Lynda, While I do not disagree with you at all, I, myself, have two different genealogy places on the net. I do not charge for anything that is on those pages. Any and all information I have is FREELY given no matter the cost to me. I have volunteered for numerous projects, on and off the web. Going out and taking my time and my gas to do for others what I can't do for myself because the families I am searching are hundreds of miles from here. I do not charge for my time and my gas to go do these things. All the while, hoping that somewhere, somehow, down the line that someone will return the favor someday and help me in return, because I CAN'T afford to pay for any of the things that it takes to get my research done. I don't mind that Ancestry.com charges. What I do mind is the fact they have these so-called "freebies" for 14 days that gives you access to ALL their databases. It is NOT free when I have to have a credit card to sign up for the "freebie" and then it takes forever to get unsubscribed and they charge you credit card because you can't get unsubscribed and are "using" their services beyond the 14 days, when I have been too busy trying to unsubscribe to go to the site and use the services! Been there done that! Only it wasn't a credit card it was a debit card and taken directly out of my account! Therefore it isn't a free 14 day trial. This is my big beef with Ancestry.com! Lainee Denton http://www.angelfire.com/tn2/GrannysPlace/ http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/users/d/e/n/Elaine-Denton ----Original Message Follows---- From: Lynda Monnig <cupido@cchat.com> To: MOHENRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MOHenry] Rootsweb/Ancestry Explanation Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 12:13:24 -0500 I have never responded to comments on this list, however the messages regarding "free" genealogy prompted me two throw in my two cents. I have been tracing my family trees for over 20 years. I can remember a time when I spent hours at the courthouses, LDS library, National Archives, etc going through microfilm, fiche and dusty books looking for records of my ancestors. I spent "money" for gasoline, parking, babysitters, photocopies, food, postage, etc. When genealogy reserach hit the internet I was thrilled. With a few clicks of the keyboard there was the possiblility of asking another researcher a question and getting a reply in minutes instead of weeks. The internet's greatest genealogical assets were the USGenWeb project and Rootsweb. Information at these sites was free, but that does not mean that they didn't have a price. Someone had to pay for the computer equipment, servers, and internet access. Volunteers that transcribed records had to pay for many of the fiche's, microfilm, books, etc out of their own pocket. I ask myself, how grateful am I to all the people who have contributed to this effort? The answer is VERY! So what! Grateful and a dollar will buy me a cup of coffee. What do you and I give back to keep genealogy "free". Ask yourselves, what have I contributed? Have I transcribed any "public" records and donated them to the USGenWeb or other free genealogical site? Have I created and maintained a free web site on the internet for other researchers? If the answer is "no" then shame on you and shame on me. We take, but we don't give. If we want public information to stay free, then we all have an obligation to contribute. The alternatives are to get in our cars and drive where ever there is a record we need and dig it out for ourselves, buy or rent that roll of microfilm (don't forget the reader) and spend hours searching for that one ancestor on poor quality film just to find out later that he moved from that county a month earlier. No, not me. Been there, done that. I'll gladly pay for a copy of a will I saw indexed online and when it arrives, transcribe it, and donate to the online community. But I expect everyone else to do the same thing. Do you? As for Ancestry.com! I too have a regular membership, plus the census images subscription. Perhaps it is the increase in subscribers, but there has been a major problem in the area of online census images, i.e.broken links, records not available or the server is very slow in responding. I have written my share of e-mails complaining of the problems. And I do think they have an obligation to compensate in some manner the subscribers. I guess if I get real unhappy I can cancel my subscription and wait for them to get things better organized. Happy hunting! Lynda ==== MOHENRY Mailing List ==== Going to be Gone? There is not a formal no-mail mode. Unsubscribe when you want the messages to stop. Subscribe when you want to start again. Follow the instructions below: QUICK INSTRUCTIONS To unsubscribe, send an e-mail message to: MOHenry-L-request@rootsweb.com (for individual messages) MOHenry-D-request@rootsweb.com (for a digest of multiple messages) In the body include only one word: unsubscribe (Turn OFF your signature file when sending this command) To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: MOHenry-L-request@rootsweb.com (for individual messages) MOHenry-D-request@rootsweb.com (for a digest of multiple messages) In the body include only one word: subscribe (Turn OFF your signature file when sending this command) ============================== 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 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp