In a message dated 7/13/03 8:24:38 AM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > I think we have answered a lot of other questions that were a lot further > off our path than trying to help someone with a question about a birth > certificate. We listen to petty arguments that used to go on for some time > until Claudia took over. Give people a break, some day you may need advise > Jo a and I hope that someone is there to help you with out turning a deaf > ear. > Excuse me???? Please read my response. I DID give help and explained what she could find on her birth certificate and who to contact to get it. If you have been part of this list for any period of time you know that I offer help and advice willingly and often and have done so for many years. I am the listowner of 29 rootsweb mailing lists and we get questions from people that are not doing genealogy research but find our names with search engines for surnames and areas (such as Hennepin County) so I made the comment in passing to Claudia. It was just a joking comment to a listowner and friend, as I wondered how she had found Claudia as she was wanting her birth certificate for a passport and is not a genealogist or member of the list. But I DID answer the question. Did any of you who have jumped down my throat, on the list or privately, answer her question? I seem to be the ONLY person that DID answer the woman's request for information, and yet I am criticized for a comment made in passing before giving the information she needed. Please don't accuse me of turning a deaf ear or being petty when I was at least willing to answer her question. I didn't see a response from anyone else, including all of you who are so ready to criticize me. My intent was not to offend and I apologize to anyone who took my comment out of context. Jo