tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post594020136418924160..comments2024-03-13T21:06:16.936-04:00Comments on Olive Tree Genealogy Blog: The Frustration Over Online Family Trees Gone BadOlive Tree Genealogyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381110998759242462noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-74083377441560288472017-03-01T21:55:07.988-05:002017-03-01T21:55:07.988-05:00And I thought I was the only one. I have been doin...And I thought I was the only one. I have been doing my tree for about a year. On and off. Many times I have found members of my family on peoples trees. They don't get cross references or do the math on births and how old they were in a census 30years later. Sometimes it seems like they just want to make a big tree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-57454000888948621032016-02-10T15:39:16.413-05:002016-02-10T15:39:16.413-05:00Yes, ranting is definitely appropriate here. Anot...Yes, ranting is definitely appropriate here. Another problem of copying these trees and following the green leaf hints willy-nilly occurs at meetings and lectures when a newbie comes up to me and proudly tells me how wonderful it is that he/she or a cousin has just gotten started but they have their ancestry back to a royal family in the 1200's. My approach has been to include some sort of Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11356365641026777691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-4637701088595633142014-05-21T17:18:44.594-04:002014-05-21T17:18:44.594-04:00Drives me nuts when I see it. Usually I find it w...Drives me nuts when I see it. Usually I find it when it's too ate and have to correct a mess.Michael F Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05956888239131674750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-68632532009182964372012-12-16T20:09:16.034-05:002012-12-16T20:09:16.034-05:00I just want to add to the conversation that one ch...I just want to add to the conversation that one characteristic of a successful genealogist is "humility." Case in point: a cousin commented that I had some incorrect information in my Ancestry tree on a direct ancestor. For months I reasoned, researched and finally came to the conclusion he was right! I am GLAD he took the time to correct me and sorry I didn't listen sooner. Add eatPattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16414349744163776225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-35522294722807108112012-09-15T05:56:16.997-04:002012-09-15T05:56:16.997-04:00I like that phase: "the genealogy sheep."...I like that phase: "the genealogy sheep." There’s also “genealogy fiction”.<br />I see glaring errors made by people who should know better, so is it little wonder why new comers believe whatever they find printed. I just found a site where a man is shown married to his mother’s sister. <br />When I started researching our family’s genealogy close to twenty years ago, an old timer Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-65130060706428144522012-05-28T10:42:34.635-04:002012-05-28T10:42:34.635-04:00I have a couple of lines that have been researched...I have a couple of lines that have been researched and written about for 100 years. In the 1990s I was thrilled; now I'm tearing my hair.<br /><br />On one of my lines, a name searcher has found thousands of people and I've had to search every page for my possible ancestors, then check her logic, then look at her sources. She's very good, but it's as if she's sucked all the JG in MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16029403745201344240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-33111912390461516032012-05-24T09:11:56.250-04:002012-05-24T09:11:56.250-04:00I've had good results by putting the shoe on t...I've had good results by putting the shoe on the other foot. I have sent my info (which conflicts with their illogical version) and asked them if they would please share their proof that I have made errors. Often in that process they see their own goofs, without being totally embarrassed in the process.Mirwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019166231364844236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-78016554041671031792012-05-23T18:10:09.638-04:002012-05-23T18:10:09.638-04:00I did make the mistake early on of doing some cut ...I did make the mistake early on of doing some cut and paste work on my family tree, but when I found the error, I corrected it. I have connected to trees of family members I know, but I largely ignore hints from family trees from the general populace.<br /><br />Rejoice in the fact that you have put a single budding genealogist on the right path rather than focus on the 99 genealogy sheep that P J Sabadoshttp://adventuringinancestry.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-8639636036518936412012-05-21T10:11:06.516-04:002012-05-21T10:11:06.516-04:00Is it definitely the tree (the research) that is w...Is it definitely the tree (the research) that is wrong, or is it just that the wrong sources have been added to the wrong people? I have recently uploaded my tree to Ancestry and it's easy to do. If you have Dad, Mum and kids that have the same names, it's easy to link the correct record but to the wrong person. But a lot of 'copy and paste' genealogy goes on, I will admit, Catherine Nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-76305534888615421482012-05-21T07:04:57.950-04:002012-05-21T07:04:57.950-04:00It's really interesting reading all of your co...It's really interesting reading all of your comments. I don't merge online trees with mine - ever. But I do use them for clues which I track down on my own. If something is found to be correct, then I add it manually to my tree. <br /><br />I'm not in favour of policing or ranking online trees. And I don't personally want Ancestry or other sites to be "tree censors" or Olive Tree Genealogyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02381110998759242462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-82466899330707282532012-05-21T04:43:29.480-04:002012-05-21T04:43:29.480-04:00Oh I can so empathise with your rant! Yes teaching...Oh I can so empathise with your rant! Yes teaching and educating may help those who care enough to learn, but agree with Frances, that critical thinking skills seem to be severely lacking. None of likes being told we've got it wrong but surely it's better to say "whoops I goofed" and fix it, than have everything incorrect forever. I've tried to tactfully correct some Cassmob (Pauleen)https://www.blogger.com/profile/18397134336319778519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-64247175638303148742012-05-20T15:32:00.092-04:002012-05-20T15:32:00.092-04:00In am incensed every time I hear about people not ...In am incensed every time I hear about people not paying attention to simple details which are usually most obvious. I had an issue with my cousin's wife -- taking my documented information and adding children who were born before the parents were married. <br />It is difficult to know what to do - I would hate not to share what I have found but it does cross my mind to make my tree private.PatCarolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676087295527805292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-80085934531466299032012-05-20T13:42:44.935-04:002012-05-20T13:42:44.935-04:00Sometimes I think in the excitment to promote gene...Sometimes I think in the excitment to promote genealogy we hide the hours of research and hard work involved in locating and authenticating lineage accurately. The show Who Do You Think You Are? is particularly guilty of making the process look far too simple.