Brynne- See the post on the Ancestry blog that explains they are having trouble with the Messaging system this morning and are working on a fix. Jay Fichialos (Ancestry User Experience) has also posted on the Ancestry Site Comments message board about the problem. Joan In a message dated 3/12/2009 1:51:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, brynneholland@gmail.com writes: And this is what I got: "We're sorry. We weren't able to get your messages or message folders. Please click the Messages link in the header, or try again later." I haven't been able to send a message to a board poster as it doesn't recognize my username, logged in as admin, and wants me to subscribe. Great job, Anna! (sarcasm dripping) Brynne Holland

Hi all, The messaging system is now completely loaded so you should be able to use it without errors now. I think you will find you like it a lot better than the Connection Service. -Anna -----Original Message----- From: boards-admins-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:boards-admins-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of JYoung6180@aol.com Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 11:54 AM To: boards-admins@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BAd] New Online Messaging - Replacing Connection Service Brynne- See the post on the Ancestry blog that explains they are having trouble with the Messaging system this morning and are working on a fix. Jay Fichialos (Ancestry User Experience) has also posted on the Ancestry Site Comments message board about the problem. Joan In a message dated 3/12/2009 1:51:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, brynneholland@gmail.com writes: And this is what I got: "We're sorry. We weren't able to get your messages or message folders. Please click the Messages link in the header, or try again later." I haven't been able to send a message to a board poster as it doesn't recognize my username, logged in as admin, and wants me to subscribe. Great job, Anna! (sarcasm dripping) Brynne Holland ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BOARDS-ADMINS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

And this is what I got: "We're sorry. We weren't able to get your messages or message folders. Please click the Messages link in the header, or try again later." I haven't been able to send a message to a board poster as it doesn't recognize my username, logged in as admin, and wants me to subscribe. Great job, Anna! (sarcasm dripping) Brynne Holland On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 8:26 AM, Anna <anna@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Beginning Thursday March 12, the Ancestry Connection Service will be > replaced with a new feature known as Ancestry Messages. > > > A few highlights of this service: > > . All messages will be stored within the Ancestry website in an Inbox style > format with easy to manage folders > > . Messages will be stored as conversations allowing you to easily follow up > on previous communications > > . You will be able to send a custom message to other users, and in the > future will be able to attach files > > . Messages will contain a convenient link that refers to the possible > common > ancestor > > > While the existing Connection service will remain available for messages > currently in progress, all new messages will be completed with the new > Messages feature. > > Your ability to contact message board posters should not be affected by > this > change. If you do experience difficulties please contact our support team. > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BOARDS-ADMINS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Beginning Thursday March 12, the Ancestry Connection Service will be replaced with a new feature known as Ancestry Messages. A few highlights of this service: . All messages will be stored within the Ancestry website in an Inbox style format with easy to manage folders . Messages will be stored as conversations allowing you to easily follow up on previous communications . You will be able to send a custom message to other users, and in the future will be able to attach files . Messages will contain a convenient link that refers to the possible common ancestor While the existing Connection service will remain available for messages currently in progress, all new messages will be completed with the new Messages feature. Your ability to contact message board posters should not be affected by this change. If you do experience difficulties please contact our support team.

I've been getting this for weeks when I log in. If you go down to the bottom and click in as the administrator, it goes away. I've had no objections so that makes no difference. If you click on the link (re problem), enter your email address, it takes you to a page that shows you your subscription status and gives you the opportunity to subscribe to more services (World, etc) but doesn't do away with the pink box when you go back. Just go down to the bottom and click Administrator and it goes away. Sandi

singhals wrote: >Anyone else getting that cute little pink box that says >"There has been an error" while Reviewing Objections? > > Yes, off and on. Seems to pop up intermittently, whether there are 2 objections or 100. >If so, what's it mean (other than, I can't let you DO that)? > Try reloading the page. That works for me. Lynne

