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Archiver > CyndisList > 2002-01 > 1010008977


From: Cyndi Howells <>
Subject: 2002: Time for some patience, kindness and teaching
Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 15:03:03 -0800


Hello all -

Happy new year!

Each January we see a huge influx of newbies joining us online because
Santa was generous and left a sparkling new computer under the tree. There
are also many after-holidays sales which offer people the opportunity to
purchase a snazzy new computer or modem. Many people get online for the
first time and enthusiastically don their cyber-bikinis, hitting the surf
with gusto. They are excited to be here and they are (much as we "oldbies"
were) rightfully overwhelmed by all that there is to see and do. The
language here is foreign to them. The technology is newer, fancier and
zippier than they may have used in the past. And the way that we all
participate in our giant, online genealogical society, while being very
similar to offline groups, is still a bit different than they may be
prepared for. In other words, it is a brave new world to them.

I would like to put out a call to each of you to show these newbies that we
are a friendly, welcoming and helpful group of online genealogists. To do
so we all need to pitch in and show patience, understanding and kindness.
We also need to put on our teaching caps and be prepared to show them the
ropes.
1. Don't make assumptions.
2. Explain things in detail, include URLs and complete
instructions.
3. Verify details and addresses before you send them
to people.
4. Offer to help people privately via e-mail, off of the
mailing lists.
5. Be prepared to explain things more than once, in more
than one way.
6. Keep in mind that we were all new at one time.
7. Keep in mind that we all learn something new every day.
8. Reach out to your fellow researchers and set a good example.

There are several places online to which you can point newbies in order to
help them learn about this new research venue. I have tried to make these
easy to locate by setting up links on my site:
Internet Stuff You Need To Know
http://www.CyndisList.com/internet.htm
Beginners (to genealogy)
http://www.CyndisList.com/beginner.htm

Also be sure to point them to these basic starting places online:

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
http://www.CyndisList.com
Your genealogical research portal onto the Internet

RootsWeb
http://www.RootsWeb.com
See the RootsWeb Help Desk:
http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/

FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
http://www.familysearch.org/

Genealogy Resources on the Internet - Mailing Lists
http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html
Complete list of all genealogy mailing lists online

Good luck and successful surfing to everyone online - both newbies
and oldbies,

Cyndi
http://www.CyndisList.com

P.S. Please feel free to forward this to everyone!

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