Why does everyone who wants to do their genealogy always ask "which site is completely free" , why don't you,

Unrealistic expectations.

If you have Scottish ancestors you may find Scotland's people website to be useful. There is no fee BUT you will have to pay a small amount to view the record and possibly some more to download a copy of the record you want. However, It is not necessary to get a copy of the certificates and etc. Last time I was on it I believe it was £6 for 30 points. Most records were a point to access although some were 5 points. Once you have bought a record it will be stored in your account and you can view it at any time.

They don't realize that people like Ancestry.Com that has a multitude of records have to pay people to get those records and to input them into their system.

They are public records but if they didn't find them on a paid site like Ancestry.Com they would have to pay someone to research the public records in order to find them or travel to the county courthouses to get them.

Genevieve's mom is right on. A lot of young people today don't know how to use a dictionary but they can text message. I am almost 72. We learned the difference between an index and a table of contents before the Christmas holidays in the 4th grade. I understand kids going into high school don't know the difference. So, how do you expect them to know how to research?

If they want to look up a meaning of a word they go to Dictionary.Com which I have found has incomplete definitions.

They can't speak grammar. I heard twice recerntly TV newspersons say, "have came." I laughed because I have been miscorrected more than once by high school grads because I said "have come."

I always tell them that run and come are two words in the English language that the present tense and past participle are the same. They look at me sort of sheepishly.

Now, I think it is inexcusable for people on any of the boards to make fun of people's grammar or spelling. When I see them do that I wonder if they would do that if they were dealing with a person face to face.

I don't disagree that it can be frustrating to be here for a few weeks and see this same question maybe several times a DAY. But... MOST people coming over here ARE new to the topic.

I have to wonder about the comment above that claims, according to law, it is SUPPOSED to be free. Would sure love to see that law, in Scotland or anywhere else.

There ISN'T much in life (if anything) that is truly free. It really discourages me sometimes to see that false sense of entitlement. And yes, the open nature of the internet can confuse people.

It is truly astounding, to those who did "real" research, pre internet (and still do), to see how much is available online. You do not HAVE to pay any business online to use their service. That does not translate into thinking that they DON'T have worthwhile resources, or that they have no business being in business.

My bottom line is that I enjoy coming over here, and having some fun, getting people started. At the same time, I have to understand and have tolerance for others who are inexperienced. ALL of us were new to research at some point in time.

Because they're used to turning on a computer and finding everything at their fingertips. People have got to remember what it was like 14 years ago before there was a nice world wide web and before genealogy records ever found their way on here. We did very well, thank you, using Family History Centers, libraries and archives. But a whole lot of people have forgotten where their library building even stands...and a whole new generation has no clue that there's more information in their local library on genealogy in their area than there is on the internet. Our job is to remind them!

I guess people don't want to pay for it because by law, the information is free. Although if you go to the hall of records in Edinburgh, it's £18 entrance fee for a half day. On some of these web sites they're asking for upwards of £80 for a years' membership, but if you're only looking for general info, you don't want to join for a year. Personally, I don't think it's fair to charge people over the odds for info that's supposed to be free!

Because we are expected to pay for everything only breathing is free, at the moment,just sit back and wait for some expert to come up with the idea of paying for it.And where does this money come from, the tree at the bottom of the garden?

I paid, twice, found nothing at all.

I went on the the free Rootschat Forum and the members there were most helpfull.

So free wins over paid in my case.

will you pay for mine since my husband is disable and i can't work cause i have to take care of him and our income is bottomed out. my friend give me a computer and got me the internet so it wouldn't be nice to ask him to pay for me to find my family.i'm glad you have money honey if only we all did

Because we are all broke and poor, and looking for a fun hobby that isn't going to put us in the poor house even more. Taxes and insurance are high.