Ask questions in online forums
Participate in online genealogy forums.
On the Internet, there are a large number of discussion forums and mailing lists dealing with Norwegian genealogy. In this article, I would like to share some thoughts and experiences I have had as a member of various genealogy groups since the Internet began.
Participate in online genealogy forums.
Look around the Internet and see if you find something that seems interesting and relevant. Facebook probably hosts the most such forums, but you can find discussion groups and forums outside of that platform, as well.
Most groups have a “Group description”, a “Newbie notes/read this” or a “Beginners FAQ” or something similar. Check out these first. The description will tell you what the group is discussing, what matters may be raised, and sometimes what matters are not to be discussed.
As an example, there are groups dealing with “paper-trail genealogy”. Some of these groups may state that “DNA genealogy” is not to be discussed because there are other groups that are dedicated to that subject. On Facebook, there is often a “Files section” linked to the group. This section often contains reference material relevant to the discussion topic. The “Files section” may hold the answer to your question.
How to get into these groups?
Some groups are open so that you can read and post messages without being a member. Some groups are closed. You may still be able to read, but if you want to post you need to be a member. On Facebook, you click “become a member” and an administrator will check to see that “you are a real person” and that you are properly identified. No hard interviews!
On mailing lists, you send an email to a posted address. Sometimes it is enough to write “subscribe” in the message body and then a server will do its magic, and you’re in. Other times an administrator has to add you to the list manually. Again, be sure to read all the information posted about the group and how to join.
You are in the game
Ok, you’re in the group and ready to begin. If you have not already had the opportunity to do so, I think you should lurk a little while, to see what is going on. Take the time to read through as many of the postings in the group as your time allows. We can learn a lot just by reading questions people have asked before.
To get the best possible results from your group postings, you need to do your homework. Ask about one person/couple/nuclear family at the time. You need to share all the information you have, relevant to the topic/person(s) you are asking about.
Read about linking to sources in my article Link to the actual source
I also think that you should focus your question on one or a few items. “When was he/she born?”, “When did they get married?” or “Did he/she have any siblings?” There is no need to get as much information as possible into/out of each posting. Nobody will find it strange if you are back frequently with new requests.
Posting on international groups, the time difference causes people in different countries to be logged on at different times. Norway is 6 hours ahead of EST. Depending on your question it might be good to have views from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you are a member of several groups dealing with the same topic, don’t post the same question in several groups. It is annoying having spent time answering, only to find that the same person has posted the same question on another genealogy group and got the same answer as I just gave.
When someone responds to your request, be sure to thank them for their interest in your case.
Answering questions
Many of the things I have touched upon above can be good to keep in mind when answering. First, you need to read the question thoroughly. What is asked about? Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification and additional information if the question is unclear. Then read previous responses! It’s nothing more boring than to have to wade through a long list of similar responses.
Don’t take over the search from the one who asks the questions. I think the search is as much fun as the results. Stick to answering the question and let the one who asks stay at the helm of his/her search. You may indicate that you have related information on the matter and are willing to share it.
The information you provide should, of course, be of the same quality as you expect from others, preferably with attached sources.
Be careful about discussing living persons. If you are trying to get in contact with living relatives, I suggest you post your question without giving much private information. Stick to the information that might be found in a public phone-, or address books. Ask people to respond through email or private message. If you are able to answer a question like that, you should respond in the same way. You can post a message in the group to tell them you send them a message.
Remember; The only stupid questions there are, are those that are never asked. Don’t be afraid of participating in online genealogy forums.
I hope you find this information useful. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or comments on this topic. There may be things that should be added or things that need clarification. Go to contact and send me a word. I am also happy to try to help you out with your Norwegian genealogy.
