Gggrrrrrr!! Private Tree on Ancestry photos copied

[Dave Dee]

Doesn't this spoil the fun of genealogy for you, having all that handed to you on a plate? I would much prefer to find this out for myself rather than just copy others' research.

Yes, true - up to a point - the thrill of discovering something new through one's own efforts - I'm sure all of us here know that feeling. Some things, though, like certain photos or documents, are not available except via other people's trees. Similarly, if one is stuck on a branch, a tiny snippet of information from someone else's tree can unlock an Aladdin's cave that can even be fed back to that same person. In my own case, I have tons of photos that no other relation will have, also documents, and the same is conversely true. There are also bits and pieces about family members handed down by word of mouth to individuals. Isn't it good to be able to share such stuff with other members of the total "family"? I return to my assertion that this hobby of ours is all about sharing freely.

[youngtug]

Maybe you should forget Ancestry and put your tree on the Wikitree. I see that some  one has done that with my  tree from Ancestry, not that I am worried by it but taking credit for someone else's work is a little bit naughty.

[IgorStrav]

Just want to register that I'm leaving this discussion, as whatever your intentions, I'm now feeling judged and found wanting for a personal decision which I took when someone very peripherally connected to me took my whole tree, and posted it to his own, without permission, without warning me, and including large numbers of people who were not related to him.  I now share with connections to aid their researches and I am very free with the information I do share.

I defend the decision to make my tree Private, but I don't wish to discuss it any more.  I share and contribute as much as I can, and several comments here belittle these contributions.

Rarely am I upset by discussions on this board, I like to feel I am a rational and sensible human and capable of understanding other people's opinions, but I am uncomfortable with this one.

[groom]

There are also bits and pieces about family members handed down by word of mouth to individuals. Isn't it good to be able to share such stuff with other members of the total "family"?

I agree Dave. The problem is that there are, unfortunately, those who just attach photos, stories etc to any name that is remotely like the one in your tree and therefore your photos and family stories end up attached to completely the wrong people. I prefer that people ask me and show the connection and then I am more than happy to share. I dont like the idea of my grandparents, who I knew and loved, ending up on an unrelated tree, perhaps on the other side of the world.

[Dave Dee]

There are also bits and pieces about family members handed down by word of mouth to individuals. Isn't it good to be able to share such stuff with other members of the total "family"?

I agree Dave. The problem is that there are, unfortunately, those who just attach photos, stories etc to any name that is remotely like the one in your tree and therefore your photos and family stories end up attached to completely the wrong people. I prefer that people ask me and show the connection and then I am more than happy to share. I dont like the idea of my grandparents, who I knew and loved, ending up on an unrelated tree, perhaps on the other side of the world.

Yes, groom, I can understand that. In my own case, I don't think that would worry me, as long as my own beloved grandparents were not "slagged off" in any way - but I can genuinely see your point. What I want, though, is for the genuine, good people who can benefit from my own tree and efforts, to be able to share in my discovered treasure. We obviously all have very mixed feelings over this issue, but it's evident there are some extremely kind and considerate people here, on both sides of the fence, so each of us must be willing to accommodate the other person's point of view, mustn't we?

[Dave Dee]

Just want to register that I'm leaving this discussion, as whatever your intentions, I'm now feeling judged and found wanting for a personal decision which I took when someone very peripherally connected to me took my whole tree, and posted it to his own, without permission, without warning me, and including large numbers of people who were not related to him.  I now share with connections to aid their researches and I am very free with the information I do share.

I defend the decision to make my tree Private, but I don't wish to discuss it any more.  I share and contribute as much as I can, and several comments here belittle these contributions.

Rarely am I upset by discussions on this board, I like to feel I am a rational and sensible human and capable of understanding other people's opinions, but I am uncomfortable with this one.

Igor, if I am one of those persons responsible for upsetting you, I apologise unreservedly. It's never been my intention to upset anybody.

Peace, brother.

Dave.

[doddsie4]

      Thanks for your support folks.    For a moment there, I felt like I was a lone voice in the wilderness.   

      I wonder what will happen if a majority of members decide to make their tree Private?     Ancestry might have a bit of a problem there.     People would soon desert them.     How could they function?         

[youngtug]

It is a persons personal choice to do what they want with their research, and Ancestry is for research of their records. Why would you want to use other peoples trees for your research, most of them are flawed in some way.

[Dave Dee]

      Thanks for your support folks.    For a moment there, I felt like I was a lone voice in the wilderness.   

      I wonder what will happen if a majority of members decide to make their tree Private?     Ancestry might have a bit of a problem there.     People would soon desert them.     How could they function?         

Nahhhhh, you're not a lone voice. And yes, let's all go Private and see what happens.