Lou I couldn't agree more - The internet is like a huge magnet, enticing stupid people to do stupid things. Facebook and all the other social networks that are readily available is an excellent example. Many years ago I tried my darnedest to get all the miss-information about various family surnames either changed or taken off Ancestry and the LDS site. Of more than a couple a dozen emails I sent out to the addresses that were available only one bothered to reply and that knuckle Head just said "Who the H__ cares." With that kind of mind set there isn't much one can do except to avoid the donated material all together. I have been following this discussion since it started and as yet I haven't read one person say they have had a totally acceptable experience. Some were willing to take the information as is so they could check it out - HELLO - wouldn't it be better to do your own research?
At least you would know what information was REALLY questionable.
So much information has been loaded onto the internet in the past few years a person might think he or she can go all the way back to Adam and Eve with no problem at all. But it is so much more fun to get a little dirty and dusty and visit some musty old Court Houses - Libraries - Historical Societies and tramp through a few cemeteries(don't forget your digital). You wont find everything sitting on your butt all day in front of your computer.
Have a good one guys, Fern
www.bufordfamilies.com
From: Lou Poole
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 8:32 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] reliable sources
I have been following this discussion closely, and though I have quite
a number of comments I could make, I'll confine myself to the one
overriding question I'd like an answer for, or to...
Why does someone post family information, usually asserted as truth by
omission of any discussion or caveats, when they do not know it to be
reasonably correct?
In the past when I've encountered such incorrect information I've
thought I was doing the person who posted the information, and the
people who might encounter it, a favor by trying to contact them with
a reasoned, factual rebuttal and/or correction that includes primary
source documentation. My experience:
1) about half the time I can find no way to contact the person who
posted the information
2) about half the time that I can find a contact address, I get no
response when I attempt to contact them
3) about half the time that I do get a response, the response comes
across as somewhere between disbelief and outrage that I should even
be questioning the incorrect data.
4) and finally, about half the time I do get a chance to make my case,
it is ignored, with no explanation as to why.
(and bless the remaining less than 10% of the people who post, who do
respond, and who are willing to discuss the issue(s) with an open and
objective mind.)
So, again, I ask why do people feel compelled to post information if
they want no feed-back, no discussion, no corrections, or even the
opportunity to correct my interpretation if I'm wrong? Am I wrong if
I tentatively conclude that such postings have nothing to do with
genealogy and everything to do with ego on the part of the poster?
Lou Poole
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