tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post5782155490815907539..comments2024-03-07T23:20:49.790-07:00Comments on Genealogy's Star: An Illusion of Influence?James Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-19994653287489802942013-05-01T08:39:12.357-07:002013-05-01T08:39:12.357-07:00The trouble with Blogs and many on-line resources....The trouble with Blogs and many on-line resources... I have found that I can go on-line and find many... too many... resources that cover nearly any topic of interest to me. However, often I can read 10 or more sources and never learn much of anything beyond what I learned from the first two or three sources. This on-line chatter tends to hover on the surface of the topic and I struggle to find reliable resources that get into enough depth to actually help be get past the basics.FamilyTreeGeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07088855492375860622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-85414221916777687162013-04-18T05:29:58.014-07:002013-04-18T05:29:58.014-07:00Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog a...Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I've really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!irish historical researchhttp://www.paulmaccotter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-80688118192586707812013-04-11T18:05:04.842-07:002013-04-11T18:05:04.842-07:00You point out an important factor in this post. Ho...You point out an important factor in this post. However, achieving a change in the "culture" of an organization--or any other collection of people--is something that is fostered over time.<br /><br />A lot of time.<br /><br />There is a trajectory to the adoption of innovation, and moving genealogy researchers and enthusiasts along the learning curve toward exploring and exploiting online resources will most likely follow that path, too.<br /><br />Like you, I've been a zero TV usage advocate. Actually, our family has adhered to that policy for <i>decades</i>. Then again, we've been a computer-using family since the mid 1980s. Perhaps you could call us early adopters--then again, who needs TV when you can do so much, thanks to computers?<br /><br />Like Christine mentioned above, it was passion about the subject of seeking my family's origins and history that led me to learn what I could--and find resources to further my quest. As one author once said, "Ya gotta have the 'Want to.'"<br /><br />Other people, however, are not like that. It may take time before genealogy resources on the Internet seep into their everyday household terminology.<br /><br />However, as change agents involved in shifting the cultural ambience already know, targeted effort over time can effect change. If we seem to have two camps here--non-Internet users and Internet research aficionados--training such as you mentioned needs to be adopted by more of those who are working in that interface.<br /><br />Our local genealogical society teaches monthly classes for beginners in a joint project with our city and county library. When I teach my portion of those classes, I make sure to provide a variety of online resources pertinent to the focus of the specific class. When I publish articles in our local genealogical society's newsletter, I include links to relevant online resources.<br /><br />I know there are many others out there bridging the gap in this manner as well. Ancestry.com itself provides hands-on training to librarians in how to guide their library patrons in use of the library version of Ancestry. Local, state, and special-interest genealogical groups are also reaching out to those who are interested, and including not only training in the basics of research principles, but providing research guides including online resources.<br /><br />As more of us add our voices to the boots-on-the-ground types of training offered in all our communities, eventually the message will get out that there are fantastic resources online that streamline genealogical research. That "culture change" may seem glacial in its progress--and the online genealogy crowd correspondingly insular--but eventually, though slowly, I believe that change will take place.<br />Jacqi Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03471698670217119444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-81328712606967205692013-04-11T09:59:33.815-07:002013-04-11T09:59:33.815-07:00I think a lot of people are busy "doing"...I think a lot of people are busy "doing" their research and not following everyone else's blogs and websites. Most people have families and jobs and when they get the time they do research.They don't have the time to go to places. You can do most research at home on your own. Why pay money, you don't have, to go to conferences? I will spend money to travel to my ancestral homeland but not to go to a conference. If this was my profession I would be more motivated to go to the conferences. :) Just my two cents!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03708680983175435084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-84199974499278958392013-04-11T09:50:13.552-07:002013-04-11T09:50:13.552-07:00Nearly all of the people I talk to in my current g...<i>Nearly all of the people I talk to in my current genealogical activities are not even vaguely aware that there was a conference or even that genealogical blogs exist. In fact in many classes, even those with experienced researchers, few people are even aware that blogs about genealogy exist.</i><br /><br />Just curious: might it be age related? If one works full time, has a spouse that works full time, and is busy raising kids -- who has time for genealogy?<br /><br />OTOH, if one is retired and has time, one is probably less likely to be savvy about blogs, etc.?<br /><br />Just hazarding a guess . . . A DC Wonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09732615221598098540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-79307282969266012412013-04-11T08:10:58.680-07:002013-04-11T08:10:58.680-07:00I was just thinking yesterday about how grateful I...I was just thinking yesterday about how grateful I was to the genealogy blogging/tweeting/podcasting community for all the knowledge it imparts to me: the latest news, tech products, laws, webinars, etc. I know that I have a place to go for more information, if needed.<br />Once genealogy became a passion for me almost 3 years ago, I started looking into what my learning resources could be. Since I got an iPhone that Christmas, I wondered if there were genealogy podcasts & I discovered Lisa Louise Cooke's podcasts. Those in turn introduced me to the blogging community, which in turn exploded more avenues of information for me.<br />I guess what I'm trying to say that if a person has a passion or at least a curiosity & acts on that, seeking out what can support it, this whole new online world can be found.Christine M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01625485691037280392noreply@blogger.com