Overall I have had a positive experience. I haven't made any connections, but the information I have found invaluable is suggestions from the people on lists. I have learned tid-bits about new areas I am researching, research ideas, etc. The only bad experience I have had on the web is from Everton Publishers. When using their supposedly secure server, my credit card number was taken and someone tried ordering things. Luckily, I caught it the same day. The other thing I can't figure out is this: I have access to a database that lists all civil war soldiers in Wisconsin. I have volunteered to do look-ups in various places like the wi gen web and some counties and no one has taken me up on the offer.