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Beginners => How to Use RootsChat (Please don't post requests here) => Topic started by: paul_poppy on Friday 24 March 17 12:36 GMT (UK)

Title: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: paul_poppy on Friday 24 March 17 12:36 GMT (UK)
I am new to the site and I know there are existing members that are my extended family (which I have just found on roots chat) but I can not figure out how to use this site.  I have replied to a discussion to first engage with them but I cannot see there other relevant posts.  I was told I need to do three posts to see stuff but I don't have anything to post, other than the discussion I mentioned.  This site seems overly complicated, can anyone explain ???

Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Maggsie on Friday 24 March 17 12:49 GMT (UK)
Hi,
I went to look for your other post.
Virginia Moody.
Ok
Was she born in 1882 ish?
In Tasmania?
Ok if this is her I will keep the info for a week.

Answer to your original question.
When you reply to a post, an email is sent to the person who originally made the post.
Over the years of using this site I find that either they change their email address straight away (as if!) or they can't be bothered replying.
I know this is blunt but that is how it is.
More than likely this is will be edited by the moderator, to make it "Nice"
I have kept info and no one replies, then I dump it and then they reply...tough...can't get the info again, you should have replied earlier.
Don't worry give it about 3 years and someone will reply.
Maggsie
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nick_Ips on Friday 24 March 17 12:50 GMT (UK)
Paul, It isn't complicated, you just need to start in the right place. Try here for information about how to get started. http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=207046.0
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: scotmum on Friday 24 March 17 12:55 GMT (UK)
The site is far from complicated, and successfully used by thousands on a regular basis.

Like most things in life, though, there are rules in place to safeguard users and help with the smooth running of the site. To be mildly frustrated by any such, is better than to be hounded by, for example spambots, should you post an email address on a live forum.

As for replies, again, there can be numerous reasons for not getting one on a thread, but by virtue of the fact the thread is 'visible and out there', then you can always be hopeful of getting one, even if not in the timescale you would hope for.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: scotmum on Friday 24 March 17 13:00 GMT (UK)
Meant to also say, by clicking on the username of anyone in a thread, you can very easily see their profile, which includes when they were last active on site (ie to gauge likelihood of a reply), and also, within the profile page, use the further option of clicking on 'show posts', to view their posting history and read any of their old threads that might also be of interest. 
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: tillypeg on Friday 24 March 17 13:02 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat paul_poppy.  If you comment on this thread you will have reached your 3 posts and will be able to send personal messages to other RootsChatters.  It is a good idea to read the rules and regs first, the Beginners Board is also a good place to start.  Don't give up before you've hardly started ;)  We are all on a learning curve on RC, one way or another! 
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 24 March 17 13:04 GMT (UK)
Welcome to rootschat. 

You have had responses to your original post for a Tasmanian Marriage look-up.  I have asked the Moderator to split it off and start a new topic for you.

You should receive an e-mail when responses are made to your posts, and you can then respond to them, by using the blue "Reply" button.

Good luck!  ;)
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 24 March 17 13:10 GMT (UK)
Welcome to rootschat Paul.

Rootschat can be a bit tricky to find your way around but keep practicing and you will get the hang of it.

Firstly, you have started this thread in the "technical help/reference library section". It does not matter - I will ask a moderator to move it.  :)

You need to make three posts to be able to use the personal messaging system. This was set in place to avoid spam and other abuses. You can see everything else on the site no matter how many posts you have made.

I had a quick look at your post on the other thread. That thread is a few years old now and it is generally advisable to start a new thread of your own if you want help with new families. If you want to make contact with someone on another thread (no matter how old it is) definitely post on that thread. Sadly some people move on, change email addresses and even die, so do not necessarily expect an instant response to any reply on any thread. You sometimes need to be patient. :) Sometimes people join rootschat years later to make contact with a member if they have an ancestor in common.

If you want to contact any of the members on the Moody thread, click on their name and follow the prompts to send them a Personal Message. You should be able to do that n
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: sarah on Friday 24 March 17 13:28 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat, I have just moved your post because you had posted in our resources section where it would not be seen.

The member that you had just replied to earlier is now online, members are based all around the world sometimes it does take a little time for them to pick up their emails.

Regards

Sarah
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: heywood on Friday 24 March 17 13:29 GMT (UK)
superfluous post - all sorted  :)
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nova67 on Friday 24 March 17 18:09 GMT (UK)
I replied to Paul's initial post, but I think someone decided for us that we weren't related and that he was posting in the wrong spot before I even got a chance to reply.
I have sent him my email now by PM.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 24 March 17 23:05 GMT (UK)
That's good news Nova. A few crossed wires it seems.  :)

Glad it is all sorted.

