Adding to your Avatar

Useful places to look up facts

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Russell
Posts: 2559
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:59 pm
Location: Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire

Adding to your Avatar

Post by Russell » Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:18 pm

Hello everybody

I have noticed recently that more people have joined us and not put in the information about where they are :?

It may not seem important to tell people if you are in Oz, Canada or Timbuctoo but it can help the person offering you assistance if they wish to suggest a personal visit to the Mitchell or Edinburgh to access records there.
If you live just down the road from the archive - or at least within travelling distance - they will encourage you to do so just to enjoy the experience as well as to find the records you need.
If, on the other hand, you are on South Island N.Z. as soon as folks notice that they are more likely to offer to do a look-up at the Mitchell or find a more recent rellie in Edinburgh.

It also makes a difference to when you might expect an answer to a query if the kind soul happens to be on the opposite side of the world to you.

Don't be shy folks :D We're all friends here :o

I'm happy to be 65 and don't care who knows it (even the tax man :shock: ) but you don't need to be quite as personal if you prefer not to be.

M for male; F for female ; and :P for undecided will do.

Hairy faced Russell
Working on: Oman, Brock, Miller/Millar, in Caithness.
Roan/Rowan, Hastings, Sharp, Lapraik in Ayr & Kirkcudbrightshire.
Johnston, Reside, Lyle all over the place !
McGilvray(spelt 26 different ways)
Watson, Morton, Anderson, Tawse, in Kilrenny

nelmit
Posts: 4002
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 11:49 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Adding to your Avatar

Post by nelmit » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:33 pm

Russell wrote:Hello everybody

I have noticed recently that more people have joined us and not put in the information about where they are :?

It may not seem important to tell people if you are in Oz, Canada or Timbuctoo but it can help the person offering you assistance if they wish to suggest a personal visit to the Mitchell or Edinburgh to access records there.
If you live just down the road from the archive - or at least within travelling distance - they will encourage you to do so just to enjoy the experience as well as to find the records you need.
If, on the other hand, you are on South Island N.Z. as soon as folks notice that they are more likely to offer to do a look-up at the Mitchell or find a more recent rellie in Edinburgh.

It also makes a difference to when you might expect an answer to a query if the kind soul happens to be on the opposite side of the world to you.

Don't be shy folks :D We're all friends here :o

I'm happy to be 65 and don't care who knows it (even the tax man :shock: ) but you don't need to be quite as personal if you prefer not to be.

M for male; F for female ; and :P for undecided will do.

Hairy faced Russell
Russell,

I've often thought the same thing - but in reality anybody can say anything about their personal profile. :shock: :?

A recent experience left a very bad feeling (both emotionally and financially) because I believed somebody needed help. :x :oops:
It had nothing to do with visiting The Mitchell.

I'm glad to say I've moved on and hopefully my ususal trustworthy and helpfull nature will be more appreciated than abused.

Oh dear Ah'm oan ma soapbox again. It's 'at red wine 'at dis it so it is.

Regards,
Annette M

Russell
Posts: 2559
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:59 pm
Location: Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire

Post by Russell » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:41 pm

Annette

Its insufficient red wine that usually causes an otherwise calm, placid well-regarded individual to mount a soap box. Enough red wine and you feel 'high' so who needs a soap box :lol: :wink:

Just like the papers you shouldn't believe everything you read but you have to trust sometimes.

I'm glad you have settled on an even keel again (sounds very nautical)

Russell
Working on: Oman, Brock, Miller/Millar, in Caithness.
Roan/Rowan, Hastings, Sharp, Lapraik in Ayr & Kirkcudbrightshire.
Johnston, Reside, Lyle all over the place !
McGilvray(spelt 26 different ways)
Watson, Morton, Anderson, Tawse, in Kilrenny

LesleyB
Posts: 8184
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:18 am
Location: Scotland

Post by LesleyB » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:50 pm

Hi Russell & all
I can understand it does help when answering queries to know where someone is, but some of our members may prefer to remain vague about their whereabouts for one reason or another, but sure, a vague idea of country or hemisphere would be helpful in many caes! It is certianly not compulsory to state where you come from or give any other personal details - although we are all friends here, I think we do have to remember that it is a very public forum with many visitors dropping in on a daily basis who are not members! Its a bit like trying to have a private party in the middle of a public street!

Although we are a friendly bunch, usually only too willing to help, please bear in mind that we do not really go in for very "recent rellies" - we much prefer to be dealing with those from a good while ago, preferably long dead! :lol: see for details:
viewtopic.php?t=6601

Best wishes
Lesley

paddyscar
Site Admin
Posts: 2418
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:56 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by paddyscar » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:04 am

Russell:

Have you been reading my mind? I too think that it is helpful to put at least a general idea of where you are, so that people can judge what the best options are, when responding.