Yes--it just means the page failed to load. Try again and you usually get the page to load on the second or third try. I figured it might be happening more to me because I'm up to about 140 objections waiting for the Move Message function to be fixed--and this makes the page harder to load. :( Joan In a message dated 3/5/2009 3:10:43 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, singhals@erols.com writes: Anyone else getting that cute little pink box that says "There has been an error" while Reviewing Objections? If so, what's it mean (other than, I can't let you DO that)? Cheryl Singhal

Anyone else getting that cute little pink box that says "There has been an error" while Reviewing Objections? If so, what's it mean (other than, I can't let you DO that)? Cheryl Singhal

Lynne- You feel "singled out" in what way? Because other admins don't wish to play games and be attacked when volunteering to admin boards? You wouldn't believe the number of private emails I've received after posting my reply in this thread -- from admins who are TERRIFIED of you and were too scared to post in opposition to your post for fear of being harrassed. Previously, my experience has been with well-intentioned admins who simply have orphaned their boards for fear of the board police. The boards and volunteer admins never signed up to be harrassed by people with nothing better to do than to prowl the boards and report etc. and OR and VARIANTS in surname fields in 10 year old posts. Far better than opting not to act on a frivolous abuse report would be not have them posted to begin with. I have 128 pending abuse reports for non-moveable posts in my objections queue and don't need to have to plow through them all only to delete the "please fix the surname field and remove the etc. from a post made in 1998" in the queue. Sorry--but you are abusing the report abuse function. I agree that not being able to find a surname when doing a board search IS a problem...so let those who encounter this problem in a legitimate search report it if they wish. We don't need the Suzi DoGooders of the world (and I'm beginning to think there is only ONE Suzi using a few usernames) to report frivolous requests that never caused issues for legit board users. Joan PS: I'm done discussing this issue (it is rapidly turning into a peeing contest) and other admins can do as they wish with the frivolous reports but I felt it needed to be pointed out just how many good admins gave up their boards rather than be harrassed but didn't feel confident enough to complain--other than to me privately. It also needed to be pointed out that admins do not HAVE to feel that they must act on frivolous abuse reports if they choose not to. And if those frivolous deleted reports are repeated over and over (as some HAVE been in the past)--then it WOULD be proper to report the problem abuse reporter to board staff or the HelpDesk. In a message dated 2/28/2009 12:53:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, rwlist.admin@verizon.net writes: I am very sorry that you feel singled out, Joan. So do I. > You have a choice to act on the abuse report or delete it. >REPORT ABUSE is intended as a means of >reporting ACTUAL PROBLEMS--not to go looking for issues that no one has ever been >bothered by except through a random search to find errors. > Not being able to find a surname when searching the surnames fields IS an ACTUAL PROBLEM. > And, yes, I think >that is exactly what some are doing--searching merely to report errors--why else >would one search for words like "variants" and "others?" > > Um, could it be because I found OTHERS as a surname and also misused on one of my boards and in my area of research? Could it be because if found "variants" in the surnames fields on my boards? Gee, I could have sworn I wrote that in my original message. Perhaps someone's soapbox got in the way and that text couldn't be seen. ;-) Joan, if you don't want to fix the surnames fields in your old posts, then don't fix them. But don't attack me or any others on this list because we took the time and trouble to let other admins know about a recurring problem. Frankly, I find it extremely discouraging when I or someone else takes the time to point out a problem and then, rather than acknowledging the problem, thanking the poster, or just ignoring the message, we get lectures and reprimands from someone not in a position to do either. Lynne