Paul, it is worth persevering and trying to find your way around rootschat and if you need help with other branches of your family please don't hesitate to ask.  :)
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nova67 on Friday 24 March 17 23:14 GMT (UK)
It almost seems like he is not getting this bit:

A reply has been posted to a topic you are watching by Ruskie.

View the reply at: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=768094.new;topicseen#new

Unsubscribe to this topic by using this link: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=notify;topic=768094.0

More replies may be posted, but you won't receive any more notifications until you read the topic.

Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nova67 on Friday 24 March 17 23:22 GMT (UK)
This is also the second time I have had someone make a first post and then had no response to my reply.  Even though I had replied quickly. Their email should be correct if they have just joined ??? Usually you would be excited to get a response and be checking, I would be.

I think the three posts for a personal message is confusing to new people. We also use acronyms like PM!  Guilty.  Do they even know where the PM button is?

This may be all in the guide for beginners, but maybe it needs to be more obvious.

I even said hit the reply button and my post is above it. Just like this one.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: groom on Friday 24 March 17 23:37 GMT (UK)
Has he got this ticked in profile?

Quote
Receive forum newsletters, announcements and important notifications by email.
 Turn email notification on when you post or reply to a topic.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nova67 on Friday 24 March 17 23:44 GMT (UK)
Good thinking Groom. Maybe this is something the moderator can check as I don't think we can do that for others. I would have thought that would automate automatically?

Can you notify Sarah (moderator), or maybe she will get this automatically?  I am getting ready for work.

Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: groom on Friday 24 March 17 23:47 GMT (UK)
Have asked a Mod to check it. I would have thought it was automatic though, I wonder if it's going into his spam box? That happened to mine once.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: dawnsh on Saturday 25 March 17 00:46 GMT (UK)
His email notifications are switched on but set to "instantly - but only for the 1st reply".

If Paul has missed that email notification, for whatever reason, he won't get any more notifications until he comes back to the topic and read all the replies.

It looks like Paul posted his message at 12:36 and then logged off and hasn't returned just yet.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nova67 on Saturday 25 March 17 02:06 GMT (UK)
Well still no word,but basically Paul's grandmother Virginia is my great-great aunt. This makes us second cousins once removed, I believe.

Thanks for help.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: sarah on Monday 27 March 17 16:49 BST (UK)
Hi Nova,

I have been offline over the weekend, Yes Paul is picking up his email notifications on this subject.

I have just sent Paul an additional message regarding this topic.

Regards

Sarah
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: louisa maud on Monday 27 March 17 17:12 BST (UK)
It does happen from time to time that the originator doesn't come back to Rootschat, I really don't understand if we have put ourselves out to post replies of help that they don't come back to tell us we are on the right tracks or not

It isn't complicated, we RC's are usually a bunch of willing people who enjoy a challenge but we do like to know if we are on the right tracks

Louisa Maud
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Scribble1952 on Monday 27 March 17 18:04 BST (UK)
I also found the IT side a bit of a bother to get used to.
Because I am useing a i phone. ::)

But with the friendly help 😄 I have received I am becoming quite a wiz

In life there is not always a simple answer to why people do not correspond 😊
The site is free enjoy ;D
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: sarah on Tuesday 04 April 17 10:17 BST (UK)
Hi Paul,

I can see that you were online again recently, but have still not made any replies to your two topics ??? If you are looking for the reply button you will find it just below the last reply on the topics it is blue in colour.

Regards

Sarah
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Helen Peters on Tuesday 11 July 17 13:44 BST (UK)
3 posts? This is my third....
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: brigidmac on Tuesday 11 July 17 15:30 BST (UK)
just an idea nova why dont you start a topic about your mutual ancestors on the relevant topic board ie locality ..or beginners board and Paul can answer on there

this topic could remain general and is useful for anyone who has same problem

ps ,
regarding PM i think even some veterans in chatroom have a different definition to people who post mainly on topic boards 

 becaus e we can have a private chat live which is not the same as a private message which will flag up in envelope logo at top
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: youngtug on Tuesday 11 July 17 16:03 BST (UK)
The OP has only made 2 posts, I thought that you had to make 3 before being able to use the PM [personal messaging] system. If so then they would not have received  Nova67's message.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: sarah on Tuesday 11 July 17 16:27 BST (UK)
Helen is not trying to make contact with Paul, she was just trying to make enough posts to use the Chatroom.

I have replied to her other posts and I have been intouch by email.

Thanks Sarah
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: Nottsfisherman on Friday 02 March 18 18:14 GMT (UK)
As I only have one post so far and want to reply to a PM I am posting this (and another similar post) in order to increase my number of posts to three so that the messaging facility is activated.
Title: Re: Why is it so complicated to engage with roots chat discussions
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 02 March 18 18:18 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat Nottsfisherman

You should be up and running now. Hope you enjoy the site. Plenty of volunteers only to willing to help if you need it.


Good Luck
Sandra