Boards Administrators - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: What should one do when nothing happens after "Report Abuse"?

jmyoung365 — 2013-06-04 21:20:26Z

If you are reporting abuse for the reason of personal attack --- I look at these objections (as admin---assuming the offense is minor in the midst of an otherwise helpful response) and ask myself WHO is complaining? Unless the person reporting abuse of THIS nature is the person to whom the comments were being addressed...I would most likely ignore the complaint. It sounds to me as if you don't have a dog in the hunt and the admin is ignoring the complaints for that reason.

Joan

What should one do when nothing happens after "Report Abuse"?

oastwd — 2013-06-04 18:16:05Z

Although they are few in number some members post inappropriate comments aimed at other posters in the thread.

They complain about gengathering stating that there are known problems. They target other members with comments like “one person on here routinely suggests sites where the person sought is not found” and they single out the member in their post with remarks like “once again I fix her mistakes.” Another time a poster was referred to as the “Queen of Links” with two posters posting remarks in the thread which included the name of a genealogy organization in which the “Queen” was an active member. They routinely complain about responses to "old" posts.

When I read these postings I report them. Weeks and even months later the posts are still found on the boards.

The tone of these remarks is inappropriate on public message boards. Such remarks discourage those attacked from participating further on the boards.

I urge Board Administrators to examine and thoroughly read the posts on their boards, especially lengthy responses where remarks of this type are often inserted in the middle of a helpful response so that their remarks appear innocuous.

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-10 13:29:52Z

pasher44,

Perfect! What's interesting is I had already tried that trick, but when I clicked "Preview" it did not interpret the HTML. In other words, it displayed the actual HTML code instead of the image. After reading your message I went ahead and tried saving it and then clicking on the Board Info link, and it worked perfectly. In other words, "Preview" really isn't preview.

Thanks a bunch!

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

pasher44 — 2013-04-10 11:26:45Z

Instead of using the angle brackets for your HTML, use the ASCII character set instead, that is, type
ampersand lt semi-colon
for the left pointing bracket
and
ampersand gt semi-colon
for the right pointing bracket

Can't type the actual characters here because it displays the indicated brackets (grin)

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-10 04:09:56Z

Nope, I'm not planning to deviate from the standard posting guidelines.

I was hoping to have a place to give a quick explanation of when to post on this board vs. the other DNA boards (although I'm hoping the name is enough), and also to have links to some of the more helpful posts from the board, as well as to blog entries and "how to" pages that discuss these issues. The admin FAQs gave me hope that the Board Info was the place to do that. Unfortunately, that really can't be done effectively without HTML, and based on how long this problem has apparently gone on I'm not very hopeful.

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

jmyoung365 — 2013-04-10 01:10:27Z

I know...it is just that you wouldn't believe (well maybe you WOULD) the type of special instructions some admins PUT in there and if people would just be instructed to read the board posting guidelines no other special instructions would be needed unless you have a board that deviates from the norm...and some do by design. Some admins use the board info in a way it was not designed for: to post special instructions like "all posts will be removed from this board if you post in all caps" or "all obits will be moved to the topics board for obits." Both specifically would be admins overstepping their authority...but it happens much more than you would thing.

That is why I feel that in MOST cases using the default board info page is best unless your board is one where the usage by design deviates from the norm.

Joan

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-10 00:46:42Z

Joan,

According to the FAQs for the "Board Information" link, it's not so much about special instructions on how to use that board, but more for information that would be useful to the readers:

"There is a variety of helpful information that you could choose to include in your Board Information page. Some helpful optional information you may wish to include are links to board-relevant websites or resources and message posting tips. Please note that any optional information posted must adhere to the Community Guidelines."

I'm not sure why you think that would not be advisable. Since we can't "pin" information like that to the top of the board, this provides an alternative, at least according to their FAQs.

