Is Family History starting to sour?

[MarieC]

By and large, I've found family history researchers to be very kind and helpful (including on here), and I try to help others too in any way I can. 

I have a few principles that I try to use regularly:
*  Only ask for help if I'm stuck or don't have access to something (it's much more fun to do your own research anyway!)
*  Always thank those who help
*  Where people ask for help, point them to any free sites that they may not be aware of, but never do the research for them on those sites!  If they are really interested, they will go there and look for themselves anyway.
*  If a person seems to be always asking for help but not acknowledging it when given, I will not help them again. 

I don't have my tree on the Net so for me the problem of opening it to "name gatherers" does not arise!

I don't have subscriptions to pay sites because some time ago, I could access A......y at LDS Family History Centres, and also people did some lookups for me.  Now, there is just the occasional thing that I need from those sites, not enough to justify a subscription.  I'm sure there are others in a similar situation!  Also, I am spending lots of money at local archives and Government departments, so that is taking care of the budget for family history at present.

These principles work really well for me and save me from any angst that others seem to feel.  Particular sites may have soured for some people, but not the whole area of family history.  I think I will be doing it for the rest of my life!

MarieC

 

[kerryb]

Good principles Marie and worth adopting 

Kerry

[rw mcgowan]

hello all ,iam anew member out of birmingham doing family history ,having retired inow have time very new to computers and internet. my bimingham side of the family has been difficult to research ,as all documents relating, were lost due to family disagreements ,have found your site it seems to be a good site ihave lots of family history in blackpool as my mothers family come from bispham trying to research the cartnell family

         hope you dont consider me a gatherer hope to be on this site for a long time  rw mcgowan

[millymcb]

Hello, rw mcgowan

Welcome to rootschat

There are lots of lovely people on this site who will be only too happy to help with any questions you have.


Milly

[rw mcgowan]

thank you milly
                          rw mcgowan

[little meg]

I think Family History has evolved and with that some changes in the way people think and act.
In the old days  we posted our letters and waited weeks, we went to the libraries and spent hours looking at microfiche and books.

Today, things are easier as so much is accessible over the internet.  But a lot of companies have taken advantage of the Family Historian and are asking big monies.

I don't think people are loosing interest, I think they have a more technical view of Family History now.

I still have an obsession and am happy to share my tree.  In GR I just put up a real basic line, with year only and no source or anything.  If they are true  contacts then we can swap via emails.

I like to think I help in Rootschat, as Rootschat has been an amazing help to me.

Margaret

[joboy]

When I started this topic I was not concerned about name gatherers but more the fact that many family researchers are now questioning the trees which they have produced which have been,in so many cases,added to by the input of others rather than being doubly checked at every event (birth,marriage and death) which is really what should be done neither was I concerned about the cost of my reseach.
I mirror the response (No.14) by Nick in that after 23 years of my research I have 704 in my tree that have been 'doubly checked' and that I am quite certain of.
In contrast to this there probably would be some 400 or more that I am not certain of and they will remain on the backburner until I have completed the double checking procedure.
It is nice to have Guy Etchells (reply No.11) input and a pleasure to know that his sentiments are similar to mine.
For those who dont know Guy then you should 'google' his name.
His comment that 'family history has never been cheaper' is quite true from my standpoint too (I am a pensioner) when one compares the cost of commodities today with the costs of  the various 'pay per view' sites available.
I like what Margaret (little meg) says in reply No.23 ... "I think Family History has evolved and with that some changes in the way people think and act.
In the old days  we posted our letters and waited weeks, we went to the libraries and spent hours looking at microfiche and books."  ..... how well I remember!
So what we get today is an 'armchair ride' compared to 'the old days' to which Margaret refers.
Joe

[Springbok]

Just recently I was contacted by a total novice ( both on computers and family history)on GR who like many "newbies" alllowed me to view their Tree.

With all these first contacts, I ask if they have family history software. Often, that is far as the contact goes,but this time was differant, and since then we have been in contact via e-mail .
The experience of guiding someone through obtaining  Free software and then
opening a GED file I sent her has been really great .And of course i guided her to Rootschat !

She is now happily delving into our mutual ancestry. Because the two software programmes are so differant , not all of my information is showing on her programme, she will still have to go to Family rootsweb sites and the OPC sites to find dates and relationships

I started out  in the '80s , well before the internet existed .Just because it is now a differant experience , I agree with little meg. So much easier and so much more personal contact .Especially with local historians , People who have researched Parish records etc. in their locale  for many years.

To be 100% sure that all ones research is correct is impossible. You only have to see on here ,  a query regarding information on a BMD certificate to know that ones ancestors lie .Accept or Reject, it is your choice. To me, the original posting  Is Family History starting to sour. of course not. half of the fun is in the uncertainty.1

Spring

[MarieC]

Absolutely spot on, Spring!! 

I agree with everything you say!

Even when I began, it was necessary to go to the local LDS Family History Centre and pore over lots of fiches and films, with writing that was painfully hard to read.  Took a lot of time - but oh, the joy when you finally found something!  I startled the whole room on a couple of occasions with shrieks of joy!

Much more immediacy now for all of us impatient family historians - but perhaps not the same sense of achievement!  But there is still a lot one can do in local archives - very interesting stuff that will never be on the Net.  And if one is tracing family land ownership, Government Lands Departments can be very helpful (and quite expensive!)

And yes, you can be sure of very little in family history.  It's hard to know when ancestors, for any reason, have not been truthful!!

MarieC

PS  Kerry, thanks for nice comment!