I'm not talking about listing street addresses, but at least a country would give responders a point of reference of where to suggest that would be most appropriate.

I agree that many users prefer to maintain their privacy and there is no doubt that there are those who like to take advantage, so caution is wise.

When I formulate a response to someone's query, one of the first things I do is check where they are. No point in sending someone off to look for contact info for their local genealogical society at http://www.ogs.on.ca when they live in Singapore.

Frances
John Kelly (b 22 Sep 1897) eldest child of John Kelly & Christina Lipsett Kelly of Glasgow

marilyn morning
Global Moderator
Posts: 3098
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:45 am
Location: Rhode Island, USA

Post by marilyn morning » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:38 am

Hello Everyone,

Its a wonderful idea to put your location in your profile and its the exact reason why I post mine. If anyone ever finds themselves needing a BMD lookup in the State of Rhode Island or Massachusetts pre 1915, please feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to assist, if I can.

But a word of caution here, if you're looking for more recent information?
Please send an e-mail or private message to the member and not post the names and dates here on the board. We are trying to protect the privacy of our living relatives spread across the globe. Although we are a friendly group of people here, there are others in the world who may wish to steal the identity of some kind soul. :shock:

Regards
Marilyn
Last edited by marilyn morning on Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Dogs leave paw prints on your heart.
Maxine Morning b. 23 April 1998 d. 14 Nov. 2008
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1718

StewL
Posts: 1396
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: Perth Western Australia

Post by StewL » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:49 am

I agree that including your location in your profile can be very helpful for those assisting others.
I understand that some people are wary, but I have been on this forum from the beginning and although I feel I "know" a lot of the people on this site. There is no way on this earth I could "track" them down given the often cryptic user names.

I have to say even big brother would find it hard, and not worth the effort. :lol:

As said before it also helps us know what type of information or advice that is given to people on the forum when there general location is known.
Stewie

Searching for: Anderson, Balks, Barton, Courtney, Davidson, Downie, Dunlop, Edward, Flucker, Galloway, Graham, Guthrie, Higgins, Laurie, Mathieson, McLean, McLuckie, Miln, Nielson, Payne, Phillips, Porterfield, Stewart, Watson

wini
Posts: 678
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2005 2:39 pm
Location: West Australia

ADDING TO YOUR AVATAR

Post by wini » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:34 am

I agree with you all, it is nice to know where people come from without being specific.

When I read Marilyn's posts from Rhode Island, I conjure up visions of the rich and famous and the America's cup. Stewie I don't need to think of 'cos used to live there but Fremantle also means Americas cup.

Halifax Nova Scotia reminds me of a cousin who lives there and so on
Sarah ND from Minnesota, France and somewhere else makes me think of a very busy lady, Davie I can just imagine, wonder if he wears a bunnet

It just adds to the flavour of TS

wini
Munro, McPhee, Gunn, Reid, McCreadie, Jackson, Cree, McFarland,Gillies,Gebbie,McCallum,Dawson
Glasgow, Durness,Kilmuir via Uig, Logie Easter
Old Monkland

Davie
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
Location: Glasgow

Post by Davie » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:48 pm

Like Russell,
I like to see where folk ur bidin’ noo.
Ah cannie see why oany wan wid be ashamed or worried aboot that.
Well, unless they came frae Lochwinnoch.
I do indeed wer’ a bunnit Wini, but no in this wee pic.
The Reverend Faither, sent to the Gallery
I have to tell yoose aw, that it is a hard task tryin’ tae find a shoap that sells bunnets in Glasgow the day.
The last one I purchased wiz oot o’ Crockett’s the Ironmongers in West Nile Street, cost £24.99p
(I wait patiently fawr yer comments oan this)
An fawrbeit for me tae offend oanbudy Liz.
Davie

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-845


added by marilyn

Davie
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
Location: Glasgow

Post by Davie » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:54 pm

Anither advantage o' lettin' us know wher' ye live, is that we kin tell yeese aboot books available frae yer Parishes.
Like
Kilbarchan, A Parish History, by the Rev. Robert McKenzie, is available on cd fawr a tenner.
Whereas, if ye waanted tae buy the book, it wid cost over £100 these days.
However, if oany wan wid like tae be ordained, like masel.
Ye can join my church at:
http://www.themonastery.org/

Bless you all,
Your trusty Pastor

The Reverend Davie