How cross would you be, or am I over reacting?

[Nick29]

Whether you like it or not, there are many people who use their online trees as a kind of dumping ground for anything that might turn out to be useful, whether or not they have yet verified it all.  That's their privilege, no one is forced to look at their tree.

Wel, I wouldn't call it a "dumping ground" exactly, but I can see where you're coming from.  Now, I like to put in untested people into my Ancestry tree, because it seems to make searching that much more effective, but because my tree is public (I firmly believe in sharing), there is the danger that others may take my untested people as tested (yeah, I know they should check themselves, but that's now these unfounded hints start).  So, what I now have is a public tree for all the people that I'm reasonably sure about, and private trees for the relatively untested branches.  The downside of that is I get hints from my private trees appearing on my public ones !  Ho hum ! 

[danuslave]

what I now have is a public tree for all the people that I'm reasonably sure about, and private trees for the relatively untested branches

Hi Nick

That's what I've been doing but ....

how do you merge the untested stuff into the public tree when it's been tested and found to be ok??

Linda

[Nick29]

The only way is to do it manually.  Ancestry tree editing is very poor.  I don't have very large "test" trees.

[danuslave]

The only way is to do it manually

Oh good - thought I was missing something.

Thanks Nick

[mothball]

I've just read most of this thread.     Yes you should be cross and you are not over reacting.

I have found plenty of second cousins and nearer actually on both Ancestry and GR.

It is distressing to find photos and gravestones of loved ones third hand on someone's tree who is only related via X marriages.    Looks like it's the name of the game.

I have made my Ancestry Tree private and like some  earlier poster said, if someone wants to get in touch then they can.

It is difficult as you don't want to 'hide' all living relatives otherwise you might not find them! 

I don't know.

Regarding the number crunchers (who always copy wrong), it's a hobby for them, like doing a puzzle.    People seem to do family trees for all sorts of reasons.    Mine is has quite a few people now, over a thousand, but I do try to keep to direct descendants, but there are so many of them!

Think I'll calm down and make my Ancestry Tree public again at some point.

Steven - bed time

[toni*]

It is difficult as you don't want to 'hide' all living relatives otherwise you might not find them! 

its not difficult to hide living relatives on GR there is an option to do so and in that case all relations born within 120 years that do not have a death date are hidden, however if you search other peoples trees for me for exampel i would still come up as a match.

[mothball]

I live in hope

Steven

[cassofromdyers]

I have been collecting my husband's and my families since 1980. Little bit here and there. Found it easier when things went on the internet. I have just started posting my tree on Ancestry. Details about source documents, actual text's etc. I only place information on this tree that other people can find and gather for themselves, if they wished. All can be accessed over the internet. If someone asks for further information not on line I e-mail them direct, judge their connection to my line, then decide if I am going to forward personal details I have collected. I do expect something from them which I don't have. Descendants of a sibling etc. I also inform them that as I am producing a book containing this information I am placing a copyright on what I have written and ask they agree not to place this information on-line without asking me and obtaining my permission. If they wish to use anything, it's best to ask first.
At the moment I have not struck any problems. That does not mean they are not around the corner.
Wendy

[Nick29]

I'm afraid that part of the "problem" (if you choose to see it as one) is that Ancestry make it so easy to put other people's photos on your tree.  It takes only one mouse click, and there's no warning that you should ask first, although Ancestry's guidance pages say that it's wrong to use photos without permission.

From my own point of view, I've been using Ancestry a fair while now, and I'm in contact with most of the people whose trees overlap mine, and we "borrow" each others pictures, and there's no problem.  I've no objection to people using my stuff, as long as they use it respectfully.  Even nicer when they acknowledge the person who it came from (as I do)