Stopping someone changing our information
Is there a way to stop people changing information????
I have birth certificates, baptism certificates, numerous census, that prove birth date, parents, location, age etc, but someone keeps changing his parents and data where mothers are having children in their 70's and it's all wrong. I have contacted them and suggested that their person is different to mine, supplied them with copies of the documents, even researched their person and found documents for them which proves he is not the same person and sent those to them as well.
Sadly, every time we put it back to correct, they come in and change it all back. So much so that we are considering giving up with Familysearch as all of our careful research is being destroyed..
Is there anyway to stop these people spoiling our work??
Grahame
Best Answer
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Grahame
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
You are not alone ...
Short Answer: 'No', Unfortunately, there is NO way to STOP, Others Users/Patrons, from doing so.
Because, "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is Built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
Technically, there is NO way, to STOP, another User/Patron, working along the SAME 'Ancestral" Lines.
But ...
That Said ...
Do not disappear ...
There are some, actions that one can take; and, options available ...
Here are some "Knowledge Articles" in 'FamilySearch', that somewhat addresses your problem/issue.
Here is the FIRST "Knowledge Article":
[ But, your particular situation/circumstance, has gone beyond this following "Knowledge Articles" ... ]
How can I prevent other people from making inaccurate changes to Family Tree?
Now ...
After that ...
As you can 'see', "Collaboration" needs to be undertaken.
But, when "Collaboration" FAILS; and, provided that there is NO "Abuse" ...
Then, there is this "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch':
How do I report changes or problems made by other contributors?
comes to the fore ...
In particularly, the last sentence in that "Knowledge Article"; which, is very IMPORTANT:
Quote
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If you have questions regarding inadvertent, suspicious or potentially malicious errors in records that you are unable to resolve per the instructions above, contact FamilySearch Support.
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As such ...
IF, you have undertaken "Collaboration" with the particular User/Patron in question, causing concern; and, that "Collaboration" has FAILED (eg. NO Response); and, provided that there is NO "Abuse"; THEN, you can, either,
(1) For a "Private" communication ...
Contact 'FamilySearch' "Support" DIRECTLY via the,
(a) Telephone
(b) an "On-Line" ('Live') "Chat"
To keep the communication "Private", if you are directed back to this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, insist that you do not want to do so; and, prefer that the matter be handled "Privately".
(2) For a communication is "Public" view ...
'Post' HERE in "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; and, HOPEFULLY, the "Moderators" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel) ] HERE in this Forum, can TAKE the MATTER directly into the workings of 'FamilySearch' "Support", to help/assist you; and, communicate with you "Privately" via/through either, ("Private") 'Messaging" in 'FamilySearch" (or, the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; and/or, DIRECT "E-mail"..
IF, you want, keep any 'Post' here to a minimum, devoid of, "Personal" Information about one's self; and, even, not providing information about any Ancestors, just a precis of the matter; and, requesting a "Private" communication directly from 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel).
But ...
That Said ...
IF, the particular situation/circumstance, really, borders on that of "Abuse"; THEN, ...
This "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch':
How do I report abuse, spam, inappropriate memories, and other content?
comes to the fore.
As such ...
IF, you have undertaken "Collaboration" with the particular User/Patron in question, causing concern; and, that "Collaboration" has FAILED (eg. NO Response); and, there is "Abuse"; THEN, you can, either,
(1) For a "Private" communication ...
Contact 'FamilySearch' "Support" DIRECTLY via the,
(a) Telephone
(b) an "On-Line" ('Live') "Chat"
To keep the communication "Private", if you are directed back to this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, insist that you do not want to do so; and, prefer that the matter be handled "Privately".
(2) For a communication is "Public" view ...
'Post' HERE in "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; and, HOPEFULLY, the "Moderators" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel) ] HERE in this Forum, can TAKE the MATTER directly into the workings of 'FamilySearch' "Support", to help/assist you; and, communicate with you "Privately" via/through either, ("Private") 'Messaging" in 'FamilySearch" (or, the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; and/or, DIRECT "E-mail"..
IF, you want, keep any 'Post' here to a minimum, devoid of, "Personal" Information about one's self; and, even, not providing information about any Ancestors, just a precis of the matter; and, requesting a "Private" communication directly from 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel).
Again, you are not alone ...
Most of us have ... been then ... done that ... still do ...
Good Luck.
I know that this does not help; but, I hope that this gives you some perspective; and, avenues to pursue.
Brett
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Answers
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Thanks Brett... Have had a look at all this and basically there is nothing we can do except watch someone ignore all the factual documentation and ride roughshod over our work. Because of all the numerous changes this person has made, it now has altered 3 generations. It took us a complete day to put it all right after speaking to her and expaining she had a different person, but everything has been changed again, now he has a different set of parents altogether, and a new family. According to her he is his own father, his mother had all her children when she was 60+, he was in court in 1839 when he was 13, which was 1 year after being born in 1838 for burgulary and deported to Australia, but they are ignoring these facts altogether. I have even sent them all the documents to show he is a different person.