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-04-09 23:10:53Z

You've got at least a several options. One is to go to the Help Desk on the Rootsweb homepage, and click "Contacting the HelpDesk", and fill out the form.
Another is to go to the Rootsweb List Administrators-Utilities Page, and click onto the "Contacting the HelpDesk" link from there, and further follow instructions.

http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/listadmins/index.html

And another, is to send an email directly to the Boards Supervisors with this:
Boards@Ancestry.com

Either way, give details of your problem, and they usually will get back to you with some kind of response within a few hours, on weekdays, that is. None of them work on weekends.

Re: Updating admin email address

jmyoung365 — 2013-04-09 23:01:48Z

MOST boards don't (or shouldn't) require SPECIAL instructions that varies from the standard board guidelines. Unless you have some sort of special topic board putting customized board info probably isn't necessary or advisable.

Joan
PS: I checked my board that has had customized board info for ages and I see my anti-spam email graphics are coming through as all red x's.

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-09 21:36:07Z

That correct about the default image. The question then becomes do you want what is basically no board information with your anti-spam email address, or board information you provide with your poentially spammable address. If this issue doesn't get resolved, then I'd lean towards providing the information.

Back to my earlier question - what is the best way to report the HTML issue?

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-04-09 21:19:31Z

If you click on the Default setting, it will put in your email address in the RW imaging style, spammers can't just harvest that.

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-09 20:53:12Z

Uh oh, I might been opening up a can of worms - maybe not a good idea for someone new!?

You actually can put in your own content but it won't be formatted, (i.e. just one long string). As far as your email address which is required, you can just type it in plain text instead of using the image. The disadvantage of that is spammers can scan the site and "harvest" your address, but then again, any email address you've had for a while is already on a gazillion spam lists anyway.

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-04-09 20:34:28Z

This has been a problem for a very long time. When I got some new boards a couple of years ago was when I first noticed it. I couldn't change anything that was already there, and after contacting RW about it, they told me to just click the Default address, and sure enough, my email address came up. But using that, doesn't allow you to alter anything, one can't make any additions to the info in that box, you can't add your own instructions with more info, as I've seen on some Boards, nothing. I don't know what the problem is, but it's something that RW has had for awhile, and clicking the Default has been the only way I have been able to change any of the addresses in any new Boards I've acquired ever since.

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-09 19:54:55Z

Since I'm new to board admin, what is the best way both in terms of appropriateness and effectiveness to (re)report this issue?

Forgetting about the side effects like the email address image, the problem is the FAQs say you can include HTML in the Board Info content, but if you do you get an error. Either the FAQs are incorrect, or the software is.

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

jmyoung365 — 2013-04-09 19:35:58Z

It was reported but so long ago I have no idea if it is on anyone's radar any longer. You might want to report it again.

Joan

Re: Updating admin email address

white_roses — 2013-04-09 10:46:32Z

"Are you saying this has been reported already? If so how long ago? Should I go ahead and report it anyway?"

Please do report it. It's been well over a year, probably longer than that.

Re: Questions regarding deleted messages

jmyoung365 — 2013-04-09 04:45:58Z

As admin you USED TO be able to view a message in the recycle bin without restoring it to view it...somewhere along the line that changes whether the change was intentional or a glitch I don't know...but that changed quite some time back.

Once a post is posted on a board it never disappears completely. I can't say why you can't view the post you deleted for a second time but posts never disappear completely --- they are either on the original board or moved to another board or in the recycle bin.

I suppose it is possible that you can't see it until a future update...that I don't know. It used to be immediate but that could have also changed.

Joan

Re: Questions regarding deleted messages

prebleg — 2013-04-09 02:30:04Z

OK, I'll try this again, disregarding the possibly sarcastic response from another person suggesting a conspiracy.

I restored another post and it showed up on the message board. I could see it was one I had previously deleted because I had written the reason for deletion in the surname field which became visible after being restored (it was a duplicate). When I restored it, it showed up immediately on the message board; and when I deleted it again it was gone immediately.

