Input requested on messaging instructions

[John Finlay]

Hi everyone,

I am posting this message because I have a question for you and would like your input.

The messaging system was introduced to cut down on spam and it seams to have worked.  But now we are getting a lot of questions about things that are not related to genealogy and I would like to cut down on those messages as well.  Some of you have probably experienced this as well.  I think that by adding some instructions to the message window before they are allowed to send a message will help with this.

In the message window, I want to add some text that explains:
1. why some people who are obviously dead are still shown as private and that in this case we probably don't have any more information on them
2. That we will not give out any private information about living people to non relatives so don't ask.
3. That this is a genealogy site, so don't ask about old girlfriends/boyfriends, and don't ask questions of a pornographic nature.  These questions will not be answered.
4. Verify that the person you found on the site is the same person you want information about.  Many people have the same names, please check dates, places, and close relatives, to make sure they are the same people.
5. When sending any information to us to update our site please include:
  a. information that we can use to make sure they are the same people
  b. any information should have sources attached to it so that we know the information is accurate
6. Any questions about PhpGedView, should be directed to the support page on the phpgedview.net site

This is quite a bit of text, but we waste a lot of time with irrelevant emails.  We get people asking us to help them research people who have the same name as one of our ancestors.  We get people asking pornographic questions because they saw porn video where the actress had the same name as my great-great-grandmother <John shudders at the thought>

So the question I want to ask is:
Should this text be added to the language files so that it can be internationalized in the other languages, or should it be a configuration parameter, or a theme file?

Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages.  If it is added to the language files, then it can be translated to the other languages, but it will be harder to configure because you will have to modify the lang.xx.extra.php files.

Maybe some of you don't even want this, but I will be adding it to the next release so I want your feedback before I do.

Thanks,
--John

[John Finlay]

It was suggested that I not mention the pornographic part because they will probably ask anyway.  I am willing to leave out the porn part and put more emphasis on the fact that this is a genealogy site and that questions not related to genealogy will not get a response.

--John

[Patrik Hansson]

I think the messages need to be translated to the different languages or they are of no use when my old aunti is reading it:). I think it also would be nice if you made the lines so you can turn them of or on I think i would have added some of them but not others. Some of the lines my not be relavant in some cases. And maybe a empty line where you can add an own message.

Regards
Patrik

[Arne Eckmann]

Hi John

I wonder if some of the points could be concentrated by stating something like:

"All our available genealogy information are put on display: If you don't see it here, then it's not available, and we are not able to help you."

"Questions of a non-genealogy nature will not be answered, and questions about PhpGedView should be directed to the support page on the phpgedview.net site"

And, like Patrik said: It would be nice if the different points could be turned on/off.

Another idea is, simply to include an empty messagebox where people could write their own messages.

best regard

Arne

[Jans]

Hi John,

I think you, Patrik and Arne all are right.
Also, I think it's important to keep the messages as short as possible, otherwise people will not read it.

The best way would be, I think, to put it in the language file.
If people don't like it, they can use the lang.xx.extra

In the meanwhile I posted a RFE for some help screens (# 866409).
Maybe this can be combined in some way.

Best regards,
Jans

[Boudewijn Sjouke]

John,

Seems like a good idea. Any direction for use is in my view. It sounds a bit like RFE 854843, only the place in PHPGV is different. Perhaps a combination of 2 would work out best?

Boudewijn