Updating and Linking to Old Threads

[Sue Mackay]

Posting duplicate threads about the same person/family on different boards is not allowed, as it leads to confusion and duplication of effort, and such duplicate threads will be closed or deleted by the moderators. However, there has been a spate recently of members trying to re-visit brick walls or post updated information on old threads. This is fine, but it would be much more helpful if the new information could be posted as a Reply on the original thread. This will bump the thread to the top of New Posts, and anyone who contributed to it before will be notified. It will also prevent old ground from being turned over again, as people new to the problem will be aware of what has been previously searched/found.

It is easy to find your old threads, even if you posted them five years ago. If you don't make many posts, click on your own profile and then on 'Find all threads started by...' Otherwise click on Quick Links (in the blue banner) and then choose Advanced Search. Put a name or place into the keyword search box and your own user name in the box below. Simples!

If your research has moved from one county to another since the original thread was posted, it is still better to update the original thread. Send a Private Message to one of the Super Moderators and they can move the thread to a more appropriate place if necessary.

[Sue Mackay]

I have revived this sticky in order to draw members' attention to it again.

If you feel that you must start a new thread in order to take something in a new direction, but there is useful information on the original thread, then please provide a link on each thread. A Moderator will do this if he/she happens to spot the thread, but this will not always happen and so it is much better if you do it yourself.

The easy way is just to copy the URL of the original thread and paste it into the new thread, ideally on a new line so that it stands out.

If you wish to make reference to another thread in the middle of a new thread, type something like

this thread

Then highlight the words 'this thread', click B for Bold, and then

Remove the http bit (so that it doesn't appear twice) and paste in the URL of the original thread

Click Go Advanced and check that it works