However, when I went to the recycle bin after deleting it a second time, it did not appear. I refreshed the recycle bin screen, I deleted the cache and the history, I signed out and I shut down the browser, verifying in taskmanager it was closed. I tried another browser. I waited 24 hours. Still, when I came back to the recycle bin, it was still not there at all. Nor was it back on the message board.

And, neither were the other posts about which I wrote originally several months ago.

Nor did I move any post or delete any other post. Nor was there anything objectionable about the post--such as commercial or other spam--it was a mere duplicate.

My first conclusion is that restoring AND redeleting a post sends it into some ancestry ether or black hole.

My second conclusion is that there is no practical way for an admin to review the recycle bin because (a) the post cannot be viewed if it is in the recycle bin and (b) it disappears [to some other location?] if you restore it and redelete it--as I have done.

If anyone can explain this problem, I would appreciate it.

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-09 02:12:33Z

I've tried all the usual tricks - they are obviously treating anything that resembles HTML code as an error. That makes prefect sense for message board posts because of security concerns, but one would hope they trust the board admins enough to allow that.

Since there is nothing more I can do I'll go ahead and report it and see what they say.

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

jmyoung365 — 2013-04-09 01:46:18Z

I have heard people complain about it but I haven' tried personally because the boards I use a custom info page for have been there since before I first heard others complain. If you find a way to get it to work...go for it.

Joan

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-09 01:44:46Z

I did some additional testing and you actually get the error message for any HTML code, even harmless things like "br" (note I get the same message if I put actual HTML in these messages.)

Are you saying this has been reported already? If so how long ago? Should I go ahead and report it anyway?

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

jmyoung365 — 2013-04-09 01:34:05Z

You should be able to do that but I know quite a few people find it isn't working right...there is a glitch. So, use the default board info until it gets fixed.

Joan

Re: Updating admin email address

McCorkleAustin — 2013-04-09 01:13:09Z

I'm getting the same error message trying to customize the board info for a new board. If I try to include the code it generates to insert the email address image, it gives an error no matter what else is on the page. If I paste the generated URL into a browser it indeed shows the image of the email address. The instructions say I should be able to have a custom message along with the generated email address image. What am I missing?

David Mc

Re: Updating admin email address

Ajobrien10 — 2013-03-26 14:19:09Z

When I first became an admin, I did customize the board info page introducing myself. My email address also showed up as the encrypted image.

I will go in and try set it back to default and see if that helps.

Re: Updating admin email address

jmyoung365 — 2013-03-25 21:24:32Z

You didn't specify whether you have a customized Board Info page or are using the generic default Board Info page. If you use the generic page your address should automatically be updated when you update your address at MyAccount: https://myaccount.rootsweb.com

Joan

Updating admin email address

Ajobrien10 — 2013-03-25 20:11:56Z

Hello,

I am an admin for several boards and I have recently changed my email address.

When I try to insert the HTML code that displays my email address, in board info, as an encrypted image I get an error that says my request can't be completed at this time.

It's been this way for days.

Any ideas? For now, I've entered my email address manually but I'd rather have the encrypted image.

Thanks

Re: Invalid email for Board Adminstrator - Crawford County, Iowa

oastwd — 2013-03-16 19:37:08Z

Thanks! I had not thought about adopting the board, but that might be an option.

Re: Invalid email for Board Adminstrator - Crawford County, Iowa

jasche — 2013-03-16 19:36:02Z

Report this to the board staff. They will remove this administrator and put the board up for adoption.

messageboards@rootsweb.com

If you are interested you can adopt the board once the adopt this board link is available.

Invalid email for Board Adminstrator - Crawford County, Iowa

oastwd — 2013-03-16 19:32:31Z

I have tried contacting the Administrator for the Crawford County, Iowa Board. The email was returned with the note "Delivery Failed."

I do not know if the board has a current administrator or not.

Re: Heads Up - encourages others...

