Tuesday, January 1, 2013

I Am Your Audience

I am your audience.





There have been a lot of posts swirling lately about the makeup of the online genealogy world:
  • snobs
  • professionals
  • followers
  • community
  • newbies
In other words, the online genealogy world seems a lot like high school. There are the Big Men/Women On Campus. There are the popular, insulated cliques. There are the smart, nerdy kids. There's the new kid.

And then there's everyone else. Like me.

I have been working for 20+ years on my family history. My big overarching reason is because I love the Thrill Of The Chase. I have really good detective skills, which I use for both my own benefit and for a few friends and for the few I've voluntarily helped online.

But what I really wish for is to connect with cousins and those with similar research sensibilities - cemetery appreciation, location expertise, people who interact. I want to find blogs with interesting content. I'm good at finding information. What I seek is people to talk to about the information. You know, people who don't give you that "glassy-eyed stare" when you launch into a family story ;)

I totally understand that high school would be boring if we were all the same. I am fully aware that what I blog about or the family information I post to my website is not going to interest most of the people out there. And I'm fine with that.

I am primarily interested in the Midwest and New England, Quebec, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, England and Denmark. I love old cemeteries. I am interested in hearing about new databases in those areas.

So a wish, rather than a resolution, is to seek out some mutually enjoyable genealogy relationships this year.

I am your audience and you are mine.

© 2013 Sally Knudsen