A contributor added members to my tree that are not related to me.
Is there any way to stop others from adding people to your family tree? Someone came in and added people to my tree that are not related to me; there are many of them added including their descendants. I don't like this feature and don't believe that anyone should be able to audit or change a persons tree in any way. I am having difficulty removing the people from my tree that are not my relatives. What can be done to prevent this from happening in the future?
Comments
-
FYI
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Short Answer: 'No', unfortunately not.
Technically, there is no way to STOP another User/Patron working along the SAME 'Ancestral" Lines.
Unfortunately, such CANNOT be prevented.
As, basically, we are all related.
Your "Ancestral" Lines, are most likely ALSO another User's/Patron's "Ancestral" Lines, in fact, probably, that of quite a few other Users/Patrons.
As an aside ...
Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...
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'.
I know that this does not help; but, I hope that this gives you some perspective.
Brett
0 -
Furthermore ...
All that one can really do, is 'Monitor', our "Ancestral" Lines, for 'wayward' CHANGES, by OTHER Users/Patrons.
Nothing more, nothing less ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of us are Perfect ...
As an aside ...
IF, you were not already aware; THEN, ...
In "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch' ...
We have the ability to "Watch" (Oops, sorry, 'old school', "Follow"), up to a MAXIMUM of x4000 individuals/persons, at any given time
Basically ...
It is a matter of "Following" our MOST important Ancestors.
Just to keep on top of any 'wayward' CHANGES.
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; as, they happen/transpire/unfold.
Just my thoughts.
Brett
0 -
tl;dr for Brett's messages: FamilySearch's Family Tree is a single collaborative tree that's completely open-edit. Anybody can make changes after signing in, and nobody "owns" any part of it.
An open collaborative tree like this has all of the advantages and disadvantages of any crowdsourcing project. You've encountered one of the disadvantages, but one of the advantages is that you can fix it: you can remove the unrelated people by editing the appropriate relationship(s).
0 -
Just my additional two cents to this conversation - if you find the same family gets changed a lot, you can put a note in the "Life Sketch" section asking people not to make changes without contacting you first so you can discuss it and come to an agreement. I've seen this be successful on may occastions. Don't have them ask for permission, just ask for discussion first.
Also be sure to document, document, document. Add sources when you find them. Personally, when I'm going to make a change to a family tree, the first thing I do is look at the sources that have already been attached. If it's obvious that the person has done thorough research then I'll create a new person if any of the information on the two people conflict. Also, currently I'm going through all the records of this tiny hamlet my grandfather was born in. The records are not indexed so are not readily available on Family Search and I'm finding lots of "missing" children for families already on Family Search. These children usually died very young and so were just not added since the only record they have is their birth and burial in this small town. You may want to check any sources the other person has added to make sure it's incorrect.
Finally, as all the other responders have said, this is a collaborative tree. Unlike Ancestry, where you "own" your tree, here it is a "one-world tree" and no one "owns" any part of the tree. Usually contacting the other user and discussing the situation resolves most issues or disagreements on family lines. Please do try that. I had a situation once where someone exactly what you're describing. It turned out he had an entirely different family but since the names were similar he "assumed" they were the same family. Once I learned that, I offered to research his tree and find his correct family which he accepted. I then got him his own family line and have had no more issues.
Just bear with us - and work with the other users; most are very receptive to other possibilities.
0 -
The above comment by @Patty K R O suggested contacting the other contributor, so the incorrect information can be clarified and corrected. Asking others where their information came from and documenting it can be useful. You can also advise them what you have found. We are enclosing the Help Center article link, in case it my be needed. Click the link below:
Good luck with your work on Family Tree.
0 -
Very often, problems like this are due to the presence of unrecognized conflation in the tree, where two families have been tangled together.
For more specific help, share a person ID so we can take a look.
I do not recommend posting "ask my permission" messages in the Life Sketch. That tends to offend other contributors. The result may be all quiet on your part of the tree on FamilySearch but it also means you get no help.
0
