Ancestry users what do you think of your new Home page?

[Heather]

How come you don't have any Hints, I have literally thousands.

I do get hints but I try to deal with them as they appear.

 

[Bob Spiers]

Is there anyone on this forum who uses the app?

I have the App on my phone (Curiosity in the first place) but apart from an initial viewing have not returned to it since. Indeed this reminder made me check it out again. I think I had in mind it would come in useful if when family visiting someone asked me a question concerning a mutual ancestor, but as the pandemic has prevented travel for some time, and as I am not likely to resume any time soon, I will probably uninstall it. Sorry will leave the observations to others and 'jorghes' has made a good job of same.

 

[Bob Spiers]

What's that and where is the link to it?

Trustpilot is an online review Community platform open to everyone , allowing you to share your experiences - good bad or indifferent- with others. It was founded in 2007. Just type Trustpilot into Google to find out more or to find the link to which I refer:
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.ancestry.co.uk You can switch to Com. by substituting com. for co.uk.

PS It is a bit (what's the word) anaemic or sterile and not really the right platform to complain about things currently troubling you and others about the Home page, but it gives insight into how Ancestry goes about listening to its users...well sort of.

 

[At home in NZ]

It is a bit (what's the word) anaemic or sterile and not really the right platform to complain about things currently troubling you and others about the Home page, but it gives insight into how Ancestry goes about listening to its users...well sort of.

Having taken a look, I can't argue with you Bob. It is not he right place to go, especially when Ancestry has a 'Suggestions' facility, although i have visons of it all disappearing down a black hole.

My latest 'gripe' about the home page, it is now suggesting I watch videos, why on earth do I want to watch a recipe video? what's that got to do with genealogical research

 

[Pauline]

My latest 'gripe' about the home page, it is now suggesting I watch videos, why on earth do I want to watch a recipe video? what's that got to do with genealogical research

The 4 videos showing when I open my home page are related to family history, but if I scroll to the right I also have one for a green bean casserole recipe. Maybe green beans will provide the inspiration (or something) for breaking down our brick walls?

 

[Bob Spiers]

At last an Ancestry 'beef' of my own. It not only covers the Home Page but also the latest batch of Hints, delivered via email and all concern one of my small offshoot trees concerning the Bermudan family* into which my grandson married, and resides in Bermuda.

I see from its Tribal Pages equivalent there are 418 name in the whole Tree and in Ancestry 392; so a small Tree by my standard. Yet all the Hints revolve around the 1950 US Census and the same Portuguese related individuals.

*My grandson's father in law was born in the US to an unknown father and a mother of Portuguese extraction who is known. She comes from a large family, all settled in the US. I should think everyone with her surname - and other Portuguese surnames of Aunts, Uncles, cousins who married into the family -are now coming at me thick and furious as Hints.

So turn to the Home page and am greeted with Hints from the 1950 US Census (mostly as already presented via an email Hint) plus all the headings -Explore Records - Birthdays -Review Hints, Remembrance concern the same family members. But as boring and repetitive as all this might be, it concerns a 'specialist' Tree branch. So WHY on the Home page of my MAIN Tree with over 11000 names(and yes a few Bermudan family members are also covered to support my grandson's page) am I also getting Portuguese Hints, and even suggestions I might be interested in entries under the heading 'School Lists and Yearbooks'. There are of course other UK related hints, but they clearly take second place.

In reveals the intensity of Ancestry's insistence on showing Hints all revolving around the US 1950 Census and (in the main Tree) many are outside the Bermuda connection and are mainly those with similar surnames and first names. It seems you only need the merest hint of a US connection to get a 1950 US Census Hint.

 

[JoyNor]

Although the entries on Trustpilot regarding Ancestry do look genuine - and it seems some of the complaints do arise because people fail to read T&C's or small print - the review site has a reputation for false entries. I have seen these for myself when dealing with a company that went bust after scamming many people. Suddenly amongst the complaints were pages & pages of praise to the heavens for work supposedly done dated after the company had gone out of business. Trustpilot do not verify if reviewers are genuine customers of a business listed on their site & bulk posts were shown to have been generated by the rogue company using paid overseas reviewers (a company based in Leeds was clearly not installing replacement windows in Indonesia or Pakistan!) It took many complaints & group action to get Trustpilot to deal with these fakes. I would never trust reviews on the site again to help me make an informed choice.

 

[Bob Spiers]

I also have one for a green bean casserole recipe

I was beginning to feel left out, but hey presto, today a video recommendation for a Lamb Curry... wouldn't mind but Curries (cooking and eating of same) is one of my passions, but Ancestry is hardly the place I would go to search out a new recipe. However I am often to be found online seeking out new recipes, so Ancestry are merely aping Google or Amazon in latching on to my search preferences. So whats's new?

