[or-roots] Posting from 1st time user

[CKlooster at aol.com]

Once again someone just beginning the fascinating climb up the family tree  
dares to ask this list for help.  Clearly this is someone putting  a tentative 
toe into the water as evidenced by the fact that the message begins  with a 
question about how to post.  Instead of a warm welcome to the world  of 
genealogy, Kay received a response that was lacking in simple courtesy.   It seemed to 
me to be  a put-down; as responses from Walt often  do. Maybe he doesn't mean 
to come across the way he does.  Walt always  has his immediate defenders, 
but why does he seem so frequently to need  them?
 
I frankly disagree with the implication that age and infirmity convey some  
right to be impatient or discourteous.  Many of the people who helped me  most 
when I was beginning in genealogy were elderly people who were friendly;  
helpful; and above all, patient.  They were people who were happy to share  both 
information and researching tips.  I am indebted to them and my  philosophy has 
always been that I can repay that debt by sharing with others who  are just 
beginning.  Also, part of the fun for me in genealogy at this  point is solving 
puzzles and often that involves finding or sharing information  on lines that 
are not  mine.  
 
The majority of the people who share information on this list seem to be  
very helpful and courteous.  Maybe the answer is to drown out the  "curmudgeons" 
and curmudgeon defenders by responding immediately to new  list members with a 
warm welcome, constructive advice, and encouragement.   Otherwise there will 
soon be nobody left on this list but the curmudgeon  contingent.
 
Carla
 
PS...the old holdover from the very early days of the internet when posting  
in all caps was mostly used by flamers to SHOUT insults, usually is overlooked 
 on lists such as this.  Many people are hunt-and-peck "keyboarders" (See, I  
don't want date myself by saying "typists"!) and either choose to compose  in 
all caps, or to type without any capital letters.  It's the content that  
counts, not the font, or the spelling, or the punctuation, or the lack/surplus  
of capital letters.  
 
 
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