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Why do people ask if you want a lookup, then never do them?? this has happened twice to me in the last month, the first one was never answered, the second has just been removed from the board! it would be better if they said "sorry unable to do them now" it would save keep looking for the reply, to thank them for the lookup.regards from a not very happy David!!

Instead of adding your query onto a long thread, where it might get accidentally overlooked, why not put your request on a separate message, with the census year and area in the header? Most of these get answers, even if its just Sorry, can't find anything. Jan.

This afternoon I replied to two requests for help, where just a name was given, no other information. I asked for first names, maiden names, possible dates of birth, marriage, death, possible places of birth and residence, etc., in order to try and help, but no further information has been given. I suggested that people asking for help should say which county the town is in, but even that seems too much to expect. So I don't know what the answer is. Jan

Thanks for your replys, will post my requests on the board, and see what happens. Jan- both the threads were only 10 messages long so don't think they were over looked. and none of the other messages were answered either. regards from a happier David!

Hi David Don't forget this time of year most of us are busier now normal. Most of us do try try to look and answer either by email or posting on site asap so I hope I wasn't one of those who missed a message. But I do agree with you a simple sorry I can't find anything would do. But it all takes time looking for your own message as it gets further down the line. But don't give up someone maybe able help you hopefully in the near future. Have a Happy Christmas & New Year Irene

How about sending an email with your request? That way you'll at least know it's been seen. I had the experience of looking for a reply for well over a week, so finally deleted my message and tried someone else, who very kindly gave me an almost immediate response. If at first you don't succeed.... Di.

Some have info that they should not advertise for copyright reasons. Put your request as look up request for area , date and name and then details in the message . You should get a reply from someone , even if negative . For many .it is the thrill of finding what You ! are looking forand in the hope that ,one good turn deserves another. That is what this message board is all about.

This is the fastest genealogy board , bar none. I'm amazed that so many volunteer to do lookups , knowing that they will be swamped with responses, half of which suffer from paucity of information and some of which require an hour reading hundreds of pages of 162 year old handwriting. I haven't volunteered yet but have done 20 or 30 lookups for people whose thread was getting out of hand .On the difficult ones, it can mean cross-correlating IGI, 2 censuses and bmd...up to 2 hours. To those who volunteer 'good on yer'. To those having a tantrum because mum forgot the lollies, go play on the more traditional boards for a while. You'll be grateful when you come back. John in Aus ( a country known for its directness0

John, I'm sure we're all very appreciative of the many offers of help and the responses that we get to help us on our way. But the point is that having offered, and getting an overwhelming number of requests which they maybe find themselves unable to handle it would be kinder to add a message saying sorry folks, I can't handle this overload, rather than let people keep adding messages, which they could place elsewhere and get a quicker response. Di.

John I wasnt having a tantrum, i was pointing out that when someone asks if you want a lookup, it would save time keep looking for the reply, if they said that they could not do them now, as DI just said. I don't asks very often, as I know how much time it takes, and I have done lookups for people when I do have spare time. wishing you all a happy xmas David

Just to say Eileen is one of those people who have helped me in the past and i thank her so much for that, I would have never progressed without the information she gave me. I try to help anyone at any time when i can but im no expert. Just also happy christmas and happy new year Eileen and i take it David is hubby? us Norwich people are lovely hehe. Jill

Hi, I have a long list of resources on George's "what CDs do you have?" thread. I never check it for look up requests because in my message I ask people to email me direct. I always answer direct requests. But any requests tagged on to the thread go unanswered. Gwynne

I have been really lucky and had some fantastic help from GC members, and in return i have been able to do lookups for other people at the NRO, some successfully, others not, and i have always tried to acknowledge or reply where i can, mostly directly to the people concerned. However i am aware i missed a couple where i had offered to help late at night and then forgot to note the thread number, and when back on the computer a couple of days later the thread had disappeared....GC being a victim of its own success in a way. I am keeping an eye out in the hope that whoever it was waiting to hear from me will post again so that i can apologise and see what i can find for them. I think most offers of help are genuine, but as they say " to err is human to forgive is divine" so please, if you have been offered help and its been a while please try to forgive....and give us a gentle nudge. In the mean time Merry Christmas to you all and may the New Year bring all the breakthroughs you are waiting for. Regards Yvette P.S I may be slightly biased, but i agree on all GC Norwich people being really nice.....lol!!!!

Some people are put off continuing with the lookups when members repeatedly ask for the same lookup as has happened to me. They seem not to believe the info given to them in the 1st place.

I do agree with you, it can be totally frustrating - has happened to me. But then I say to myself, they are offering their services for free and are swamped with requests at all angles - so I think to myself if I get a reply I'm one of the lucky ones. If I don't get a reply I post a request directly on the board "help" and I'm the one that is swamped with kind helpers - it swings both ways. I have never encountered anything like these message boards - it's like talking to people one to one. Anyway don't stop asking - good luck Linda

I posted message when I had 1837 units to use up. I must admit I did not realize I had to read message board to see who had asked for help. thought if would come through as a email straight through to me. By the time I did realise this I was swamped with requests. Just helped as much as I could, until units ran out. So if you tried to contact me for info I am sorry if I did not get back, I am still learning about all this stuff. Merry Christmas to you. Sally.