Joan, It's really sad that any admin feels any abuse report is "frivolous". You want only those who "encounter a problem" to file abuse reports. It's obvious most board users do not understand the purpose of the surnames field or what is meant to go there; and they sure don't know where the Board FAQ link is. Easily 70% of the posts made on the boards I admin have incorrect surnames entries. I email each and everyone of them with the direct quote from Board FAQ. If I receive a reply, 99% of the time the user comments "I didn't know that". So, if they don't know what is supposed to be in the surnames field and they've never even seen the Board FAQ link let alone clicked on it, it's a pretty far leap to believe they understand the Report Abuse function; or are willing to use it. The original messages by Lynne and myself were FRIENDLY requests, not demands or singling anyone out, nor asking for other admins to do something they don't want or do not have the time for. "A request" and "whenever admins have time, please consider". We are all volunteers who chose how much time to devote to this. No one is expecting the boards to be perfect... but for those of us who believe fixing the surnames field IS HELPING USERS, don't bash us when we make friendly requests. You have made your choice. Everyone on this list knows your opinion because you choose to tell us every single time the subject arises. You really don't need to beat the dead horse any more. You could choose to press your delete key if the subject arises again. Brynne On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 1:42 PM, <JYoung6180@aol.com> wrote: > Lynne- > > You feel "singled out" in what way? Because other admins don't wish to play > games and be attacked when volunteering to admin boards? You wouldn't > believe > the number of private emails I've received after posting my reply in this > thread -- from admins who are TERRIFIED of you and were too scared to post > in > opposition to your post for fear of being harrassed. Previously, my > experience > has been with well-intentioned admins who simply have orphaned their boards > for fear of the board police. The boards and volunteer admins never signed > up > to be harrassed by people with nothing better to do than to prowl the > boards > and report etc. and OR and VARIANTS in surname fields in 10 year old > posts. > > Far better than opting not to act on a frivolous abuse report would be not > have them posted to begin with. I have 128 pending abuse reports for > non-moveable posts in my objections queue and don't need to have to plow > through them > all only to delete the "please fix the surname field and remove the etc. > from > a post made in 1998" in the queue. Sorry--but you are abusing the report > abuse function. > > I agree that not being able to find a surname when doing a board search IS > a > problem...so let those who encounter this problem in a legitimate search > report it if they wish. We don't need the Suzi DoGooders of the world (and > I'm > beginning to think there is only ONE Suzi using a few usernames) to report > frivolous requests that never caused issues for legit board users. > > Joan > PS: I'm done discussing this issue (it is rapidly turning into a peeing > contest) and other admins can do as they wish with the frivolous reports > but I > felt it needed to be pointed out just how many good admins gave up their > boards > rather than be harrassed but didn't feel confident enough to > complain--other > than to me privately. It also needed to be pointed out that admins do not > HAVE to feel that they must act on frivolous abuse reports if they choose > not > to. And if those frivolous deleted reports are repeated over and over (as > some > HAVE been in the past)--then it WOULD be proper to report the problem > abuse > reporter to board staff or the HelpDesk. > > > > > In a message dated 2/28/2009 12:53:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > rwlist.admin@verizon.net writes: > > I am very sorry that you feel singled out, Joan. So do I. > > > > > You have a choice to act on the abuse report or delete it. > > > >REPORT ABUSE is intended as a means of > >reporting ACTUAL PROBLEMS--not to go looking for issues that no one has > ever been > >bothered by except through a random search to find errors. > > > > Not being able to find a surname when searching the surnames fields IS > an ACTUAL PROBLEM. > > > > And, yes, I think > >that is exactly what some are doing--searching merely to report > errors--why else > >would one search for words like "variants" and "others?" > > > > > > > Um, could it be because I found OTHERS as a surname and also misused on > one of my boards and in my area of research? Could it be because if > found "variants" in the surnames fields on my boards? Gee, I could have > sworn I wrote that in my original message. Perhaps someone's soapbox > got in the way and that text couldn't be seen. ;-) > > Joan, if you don't want to fix the surnames fields in your old posts, > then don't fix them. But don't attack me or any others on this list > because we took the time and trouble to let other admins know about a > recurring problem. > > Frankly, I find it extremely discouraging when I or someone else takes > the time to point out a problem and then, rather than acknowledging the > problem, thanking the poster, or just ignoring the message, we get > lectures and reprimands from someone not in a position to do either. > > Lynne > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BOARDS-ADMINS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

