Scotch-Irish-L Archives

From: linda Merle <>
Subject: Mailing List Manners
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 22:04:07 -0700

>
>
>MAILING LISTS: TIPS FOR POSTING AN EFFECTIVE QUERY
><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
>=======================================================
>Mailing Lists are a great way to connect with researchers with similar
>interests or long lost cousins. But getting results requires more than
>just a little luck. It takes a well though out query to get results.
>Below are some tips for writing an effective query that will increase
>your chances for success.
>************************************
>~ Make sure you are addressing your query to the appropriate list.
>Familiarize yourself with the lists that are available and then decide
>which list is most likely to be able to provide the answers that you
>seek. You can choose from Surname Lists, Regional or Ethnic Lists, or
>Special Interest Lists(such as Immigrants, Ships, or Research How-To).
>************************************
>~ Make sure that the subject line is concise and reflects the
>information you are seeking. Many people are on several mailing lists
>and due the amount of mail they receive, they only have time to scan
>subject lines. "Need genealogy help" is not as likely to get results as
>a specific subject heading. If the inquiry is about an individual or
>family, be sure to include the surname (in caps). Other helpful info
>that can be included might be a date or time frame, location, or other
>identifying information. A commonly accepted format might be something
>like:
>
>PUBLIC, John Q. 1887-1934 IRL>NYC>OHIO
>Be creative and make your query stand out to the people that have the
>information you need.
>************************************
>~ Get to the point. Most people don't want to take the time to read a
>long drawn out query. The first paragraph should contain the "Who, What,
>Where, and When" of your request. Details can be filled in after you
>have gotten the attention of your targeted audience.
>************************************
>~ Include only one request in your post. Too many requests may decrease
>your chances for a response. Other inquiries can be posted separately.
>************************************
>~ Include places you have already checked for the information. Otherwise
>you may be wasting other listmembers' time, as well as your own, as you
>will have half a dozen replies telling you to search the obvious places
>that you have already checked. Let people know that these are the
>avenues that you have tried, and you are looking for an alternate route.

>************************************
>~ Capitalize SURNAMES so that they are easy to pick out of the post and
>subject lines. (You shouldn't capitalize an entire message as it makes
>it more difficult to read and some people consider it the online
>equivalent of shouting.)
>************************************
>~ Be careful with abbreviations in your query. Remember that many
>mailing lists have members from all parts of the world and others may
>not be familiar with the same abbreviations that we use. So spell it out
>whenever possible. This will eliminate the possibility for
>misinterpretation.
>*************************************
>~ Familiarize yourself with online resources so that you don't post
>unnecessary requests. If you are looking for a geographic location, try
>some of the online maps that are available to locate an ancestor's town.
>Some popular map sites are:
>
>MapQuest
><http://www.mapquest.com/>http://www.mapquest.com/
>USGS County/Location Finder
><http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html>http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www
>/gnis/gnisform.html
>Pam Rietsch's 1895 U.S. Atlas
><http://www.livgenmi.com/1895.htm>http://www.livgenmi.com/1895.htm
>**********************************
>~ Check your email settings. Make sure you are only sending plain text
>to mailing lists. Others may not have the capability to read HTML coded
>messages and you want your message to be received and readable by as
>many listmembers as possible.(Rootsweb doesn't accept HTML messages, so
>that's not appropriate here but I thought I'd include it).
>**********************************
>~ Do not send your query as an attachment. Many viruses are transmitted
>as attachments and as a result, most people wisely refrain from opening
>attachments on email from people they don't know.
>**********************************
>~ Sign your post with your name and email address. Some Email readers
>don't show the address that an email is received from and a recipient
>with the information you are looking for can't respond to you if they
>don't have your email address.
>**********************************
>~ Reread your post carefully before you send it. Check for typos. Did
>you include all the necessary information? (Remember the 4 W's: Who,
>What, Where, When) Are all of your facts correct? Have you signed it
>properly?
>**********************************
>~ Make sure your post is neat, and polite. Manners count online too.
>**********************************
>~ Be careful of what information you post online, particularly when
>referring to living persons. Be sure to respect peoples privacy and keep
>yourself and your family safe from those who might use information found
>online for fraudulent purposes.
>**********************************
>~ If you find information worth sharing, post it to the appropriate list
>and share the source of the information so that others may benefit from
>your "finds." As you help others, they will be more eager to help you in
>return.
>**********************************
>~ Always be polite on the lists and refrain from flaming. No one wants
>to help someone who is constantly complaining (this wasn't a complaint,

>just thought it might help some), or mean to others.
>**********************************
>~ Keep a log of your email messages so you know what requests you have
>already put out and when.
>
>By using common sense and following simple guidelines, you can benefit
>greatly from mailing lists. They are a great place to make friends, find
>relatives, and information.

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• Mailing List Manners by linda Merle <>