General Chat

dear steve to be honest there is a lot in a name names are important BUT what ever this site is called genes connected or genes reunited either one will be appropiate people connect with their past or reunite with family members many thanks for a great site tina xxx

I am not bothered about a name, its the site itself that matters. What has changed though is how I feel about the site. The new name may prove to be a better name at attracting new members which should be a good thing, however the introduction and implementation of this name change was handled appalingly. Three things struck me when I saw the original message: Firstly, Corporate Branding which is appearing to turn what feels like a friendly club into a corporation; Secondly a lame justification for the Branding change. I had never heard anyone call it GR before, however I can believe that non users may refer to it as that, especially if they use FR or are more interested in re-unions rather than genealogy. Thirdly: What market is the site targetting? Is it genealogy or reunions? For the moment I will still use the site as it is still one of the best around. I especially appreciate the direct contributions to this discussion from the founder who evidently cares about the site, however as the site becomes less focussed on genealogy and more on reunions then the chances of me renewing my subscription diminish.

Dear Steve Firstly thank you for taking the time to reply to our messages, the personal touch goes a long way. When I first joined a little over a year ago, mainly to see if I could connect with other family members, ones I have never met and probably never will, not that I don’t want too just that I would probably never find the time and too many miles apart. As I had already started my family research a few years ago I had a lot of information on family members so didn’t think it would help me much, the Records Board had not started then, but I was wrong I am glad to say. With the help of fellow researchers I have found more, one or two I never though I would find as I had been looking for 3 or more years, so it’s nice to be proved wrong. I have enjoyed reading all the messages, very entertaining, and the pleas for help well you can’t just ignore them can you. I have had just as much fun helping others as doing my own research. Some names that no longer help on this site I miss; they gave a lot of useful tips (we never know it all). In all a Brilliant site, but I still can’t get my head round to thinking of it as Genes reunite as we never will, connect yes we can. Thank you for starting this site, its just what the UK needed one of our own for our own. Irene

Well done Steve for having the unmentionables to come on here and face up to your user base. Haven't had the chance to see everything that's been said but this is more like it. Rick.

Fabulous site Steve, through which I have "Reunited " with at least 20 living relatives, who are as engrossed in this fascinating hobby as I am. They must have banned winging at the bowls club. John in Sydney

Thanks Steve for a wonderfull site i have found members of my family and have had so much help from other people on site ,its nice to know that there are still lots of lovely people in the world that are out there to help one another. P.S. Have been in oz for a couple of months and only just found out you changed the name.

.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. I have to agree.The problem with the name change is it doesn't reflect what the site does. I want to connect them together not to reunite them together in one big party (Its a bit different when most of mine go back to early 1800 or I could get in Derek Acorah!). Its also frustraiting you have added the GC success stories with friends reunited ones for the hobby we follow there is a big difference in reading about a person who has found their whole family after many years of seperation than a person who hasnt seen their friend for a few years.I agree this site is fantastic and well worth the money we pay,but just to ask how many of the questionaires were filled in by GC members? If you realised the passion, thought and time members put into this site maybe you wouldn't be so shocked. Thank you for your time it is nice you came face to face with us hoarding crowds!! I suppose we have to agree to disagree some of us will still refer to it as GC as it has been for a couple of years! Jan x

Have been watching this from the sidelines, and have to admit to being a little surprised at the way the name change was done, but........... have recently been reunited with some of my genes from afar - the grandchildren of the youngest brother of my grandmother's father to be precise(!) - and what a wonderful experience it was!! Spent three hours chatting, and exchanging old family photos where the family resemblence was amazing. One of the ladies I met could have been a sister to my great aunt - meeting her was very moving - quite brought my much loved great aunt back to life!! So....... connected or reunited - does it really matter as long as we find them?? Thanks genes - have found at least two living relatives thanks to this site and hope to find many more!! Keep up the good work - but maybe keep us a bit better informed and then maybe we'll all be happy!!!

Stevs, Thank you for the information you have given us. I have joined the new site but will also be staying with G C. It dosn't hurt to have a bit of competition. Julia

Hi Steve What is in a name?? I think people were just annoyed at the little notice or input they were allowed to put it. I, for one, love this site. I have met lots of 'new' rellies through here, some of which I probably would have never have met if it hadn't been for GC/GR, and I have you and your team to thank for that. THANK YOU! This site is well worth the £7.50. Sites like Ancestry, 1837 etc... they are all far too expensive and are in it plainly for the money, especially for a poor student like myself. The boards on this site have enabled me to get a lot of help, something that other sites do not offer to such an extent. Most sites are for the US, this site is predominantly full of UK people, with Uk resources which is very refreshing. Anyway, keep up the good work (to both you and your team). Chloe

Thank you for taking the time to give us an explanation. I am one who does not like the name change - however I love this site. I joined a year ago knowing absolutely nothing about Family History or Genealogy but with the help of the members on here I am learning all the time - no matter what question you ask someone will find you an answer, or as with the General Board be there in time of need or just to give you a giggle. It is your site and you can call it what you like - what I don't like is the fact that no-one who is presently using the site seems to have been asked when you say you did a survey. Surely you must have known the furore an overnight message and change of name was going to cause with the regulars from past experiences with changes. I have been contacted by someone who is related to my husband and has not seen any of her family for over 50yrs - a reunion is planned for August. That to us was a bonus but it was not what I joined the site for and I'm concerned that it will be confused by folk who just want to find a lost mother, father, auntie or whatever. Perhaps a new site especially for Familyreunited? Moan over - I've just renewed my sub and still think that other sites don't offer us anywhere near what this one does. Sue - getting it off her chest in Sussex. ~:0)

