Post by Steve BamfordAs another observer of this discussion, isn't this a bit over the top?
I had carefully read all her posts before responding
She came here without doing any preparatory work at all -- nadda
She is a professional researcher for goodness sake
As a newbie here not so many years ago and still VERY much a novice at all
this I empathise with the novice point of view
I suppose that because I trained as a researcher [unfortunately rusty], I
spend my days and nights "helping" beginners and novices in other fields of
life, and I have lurked here for several years I can see many of the
different points of view.
This environment is very strange and artificial. Its not simply a place to
put in dumb questions and get each and every one answered day in and day out
by unpaid professionals. Bear in mind some of the folks here [ and their
equivalent on other special interest groups] are the top of their field. If
you wanted to get the equivalent advice on the open market you would be
talking £50 - £200 an hour!!
Its articifial because we all communicate in writing only but its an
informal place where people get to know others so the writing stops being as
formal as it might be. After a while intonation can be inferred if you are
familiar with someones style. Any new person coming into this fluid and
vibrant community has to tune their ear into the moods of the regulars. Its
like being a new person in a village pub. The response here is a darn sight
more polite to folks who have no manners than it would be in that scenario.
Post by Steve BamfordIt does not seem unreasonable to me to seek help from a newsgroup
alongside whatever other research you're doing. If people don't want
to offer free advice they have the option of not responding.
I quite agree with you and for those folks who are working away at their
family histories at what ever level this is just about the most amazing
place to be
MP was not - she was a professional media researcher working on a project
hoping to get as much work done for her without doing the very basics
herself. This was plain from the first post.
I have had the same on the phone time and again in "my" professional life. I
am increasingly astonished at the inability of any media researcher to
engage even the most basic of grey cells. I will admit that this may have
coloured my reply a little.
I really look forward to hearing of your [and everyone elses] genealogical
problems for the wonderful folks here to untangle.
Its a fascinating hobby and completely addictive.
Each of us will learn something from everyone elses questions. Even if it is
only that media researchers need a great deal better training before they
get paid to do their job - or that any amateur genealogist would do it a
great deal better
<grin>
--
regards Jill Bowis
Surnames search
Senior, Ashworth, Pulman, Crossland, Ambler, Neutkens, Hebblethwaite,
Nuttal, Taylor
Mair, Brown [ABS], Lawrie, Sutherland, Rainey, Hunter, Pittendriech, Sumner,
Moss, Houghton, Hampson, Owen, Smethurst,
Lister, Vaughan, Maltby, Tomlinson, Stewart[London], Yabbicom,
Smith[Leicester], Beaumont, Gibson, Wickings
Bowis, Palin, Parish, Foster, Newlove, Yabbicom, Goodall, Stewart [Paisley],
MacKinlay, Watt, Green, Smith, Weir, Hair, tentative one name : Bowis
www.bowis.co.uk One place: Ardchattan, Argyll www.benderloch.org.uk/forum