Genealogy Chat

PLEASE when you are posting or replying to posts write so that others can read it easily. I've just been looking at a thread where one post was 88 words long with NO punctuation and NO capital letters. Honestly, it was a pain to read. And it took a lot longer to understand than if it had been written in proper sentences.

There are plenty of people willing to help, but please help us to help you by taking a little bit more time to organise what you write.

Do not slag off other members.
The Rules
Please don't communicate anything that is, or could be considered, abusive, vulgar, offensive or threatening – your behaviour must be polite, patient, and not intended to cause (or capable of causing) trouble or offence to other members.

Allan,

Please remember there are some people who are unable for whatever reasons to deliver your request re the above, a lot of us struggle with reading, writing etc.......and really do not want reminding of the fact.

If you are struggling reading some of the posts, then please just move on to another post.

Ann

Sorry but I am with Allan. I hope none of us would criticise a person with poor spelling, grammar or punctuation - heck, even some top professors and doctors can't manage it! But I do think a lot of posters are not really lacking in basic writing skills at all, but simply lazy - as is the modern trend.

There are too many posters using 88 words with no capital letters or punctuation for them all to be accepted as struggling with reading or writing.

Most people, if they take the time, can start a sentence with a capital letter, and put a full stop, or at least a comma, at the end of each main point.

There are too many who simply do not appear to bother, so we can't understand them and they don't get the help we would like to give them.

Margaret

I think the emphasis is a bit wrong - the advice is good from the point of view that an easy-to-read post is much more likely to get a response, rather than being for the benefit of the reader, as we can just move on.

It's better to write in lower case, short sentences with just essential information. A list format often works well, and if you have trouble with grammar should be easier.

Jan

I agree with Janet. We all like to try and help others with their research, and the poster is more likely to get a response if their request is easy to read. I know I have started to read a request but found it so dificult to read I have gone on to another. I have also seen where another member has re-typed it in their reply to make it easier to understand.

Just a couple of sentences saying what it is you want to find and then perhaps using seperate lines with name year and place of birth for each person.

I think this post is more to do with advice than critisism.

Chris

Yes I agree too. However, perhaps AllanC's posting did come across as just a bit too aggressive.

I would also say you can often tell if someone is doing their best to get their message across or whether is down to sheer laziness.

I think Im getting old and impatient. I'm afraid if I see a posting like that now, I just cant be bothered to read it through.

I do understand some people have a problem with reading and writing.

I do understand Allan's frustration and have noticed that several helpers actually re-type some of these 'block' - type posts to make them more legible.

This is better than someone missing out on advice because of the difficutly in reading their post.

I find I really have to concentrate with text type messages in order to understand them. Must be an age thing, but I hate spoiling the English language!

hello just come across this and i am cross i am pleased that alan is able to spell and tippe axpertly i hope he thanks god every day for his good fortune

i have had a stroke it is dificult to hold too keys down together also the bit of brain cells that died must be memery ones as sometimes i canot spell

but my computer gives me a lot of pleasere being almost house bound so i am sorry if i do not get itright all the time i am sure i there are many people in similer positions

i do not want simperthy but please remember that some of us struggle sally

thanks david i will
sally

Dear Sally,

Please do not be put off from using this board by someones thoughtless comments, because I think that is what they were, I am unable to imagine that they were intended to hurt anyone, and I hope not the writer of the 88 worded e-mail! Enjoy your genealogy Sally and keep well.

Ann

I don't think Allan has set out to hurt anyone. He is just making a valid point. Requests ARE easier to read if they are at least spaced out a little bit. I am not worried by bad spelling, punctuation etc but even someone with poor literacy skills can hit the return key a couple of times to at least spread the message out a bit - makes it easier for everyone that way.

Chins up everyone!

Jill

thanks for your nice massage ann
sally

Hi Sally,

I'm really pleased for you that despite your stroke you are able to get pleasure using your computer.

Your reply was very clear and easy to read because you spaced it out not using one paragraph for your message. If everyone posting a request for help did that it would make it much easier reading for those willing to help. As for correct spelling, grammar etc well none of us are perfect.

Chris

Now, I'll have to be a bit careful how I word this, but there was certainly no intention to give offence. And thank you to those of you who saw where I was coming from and expressed things better than I did originally.

I know that some people have problems with spelling and others find difficulty using their keyboard, but Sally showed brilliantly how you can make things easier just by spacing things out. Perhaps I was too much on the negative side instead of accentuating the positive.

Dear Sally

But your post is easily readable. Far better than many that we are struggling with. No problem with your posts, we can see the little errors and it doesn't affect anybody's understanding. You are doing great, and I don't think you are in the category of those posts that we cannot understand. Your spelling and vocabulary are easily understood by me.

I too have had a stroke, fortunately minor, and I am sure we can all work round your minor spelling mistakes with no problem.

The problem is with people who don't seem to have the basics of grammar or spelling, and we just can't help them, much as we want to.

It is very frustrating for those of us who want to help.

Much love

Margaret

I hesitated before adding to this thread, but I have to say I didn't take Allan's original posting to be offensive to anyone at all.

The most annoying posts to me are the 'texting' style ones. I am sure these are young people (I would change my name to 'Granny Grumps' but someone has already got it)!

I did a few looks ups for some one who used this style of typing and I got 'thanx' for a reply.

Gr8? Grrrrr. :-)

hello all thankyou for all your replys as you see allan has not put me of i acept his apolagy but please just count to three befor giving advice do it a bit less agresive ly

i am always so gratefull for any help i have been given when i have asked i have learned such a lot on heer

thankyou all sally

Well put Sally.

I think we should recognize that whatever the message, however spelt, people of all walks are seeking their relatives not a lesson in grammar,and if you notice someone struggling, it would be a nice gesture to take that person under your wing .

Genes is'nt an easy site to master, let alone post a message for beginners. I think we are all going to have to get used to the new way of text writing soon, before we are out of step !

My grandson's schoolbooks are full of mispelt comments by his teachers !
I had the fear of God and the English language beaten into my knuckles by nuns with wooden rulers, ah the good old days LOL

Let's face it, our ancestors didn't spell too good either !
Lx