JYoung6180@aol.com wrote: >Lynne- > ><snip> admins feel it is >a burden and that are being singled out (and, no, I don't feel they really >WERE being singled out--but to some it SEEMED that way) for error reporting. > > I am very sorry that you feel singled out, Joan. So do I. > >If a board admin feels as YOU do that they need to clean up ALL posts on >boards they admin, that is fine--but it is NOT a requirement and when this >preoccupation with cleaning up boards spreads to OTHER admins' boards -- that is >where I see it as overstepping. > You have a choice to act on the abuse report or delete it. >REPORT ABUSE is intended as a means of >reporting ACTUAL PROBLEMS--not to go looking for issues that no one has ever been >bothered by except through a random search to find errors. > Not being able to find a surname when searching the surnames fields IS an ACTUAL PROBLEM. > And, yes, I think >that is exactly what some are doing--searching merely to report errors--why else >would one search for words like "variants" and "others?" > > Um, could it be because I found OTHERS as a surname and also misused on one of my boards and in my area of research? Could it be because if found "variants" in the surnames fields on my boards? Gee, I could have sworn I wrote that in my original message. Perhaps someone's soapbox got in the way and that text couldn't be seen. ;-) Joan, if you don't want to fix the surnames fields in your old posts, then don't fix them. But don't attack me or any others on this list because we took the time and trouble to let other admins know about a recurring problem. Frankly, I find it extremely discouraging when I or someone else takes the time to point out a problem and then, rather than acknowledging the problem, thanking the poster, or just ignoring the message, we get lectures and reprimands from someone not in a position to do either. Lynne

Cos It Makes Anything Written This Way Hard To Read.... just like all caps and all lowercase is hard to read. And...uh... I'm not "nit picking" -- I was making a comment. Attacking is not nice either. Judy On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 7:13 AM, Tammy <tammy@net.bluemoon.net> wrote: > To be perfectly honest, who cares? > > We aren't here to be grammar police. We are here to help people find > information about long lost relatives. I don't care if someone posts a > thread with every mistake imagineable, if it helps someone else find > someone they have been searching for. > > The nit picking on this mailing list is ridiculous. > > Tammy > ============== > > > On Fri, 27 Feb 2009, J.A. Florian wrote: > > > Brynne, > > > > You Have The Same Poster On Your Boards, I See There? Who Also > Punctuates > > Wrong! A Question Is Never A Question. A Statement Becomes A Question? > > And All Is Spelled First-Cap. > > > > it is as bad as all lowercase or ALL CAPS > > > > Judy > > > ======================== > >

The problem with misspelling a city or having a typo in the surname field like the MILLER board someone typing in MLILER or MILLRE by mistake is that this will mess up searches. If the typos are in a field I can fix and I'm *sure* they are typos or misspellings (like in the case of Pittsburgh, PA vs. the frequently seen misspelling Pittsburg) I'll fix them in new posts I'm reviewing, but I don't go looking for typos and misspellings. As someone already pointed out--the goal is to help the posters and researchers in their research. Joan In a message dated 2/28/2009 8:04:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, jasche45133@gmail.com writes: Agreed. Not everyone who posts to the boards received a good education, is a good speller, or has good typing skills, and I really do try to overlook errors. And it all honestly, without Firefox and its spell checker my posts would be full of typos. Although, I must confess that I once did send a private email to a poster who continually spelled Cincinnati incorrectly. It's a pet peeve of mine. If your ancestors settled in Cincinnati then it's a good idea learn the correct spelling. J. Asche

