Time To Move On !!

[DavidWW]

Hi All

As is apparent, Ina has recently rejoined the AdminGroup of TalkingScot (TSAG), thus increasing the number of TSAG members to 5, which is one of the reasons for the following, i.e. I believe the minimum required number of members of the TSAG to be 4.


Back in September 2002 General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) launched the ScotlandsPeople (SP) website, in partnership with their sub-contractor ScotlandonLine.

This new GROS site was based on the earlier success of the partnership that involved the ScotsOrigins www site.

SP differed in one major aspect from the earlier ScotsOrigins website in that there was an associated, linked, web based discussion group (DG).

Overall, the addition of this DG was highly positive in terms of the help that was given to posters and SP users, especially “newbies”, by DG members.

Unfortunately, however, this ScotlandsPeople Discussion Group wasn’t moderated, so that a range of complete numpties, - a very small number, it should be sadly noted, - but extremely significant in terms of their major adverse effect on the DG, - couldn’t be controlled, - leading to many unfortunate and completely inappropriate posts in reply to newbies and others, - including many very unsuitable “flames”, etc., never mind the completely unacceptable, overall, negative atmosphere on the website that resulted, far from uncommon a situation on such unmoderated DGs.

(GROS might well argue that porn site registrations were also a major problem, but I have reason to believe that the flaming etc. behaviour of those members referred to above was the major problem.)

ScotlandonLine had neither the resources nor the contractual requirement to provide such moderation.

GROS equally hadn’t the resources to provide such moderation, never mind the legal problems that could have arisen for them had they decided to moderate “unacceptable” posts; due to their position in connection to the government of Scotland, i.e. possible, even probable, legal challenge to such moderation, perceived by a few as unacceptable “censorship”, implicit or otherwise, of posts.

Very sadly, in late 2004, this situation led to the unilateral closure of the SP Discussion Group by GROS.

A number of folk, me included, then sought to find a way to set up a replacement, moderated DG.

I still clearly recall talking to Martin Tyson of GROS, when we bumped into each other one day in New Register House in Edinburgh, and seeing his face light up when I asked if it would help the problem in relation to the lack of moderation of the GROS/ScotlandonLine DG if a group of interested discussion group members set up their own fully moderated discussion group, - in the expectation, incidentally, that GROS would provide a link to such a DG……………..

Subsequent contact with Dave Sloan then led to the setting up of www.talkingscot.com .

Dave is due every possible compliment and thanks in terms of his most excellent efforts as related to the mechanics of setting up the site at www.talkingscot.com .

I’d like to believe that my own input was as least equivalent, - never mind the original concept, - not least in terms of utilising my existing contacts, and identifying and inviting 5 others (one of the original 4 was unable to continue!) to join the original TalkingScot AdminGroup, - never mind other major and significant inputs to the “birth” and “infancy”, and beyond, of TalkingScot.

When I mentioned the possibility to some guid mates, that I was contemplating involvement in such a new DG, I was consistently advised, based on their previous, extensive experience of such DGs, that I shouldn’t even begin to contemplate such involvement unless I had full control, as opposed to control by another individual or a committee …….

Aye weel !!, such is life, as they say !!

Had I but known then the effort that would have been involved in setting up and contributing as I have to TalkingScot, I cannot but admit that I could well have “run a mile” from the realities of being a TS founder and continuing AG member!!

As I’ve previously frequently commented, while the “surface” appearance of TS has hopefully virtually always appeared as the “swan tranquilly floating across the surface”, the reality has most often been that there’s been quite often some frantic paddling going on beneath the surface!

To date, my involvement has led to over 5,500 posts as “davidww”, - including the majority of the FAQs, - plus 86 posts as “Montrose Budie”, - TSAG members need an alternate identity so that they can view the DG as an ordinary member, - which comes in very useful when there’s been a glitch in terms of viewing all the posts since the last visit ……….

Originally it had been my intention that I’d stay on just long enough to see the TS up and running, - I’m a “starter” as opposed to a “continuer”, - and then gracefully fade into the background. In other words, while I was more than happy to be involved in setting up TalkingScot, I wasn’t really that interested or motivated in any very detailed involvement beyond, say, a year, or at most 18 months, since I had other items on my personal agenda ……….

Various developments then led to my decision to remain as a TSAG member way beyond any timescale that I’d originally contemplated, - now fast approaching 2½ years (much nearer 3 years if one takes into account all the activities and effort required in the run-up to the Nov 2004 launch of TalkingScot), - given that I felt a large degree of responsibility as a TalkingScot founder to remain as a TSAG member well beyond the period that I’d originally contemplated.

