Can somebody explain to me why some one is adding people to my tree? Who gave them access?
Comments
-
Is there a way to manually flag information that is known or suspected to be incorrect?
Images are uploaded as Memories, and those can be flagged on the web interface as false. When a person involved is famous, the false information may constitute vandalism. You can report it as such.
0 -
I'm happy to say that I use family search, but BUT..I would like to say it is a research tool for me. I find info and add this info to the "LDS FAMILY SEARCH TREE". It still bothers me when others change my input, however, I'm way past caring.
0 -
Jennifer
[ As, I previous proffered, earlier in this particular post ... ]
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
FYI
Technically, there is no way, to STOP, other Users/Patrons, from 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.
Now ...
That Said ...
Basically, you DO NOT have, a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', than is common misconception.
And, OTHER Users/Patrons, DO NOT need/require, your "Permission", to "Change" the information/details of "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.
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'.
------------------
Now ...
That Said ...
Hence, why MANY Users/Patrons, of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', (STILL) maintain their OWN "Personal" (and, often "Private") "Database(s)", of their "Ancestral" Lines, on the likes of:
(1) 'On-Line' "Websites"
..... (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or,
and/or,
(2) 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes
..... (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
As an aside ...
Please be aware that ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of us are PERFECT ...
[ Plus ... we were ALL NEW once ... ]
None of us want to have our "Ancestral" Lines 'messed up'; but, unfortunately, it happens.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', like it or not, is a "Collaborative" effort.
[ Although, unfortunately, "Collaboration"; and, "Co-operation", DO NOT, always work, 'hand in hand' ... ]
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', just does not suit, ALL Users/Patrons ...
As an aside ...
Sometimes, 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.
'FamilySearch', sends one, a 'Weekly' NOTIFICATION, of ANY "Changes", that are made to those individuals/persons one "Follows".
Better still, I DO NOT 'Wait' for that 'Weekly' NOTIFICATION ...
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 ...
I know that this certainly does not help/assist; but, I hope, that this might provide you with some additional, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
0 -
When I was new to genealogy research, I thought using other people's work made genealogy so easy. That is what I thought until I spent a whole year working on a family tree that was not mine. Someone made a ridiculous error, and I fell into the trap. Now, nothing goes in my tree that I do not find documented with an official document. I do not post my tree, because I don't want incorrect information assumed to come from me. I know that anyone can make a mistake, but when a young man died at the age of 22, and has 27 children, none twins, I have to wonder who could make that kind of mistake. Or a line is added and the name does not match up with the gravestone. Does someone really believe that a family would accept a gravestone with the wrong name and dates?
0 -
Everyone who uses FamilySearch HAS to accept and embrace that it is a collaborative environment. I am sorry to see so many people asking how to stop someone else from doing something, or how can something be corrected without doing it themselves. YOU must work with people who are working on ancestors you care about. If you cannot accept this king of environment, perhaps the FamilySearch world tree is not for you. You need to switch to something like Ancestry where you can have a tree nobody but you can touch. OR purchase software to be installed on your computer where, again, nobody can touch your tree but you. I love the collaborative element and will post LOTS of comments about why I think something is wrong or why I added something that I think is right. Every time you edit information a comment box is available, including sources! I have added comments to sources pointing out a problem with the source record, usually dates that don't line up with the life of the person. I try not to undo other people's work, and consequently I have had very few issues. In the worst case, someone turned my early 1800s ancestor into one of his 1600/early 1700 ancestors. I changed much info back, adding comments. I messaged the person who did it (you can see a complete audit of who made changes), letting her know what I had done, and also letting her know that all the sources she added belong to a different person, which ID I gave her. She never answered, but I saw some time later she had cleaned up her work! Most of the time things are not that earth shattering.
3 -
It is discouraging and even disheartening when people add unverified people, change names and dates, or even upload GEDCOM of multiple people without verifying. Getting things straightened out can be very laborious and frustrating. Sometimes this is done out of ignorance and sometimes just carelessness. Since the purpose of the tree is to enable one global tree, there will always be distant "cousins" making changes without verifying or validating. However, this can provide an opportunity to educate our distant kinfolks and help knit it all together. I've never found anyone maliciously making changes, but often errors are made. The further back one goes, the harder sometimes to differentiate people with same names, same locations, and even same or very similar dates. By sending a message to whomever entered or altered information, often that person can learn something. But just like a family, sometimes people may not listen so you just have to make corrections - sometimes repeatedly and let those people know what and why something is wrong. It is a learning experience for all of us! The global tree is for everyone. Unlike all the other commercial platforms, it will never be sold or its data used for any other purpose. You may want to keep a separate copy of your information, as a backup, just as is done with other computer files.
