-----Original Message----- From: Mari [mailto:ddmmjm@netins.net] Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2000 10:38 PM To: WICRAWFO-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [WICRAWFO] Netiquette for the Newbies Hello Everyone :) Dear Researchers, 'Tis the season for new computer and genealogy users to be joining us on our mailing lists. Cyndi Howells has written an extremely good message for all of us to remember after the holidays. Merry Christmas! Roxanne ListHostess <snipped> >Each January we see a huge influx of newbies joining us online >because Santa was generous and left a sparkling new computer under >the tree. There are also many after-holidays sales which offer >people the opportunity to purchase a snazzy new computer or modem. > >Many people get online for the first time and enthusiastically don >their cyber-bikinis, hitting the surf with gusto. They are excited >to be here and they are (much as we "oldbies" were) rightfully >overwhelmed by all that there is to see and do. The language here >is foreign to them. The technology is newer, fancier and zippier >than they may have used in the past. And the way that we all >participate in our giant, online genealogical society, while being >very similar to offline groups, is still a bit different than they >may be prepared for. In other words, it is a brave new world to them. > >I would like to put out a call to each of you to show these newbies >that we are a friendly, welcoming and helpful group of online >genealogists. To do so we all need to pitch in and show patience, >understanding and kindness. We also need to put on our teaching >caps and be prepared to show them the ropes. > >1. Don't make assumptions. > >2. Explain things in detail, include URLs and complete >instructions. > >3. Verify details and addresses before you send them to >people. > >4. Offer to help people privately via e-mail, off of the >mailing lists. > >5. Be prepared to explain things more than once, in more >than one way. > >6. Keep in mind that we were all new at one time. > >7. Keep in mind that we all learn something new every day. > >There are several places online to which you can point newbies in >order to help them learn about this new research venue. I have >tried to make these easy to locate by setting up links on my site: > >Internet Stuff You Need To Know >http://www.CyndisList.com/internet.htm > >Also be sure to point them to these basic starting places online: >Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet >http://www.CyndisList.com > >Your genealogical research portal onto the Internet >RootsWeb >http://www.RootsWeb.com > >See the RootsWeb Help Desk: >http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com > >Genealogy Resources on the Internet - Mailing Lists >http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html > >USGenWeb >http://www.USGenWeb.org > >Good luck and successful surfing to everyone online - both newbies >and oldbies, >Cyndi >~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* >Cyndi Howells Puyallup, Washington >cyndihow@oz.net ______________________________