General Chat

I was vocal about the introduction of the Advisors not through any disrespect to the volunteers but because in my opinion it created a hierarchy amongst the volunteers

The criteria for selecting the volunteers was flawed also especially were you had to have more than 100 people in your tree. There was no mention of it being proven and as the majority of trees are unproven and in some cases entire works of fiction this was no guarantee that the Advisors were good at what they do.

I also objected to the email advertising their expert star advisors which I found to be an insult to all the volunteers who have selflessly helped other members over years. In my opinion the efforts of these helpers were devalued. The Advisors were no more qualified than anyone else.

Also the advisors were restricted in were they could look for information by only being allowed to use Brightsolid sites. A lot of obscure information is found on other sites for example familysearch.

I think there is scope for improvements by sorting out the boards. Chat and General could be merged. History could be renamed social history for anyone wanting to know more about the living conditions of their ancestors. Surname could be merged with Trying to Find. Tips should be only for tips on how to find the information. Joneseys tips should be stickied to the top of the page. Any requests that are put on the wrong board should be moved to the correct board

Genes Reunited should learn to communicate with it paying customers on it's own site. I should not have to find out about changes from facebook. This is also an insult to every member on this site.

Well, the help clinic page is still here -

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/help_clinic/

and people that have already posted in it can do again but one can no longer ask questions. I really hope that the volunteers will be allowed the free access that they had been granted to certain sites because it was not their fault that the clinic closed.

Frank, I didn't read it that IGP was calling your post negative (he'll be able to confirm or deny it himself) just that there were some negative posts (which I agree with). I'm not saying that people can't voice their opinion but I was quite shocked in the way that it was done in some instances.

The fact that people posted a lot of Scottish lookups was partly because it was deliberately encouraged by people posting on the boards. Also some people who were quite critical of the board were using it to look up these records too (which of course is their right).

I think there was a concerted effort by some to try and shut the boards down in it's current format.

Where can we give our feedback Inspector? Many thanks

I hope you are right. Although a trial should have lasted a month, perhaps? I still think it was pulled as a result of a minority who did not want it to succeed from the outset.

I am also hoping there were many other sensible and positive suggestions sent to GR in addition to those comments appearing on the boards which seemed to me to be rather negatively biased.

IGP I don't think it was trashed. As they hae said it was a trial and theya re now looking at suggestions received. It will probably be back in an improved state.

Oops - thanks Joy, I can see it now - it's a great big oblong at the top of the page - senior moment :))))))))))))))

I have been off for about a week and am a little lost. Can someone tell me please where this Help Clinic is? Or has the whole thing been removed?
Thanks
Chris

I think that most people would admit that the new facilty was far form perfect but it is sad to see that it has been trashed by a relatively small handful of members who were not prepared to give it a chance. It could have been improved relatively quickly with the right support and constructive advice from members.

Tooty Fruity, I agree a subscription site would be idea as an alternative. Perhaps subscription for the original census records at least and the parish records. Not sure about the bmd (although I would love that :) ) as the certificates are reasonable as it is.

Yes Frank I agree it's reasonable if you don't have common names that is :)
Also I'm having problems with the deaths of my English ancestors because of common names, I've already ordered a wrong one (as a guess) and really can't afford to take any more guesses as they are too numerous. (I've just read your last sentence and realised that I've just agreed with you lol) Scotlandspeople is far more reasonable in that respect, it was just helpful having someone to narrow the search down.

The thing is I will pay to see the originals so in effect they would get more money from me. I personally thought the helpers should only check Scottish records if there is a problem with someone finding the information in the first place ie common name, mistranscription etc etc otherwise they should be directed to Scotlandspeople.

secret red squirrel I asked for a look up on scotlands people for my gggrandfathers sisters marriage and was told that there were too many.

I just wish that they would make Scotland people a subscription site so I could search to my hearts content

Yes, I too like seeing the original and have spent an absolute fortune on Scotlands people and it's predecessor Scottish origins. However, when you've got some common names and very little information about a relative, I appreciate the fact that someone with free credits would be willing to look through some records for me or check a mistranscription. Then I can buy the original record without wasting too much money/credits.

I now see which direction Genes has gone in but I'm not really surprised. However, I'm a bit annoyed that this opportunity of free lookups has been taken away from me and the way that the volunteers were treated in some cases. Some posts were rude or deliberately put them in an impossible position. There must have been a better way of putting grievances across that wouldn't result in the loss of the free access for the volunteers. I just hope that GR come up with an alternative system.

I click on it and there is a paragraph by the powers that be, but nothing else.

Yet I click on my bookmarks and my two threads in the help clinic still exist.

Boy, and I thought Christmas shopping was tiring, though enjoyable of course:-)

So - I can find my questions because they are in my bookmarks but no one else will be able to find them?
And what about the membership of find my past etc given to the help clinic helpers? Are they no longer star helpers?
Whatever, will the powers that be please let us know what is going on before it happens.

Just got in from shopping, back later.

I just wonder what they did with all those threads. Perhaps the posters hadn't seen the replies? Maybe they were moved to other/Records/Tips??

It was just a matter of time Elisabeth lol
Carol

The theads have now disappeared from the Help Clinic. Just a list of where help can be found.

DIY definitely comes out on top :-)
The detective trail that becomes an obsession ...

I also have SRS but its great just to get in there and see records in their true rather than just transpripts,,and the whoosh you get doing it far out weighs than just having info plonked in front of you,some of which you may not understand,,,

I wonder how many have actually seen a census image? or any image thats een transcribed? transcipts dont beat seeig the real thing,,

SP, I know can run into lots of ££££££ as Ive spent ££££with0s added and been prepared to.

but I just think,,DIY comes out on top

I know that you mean but free lookups for Scotland's People Kay? Not many people have that on the www. (you can tell I have a vested interest in Scottish records lol) ;)