Re: Genes Reunited

[Tricia_2]

I really like GR and recommend it to everyone who is interested in their family history.
It's great for sharing info.

Yes, there are occasions where details have simply been copied from me ~ sometimes incorrectly ~  but this can happen anywhere. The same thing has happened to me on other sites and via other means. It can be very annoying at times.

I don't mind people using the information that I have researched, or which has been researched by others and passed on to me ~ but I do wish that they would acknowledge the people who really discovered it, & not just claim it all for themselves

I allow most people who want it to have access to my tree. I'm not sure that this is a good idea, because it means that they have access to information that isn't 'theirs' but which they can, and sometimes do, add to their own tree, anyway. (There may be stolen identity issues, too)

I rarely add living people to my tree ~ and never without their permission. But I take this further, and rarely add the deceased parents of living people, either. Usually this just doesn't feel right.

But yes, some people will just add everyone they find on someone else's tree.

I like to prove relationships first, too.

[LizzieW]

I've had some very good matches on Genes, especially on my mum's side of the family.  One man, who is descended from the husband of my gran's sister, has been very helpful and gone out of his way to visit libraries and look up trade directories etc. to find information on relatives on my father's side of the family, which are of no consequence to him.  Only due to his persistence, did I actually find the date of my g.grandad's death.  From him and others on my mother's side of the family, I have got photographs, certificates and lots of other information.

I live in hope that every month will bring new contacts.  This month has brought me 3. 

Then again, I did have a Hot Match with someone who apparently had 33 matches with me including my g.gran.  I e-mailed him to ask his connection and just got a reply back saying she was only a distant relative and he had now deleted her from his tree.  However, this month the same hot match appeared, so he hasn't deleted her.  I have a feeling which distant relative he is connected to.  I'm not bothered that he has copied all the details, as some of the info I was given by other people (with the appropriate certificates to verify it), I just wish he had told me where he fitted in.

Liz

[Peg804]

I found Genes Reunited by accident-and was just doing a search of names similar to what I was looking for.  Messaged several people who had surnames similar, and the reply-the very next day gave me shivers- I have kept his email-telling me of out relation, his family never knew what had happened to the relatives that went to AMERICA, they never kept in contact.   The feeling of elation was overwhelming-finally a breakthrough.  I cannot say enough about this site, it provided me with information I had previously not been able to find-as well as relatives I did not know existed,  I will never forget "I am Roseanna Austin's Great grandson...."  For those who have had such a breakthrough I do not have to say more-for those of you who have not, it is an unbelievable feeling of connection.

[exessexgirl]

Like others I have good and bad past stories about GR. Thankfully over the past 12 months I have made, and been contacted by 20 or so people who all have contact in various ways to individuals in  my tree. Some of these people I now correspond with very regularly and we have a good rapore. I never bother to check hot matches, as in the past they have mainly proved irrelivant. I find it easier to use the search on the family tree. That way, if you have a number of entries for a family, you can see easily if another persons name is shown searching for the same individuals. Also when I receive a message from a person with a query about an entry in my tree, I always make sure I uncheck the bottom box, which allows automatic access to viewing my tree. I've only had one person who really annoyed me. This person contacted me through the site last year. She persistently asked for access to view my tree. We exchanged information which verified to me that we were looking at the same people. I hide living relatives on my tree. When I viewed hers I saw that she complete family details, down to children b 1990's. These details had been taken from viewing another family members tree.  I very politely asked her to remove them and her response was very nasty, and she instantly removed my access to her tree.  I contacted the site and they acted by removing the details. My relatives were not directly connected to this woman so she had no reason to add them to her tree. I also contacted the other family member and pointed out what had happened, and she changed the details on her tree, so that the relatives were hidden. But the damage was already done.  Some want to build the numbers I know, but people should be respectful when it comes to up to date information. Another thing that amazes me, is the amount of personal information members allow to be viewed about them. Not good in these days of identity theft etc.  Lyn