All - I’d like to wrap up this post by thanking ColC for assistance in getting me enrolled in the Birmingham History Forum (BHF) and especially sharing the communication below. I spent a good while on Sunday connecting with some distant cousins and volunteering information after my 4th enrolment attempt was successful. However, today I received this message “You have been banned for the following reason: Breaking of rule regarding advertising on this site..” As my posts were no different to normal RootsChat posts, it is difficult to see what BHF means by “advertising”. So I missed out on my cousins responding.
I would like to ensure that RootsChat members, such as ColC, don’t stop helping others when odd things like this occur. The reason BHF gives does not make sense (advertising what?). RootsChat & BHF members need to be aware that the BHF apparently appears to have a limit on the number of posts that a member can make in a given period, if the message below is true. Too many messages = banned; but there is no warning or explanation. If you can’t post to a forum, it does negate the purpose of membership. Without posts, RootsChat would not be the fantastic source it is.
What should be of greatest concern to RootsChat/BHF members is that the BHF has an administrator who ignores confidentially and data security, thereby making it a non-trustworthy site. I will be warning researchers and blogging about this in the wider genealogy community. BHF have never communicated with me as a member, however they are prepared to discuss me and details of my membership with another member, in this case ColC. Had this not been shared (and I am very grateful to ColC for that), this unethical conduct would not have been exposed. This clear break of data confidentiality indicates the Birmingham History Forum does not keep membership info safe. I would have closed my membership immediately, had they not done it for me. RootsChat/BHF members may want to get assurances from BHF that their membership information is kept confidential.
I am happy to share this message for the benefit of RootsChat members:
“Hello Clarkie, we have picked up on various posts from the general genealogist and it appears that he has asked for information on several different families, we don't mind helping out our members but we don't take posts for several inclusions at once. I am sorry but I have no alternative but to rescind his membership immediately. I am only letting you know as a courtesy to you as a valued member of the Forum.. Jim”
Best wishes,
Mark