At 18:49 26/10/01 +0100, Allan Raymond wrote: >"Submitter Details > >N.B. The vast majority of records have been transcribed by people with no >research >interest in the names they have transcribed. Please do not mail the >transcribers >with research questions. This email address is provided for the purpose of >correcting errors in the transcription." > >I believe work is taking place with the view to hiding the volunteers >details if >so desired which may possibly resolve your problem. There needs to be a contact address when people think that they have found a mistake, and I would expect that most of us are content to field these rather than have co-ordinators and leaders even more harassed than they are now. >Anyway getting back to your query, where else on the site would you >suggest we put >a "bold" message warning off potential researchers? I agree that many people will misunderstand or ignore messages wherever they are placed but we have to accept that many of those viewing sites such as these have very little understanding of the sources and why the information may not be wholly reliable. I don't think we should clutter the search results screen any more than we can avoid because that is counterproductive, but I wonder if there should be links from that screen addressing the three likely outcomes to a search - have you found your ancestor? can't find your ancestor? do you think you have found a mistake? Each link could take people to a page which patiently explains things. The first is already there but I would suggest explaining why the transcription or index may be wrong, a reminder that there may be confusion between people with the same name, etc, as well as how to get a copy of the certificate and what it contains, as now. The second needs to explain that the project is far from complete and the index fallible, and why there is no point contacting those associated with the project. The final link could explain why there are problems with transcription and index, and the limited circumstances in which an e-mail to the transcriber is appropriate. I know that some of this will be repetition, and that FreeBMD can't offer a complete course in family research (the odd useful link to other sources on that may be best) but at least it might be possible to steer users in a productive direction. Andrew Hingston <http://www.amhinja.demon.co.uk>

I agree with a lot of what Andrew says, but I am also in favour of having a central person who fields the do you think you have found a mistake queries. This volunteer could then contact the transcriber to request they look again at the information. I realise that there are more urgent fixes required - periods etc, but perhaps this could also be looked at in the future. Sheelagh ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Hingston" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 5:43 PM Subject: Re: e-mail inquiries > At 18:49 26/10/01 +0100, Allan Raymond wrote: > > >"Submitter Details > > > >N.B. The vast majority of records have been transcribed by people with no > >research > >interest in the names they have transcribed. Please do not mail the > >transcribers > >with research questions. This email address is provided for the purpose of > >correcting errors in the transcription." > > > >I believe work is taking place with the view to hiding the volunteers > >details if > >so desired which may possibly resolve your problem. > > There needs to be a contact address when people think that they have found > a mistake, and I would expect that most of us are content to field these > rather than have co-ordinators and leaders even more harassed than they are > now. > > >Anyway getting back to your query, where else on the site would you > >suggest we put > >a "bold" message warning off potential researchers? > > I agree that many people will misunderstand or ignore messages wherever > they are placed but we have to accept that many of those viewing sites such > as these have very little understanding of the sources and why the > information may not be wholly reliable. I don't think we should clutter the > search results screen any more than we can avoid because that is > counterproductive, but I wonder if there should be links from that screen > addressing the three likely outcomes to a search - have you found your > ancestor? can't find your ancestor? do you think you have found a mistake? > > Each link could take people to a page which patiently explains things. The > first is already there but I would suggest explaining why the transcription > or index may be wrong, a reminder that there may be confusion between > people with the same name, etc, as well as how to get a copy of the > certificate and what it contains, as now. The second needs to explain that > the project is far from complete and the index fallible, and why there is > no point contacting those associated with the project. The final link could > explain why there are problems with transcription and index, and the > limited circumstances in which an e-mail to the transcriber is appropriate. > > I know that some of this will be repetition, and that FreeBMD can't offer a > complete course in family research (the odd useful link to other sources on > that may be best) but at least it might be possible to steer users in a > productive direction. > > Andrew Hingston > > <http://www.amhinja.demon.co.uk> > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=702&sourceid=1237 > >

On Sat, 27 Oct 2001 18:17:25 +0100, you wrote: >I agree with a lot of what Andrew says, but I am also in favour of having a >central person who fields the do you think you have found a mistake queries. >This volunteer could then contact the transcriber to request they look again >at the information. >I realise that there are more urgent fixes required - periods etc, but >perhaps this could also be looked at in the future. this is already being written :-) Transcribers will be able to opt to be "ex-directory" -- Dave Mayall