SIT: Please can somebody explain

[ChasH]

I only joined Rootschat yesterday but looking at some surname interests I see things like, say,  SMITH Gloucester 1900+

What does 1900+ mean?   It cannot, considering our research goes backwards in time, mean 1901 to 2007 can it?  Nobody ever researches that way do they?  But mathematically that's just what it does mean.

I think that it would be a good idea to adopt the standard signs "< " and ">" so that <1900 would mean less than 1900 and >1900 would mean greater than 1900.  Notice the "rule" that the open end of the arrows are towards the higher numbers (Or the arrows point towards the lower!) - it does not matter if the sign is behind the number as long as that "rule" is obeyed.

If the above signs cannot be adopted as standard why not use "pre" or "post" and forget the +?

Chas

[aghadowey]

Seems obvious that 1900+ would mean 1900 and after. All research does not go backwards in time and often we are trying to trace a family forward up to the present day.

[ChasH]

O.K. Thanks

[Ann Baker]

Chas

I do forwards and backwards! 

Forwards because trying to find missing family for my dad who doesn't know anything about any of his cousins at all - as you can tell they weren't a close family! But he wants to know now so as the only one in family doing our tree, I am on the search. Just need time to get to Edinburgh cos it's all there.

Backwards - goes without saying!

Sometimes tho I've had to come forwards to go back to check that someone is who I thought they were.

Will meet myself coming other way one of these days!

Ann

[rbell]

I tend to agree with most suggestions providing we all understand what is intended. Research will of course still  proceed!  Cheers, Rob.