At 01:33 17.12.99 -0500, Susan wrote: ------------------------- > Flame on!!! Okay I always thought that the people who come on the list new > will post their queries.. Well, the first what I do when I am new to a list, I will look whether there is an archive to look for old posts. Whether they have some kind of "policy" and background info, or a FAQ, etc. This costs me a bit of time, but after that I feel more confident. > As you grow with the list and learn then at a > point where you feel you are knowledgeable to help someone else you should!! You can help from day one, if there comes a post along about a location / surname what you are working on. > The point I am trying to make is "everyone" is new once, I know this, therefore I included myself. > we need to extend > to them the courtesy that was extended to us when WE were new.. No objection at all. I only think it is much more helpful - and if you like also more courteous - to them to give them a whole "how-to guide", instead of giving them a little piece of info and they have to ask the very next moment again, because they don't know where to find it. It is "Not to give a fish, but to teach how to fish". I think it would be more corteous to give them immediately the whole "secret knowledge" instead of arrogantly telling them: "My friend wait for a while, read all the postings for several months and then you will also get all the links and infos that I have already". > It would > certainly be a very boring list if all our questions were answered in a neat > little package when we signed on.. It would be a FAQ, not a AAQ (All Asked Questions). So you need all the questions of the new-comers, that could be easily answered by themselves (in which case they also would get more self-confidence), just to prevent that the list is getting "boring"?? > I am sure there would be questions above > and beyond the FAQ and when you get bored with those what next?? There are lots and lots of questions that will always be above and beyond a FAQ. This are the questions what need real co-operation and make a list interesting, even for only lurkers. > You my friend should be on the ship list?? Sailed already. > Unfortunately, alot of us don't have > the time or experience to put together such a site or package. Susan Everybody who is lurking here for a couple of months should have all the necessary infos. I think such a FAQ would not only be good for newcomers. I know something like that from other lists where it is very appreciated and is very helpful especially also for old-timers. Therefore I suggested to post it monthly also to the list. By this everybody can profit and be updated about everybody's old and newly discovered links. When I needed a link "there was something some months ago.....", I just opened the last posted FAQ and had all the links and info neatly together. A real help. Yes, frankly, I am a bit bored about some of the QUESTIONS, not about the PEOPLE!! I am more sorry for them. I remember my first time here. Hell, had I been happy, if somebody had given me something with all the links to the maps, location finders, addresses etc. and said: "Try this here, and if you have any problems, come back and I will be happy to help you!" And now to all the newcomers who read my rumblings: Pls. don't get afraid because of all this, but do continue to ask whatever you want to know! If anything comes along what covers my "areas" (Stadtsteinach, Dinkelsbühl...Ansbach), I will take my time and be glad to help you, if I somehow can. And pls. accept my sincere apologies that I don't have the time to put everything together, what could help you a lot in the beginning and give you an easy "quick-start". I still do hope, that somebody else does it. Stefan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stefan Probst" <stefan.probst@opticom.v-nam.net> > To: <BAVARIA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 1:02 AM > Subject: [BAVARIA] Proposal: FAQs > > > > Hi Folks, > > > > prepare to flame at me ;-)) > > > > there are always those newcomers (being myself one of them a couple of > > months ago), with always the same questions: > > - where do I find the hamlet of xxx? > > - where can I find info? > > - where is the archive (addresses) for xxx? > > - is this place Palatine or Bavaria? > > - (and a few more) > > > > Some of the "old" ones here again and again do the lookup in shtetlseeker, > > geoserv etc. > > > > I intended to compile a "FAQs about Bavarian Genealogy", but simply don't > > have the time for it. What it should include are links to > > - maps and related databases (like geoserv) > > - archive addresses (possibly with info about their regulations and fees) > > - URLs of the Genealogical Associations in Bavaria > > - URLs of Bavarian History sites. > > - other related mailing lists (e.g. Franken) > > Does somebody have time to start such a document? > > > > I assume that once the first draft is compiled and published, the other > > members of the list would contribute their URLs ("Know Where") to be > > included.... > > > > The actual version of this "FAQs" could be mailed to the whole list once > > per month and it should be hosted somewhere on a website. In the "greeting > > message" to new subscribers they could be informed about that site. > > Instead of getting a single nail hammered by somebody on the list, > > they would get a full toolbox to do whatever they want. > > > > I thought, instead of continuing to "intend somewhen later", it is better > > to bring the proposal to the list, so somebody else might pick it up. > > > > Volunteers? > > > > Merry Christmas, > > Stefan > > > > ______________________________________________ > > Stefan Probst stefan@v-nam.net > > Hanoi, Vietnam http://www.all.ourfamily.com > > > > > >