Is Family History starting to sour?

[joboy]

I'm beginning to wonder if we are becoming satiated with Family History.
The responses that I am currently getting from GenesReunited and ancestry dont seem to have the same fervour today as they had initially and there seems to be a reluctance to participate by sharing trees or only passing on minimal detail etc?
Is it because the responders are unsure about their trees because what they have has been gleaned from sources who likewise have gleaned from other sources and there is an arising doubt,in the absence of proof,that what they have in their tree(s) is questionable?
joboy

[Deb D]

Many of us are far more reticent, these days, ... having shared information with people whom we later discovered were "name gatherers", who promptly attached our entire trees to theirs, regardless of how distant or unproven any links might have been.

These days, if anyone asks for access to my tree, I ask them where their hoped-for connection is, and I try to make sure their information can be verified before I'll click the box that lets them see my details.

[charlotteCH]

Don't think the genuine researchers are satiated with family history. I think we might be a bit fed up with those whose methods are less than rigorous and those who Deb D correctly calls "name gathers".

Problem is how to deal with this- and alsot o try to get established the quotation of sources as recognised procedure.

charlotte

[kerryb]

I agree with Deborah and Charlotte about name gatherers.

I have to say I am currently in touch outside of rootschat with a couple of contacts about two different strands of my tree and the enthusiasm hasn't waived a bit there.  So for serious researchers there is still fun to be had.

I have to say I'm a bit fed up of the wave of rootschatters who are just here to take, take, take without researching anything for themselves and then don't even bother to thank those of us who spend ages searching for them    Yes I know we don't all have access to Ancestry etc but there are so many freebie sites out there now that there really is little excuse sometimes.   

Moan over but I do wonder how serious some of them are about family history.  If they lost connection to rootschat or the internet would they bother to carry on, would they bother to go to libraries, family history centres, record centres etc or look for other sources.

Sorry I said moan over 

Kerry

[Nick29]

People can be reluctant to share information for all sorts of reasons - I have had to make my Ancestry tree private, because I'm currently involved in legal action over an inheritance which was paid out to the wrong people (I'm the one taking the action), and therefore I'm a little paranoid about people who pop up out of the blue asking searching questions.  However, I have felt very sad about having to do this because I've had so much help from similar contacts in the past.  Hopefully it won't last much longer.

[~Rachel~]

I don't think it will ever sour to be honest... there will always be a next generation with an interest!

There may be a lot more people searching in the last decade than previously due to the amount of resources that are now easily available - and I guess TV publicity has captured more interest. BUT the people that have genuine passion for it are still there.

Imagine how time consuming research was when your only option was endless trips to the various records offices to trawl through BMD records, now it's as easy as a click of a button. So yes there may be more casual people involved but I feel it balances itself out.

And as for name gatherers, I don't tend to share information unless people specify their connection to my tree. And it doesn't really bother me, if they want to spend all their time in that way that's their call! Each to their own - it's just a shame if they give out information that's incorrect. But a good researcher would always double check anyway. 

[MKG]

Just a word in defence ....

Yes, there are a number of takers, but some of them are rank beginners who don't know how to go about research (they soon learn on here) and some of them are pensioners who can't afford the sometimes extortionate fees charged by certain commercial sites. I'm one of them. I've had an awful lot of help here, and I pay it back by helping here where I can and also by transcribing for several other bodies. As a result, I'll soon have earned enough credits to be able to gain access to a lot of otherwise unobtainable stuff but, until then, it's FreeBMD, FamilySearch and, of course, RootsChat.

Have pity on we paupers, Kerry 

Mike

[kerryb]

Sorry Mike I wasn't getting at paupers at all, I am one myself only working part time and there are many very genuine people on rootschat.   

Sadly though there are some in this field who rather than pay for the research themselves seem to just not be bothered to look and post a look up request.  Now I don't particularly mind that either, I love researching for myself, my partner and Uncle tom Cobley and all but I do like a thank you for it!  These are not exclusive to rootschat either.  And sometimes if you suggest a freebie site they could search that suggestion is not taken up leading me to believe they just are really not that interested in researching themselves.

I restrict myself to FindMyPast these days, as I can't afford Ancestry as well although I would love to, particularly with their London records promised.

Kerry

[Jean McGurn]

 I sometimes wonder if these so called 'name gathers' are just people who may have a less common name and are trying to gather names for future reference. I don't think that they should really add to their trees until they have confirmed lineage.

I agree with ~Rachel~

And as for name gatherers, I don't tend to share information unless people specify their connection to my tree. And it doesn't really bother me, if they want to spend all their time in that way that's their call! Each to their own - it's just a shame if they give out information that's incorrect. But a good researcher would always double check anyway.

As for me I am over the moon after receiving an e-mail from someone who turns out to be a previously unknown cousin. So where one line was starting to flag it's now rekindled as I have someone to swap info with.

Jean