Edit: checked out the recipe entitled Rosy Lamb Curry (no idea where the 'Rosy' comes from) and quite unimpressed and apples in a curry? Reminds me of my first wife calling something a curry because curry powder was added. However I did discover Ancestry sponsor several recipe dishes, and many can be found on Facebook and YouTube. No wonder they seek to advertise them on the Home page.

 

[JoyNor]

Out of curiosity I navigated to my now ignored home page. I have recipes for Shrimp and Grits (?) plus a Yule Log. What a load of carp!

 

[At home in NZ]

Out of curiosity I navigated to my now ignored home page. I have recipes for Shrimp and Grits (?) plus a Yule Log. What a load of carp!

Well said, gave me a laugh

 

[At home in NZ]

apples in a curry?

They put apples in Indian chutney so I'm not surprised.

 

[Margery]

They put apples in Indian chutney

My mother would make a curry which included apples and sultanas - I think she called it a "sweet curry".

 

[Bob Spiers]

My mother would make a curry which included apples and sultanas - I think she called it a "sweet curry".

I suppose I should have said my interest is in Indian curries rather than Persian, the latter noted for their 'sweeter' flavours where the ingredients include apples (assorted) dried fruit and nuts. Mind you there are a few Indian versions that include dried fruits and coconut, and of course Indian curries vary region by region, with Goan style fish curries a particular favourite.

 

[Susan48]

Out of curiosity I navigated to my now ignored home page. I have recipes for Shrimp and Grits (?) plus a Yule Log. What a load of carp!

When I log on to Ancestry it defaults to my DNA matches page. Like JoyNor I navigated to my home page and found it full of clutter but, thankfully, there were no recipes.

 

[PhilGee]

Why do people "love" curries? For me, the whole objective of a curry seems to be to "destroy" the taste of the food ingredients (which I attribute to use with "tainted" meats in hot countries centuries ago).

 

[At home in NZ]

Why do people "love" curries? For me, the whole objective of a curry seems to be to "destroy" the taste of the food ingredients (which I attribute to use with "tainted" meats in hot countries centuries ago).

I wouldn't be saying that around too many of our Indian communities. We have Indian neighbours, delightful people, they are vegetarian and almost all their meals are curries.
I also had Indian neighbours many years ago when I lived in a different part of the country, I was asked if I'd like to see how a real curry is made. She started with softening garlic and onions, then added things like ginger, spices and I can't remember what else.
A real curry definitely does not include curry powder.

Having said all that, I do not eat curry.

 

[Bob Spiers]

When I log on to Ancestry it defaults to my DNA matches page. Like JoyNor I navigated to my home page and found it full of clutter but, thankfully, there were no recipes.

Give it time

 

[Bob Spiers]

Why do people "love" curries? For me, the whole objective of a curry seems to be to "destroy" the taste of the food ingredients (which I attribute to use with "tainted" meats in hot countries centuries ago).

Is there any hope for you I ask? 'Destroy' the taste of food' and then reminding that spices were added to appease the taste buds of the British raj of long ago. Are you not aware that spices (herbs) have been added to food since time immemorial, to enhance flavour. Both my grandmothers (and their mother's before them) kept stew pots on simmer adding gathered herbs, fungi, potatoes, root vegetables and nameless other 'bits and pieces', passed on as cooking tips from mother to daughter. Most time it was done to supplement a poor meat content, which often could not be afforded (unless poached) and there were mouths to feed.

However you are not alone as I know of one or two of my acquaintance who dislike 'spicy food'* and one who when the topic of Indian food crops up never fails to add ... 'all that 'b' foreign food' (or words to that effect). But against this my very oldest ORC (see I can play that game) aged 94, last time I spoke with her on the landline bemoaned the fact that Covid had meant not being able to go out for a good curry with her Nephew.

I will leave it there for now as you are clearly beyond redemption if you think spices destroy flavour rather than enhance, Stick with your improvised Gedcom's Phil.

*Spices vary in depth of heat intensity and flavour and it is as easy to make a light spicy curry as it is to make one that imparts heat. My (second) wife actually introduced me to curries long ago and at that time we both loved Madras and stronger flavours, but over time have settled down to preferring Jalfrezi/Makhani /Tikka Masala (medium to mild for the uninitiated). We have a Curry evening coming up this Saturday when I provide two curries and my son-in-law two also. Usually about 6 or 7 of us and a curry for everyone - including at least one vegetarian one provided by my daughter.

 

[peter]

Since some of us can't get the recipes, could somebody who can please post them in the forum?

 

[At home in NZ]

Since some of us can't get the recipes, could somebody who can please post them in the forum?

Might not be possible as mine is not there now, the videos change all the time as far as I can tell.
Might be best if you watch your own home page to see if any appear.