Back the day after dirt was invented?, there was one very large genealogy group on usenet (Roots as I recall). It became unwieldy for those not in the US who were paying by the message or by the minute, and it proceeded to subdivide into many smaller groups now known as the soc.genealogy.whatever hierarchy which covers soc.genealogy.british soc.genealogy.medieval soc.genealogy.computing s.g.methods and numerous others, all with an attached mail-list. So, if you're only interested in South African genealogy (think Johannesburg or Desmond Tutu), you can sub to that one and ignore the rest of the world. I think you miss an awful lot of learning opportunities that way, though. Nivard Ovington wrote: > Hi Cheryl > > Could you decipher that please<vbg> > > What do you mean by "split groups" ? > > POV ? Point of View > > TYG ? Thank You, God Cheryl > > I think you will find that most Admins are not overly keen on test messages, > as it takes the same effort and the effect is the same its always better to > post an enquiry if only a repeat of a previous one, test messages do nothing > of use > > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > >> I remember one morning having 400 in just one group ... then >> it split apart and the total of the split groups dropped to >> 100 -- thus proving that we'd all have fewer messages to >> read if we split. I'm still not sure that's necessarily a >> /good/ thing, though. >> >>> To see if you have missed any posts its easiest to check the rootsweb >>> archives rather than post test messages >>> Go to http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ >> >> Ummm; but, from a list-admin's POV, this way has advantages? >> At least we know a few of us are still here. ;) >> >> Cheryl >> NOT the list-admin here, TYG!

OK I understand what you mean now re soc etc (aka the arguers corner :-) As far as separate lists are concerned, I think there is a place for each but there is also a place for the more general lists like Roots Lists in general have declined, in some cases to the point of non existence, some have not had posts for months if not years The main factors to my mind are the plethora of information now available online, inconceivable a short time ago, so people can find much more for themselves than was the case And the many ways that people now communicate, Skype, facebook, twitter etc etc So the interesting posts are shared out far wider these days Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) PS I sussed the POV before you gave the answer but have never come across the TYG > Back the day after dirt was invented?, there was one very > large genealogy group on usenet (Roots as I recall). It > became unwieldy for those not in the US who were paying by > the message or by the minute, and it proceeded to subdivide > into many smaller groups now known as the