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Archiver > GENMSC > 1998-12 > 0913248456


From: Valorie Zimmerman< >
Subject: Re: Dumb Newbie Question
Date: 9 Dec 1998 16:07:36 -0800


The Hellwigs wrote:
snip

> My question is, where is that line between asking for help and asking
> someone else (or several someone elses) to do the bulk of the work for
> you?

Different for each person, each list, each situation.

> One of the mailing lists I joined (and will be unsubbing from soon
> because it's making me nuts!) has a frequent poster who posts lookup
> requests constantly. The one that made my jaw drop was when she asked
> if someone would go to the library for her (she's a stay-at-home mom she
> said, and can't get out much), photocopy the pages she needed and then
> either bring them by her house or mail them (but she'd prefer having
> them dropped off.)

Anyone can ASK. And only those who wish to help need respond! Maybe that
task would be "no big deal" for someone to do....how do you know?

At that point, someone else on the list suggested
> that she either do her own genealogy research or take up another hobby
> until her life changes enough to allow her to do her own research. He
> was summarily un-subbed for his suggestion.

I think that sort of post is just rude. Why respond is you have no help
to offer?

> So, am I just being stupid here? Is it really acceptable to ask other
> people to do all your research? Or is it only acceptable on that one
> mailing list?

As I said, anyone can ASK. Whether anyone will respond depends.....Maybe
that poster is very helpful in *other* ways, that you don't know about.
There's more to internet genealogy than just looking up names and dates
in the library!

All the best,

Valorie Cowan McBee Zimmerman, IBSSG
Black Diamond, Washington USA
Proud sponsor of Rootsweb

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