0 -
I have a person continuously adding a female that is not a member of my family to the tune of 47 times. It does not matter how much I explain or supply records for this person to check. This is insanity. Ancestry does not operate like that. Public trees can be seen by anyone. But, both private and public trees cannot be changed. I am about to delete my profile. And please, for Spanish speaking records use Spanish speaking people! The amount of mistakes make for a very hard search.
0 -
This has been one of the most fascinating threads I have read in a long time.
I have been working on my tree for over 20 years. In early days it involved driving to distant cities and towns, writing to historical societies, ordering microfilm through the library, etc. Then one day I met a couple of LDS volunteers at a campground in Tennessee who explained how they were visiting courthouses making copies of public records. Wow, I thought, this might someday make information easy to come by. And now here we are.
I want to publish my tree for my children and grandchildren to access as they wish. I gave them digital copies long ago but, as you all know, family trees are constantly in flux, so on-line access might be best. I've decided Ancestry would be better for this purpose, since it would be editable only by me. Yet I can't help but think about dumping a GEDCOM file of my data on the Family Search global tree at the same time. I know many records will get changed and manipulated, but there might be a nugget or two that someone can use...and a nugget or two that may bounce back for me to use. I need to do a final check to insure that my referencing is up to date, but then I'll "donate" it and not care what happens. Seems like that's what the "Family Tree" is all about anyway.
1 -
@Hagsie , rather than you "dumping a GEDCOM file" maybe you could just slowly correct, source and add data to the current FSFT and make it better?
1 -
FYI
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Of course ...
You CAN just, "Upload", the GEDCOM File, into the "Genealogies" Part, of 'FamilySearch', for research purposes.
You certainly DO NOT need, to "Upload", the GEDCOM File, into the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
There is just NO need, to "Upload", the GEDCOM File, into the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
As, the "Genealogies" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is quite sufficient, for research purposes, for OTHER to 'see'.
Just my thoughts.
Brett
ps: The "Hours" (sometimes "Days"; or, even, "Weekes") of work, by other Users/Patrons, that can be needed to CORRECT the DAMAGE, done by the "Upload", of a GEDCOM File, into the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', can be disheartening.
pps: Many well established and documented (eg. "Sourced") individuals/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', have been RUINED, by the "Upload", of a GEDCOM File, into the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
.
0 -
The Family Tree is a collaborative, crowd-sourced, global family tree. We make it better by verifying what we change, add, etc. Nobody has all the answers, particularly the further back one goes, and we all make mistakes. One of the envisioned purposes when launched was to reduce duplicative research efforts by people around the world working separately on the same lines. After we are gone, it will be preserved and available for our descendants. It is offered free of charge, no strings attached, with no commercial interest, and provides access to billions of searchable names and records. Just as best practices teach us to maintain up-to-date backups/copies of our important documents and files, we should "backup" our genealogy. Maintaining an stand-alone program works for many. But, please do not dump a GEDCOM, thinking someone will sort through it and maybe find some nuggets. That only clogs the tree, creating duplicate records, overwriting sources, etc., and causes the same problems mentioned many times in this thread. In the end, if FS doesn't work for you, don't use it. After all, it cost you nothing.
2 -
There is no need to dump a GEDCOM into the collaborative tree. Just upload it to Genealogies and leave it there: it'll be publicly searchable and viewable, but not editable.
5 -
Thanks all. I stand corrected.
1 -
The more information and sources added to an individual, the less likely someone will "cause destruction".
As with a job, relationship, or household, this is a collaborative endeavor and people should aim to outgrow the idea of "I didn't make the mess, so I am not cleaning it up." You cannot do everything yourself, so you do what you do best and what others do worst.
2 -
@VenaasFamily thank you for raising this issue. I am among those with some WRONG ancestors attached to my family tree, some very early in the timeline. For example, one of my paternal great-grandfathers is incorrect, having a relatively common name, and entered by someone else who is not of my own family. Due to time limitations (work, family, church), I'm not online here often, so I've endeavored to be certain of relationships before actually entering and linking them on my own tree. As some researchers also likely feel, I do this not only for myself, but to avoid leading others down the "primrose path" in their own research. Given that I have a life outside my hobby, there are not enough days left to me on this earth to correct the problems in the tree that I began here. Henceforth, I will use FamilySearch primarily for its "search" function when needed, then login to my son's Ancestry account to make any adjustments on our REAL family tree. Thank you, @VenaasFamily , for saving me a lot of grief! 😣 Good luck to you in your own research.