All that considered, it may not then come as a surprise that I decided some days ago that, to be fair to myself, I need to resign my membership of the TalkingScot AdminGroup, otherwise, I’m just going to go “round the bend”, not least in respect of frustration as regards the extent to which continuing involvement at the AG level in TS continues to compromise other, personal objectives, - some genealogical, some not !!

Anyone who is familiar with my articles in various UK and N American genmags may have noticed a distinct drop-off in my number of such articles in the last couple of years. Make your own deductions

Whether or not I might be interested in returning as a member of the TSAG after a decent break from the associated duties, - say 6, 12, maybe 18 months, - is a matter for the TSAG to consider.

With my very best wishes for the continuing success of TalkingScot !!

I’ll still be about on the DG, but not necessarily on the same frequency as previously, nor on the same posting basis as previously, - as a TS founder and an AG member I felt duty bound to look at every new post, and contribute as appropriate.

Orraverybest

David

[wini]

David,

I will be very sorry to see you move on and thank you for the help you have given.
I am sure you are leaving TS in very good hands .
I expect the site will continue to grow and I am sure you will be dropping in from time to time.
Orrabest for the future

wini

[TSAG]

The remaining members of the AG would like to take this opportunity to thank David for the unstinting and enthusiastic contribution he has made to Talking Scot over the years.

David was one of the founder members of Talking Scot, creating the forum from scratch, after the old Scotland People forum was closed. The new Talking Scot forum opened at the beginning of December 2004 and since then has gone from strength to strength, now with a membership of over 2000. Throughout this time David has given freely and generously of his time, enthusiasm and expertise, always willing to answer a query or to help a member who was stuck at one of those brick wall we are all so familiar with.

Life on the AG is not an easy option (for those of you who think we all sit around with our feet up!): the hours are long, the demands on your time and attention can come at any time of day or night and long hours seem to be spent sitting at a PC, and often other events demanding your attention just have to wait until the TS issues are resolved. As David has often remarked, TS is a little like a swan, serenely floating along - what most folk don't see is all the frantic paddling going on underneath the water! The sheer number of posts made by David and the amount of interesting and valuable information he has contributed to help members along with their research in the FAQ section are an example to us all.

It is now time for him to take a well deserved break from the constant demands of the AG post, so that he can give some time to his other interests. We know you will all join us in wishing him well and we trust that he will still be a regular visitor and contributor to TS.

Let's raise our glasses to David!

Andrew, Ina, Lesley & Marilyn

[Kathy]

Thank you David for a wonderful website, it would be a great pity if you were lost to TS forever, perhaps after a much needed break you will return.

TS and its members have benefited from your knowledge, and your patient explainations have been an enormous help to many of us.

Good luck, return soon

Kathy

[JimM]

I’ll still be about on the DG, but not necessarily on the same frequency as previously, nor on the same posting basis as previously, - as a TS founder and an AG member I felt duty bound to look at every new post, and contribute as appropriate.

Cheers David
Thanks for using your experience to help other members.
I would like to think that TS would keep the door open

Jim

[donna petrie]

HI: I too appreciate everything you have done. The DG of scotlandspeople was my first exploration into discussion groups and I had so much help. I was sorely disappointed when it closed. When I started here I was unaware of its origins but thought it sounded familiar; I was right.

Everyone needs to move on at some point; we need to grow and have new experiences. Thank you and good luck with everything you do. Donna

[PaulaD]

Thanks for everything David.

Hope you enjoy your well earned rest.

Haste ye back.

Paula

[Linda Malpass]

David I will be sorry to see you leave , but at the same time I am grateful for all your hard work in setting up this forum. This forum is the best on the internet as far as I am concerned I have gleaned so much info from all the members and the tireless effort of the admin group as well

I wish you well David in your other interests, you will be missed, having said that, I know you will check in once in awhile .... enjoy your well deserved break ...

Cheers to David and all the best in the future to

[kathyc]

David,

Thanks for all your hard work. I wish you all the best in pursing all the other stuff that's been on hold while you were busy here.

Kathy

[Rach]

David,
Very best wishes to you in all the ventures you will be able to undertake now that you will have more time.
We will all miss your 'words of genealogical wisdom' but we also appreciate all the time that you and others have given/are giving to make T.S. run so smoothly.
Many, many thanks,
Rae