I did too! And I have to agree that this person needs to get a life. J. Asche On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:17 AM, <JYoung6180@aol.com> wrote: > Tonight I found that I have become the "target" of a bunch of frivolous > objections by Suzi DoGooder and her ilk undoubtedly as the result of the thread > and my comments on this list earlier today. > > To give a few examples of the frivolous searches and reports filed by Suzi > et al: surname fields that include: etc. and or <---now I ask you WHO is  being > hurt by this in 5 year old posts? Does anyone really think a legitimate > board searcher would ever be searching the surname field for the surname etc. or > OR?  If not, then there is no harm done by the presence of these words in  the > surname field in these old posts. > > I'm going on record tonight as categorically stating that I will no longer > act on frivolous "dogooder" board police objections--they will hence forth be > deleted without any additional action on my part. I feel someone needs to step >  up to help put an end to such needless and uncalled for practices as these > reports -- and I hope it may lead to these dogooders getting a life or > possibly  adopting boards in need of attention and devoting their idle time to more > productive pursuits. > > Joan > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BOARDS-ADMINS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Other than making the board "look good" if someone other > than the admin happens to looking at the Whole Thing one > day, what's the point of messing with 3, 4, 5 year old posts? They should probably be messed with if the post doesn't belong on the board and needs to be moved or removed, but I usually do fix the surname box if it needs it, and if the classification is missing; as in the case with many older posts, I will fix that. Don't ask me why - maybe because I inherited the perfectionist gene from my mother and can't control myself. Joan Asche

Agreed. Not everyone who posts to the boards received a good education, is a good speller, or has good typing skills, and I really do try to overlook errors. And it all honestly, without Firefox and its spell checker my posts would be full of typos. Although, I must confess that I once did send a private email to a poster who continually spelled Cincinnati incorrectly. It's a pet peeve of mine. If your ancestors settled in Cincinnati then it's a good idea learn the correct spelling. J. Asche > To be perfectly honest,  who cares? > > We aren't here to be grammar police. We are here to help people find > information about long lost relatives. I don't care if someone posts a > thread with every mistake imagineable, if it helps someone else find > someone they have been searching for. > > The nit picking on this mailing list is ridiculous. > > Tammy

On Fri, 27 Feb 2009, J.A. Florian wrote: > Brynne, > > You Have The Same Poster On Your Boards, I See There? Who Also Punctuates > Wrong! A Question Is Never A Question. A Statement Becomes A Question? > And All Is Spelled First-Cap. > > it is as bad as all lowercase or ALL CAPS > > Judy > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BOARDS-ADMINS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > To be perfectly honest, who cares? We aren't here to be grammar police. We are here to help people find information about long lost relatives. I don't care if someone posts a thread with every mistake imagineable, if it helps someone else find someone they have been searching for. The nit picking on this mailing list is ridiculous. Tammy

Tonight I found that I have become the "target" of a bunch of frivolous objections by Suzi DoGooder and her ilk undoubtedly as the result of the thread and my comments on this list earlier today. To give a few examples of the frivolous searches and reports filed by Suzi et al: surname fields that include: etc. and or <---now I ask you WHO is being hurt by this in 5 year old posts? Does anyone really think a legitimate board searcher would ever be searching the surname field for the surname etc. or OR? If not, then there is no harm done by the presence of these words in the surname field in these old posts. I'm going on record tonight as categorically stating that I will no longer act on frivolous "dogooder" board police objections--they will hence forth be deleted without any additional action on my part. I feel someone needs to step up to help put an end to such needless and uncalled for practices as these reports -- and I hope it may lead to these dogooders getting a life or possibly adopting boards in need of attention and devoting their idle time to more productive pursuits. Joan

Brynne, You Have The Same Poster On Your Boards, I See There? Who Also Punctuates Wrong! A Question Is Never A Question. A Statement Becomes A Question? And All Is Spelled First-Cap. it is as bad as all lowercase or ALL CAPS Judy

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:08 PM, singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote: > > Other than making the board "look good" if someone other than the admin > happens to looking at the Whole Thing one day, what's the point of messing > with 3, 4, 5 year old posts? Posts 3, 4, 5 and even 12 years old still show up on searches. Inapporpriate content in the Surnames field years old still produce false hits on an Advance Search. The point is to reduce those false hits. > > Easy thing would be for the programmers to put in whatever the SQL version > of "If and ONLY IF" is to filter out at the data-entry level everything but > proper Nouns with a board. > > Oh, such as the lovely quick-links filter out such things as "born" (my mother-in-law's maiden SURname)? Would the "everything but proper nouns" filter depend on capitalization? See, I have a frequent poster who Types Her Messages Like This. Every Word In Every Sentence Is Always Capitalized... Brynne Holland