Steve, Thank you for having the initiative to start this site, we do appreciate how much thought and work goes into it by all of you. And thank you for this thread, it is good to see someone is willing to go 'face to face' (so to speak) with the customers. The site is great, I am a member of both Friends Reunited and this one, on the first i did find old school friends with whom i am still in touch, and on this one I have found relatives of my husband we didn't know existed, plus a great deal of help from other members. I don't really have a problem with you changing the name because to me, and those of us who are long term members, it will always be GC. I do have a bit of a problem that the two sites are becoming blurred in their image and we already have people on the success board cheering at finding school friends. However, if they have paid you their subs for this site I don't really have too much of a problem, but, am I right in thinking that they have free access to part of this site? It is not with the members already on site that there will be a problem but with new ones who join purely to make contact with living people and who will have no interest in genealogy at all and therefore no input into the tips and Record Book boards which is what a lot of us are interested in. I also find the chat boards on FR a bit juvenile as they tend to be used mostly by very young school leavers while this site has/had a more balanced clientel of young and older members which seems to work. (Yes I am one of the older ones I admit!) I don't intend to leave GC because i like it and I like the people on here. But I will join other genealogical sites because choice is a good thing, and I am sure they are not meant to be set up to take your customers away but to compliment your site. Thanks again for your interest. By the way, I have had all my e mails to support answered, but the replies do tend to mostly be duplicate ones and not always satisfactory Ann Glos

Steve Thanks for replying in person. It's so much nicer to know I am talking to a 'real' person. Perhaps this could become a regular thing. Firstly may I say that I think the new name is pants! It doesn't make sense. But I expect you've spent so much money on the rebranding that you won't be changing it back! lol Secondly, I think there are 2 main reasons there has been such a furore. 1. The short space of time from us being notified that the name was changing to the dead being done. 2. The worry that the new name and the wording on the home page will encourage more 'trying to finds' to use the site and that genealogy will become less important. As your posting on here has been so popular, perhaps you could let us know of any changes to be made in the future - with plenty of notice obviously! And maybe you would condider starting a separate site if the TTF's become an issue. Have a good weekend Jeanette

Steve, Thank you for your putting this thread on the board and taking time out of your day to reply to us as members. This site has been in my favorites box since day one. The only time I take notice of the name is when I click onto the folder that houses this site. Being in control of my own comptuer I can change the name of the link to suit me. If you have as many favorites as me, then you choose a easy name to remember what the site is. Like wise I feel as an original site constructor you have the right to name the site. I joined in April 2003. I have only started one thread of my own. I had a positive response. I have contributed by adding to the threads of others. I found my half sister after 42 years via this site. It wasn't the reason I joined, but it is the "bonus" I have gained from using the site. My tree has been shared with other members with distant connections. My only problem has been when I came to renew. After 3 emails to support with a problem of not being able to renew and getting a standard reply saying that the site was running OK and that the problem lay with the company taking my credit card details (unable to enter my details) I took matters into my own hands and removed my tree and lost all my contacts. I rejoined as a first time user and uploaded my gedcom tree and started again. My only regret from this is the loss of my contacts and their trees with links to mine. I have tried to help others by looking up details on sites which Genes have links to, members who have no family connection at all. It's a great feeling to help others, and again the choice is with me if I wish to help. We all get something differant out of the site, I will continue to contribute and use the site. I feel lucky that my problems have been few and very far between. All the best to ALL of the team members behind the scenes partically those experts who deal with the computer working ie: upgrade/software updates etc. Brummie Dave

Steve, I among many thank you for having started this site, but having put your "head above the parapet" should have anticipated the back-lash, from the fully paid up members, in that there was no consultation or prior warning as to forthcoming changes. I agree with many other contributors to this thread and will remain a "fully paid-up" member provided it continues in the manner for which it was intended, searching for connections to passed genes, hopefully present but not "lost". I think the new name will cause more confusion than there is apparently at the moment.

Steve I love GC/Grrrrrrr ! Call it what you wish, for the record in the past I have seen people useing the term GenesReunited, in the success boards. I know what they mean, you know what they mean, we all know what they mean ! I have gone back to the early 1800's with branches of my family, all due to this site. I have found 4 cousins ( & more) in the last year alone. I love this site whith whatever name you choose. To me this site is priceless. & I am staying put. Elaine x :o)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Hi Steve, well done for facing the crowd. My opinion is "a rose by any other name is still a rose." (can't think where that came from. ) Anyway, I have found lots of CONNECTIONS by blood to relatives but not been REUNITED with any of them! Have been on Friends Reunited and have been reunited with some of them! Call yourself what you like but don't stop the good work.

Hello Stephen, Thank you for facilitating this site in the first place and for your response to the members' real grievances. I was shocked that you were shocked! I have not read of anyone saying, in recent threads, that their opinion was sort in your recent market research. How many "regular contributing" members were asked? Market research isn't all it's cracked up to be anyway! I will certainly be joining the other sites, but as you've done the decent thing and now talked to the members, I'll resubscribe here too. I hope you feel you haven't been shot down in flames on this thread. Happy researching and connecting. John.

I believe in free speech and am glad to see people's views. However, Steve, if you had to describe a certain emotion, I'd have thought surprised would have been more appropriate than shocked!!! Still waiting for reply, and newsletter, Joy

Steve, on 4 June you said:- "Added by Stephen Pankhurst on 04/06/2004 21:19:39 Joy Not sure on the numbers but I'll try and find out." I look forward to hearing from you, and, please, an explanation why I have not yet rceived a newsletter. regards Joy