I am sorry that you have had such a bad experience with the people that you have answered internet queries for – it seems so rude to ask a favor and not even thank the person when the favor is given. Not all of those who are on the internet doing research and posting queries are rude. Most of us are appreciative of all the help we get, and express that appreciation.

I would like to say one more thing in defense of others: please remember that not everyone who loves genealogy has the financial or physical resources to be able to visit all the research areas that you have been privileged enough to visit, and must depend on others to share information with. nd, what do I consistently see for my efforts to answer a genealogical query via Internet, AOL, etc? Nothing. Not a thank you. Not even a reply.

The sad truth about Internet genealogy is this: it is a haven for preppie moochers who want a “quick fix” of would-be-elitist genealogy –and who act as if the information is falling in their laps from purely thin air. John, I hope you wrote this on a “bad day”. Please don’t lump all genealogists together. It is true, I believe, that this modern generation do not show their appreciation in the old fashion way, but they are a minority when you consider the whole.I’m going to step in here and disagree with you immediately, because the argument put forth by the original writer is rubbish.

Yes, there are people who come in and want something for nothing, but if you think they are in the majority or that they are somehow more common here on the internet, you are barking up the wrong tree. I am one of the volunteer translators for the genealogical translation service TRANS and I also have been present on multiple genealogy groups and Alsatian-oriented genealogy mailing lists.

From an early age I was interested in genealogy. My ads appeared in The Genealogical Helper far back as 1959 when I was 6 y/o. My families of interest include: Harris, Covington, Stewart, Miller, Moore, Haverhill, Whitaker, Scott, and hundreds more. I used to get tons of letters from very old persons then interested in their family history. They wanted to make a record and pass it on to their grandkids. They sent me quantities of pictures, tintypes, war ribbons and medals, civil war era, and even Rev War original correspondence. The letters used to be so well theorized, constructed, and written in longhand.

Such obvious good intentions and deep probing thought in the old folks’ letters. But…by about 1985 all these quality folk were deceased. Now, in reply to my GENEALOGICAL HELPER listing, I get…mooches. They don’t bother to send a SASE nor even to write out a letter in hand. No, they just print-up a form letter begging for free information. If one is stupid enough to answer these vacant pleadings, you consistently receive…no reply at all.

And, now there’s Internet. I’ve answered several EXTREMELY tough genealogical puzzles for some researchers –items that were based on my spending many, many thousands of hours researching at Salt Lake, Ft.Wayne, and Washington DC. Also, my replies were based on long ago materials sent to me in the 1960s –by the GREAT grandparents of these persons today. My knowledge base often derives from a massive concentration of file material which is found in NO genealogical library today.And, what do I consistently see for my efforts to answer a genealogical query via Internet, AOL, etc? Nothing. Not a thank you. Not even a reply.

The sad truth about Internet genealogy is this: it is a haven for preppie moochers who want a “quick fix” of would-be-elitist genealogy –and who act as if the information is falling in their laps from purely thin air. To this lot, it is all TOO easy. Like making a bundle by “investing” in all the Internet companies. Just as buying Amazon.com (Yahoo, AOL, eBay, etc) was a “no brainer” to the yuppie set, so it is with online Internet genealogy. Just set up a webpage and wait for the free info to cascade in. No such luck from this fella. I refuse to contribute to the Internet genealogy mooches.