OHADAMS-L Archives

From: Betty Lou Riley <>
Subject: [OHADAMS-L] Hi to the Newbies!
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 17:44:14 -0500

Hi Everyone,
I found this on the listowners list and Cyndi gave me permission to pass
this on to the lists!

"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.

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

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://cgi.rootsweb.com/~help/index.htm

Genealogy Resources on the Internet - Mailing Lists
http://users.aol.com/johnf14246/gen_mail.html

USGenWeb
http://www.USGenWeb.org

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

Hope we all are, nice to the newbies! Newbies please feel free to ask me
or the lists, any questions that you have about posting quearies! I will
also be reposting a list of, queary posting suggestions! I am going to try
to post them every month!

Betty Lou Riley
List Owner for: OHAdams-L, KYGreenu-L, KYLewis-L, and McGovney-L
Instructions at: <http://www.zoomnet.net/~chipmunk/SurnamesMail.html>;
CC:/CCA:KY Greenup Co. CCA: KY Lewis Co. ICQ#26749649

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• [OHADAMS-L] Hi to the Newbies! by Betty Lou Riley <>