Genealogy Chat

I am fedup with people offering to help then never hearing from them again, and writing to individuals who you suspect may have a link to your tree and no reply. Why bother to be on this site?, Searching for a diffcult line is hard enough. Linda

Sheleen I agree with your response but I write to prospective links they never reply, it so frustrating when your family tree is so rare. Linda

Linda, Chin up girl! Not everyone's like that. Yes, OK I've had quite a few bad experiences, but hey that's their loss not to want to talk to me. HOWEVER, the overwhelming amount of help advice and nice people I've 'met' through GenesRe makes the whole thing worthwhile. Tomorrow's another day .... Keep on searching, Regs Jane

Jane Ive ben on this site for a year. My view is if you cant be bothered to reply then get off. Linda

OOOOOHHHH!! Dont I just know how you feel!! Every month for the past 3 months have contacted a member whos family tree is the same as mine!! Spookily so! She has never answered me once, and today after much hard research, I added another branch to my tree, and low and behold, same people on hers!!! She is way ahead of me, and hates to share!! Its SOOOOO annoying!! Have had contacts from some lovely people though - so musnt moan TOO much!! x

Linda - there are a lot of people on this site asking for help. It takes time to get through them all. You should never bite the hand that feeds you. People who help are not endorsed in anyway by GR. They are volunteers. Have patience.

Hi Linda, I understand how you feel. However, there are lots of people who have entered the basic details of their family after following the link from Friendsreunited and then never been back to the site ever again. If they have changed their email address or used one that they don't check very often, they may not be aware that someone is trying to contact them. I myself followed the link from FR and entered bare details, however after recieving an enquiry from a member on here, I became intrigued and did reply and start to trace my family tree more seriously. However I know that I have entered details of my family on LOADS of websites and when I changed ISP recently, I am sure that there must be one or two that I haven't updated withy my new email address. I know if is frustrating but people aren't necessarily ignoring you. Some probably are but there will be others who simply don't know you are trying to get in touch! Sam P.S. I'm sure that you are not guilty of this, but I have had quite a few requests like 'Can I have access to your tree please. Thank You'. Even I ignore these, if they can't give any details, they ain't seeing my tree!!

The one that REALLY irritates me is 'This is not my relative' How do you know it isnt? How do I know it isn't? I have found two long lost cousins (actually, didnt even know of their existence) on this Site. After the initial excitement, neither has followed up the contact. I am absolutely baffled by this as I have loads of photos certs etc, which I am more than happy to send. Having emailed both three times I darent any more - when does persistence become harrassment? Very dispiriting. Marjorie

Someone I helped a while ago, no relation to me whatsoever, kept on sending me emails requesting to view my tree. I asked her why, and she just replied 'you can now view my tree', but the requests kept on coming. I don't understand why she wanted to see my tree.

I have found if I do a look up from the trying to find board its usually new ones who ask to see my tree.I just explain my tree will not help, as not connected and only doing a lookup.I expect they think because I gave some details I must be related.

can you give us an example of someone offering to help and then not doing so? There are many reasons why someone might not reply to your message - are you implying that by putting a tree on here one is 'offering help' sorry dont really understand. Jess