Is Family History starting to sour?

[Redroger]

Certainly provoked a response! So far as I am concerned Family History is fast becoming over commercialised, and a major offender is the ONS and the National Censuses etc, selling them on to commercial companies.We are most probably stuck with the commercial approach, but let's just hope it doesn't wreck things for the genuine researcher!No souring just too many commercial sites now.

[Nick29]

The truth of the matter is that the ONS does not have the resources to handle the hosting of a census site itself.  Do you remember the commotion that the 1901 census caused ?  I wasn't researching my family tree then, but I remember the chaos quite well.

[Gatacre]

We are most probably stuck with the commercial approach, but let's just hope it doesn't wreck things for the genuine researcher!No souring just too many commercial sites now.

What is the real answer to the thousands of queries  re FH .  It has become a global industryand when I decided to change from finding my Irish and Scots roots to my American in 1980 I found that genealogy was already a billion dollar industry in the States.

When I started FH in 1976 there was just one mormon library in the North of England and that was burnt down.  Libraries and cemetery offices and any where else one can think of had the time to answer queries and gave wonderful information but as time has progressed the pressure on theses sources has become immense.  I shudder to think what all the grave papers and other info would cost me now.

Perhaps some body would like to give their version of how the massive interest in genealogy should be dealt with now when information is sorely needed by so many.  Somebody has to be paid for the time that is given to answering questions but WHO?

[maidmarion]

The truth of the matter is that the ONS does not have the resources to handle the hosting of a census site itself.  Do you remember the commotion that the 1901 census caused ?  I wasn't researching my family tree then, but I remember the chaos quite well.

I remember the 1901 oh so well 
Having waited excitedly for what seemed like ages for the big day to come and what a disappointment. I believe I got one quick look before the site crashed

I have been reading this thread with interest and lots of valid points have been made. I enjoy reading others opinions as I am rather an opinionated person myself

My gripe is about archive depts and research rooms in general, or rather the people who now choose to visit them on mass as though it's a place for a family outing. It is so annoying having people standing  behind you (because they can't sit with their partner as there isn't room for two to a reader) They often talk far too loud, put their bags on tables etc.... Enough said

[kerryb]

This is straying a bit from the topic but your gripe made me laugh Maidmarion and reminded me of the last time I was at my local archives.

Opposite me at the table were two gentlemen looking at plans I think and talking very loudly about the abismal service there and the slowness of ordering plans, (the poor achivist was doing her best between answering the phone and our enquiries\).  They kept mentioning hobbists and those who watch WDYTYA and then come and clog up the records office looking for family and I was trying to concentrate.  Finally I very politely said 'excuse me, but please would you be quiet, this hobbyist is trying to concentrate' 

They had the decency to apologise and look shameful. I had a few nods from around the table as well.

Kerry 

[MarieC]

I have to say that here in Oz, people are generally very well-behaved in libraries and archives.  Yes, there are crowds of people doing family history, but they are usually working quietly at film machines or fiche readers.  And librarians are invariably extremely helpful and courteous, providing an excellent (and free!) service, even when under pressure as they often are.  They will often do several hours of free research if you live some distance away and can't get in very often.  I've had this invaluable help from my Queensland State Library several times, but even though I don't live in New South Wales, the Mitchell Library in Sydney has also sent me documents, free - didn't even pay for the photocopying!  Our archives have reinvented themselves as user-friendly places for researchers - they could have more staff on duty to help, but apart from that they are good places to go and search.

So yes, I do think that a lot of the online resources have been over-commercialised, but there are real treasures to be found in libraries and archives, free or low cost.  Libraries often have some of the commercial resources, available within the library or online.  Our National Library was recently amazed by the large and positive response it got to an online survey of users of its catalogue.  To me, this just reflects the excellent service they offer! 

MarieC

[Kaybron]

I have recently started research into my family.  My husband is quite lucky and research on both sides of his family has already been completed. About 18 months ago he suggested I start finding out details about both sides of my family as I knew very little about them. Parents migrated from England to Australia over 50 years ago and I was born here in Australia.
It has been a very interesting journey.  Have taken out subscriptions so that I can view census data and have spent heaps ordering birth, death and marriage certificates to verify research.  Recently paid 40 pounds to a History Centre to have family details provided pre 1841 and despite giving exact details about what I wanted researched received back a letter simply confirming information I already had and I had supplied in my initial request.  Internet is a must and help from this forum has been very greatly appreciated.  I check this forum almost daily and read lots of different posts to try and improve my understanding and knowledge in family history and research.
I don't want to be someone who wants others to give me everything. I don't mind paying for someone to do research, but my last experience has certainly been costly with nothing provided that I did not already know.  Am very envious reading posts where fellow "Rootchatters" mention visits to local archives.  If only Australia was not so far away.
Kaybron

[Redroger]

How are services funded? Answer: By taxation either local or national. The problem with British people is that we want a high level of public services, but when it comes to paying for them we baulk and prefer low taxes instead.

[toni*]

like many hobbies people spend a lot of time on them and then after a while other things get in the way - life generally -or the information begins to dwindle and then so does their interest
the reasons for researching family history int eh first place and
depending on if they wanted to get back to early 1800's or back further than that also plays a factor in whether people are 'going off' family history
the programmes such as WDYTYA always interest people as genrally people are voyueristic by nature and want to see what is going on or what has been going on in other peoples life and the celebrity can only enhance that
but you will always find the staunch few that for them it never dies