Did you see the new G2G categories?

Question

Hi WikiTreers,

After collecting feedback we decided to create three new categories here in G2G:

1.) Appreciation for Wonderful WikiTreers posts and other messages that our amazingly supportive community members post for each other. I think it really says something special about our group that there are enough of these to warrant their own category.

2.) Photos for sharing family photos. With a separate category, maybe we can now encourage more "lost and found" posts too, i.e. sharing photos that you hope will find their way home someday.

3.) WikiTree Help for basic questions about using WikiTree. This also gives us a better place for sharing tips for beginners, like Ruben did here. These questions went in WikiTree Tech before, and that's where I thought they belonged. But the introductory questions are very different from the bug reports, suggestions, and technical questions. There was a time when I answered most of both types myself. We're a long way from that now! I can hardly even keep on top of technical discussions these days. It's terrific how much our members help each other here.

Any questions about the categories?

Onward and upward,

Chris

P.S. G2G Moderators, will you help move questions into these new categories? Thanks!

Comments

Thanks Chris!!  

I notified our project members and updated our project page as to this new change. Dorothy B. Moderators Project Coordinator.

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Another great job by Chris and the Cracker-Jaxx!!

BTW, the Cracker-Jaxx need their own profile so we can properly thank them (in the new Appreciation category) for all their hard work.

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Great! Nice work!

Would love to see a DNA category...

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Thanks! I like the separate category for WikiTree help! I also think a DNA category would be useful!

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Thanks, Dorothy and Lindy.

Jillaine and Paula, the idea of a DNA category is interesting. Maybe one of you would like to start a new "Should there be a DNA category here in G2G?" thread? If you could present the pros and cons for discussion, that would be great.

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For sharing photos, I don't understand how to use the category.  Do you somehow put the category on the image upload page somehow?

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Categories in profiles are different than g2g categories.  We should come up with a better term for g2g categories.  In g2g there is now an “area” for sharing photos (separate From posting photos to profile pages).

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Section?  Area?  Board?  Department?

Or just 'G2G category'?

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I don't think we need a separate DNA category, at least not yet. Questions about using DNA in genealogy are a good fit for Requests for Genealogy Help, and questions about the WikiTree DNA tools fit nicely in WikiTree Help or WikiTree Tech.

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And I think "Section" would be a good name for the subdivisions of G2G.

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I may have missed this, but is there anyway to just look at certain categories like Genealogy Help, without seeing the whole combined G2G list?  Such as using the Tabs Recent/Hot/etc.  Or could we add tags there for Genealogy Help/Tech etc.

Or is there a way to add those categories to 'Following' ?

Thanks

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Chris, the links listed on the right hand side of the G2G page will take you to the 50 posts in each category/section with the most recent question or answer activity.

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DUH!!! I knew that. LOL!  Thanks Ellen, senior moment I guess

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Small addendum: After the suggestions from Ellen and Eva below, we simplified "Requests for Genealogy Help" to just "Genealogy Help."

Answer 1

I like the new categories. Looks like they are going to help make it easier to find and post information for individuals to search. The WikiTree Help is going to be a great addition for the new WikiTree members.

Answer 2

Great changes - thanks!

Answer 3

Well done, Chris. I think these are excellent!

Any thoughts about a preference field that would allow you to default to a specific category when you first enter G2G? Now that we've got some additional ones, perhaps we could use them more frequently if we start in one right off the bat?

Comments

Hi Scott,

I missed the discussion on this. Why would we need a field instead of members just bookmarking their favorite category, if they have one? For example, you can go straight to https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/appreciation

Many don't realize this, but you can also link to posting in a particular category, e.g. https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/ask?cat=9 preselects the Appreciation category.

Chris

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Just a random thought - I can't recall this being brought up specifically, although preferences discussions do pop up occasionally. I'm good with things as they are - just figured I'd ask the question. Sounds like there's a number of ways to get directly to them, other than my lazy click on the primary link (which just takes me to the main page).

But thanks for the alternate methods - I'll keep those in mind. :)

Answer 4

I note that when the older questions/answers have been moved, they get a new date which may be a bit confusing to people looking for questions to answer.  But I don't know how or even whether they can be moved to the new categories without the confusion.

Answer 5

I love the RSS feeds for each category.

Answer 6

This is going to be splendid when it settles in!

Answer 7

The new categories are great.

Answer 8

Thanks for this upgrade!  This will make it easier to source, search, and send kudos.

Answer 9

Thanks, Chris, for this change. I think it's going to improve the usability of G2G. It should be easier for people to tell where to put their questions, and the reduction in traffic for some of the categories will make it easier to use the categories to "watch" G2G.

I had started recategorizing discussions before you posted this message. :-)

One minor glitch I've observed is that a few people have been adding their genealogy questions to the new WikiTree Help category. It's not necessarily obvious that it's not a new name for "Requests for Genealogy Help." Is there room in the description field to say "Genealogy questions go in Requests for Genealogy Help"?

Comments

Or change WikiTree Help to How to WikiTree, WikiTree How-to, or something similar!

We are so hard to satisfy!!

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And maybe the purpose of "Requests for Genealogy Help" might stand out better if it was shortened to just "Genealogy help" - might make the Genealogy part stand out better in the list. I don't think it would be a problem if the category contained offers and requests all together.

And I do like the suggestions "WikiTree How-to" or "How to WikiTree". For me the least clear point is the difference between "WikiTree help" and "WikiTree Tech". So for that reason "How to WikiTree" might be better because it is more different.

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I'll add an explanation to differentiate Genealogy Help.

Speaking of which, I like Eva's idea of changing "Requests for Genealogy Help" to just "Genealogy Help." Any other feedback on that?

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I like Eva's suggestion of Genealogy Help.

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'Genealogy Help' does sound clearer.

As to 'WikiTree Help', while the current suggestions are probably less ambiguous, I'll throw out another suggestion - 'Getting Started'.  It's common now in other forums and software, easily recognized as the place for basic help, installation help, first steps to usage, and everything to do with getting started with that particular app or topic, but will generally also point to all other reference materials, manuals, guides, and videos.  However, 'WikiTree Help' or 'WikiTree How-to' or 'WikiTree Usage' does sound more comprehensive.

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I like the Wikitree Help name. Chris and the team made a good choice.

Not all help topics come from new folks; it seems like we all run into things from time to time that we don't understand or need basic advice about. And the "how to wikitree" title that's been suggested seems too narrow; it doesn't encompass questions like "what are badges?" (to name just one example I saw recently).

Answer 10

Indeed, great changes.  I really think that this is going to help declutter some of the other categories.

Answer 11

I always seem to find out about things after the fact but if the idea behind this WikiTree Help category is to let people know about how to do things it might be better to call it "How-to" or "Tips" or maybe even "Information". This would make it less confusing to those looking for help and posting their question in the "WikiTree Help" section.

Comments

This was changed over a year ago.

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I didn't catch the year. I wasn't tracking G2G tags then, and this definitely qualifies as "after the fact" LOL

Answer 12

Great idea.  

I think that WikiTree Help should be called something else.  What about WikiTree Basics?  It would then be more obvious you want tips and suggestions as well as beginner questions.

Thanks.

Comments

See the comments above, this was changed over a year ago.