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10887003055439728077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-15114539923953946332012-05-20T12:37:09.721-04:002012-05-20T12:37:09.721-04:00Many of the trees on Ancestry.com show several &qu...Many of the trees on Ancestry.com show several "sources" but when you analyze them, you find that they not only do not prove the assertion, but disprove it. I wish that people would realize that their research needs to go beyond what is available on Anestry.com. Another family tree even when it is supposedly sourced, is not good enough. I've also kept my family tree private.Lorrainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-30728128146894817312012-05-20T12:26:49.350-04:002012-05-20T12:26:49.350-04:00Family Tree maker has such a filter about marriage...Family Tree maker has such a filter about marriages and children's dates of birth. It will pop up a question asking you if you want to include information that is questionable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-69516506213497924972012-05-20T12:04:08.253-04:002012-05-20T12:04:08.253-04:00Totally agree with about everything said. We all ...Totally agree with about everything said. We all know that some folks are only concerned about how many names they can accumulate. A bit like "whoever has the most toys wins". I personally think Ancestry contributes to this by allowing the most ridiculous things to be shown as sources. I've had people show an e-mail from me as a source. Get real!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-6200436419553915442012-05-20T08:30:48.737-04:002012-05-20T08:30:48.737-04:00Perhaps a filter should be installed on all the fi...Perhaps a filter should be installed on all the firms which except family tree downloads. The filter would recognize obvious errors ie impossible dates, people born in MA before 1620 etc etc.. Let's recognize that some are human errors perhaps in copying records and the like. I know I would be appreciative of catching an error unknown to me.<br />Larry KelleyLarry Kelleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-11788061587901031762012-05-19T16:36:33.392-04:002012-05-19T16:36:33.392-04:00Early on I made a couple of mistakes with the wron...Early on I made a couple of mistakes with the wrong maiden names/marriages of women in my Ancestry tree. I've since corrected them but the mistakes live on in several trees that copied off of mine. I tried contacting some of the people but they apparently refused to correct errors they copied of me!Steve Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-73729332647274684592012-05-18T07:30:03.450-04:002012-05-18T07:30:03.450-04:00I got so fed up with people lifting details from m...I got so fed up with people lifting details from my Ancestry tree and adding them incorrectly into their own, that I've now marked it as private and invite only those I know and trust. It's still in the search index so those that are interested can find it and ask for the information.Dorset_Canaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03785691899486249812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-43790884808583657482012-05-17T22:59:43.893-04:002012-05-17T22:59:43.893-04:00I agree with all the above! I have seen so many r...I agree with all the above! I have seen so many ridiculous errors in trees where the date is so obviously wrong that I gnash my teeth loudly! One very gentle reminder to check dates when inputting ancestors... got me a surprisingly nasty & highly sarcastic reply! So I replied that I'd sent feedback but really, it was totally up to them what they wanted to do with it - including dump itCelia Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04096301290962083820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-60092965280547500892012-05-17T21:07:18.259-04:002012-05-17T21:07:18.259-04:00I had someone message me about something I'd a...I had someone message me about something I'd added mistakenly and I was grateful but I've sent messages to others suggesting that they might want to have second look and even provide proof and in only one case did the person thank me and correct it. <br /><br /> like David's idea as well- I guess it would have to function like a rating system but it would be so usefulCallieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04991717349717389292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-3823389853362490502012-05-17T20:13:12.119-04:002012-05-17T20:13:12.119-04:00When I first started doing genealogy research year...When I first started doing genealogy research years ago, I'm afraid I was a sheep. In my excitement, I "found" information for a branch that took me back to the 1700s. Unfortunately, I have run across errors in some of it, but not before I copied the database into my own. I think the best a person can do is warn newbies of the large amount of error in family trees that are online. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-37250453528072290152012-05-17T18:50:04.336-04:002012-05-17T18:50:04.336-04:00Sometimes by telling people privately that their i...Sometimes by telling people privately that their information is incorrect, we have opportunities to not only correct them, but also to inspire them. Occurrences like these are rare. I've been lucky to have been rewarded for my time and effort on a few occasions. <br /><br />I love David Freeman's proposed ranking system for online trees, but how could it be implemented?Ellen Shumak Monheitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-74229973875766012782012-05-17T17:27:39.500-04:002012-05-17T17:27:39.500-04:00Rita - absolutely! Verifying everything you find, ...Rita - absolutely! Verifying everything you find, offline and on, is the key to an accurate family lineage.Olive Tree Genealogyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02381110998759242462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641680.post-6422776381533452992012-05-17T17:26:56.825-04:002012-05-17T17:26:56.825-04:00Cindy - all too true. I haven't encountered ma...Cindy - all too true. I haven't encountered many people in my 35+ years of researching who say "gee thanks for telling me my tree was wrong!" <br /><br />In fact one woman told me years ago that I "spoiled" a family story when I showed her the proof that she was not related to her husband through a common 8th great grandpa!Olive Tree Genealogyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02381110998759242462noreply@blogger.com