Thanks for your answer but it seems to be quite a hassle with no real hope
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Grahame
There is hope ...
Believe me ...
Again ...
Most of us have ... been then ... done that ... still do ...
Basically ...
In many cases, it is SURVIVAL of the most PERSISTENT ...
I once took, a SOLID Two (x2) Weeks, to "UNRAVEL" (ie. SEPARATE), a 'wayward' "Merge"/"Combine", of Two (x2) Families, just about ALL with the SAME "Name"; and, the Families ONLY lived a few Miles apart.
They were "Merged"/"Combined", due to a Census; and, the worst part was, it was an IMMEDIATE Family member, with experience, who did so, inadvertently.
At least, I was able to eventually sort that out; and, none of the Family were upset, just grateful.
I have have not so good experiences, with OTHER, more distantly related, Users/Patrons.
None of us are PERFECT.
We ALL make MISTAKES.
[ Admittedly, some, more (often) and bigger than, others ... ]
Unfortunately, some people like to ... 'look at life through rose coloured glasses'.
Some people, 'see' ONLY what they WANT to 'see', regardless of ALL the supporting evidence (ie. proof) that is provided/supplied/attached.
Honestly, we can ALL be 'one-eyed' like that ... at times ...
'Yes', your are CORRECT ...
Basically ...
It is a matter of "Watching" (oops, sorry, 'old school', "Following") our MOST important Ancestors.
Just to keep on top of any 'wayward' changes.
One can "Follow", up to a Maximum of x4000 individuals/persons, at any given time.
I check, the "Changes", to those that I "Follow", on a "Daily" Basis; so that, I can keep on top of things.
More often that not, nothing needs to be done; but, at least, I have the opportunity, to be abreast of things; almost as, they happen/transpire/unfold.
Such is not the best; but, certainly better than nothing ...
Plus ...
We simply TRY to HELP / ASSIST them LEARN.
That is what WE (try) to do.
Nothing more, nothing less ...
That is what, MANY; Many, many, of us do, each and every day.
Just keep on, keeping on ...
One can just do one's best ...
That is all one can do ...
Good Luck.
Brett
ps: Oh; and, of course, try to address/fix things along the way ...
pps: Such, is the basic, premise; and, nature of, "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' ...
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Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...
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Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons DO NOT understand the basic 'nature' and 'premise' of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.
Please let me explain ...
We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
And, most importantly ...
We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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In other words ... "Collaboration" ...
Of course ... often ... easier said, than done ...
[ Sometimes, no matter how hard one tries, "Collaboration", does not work ... such is life ... ]
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So you have actually heard back from this other person and this is still happening? I almost have to wonder if she has some automatic syncing set up with an outside program and isn't even aware of what is going on.
Here's a couple of thoughts about possible actions:
1) Just keep watching your person. Be sure to have the following flag set and every week when the notification comes, check for changes and reverse them. Sometimes this is a situation where the last person standing wins.
2) Take the information that you have found for this other person and create a good copy of her person and put so much information on the person she keeps trying to turn your individual into that your individual and the other one don't look the least alike. Invest the effort to thoroughly research her person up and down one generation and add all the sources and documentation you can.
3) I've never recommended this before and am not sure it is ever a good idea, but if this other person is automatically syncing despite no idea how to do it properly, you might need to create a new copy of your person so the ID number is different (that is what syncing is based on), transfer all your sources and other information to the new ID, make sure nothing on the old ID would make the two look like a match, and let this other person have the old ID. There may be some items on the record that support would have to transfer for you.
4) Look through this board for the name of a moderator (they will have [mod] by their name) who seems to consistently give good advice and direct message them with the ID of the your person that keeps getting messed up and ask the moderator to evaluate the changes and see if anything can be done, such as revoking her Family Tree privileges. In these situations, I wish it were possible for moderators to figure out where someone lives and send a local Family History consultant out to personally meet with the person.
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Gordon Collett's suggestion #3 is basically what I do whenever another contributor is in the process of transforming a family X into some other family Y. I help them accomplish their goal and wish them well. Then I go about my business building family X. Everyone is happy.
It makes no difference if the other contributor is using an external synching program or not. When I find someone doing this, I usually also discover a complicated conflation somewhere. Or, the contributor may be "repairing" a prior transformation by someone else that messed up family Y, turning it into family X, so they are merely restoring the prior status quo Y. It makes no difference to me; peace is peace.
Non-attachment to the person IDs, the PIDs, facilitates peace.
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