"Michael A Lightfoot" <michael.lightfoot@pcug.org.au> wrote in message > MargM wrote: >> >> Its also good manners to sign off any message e.g Regards Jen from >> beautiful down town where ever >> > Oh dear. Do I have to sign my emails: > > "from really, really boring not really downtown Canberra"? LOL. We all have foibles. My foible is that I don't sign and I expect replies to be sent to where they are read ie: the list. Others have different foilbes such as wating a signature and repling direct by way of email to the asker. I think the latter habit of replying to 'on list' questions by email is very unhelpful given that any genie should know about the value of 'archives' included online archives. (unsigned and quite deliberately so)

Hello.....?? Normally, I would not reply to you simply because I do not know who to address, however, on this occasion I am replying just to explain why a name is important and a signature, of some kind, at the end of an email is useful. Providing your name is simply a way of expressing goodwill and courtesy, and surely these are important beginnings when asking someone to give of their own time to help you do something or find something. Something akin to shaking hands, smiling and introducing yourself when face to face with someone, or addressing and signing a letter. You are certainly entitled to withhold your whereabouts if you so choose, but on email lists, without some indication of the GENERAL location in which you reside (no need to be specific or descriptive about the area) your proximity to various records and repositories is unknown, e.g., you may be somewhere in England, Germany, South Africa or even Australia, and this can affect my reply to you. If you requested assistance of some kind via a mailing list, and you are residing in South Africa, it would not be useful for me to suggest the record you require is available by visiting the NSW State Records Office (archives) however, if I knew you were not able to take a short drive to that repository, I may be able to suggest alternative means to obtain the record locally or perhaps by applying online to that office and providing you with the contact details. Many listers offer to obtain documents, often at no cost and usually just for photocopying and postage, if they are aware the person requesting assistance is remote from the repository. Re replying to the individual rather than the list....this is often because the person replying does not want their email address to made "public" for some reason, or they may be offering to assist in some way and do not wish to "go public" because they could be inundated with similar requests. For whatever reason, this is once again an option entirely up to them, but at least they have paid you the courtesy of replying to your enquiry. One last point: you said any genie is aware of the value of archives, including those for Mailing Lists, and I most certainly agree with that. We are also aware that in order to receive information, we have to show we are willing to share information. Unfortunately, your archived emails will show your reluctance to share even your name and general locality, and that may not inspire many people to contact you. 'Bye for now Lynne Fiddick =============================== Central Coast, NSW, AUSTRALIA =============================== -----Original Message----- From: FarmI [mailto:ask@itshall be given] Sent: Monday, 16 November 2009 10:54 AM To: genanz@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: nsw bdm- message format We all have foibles. My foible is that I don't sign and I expect replies to be sent to where they are read ie: the list. Others have different foilbes such as wating a signature and repling direct by way of email to the asker. I think the latter habit of replying to 'on list' questions by email is very unhelpful given that any genie should know about the value of 'archives' included online archives. (unsigned and quite deliberately so)

Hello FarmI, Your reply was quite off topic. In fact I found it quite laughable because it showed you were simply trying to stir up an angry response and had nothing worthwhile to contribute. Sorry to disappoint you. 'Bye Lynne ..::>>::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>.. Lynne Fiddick Central Coast of New South Wales, AUSTRALIA ..::>>::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..::>>..