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-03-09 19:19:21Z

I usually also use the Report Abuse link at the bottom of a message, I also check through my Administrators panel to see any of my Boards that have been reported, however, I don't think a lot of administrators check those since many messages remain on the Boards long after reporting them. I have found that the best way is to go directly to the RW people who will get it done within a few short hours. I generally email the RW Boards folks directly and get a response before the end of the day, I know they've just recently added some new people there so things are getting done pretty quickly.

Re: Heads Up - encourages others...

sudown — 2013-03-09 18:56:40Z

Hi Deloris, thanks for the good info... already done Yay!
(When I report abuse I do it on the Ancestry Report Abuse in the user profile.)
Was going to email the board admins directly, unfortunately, some board admins have blank contact information under their "Board Information" -- it is so easy to take the default under edit board information!! Oh well, thanks for replying, helps knowing that one person read my plea!! Cheers for a good weekend...

Re: Heads Up - encourages others...

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-03-09 18:33:09Z

Hi,
Unfortunately, a lot of administrators probably aren't reading on this Board and your message didn't get attention. Your best bet is to report the link to their User I.D. which shows all of the Boards they've posted to, directly to Rootsweb Boards Desk, so that they can do a blanket removal. I have just done that, however, since RW are closed until Monday, it will take a couple of days.

Heads Up - encourages others...

sudown — 2013-03-08 18:01:46Z

Heads Up Folks... get this one gone fast! encourages others to copy and paste to new msg bds a scam to send money... posted ten to Cemetery Boards this AM

As Seen On Oprah!!!!!!!! sarahaaron37
Topics > Cemeteries & Tombstones > United States >
Alabama Cemeteries
Arkansas Cemeteries
California Cemeteries X-2
Illinois Cemeteries
Kentucky Cemeteries
Missouri Cemeteries
North Carolina Cemeteries
West Virginia Cemeteries

Re: Heads Up

sudown — 2013-02-27 00:53:43Z

mi2early - reported about 20 or so... lost count.

BTW, love your user name!! I'm never too early -ha!

Re: Heads Up

jmyoung365 — 2013-02-26 22:58:22Z

I'm taking these posts one at a time when I find one on a board I admin. Some are blatantly commercial and I have deleted those...others seem to be merely helpful and I can't find any violation of TOS in them and I've left those.

Joan

Re: Heads Up

mi2early — 2013-02-26 21:12:52Z

Aaah. Thanks for the add'l info.

Has anyone reported the commercial posts?

Re: Heads Up

sudown — 2013-02-26 20:47:26Z

TIP: Getting bolder, view posts by date. Most recent posts are now including Facebook link and a mention of some eBay listings.

Don obviously not getting a response from older postings where he doesn't get a "Buy" from posting the wonderful photos where Facebook/eBay information is not mentioned.

Consider him informed as a PM through Ancestry connect was made yesterday encouraging him to review "Community Guidlines."

Cosider me Old School, I afirm the need to keep our boards Commercial Free. No Exceptions.

Re: Heads Up

mi2early — 2013-02-26 19:18:19Z

Not a spammer. I think it's a well-meaning poster unfamiliar with Community Guidelines.

Re: Heads Up

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-02-26 18:25:30Z

Not sure if this one is really a spammer, they've been around for many years, in 1999 at least, and there are over 586 posts during that time period. There are genuine queries and replies over the years for many names. Some of them, he's actually posting the photos on the Boards, and while he does list a Facebook page, I don't see that it is much different than some of the other posts where people are trying to get others together who share the same genealogy. This person doesn't seem to be anything like our AB/HB spammer at all.

Deloris

Heads Up

nosynellie2u — 2013-02-25 12:47:16Z

A new sp***er in town. The below person has been posting old photos, no biggie, but some are to ebay auctions, that is a big deal, so did some checking, and came to this post:

http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ken...

Which states that if they have your families old photos we will sell them to you for what they paid (they are not free). If they do not have the originals, they will sell you a CD.

User ID WestKentuckyGenealogy

Nellie..

