"What makes these people tick" EGO?

[sue7]

While I realize that I don't own my ancestors, the absolute gall of some people make my blood boil, yesterday while doing a search on ancestry I came across my grandmother on someone else's tree,  (she passed away two years ago)

On checking this tree closer my whole line back from her was on it,  This person I worked out was something like a step 16th cousin twice removed, (am exaggerating slightly)

why would he bother with putting my ancestors on this tree, certainly it wasn't relevant to his research,

So I ask the question is it ego or what?

Sue

[nanny jan]

I've found something similar with one of my ancestors;  I think some people just like collecting names!



Nanny Jan

[Heather D]

Or maybe less about collecting names but more about enjoying the thrill of chasing branches to see how far forward you can bring them? I do it myself ...I like adding pieces to the jigsaw!

While I can understand someone being puzzled by this approach I don't really get why anyone would be angered by it.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, what we consider relevant to the research probably depends on the individual approach to the research itself.

Heather

[Garethboxing]

I agree with Heather. What's to get upset about? I've followed some fringe lines in my own family simply because I found them interesting; others I've not bothered with.

We're all doing this for our own pleasure (aren't we?). If some people are "name-collectors", good luck to them. Why should it make any difference to anyone else?

  Gareth

[liverpool annie]

I understand what you're saying Sue ..... we are very protective of our own family and research .... it's a bit of a jolt to see someone else have it also !

I think my problem is ... I'm a little private!!  and tend to save my information and I don't like to share unless I know  people are REALLY related to me .... I hate the thought of my family hanging out there on the internet for all to see !! .... silly isn't it ? but I can't help it !!

Must be me age !! 

Annie 

PS Hi Heather !

[Lydart]

If they have living people on it, then complain by emailing the site ... they are reluctant to remove living people in my experience, but if you quote child protection laws and that sort of thing, you'll find they do eventually co-operate !

[Gadget]

We have to accept that we are all connected to others by a web of kinship and affinity and none of our ancestors are just 'ours'.

As long as they don't put living people up, as Lydart says, there is nothing that can be done.

You have to admire all that work though 

Gadget

[Roobarb]

I'm guessing that what maddens you Sue is because someone else seems to be taking the credit for your hard earned research.
 Makes me angry too.    

[panda40]

Ancestry have a link that when an individual appears in your tree and the other persons you can import there tree info into yours. Not sure if it works the opposite and they automatically get your tree as well. So you may only have been after one distant relative and gain 50 surplus ones as well. I have opened up a couple of these trees to see what research the person has done and they have very cleverly included the wrong place of death for every individual eg instead of Dover Kent it says Dover Delaware USA. So the tree owner knows if someone has included their research rather than doing the work themselves. Quite a clever trick that might be worth including. Personally I much rather do the the research myself then risk using someone Else's that may include mistakes. I have had my tree borrowed and I have a few known errors put in deliberately by myself to prove its my tree and not theres. The most comprehensive one is on my computer not on the internet.
regards panda