0 -
Years ago I submitted, to them, some blood, sweat and tears. I'm not a Mormon, but I respect anyone who wants to search for history.
Having said that, I don't get on their site often. Maybe once a year.
I got on there a few months ago, and I saw they filled in a direct paternal line.
I may have a road block with this line but, I've done my research to know.....that great, great, great great granddaddy, is not the father.
Does anyone know how to get them to fix the errors?
0 -
Just a minor point, in case any don't know about it.
If you would like to keep a private tree on your own computer, there are free programs available. GRAMPS works very well for me, though I am sure there are others that are also good.
0 -
RuthK27, you have a couple of options. 1) Message the contributor and ask for their sources, explain why it is incorrect. 2) delete the erroneous connection, making sure you explain in the reason box why it was incorrect. Suggest you may want to follow that individual so you can be notified if anyone makes any changes.
0 -
I don't understand why people complain about errors or who allowed that to happen and who is going to fix them. This is a collaborative tree. YOU fix errors, but you need to carefully research to make sure it is not your assumption that is the error. I will not jump into a "fray" of an ancestor unless I have the time to roll up my sleaves and do the research. I never feel angry when I see clear errors because everyone is at a different place in not only understanding how FamilySearch works, but genealogy in general. Depending on the timeline, you have to develop that "spidey sense" about whether or not a source fits into the picture. And you have to develop a method for evaluating a group of sources together to see if they fit each other. That is NOT a beginner's skill, and I never fault anyone for trying and getting it wrong. FamilySearch's world tree is an amazing place, and I am in it daily.
0 -
I suggest watching these videos
WHY USE FAMILYSEARCH FAMILYTREE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwRSRZ9amlM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUcr4cH_EQ
MAKING THE MOST OF FAMILYSEARCH
0 -
This is very frustrating, someone has added a person into my tree and it does not belong there. Now there is a whole family line connected that is false. I have messaged the persons involved to remove them as they linked it to the wrong tree. I am a family member with documentation to the tree, so I know the person that was added it wrong.... And if they had checked the whole tree, they would have seen that there was a person already with the first and sur name in the tree. Now it's a mess and I am copying off my information that is correct and not messing with FamilySearch tree building.
Documentation should be added to a person before it can actually be linked to a tree. I know that there is a lot of maybes, but if one is not sure, please do not add it onto another persons tree.
WJHK
0 -
Understand the frustration
but this is a collaborative tree system - with that in mind - there will always be possibilities of people adding things that we feel are wrong. None of us here in FS are working in a vacuum - we all need to learn to work WITH others and not against them. Please do your best to work with others on your line, communicate with them, share sources, get to know fellow submitters on the line, encourage them to post sources.
Working together we can accomplish so much more than just working in a vacuum by ourselves BUT it does mean that sometimes other people will submit things we believe are wrong. Use tact and patience to work with them - not against them.
If you are totally set on having a database that is exactly as you want it to be -- and only populated with items that you know are source backed -- - Then you may seriously consider using a program like RootsMagic, Ancestral Quest or other systems that give you complete and total control on your local PC.
But the entire design from ground up here in FamilySearch is a collaborative approach where out of necessity we must learn to work with other people - that sometimes makes mistakes and sometimes do things we feel are wrong.
Check out:
WHY USE FAMILYSEARCH FAMILYTREE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwRSRZ9amlM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUcr4cH_EQ
MAKING THE MOST OF FAMILYSEARCH
1 -
WendyKelly41, it is frustrating. You've messaged the person, so I suggest simply deleting whatever erroneous information was added, inserting in the "why" text box that it was incorrect. There are several ways to delete. If a child, one way is simply go to the individual's record and where they are listed as a child under their parents, click the little text box with a pencil icon. That brings up the Parent-Child relationship box. On the child's name, click remove or replace, and proceed with the removal. Add whatever you would like for reason. If a spouse, follow the same removal process. There will always be distant "cousins" who are related, or think they're related, and who will add information that was not verified or checked.
0 -
@WendyKelly41 if you would like help correcting the Family Tree, you can request a Free Research Consultation (see link in the sidebar or bottom menu on this page) or you can start a new discussion topic here in which you share the profile ID so others can take a look and offer advice on how to proceed.
Usually when someone makes a mistake there is an underlying reason such as a source attached that does not belong, incorrect events recorded on one or more profiles, or dates and places not correctly standardized. So, be gentle with the other contributor.
1 -
see also:
Making changes within FamilySearch Family Tree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUYT0_CvbBU
How to Correct Relationships
Correcting Mistakes in Family Tree
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/correct-mistakes-family-tree
What can I do when someone messes up my family tree? - click this link
0