Re: Board Info missing emails - replaced with broken link icons

_Nan_ — 2013-02-21 08:04:06Z

The gist of my messaage was...I don't think its a browser issue either. No matter what browser, it is always the same boards...only.
Why couldn't the admins either delete the board and redo it...or edit it? I had one board that I had used html on and when they put in the latest encryptioned address, it didn't work. I redid the board with html and hit the encryptioned thing...and it worked fine.

Re: Board Info missing emails - replaced with broken link icons

jmyoung365 — 2013-02-20 21:21:59Z

I don't think it is a browser issue...I think it is glitch that occurs SOMETIMES on SOME boards...but not frequently. When I've had it come up it is "there" in Firefox AND IE and the AOL browser.

Joan

Re: Board Info missing emails - replaced with broken link icons

rum2001 — 2013-02-20 15:42:32Z

I agree since oddly enough, I have managed to contact several of the admins of the boards in question and they all have stated the same thing...
the emails were created with encryption some time ago and Ancestry has since changed the way they display. Unfortunately, not one of them has been able to make changes with their email.

Thank you to every one that responded.

Re: Board Info missing emails - replaced with broken link icons

_Nan_ — 2013-02-20 08:05:08Z

I contacted our new message board "head" (the one with the several "different" accounts) and was informed it was a "browser problem"! It must work with only one browser but I don't think its been invented yet!

Re: Board Info missing emails - replaced with broken link icons

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-02-19 21:13:14Z

I hear ya.
That has been a problem with some boards for a while. Some of them even have some strange script instead of actual writing. When I first took over a couple of boards last year, they also had that problem, and it also wouldn't let me add my own new email info. What you should do is contact the Help Desk (clicking onto the HELP or GET HELP link at the top of the page) and let them know which Board it is and explain the problem with not having a name included as the Contact.

Deloris

Board Info missing emails - replaced with broken link icons

rum2001 — 2013-02-19 19:07:52Z

Hello, I am new to board admin.
Does anyone know why on some of the boards I am a member of (not admin) the contact email for the board admin is missing and broken link icons are showing up instead?
Is it just my provider (Google Chrome) or is there another issue going on?

I tried to copy and paste what they look like but it did not work. Source info for the icons state that they are GIF files for email from Ancesty.
Here is one of the boards with the issue:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.york/mb.ashx

Thank you for any light anyone can shine on this.

Tammy Rummel

Free to a good Home VII & VIII

paullleblanc — 2013-02-19 11:35:48Z

Free to a good Home VII & VIII

Would you like any of these boards or lists?
email me at pleblan@aim.com

Boards
La Côte-de-Beaupré
Auclair
Barette & list
Barre
Belland & list
Bercier & list
Bibeault
Bigras
Bonenfant
Bonneau
Bouffard
Boulé
Boulanger & list
Bourassa
Bourbonnais
Bourdeaux
Bourget
Breaud
Bremner & list
Briere
Brisson & list
Buisson

Mailing List
ALLAIRE
AMIDON
ANCTIL
ANDREAS
ANSELMO
AUDOIRE
BAUCHER
BERTHIAUME
BESSANT
BOUDEAUX
BOURDEAU
BERTHIAUME
BESSANT
BOUDEAUX
BOURDEAU

Re: Admin Center and admin controls missing

DelorisWilliams87 — 2013-02-17 05:55:00Z

That's strange, I've always used Firefox, with XP, and don't have the problem. It could be a combination of not just the browser, but also the operating system, too. I've heard some people complaining about using Windows 7, for instance. You might want to check into that, too.

Re: Admin Center and admin controls missing

ElizabethPJohnston — 2013-02-17 04:18:52Z

I've been using Firefox as my default browser with no problems, so I'm guessing having cookies set is the answer.

Re: Admin Center and admin controls missing

macleodhl1 — 2013-02-17 02:21:26Z

I looked at that a few days ago after reading through the message board for a solution, and double checked that cookies were enabled.