, just because something has changed. I don't call it a hobby either , it's something I've always done, so it's part of my life.

As for not so many people joining GR, how do any of us know how many people join daily, does anyone log it, if they do they must be bored. Just because members don't post, doesn't mean people aren't joining, when I did look ups for London, I had as many people pm me to ask for help as I did on the boards.

people use different tools for different things, people use GR in different ways, some people use it for a day, some for years.

If people aren't happy they won't renew, it's a personal choice, I don't suppose many join GR to just to help others, most join to do research there own family.. Those who help do so because they want to.

I haven't noticed the boards are quieter than usual either.

I have no problem with the new tree because I've never used the GR tree to store my full tree. I just keep a few generations of direct ancestors on GR to pick up hot matches.

Like many people I keep my tree on my computer using family Tree Maker. I wouldn't trust my full tree to any internet site. I've worked on it far too hard to trust it to the internet where things go missing so easily.

I don't think the new tree on GR is any worse than the old one, I thought that was awful as well.

Gwynne

I would never lose interest in genealogy just because one site has changed. I still have my tree on here, but have a number of brick walls which I'm researching elsewhere when I have the time. I still update my tree occasionally. As Lynda says, there are many other options available, for both research and tree editing.

Jax and Lynda You would both make great politicians.

If Genes finally announces "new layout is disaster, members leaving in droves" you will both be able to pull out posts from yourselves that say "yes, we saw it coming, we knew it all along"

Think Genes will announce. "New layout a briliant success now that we have fixed a couple of problems. We are increasing our membership and hits very consderably since this makeover". In which case, I shall find my posts which say exactly that too.

Lynda, when you say family history is not a hobby, it reminds me of dog owners who say "he is not a dog, he is a person. He has human rights". Please say it is only a hobby, and that you could do what I am going to do - leave it alone for a year. Many could leave their children for a year, and your children surely are more important that a family history passion.

John

I feel that you have decided that whatever you say must be correct

Like Gwynne I thought the old tree was awful.....thats our opinion so it must be wrong?

I renewed a month ago, and was in two minds...not because of the tree but because it had been boring on here for some time....I only use GR to help others, but renewed as £7.96 for 6 months was no big deal.....I only started building my tree less than 3 years ago and as far as I am concerned its more or less finished. I do not want a forest just a tree...no one is going to be interested in it after I have gone anyway....This hobby was a lot cheaper than online poker...which I obviously was'nt very good at :-D

I only say what I mean John, genealogy isn't a hobby, and to liken it to someone thinking there dog is a person, is a taking the pee, one persons hobby, is another persons life/occupation.

Don't tell me to leave anything alone for a year, you do not know me, so don't tell me what I should do, especially as I haven't asked for your advice on how I should run my life, I'd never dream to do that on here, or anywhere else.

As for telling me that children are more important , don't be so bloody stupid, you're actually insulting most parents.

We're not wrong, Jax, the reason GR changed it at all is because so many people said the old tree layout was awful. Glitched and difficult to navigate if you had more than a few dozen ancestors on there. Sometimes weeks would go by and people couldn't access their GR trees at all.

That's why GR tried to change it. The new one seems to be no better but that won't bother those of us who have always kept our trees off-line. GR aren't going to change it back to one that was even worse for most people.

Gwynne

Well, Lynda, I have read and re-read my "friendly" post to you and have absolutley no idea why you have reacted like that. Do I care? Not a huge lot.

Family history is a hobby. Yes, for some it is a job. For no one should it be that important. In many jobs you have holidays and long breaks anyway.

Why is it wrong for me to have a "sabbatical" from family history for a year. Why should you judge me so? Do I not have my own mind?

I am not telling you to do anything. :-)

Jax Loved that post. Made me laugh. Perhaps I will have a look at on line poker - just hope Phil has not designed the site.:-D

No, don't believe I am right all the time. Usually am ;-) , but too shy and reticent to try to push my thoughts on others. Just like facts to debate, but we are rather starved of those from official sources. So we have fun throwing rotten tomatoes instead. Yes, I know that not all tomatoes are rotten;-)

Think there may be more than one version of the success or otherwise of this makeover, and I will be interested in the "party line" from Genes if and when we get it. :-S

Gwynne I was on the old tree every day almost for 9 years. I never remember it being very glitched. It was a dream to navigate and seldom was down. In fact A... has often been down - but don't remember Genes having those problems.

I was happy with layout, but not that good with computers and not as qualified as many to comment.

I was not too bothered that site was changing. I wondered why, but firmly believed that change would be good. When I saw the new site, it looked exciting but just could not cope with it. I chose to use the parallel old tree. I thought that foot fall on both layouts would tell Genes how unacceptable the new layout was.

I am happy to accept Phil Moir's explanation that the old tree was a Model T and needed to be more up to date to attract new punters and meet industry standards. But we all wanted a gleaming new Range Rover. And I reckon we are a long long way short.

I feel a bit like Lewis Hamilton in Singapore. 6th gear, 7th gear, no gears
:-( :-(