Mandatory "Reason This Is Correct" statements
It would be very helpful if Reason statements were made mandatory when making changes to vitals.
I'm constantly frustrated to keep finding changes to vital information or even people added to FamilySearch with no "Reason This Is Correct" or source of their information. I want to know why the information was changed and why it is more correct than what was there previously. Even as simple as citing the source of why someone is making a change is very helpful. I keep finding people making changes to people I'm following and there are no new sources attached and no information given on why they made the change. I just end up changing it back to what it was before and giving the reason as "Changes reverted to original because no reason or source has been given on why they think the changes made are correct."
I've seen the comments about using Notes to help others understand some of the changes made and research information. Even a reference to a Note would be helpful in the "Reason This Is Correct" box. I would love to be able to tag notes or link notes to specific vitals as suggested in other ideas and threads.
Comments
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Allen
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
You are not alone ...
'Yes', it is 'Frustrating', when Users/Patrons, in this day and age, make changes, to "Vital" information (or, even add individuals/persons), to the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', with either, NO "Reason This Is Correct"; and/or, NO, associated, "Sources".
And, I understand, the reason, for your suggested enhancement ...
But ...
That Said ...
Such 'Frustration', should NOT mean, that "Reason Statements" (ie."Reason This Information Is Correct:"), should be made "Mandatory", in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
The REASON, that I suggest such, is "Very" SIMPLE ... "GIGO" ... ( ie. Garbage In, Garbage Out )
I would RATHER 'see' NOTHING, at all, rather than "Garbage" (eg. '.'; or, 'x'; or, 'xxx'; or, 'Records'; ETC; Etc; etc).
[ And, believe me, that is WHAT the result would be ... make NO mistake about it ... ]
I am sorry to say such; but, MANY, Many, many, Users/Patrons, DO NOT, have the 'Time', to add/include such.
Of course, some, are:
(1) "Inexperienced" (and, DO NOT know, that they should; or, in some cases, HOW); or,
(2) Worse, just lazy/sloppy (and, have NO intention, of including such)
Whereas ...
Many of us, do INCLUDE, "Sources"; or, "Reason Statements" (ie."Reason This Information Is Correct:").
And ...
'FamilySearch', is TRYING, to ENGENDER, participation, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
[ NOT 'Stifle' such ... ]
Plus ...
Great, in THEORY ... but, that said, ... NOT so good, in PRACTICE ...
A Programmer (NOT from 'FamilySearch'), once said to me ...
You CANNOT, make a "System", FOOLPROOF; as, FOOLS, are so INGENIOUS ...
[ That is SO true ...]
As such ...
Sorry ...
Taking things, into consideration ...
I humbly, CANNOT recommend (nor, support; or, agree with), your suggested enchantment, of making "Reason Statements" (ie."Reason This Information Is Correct:"), in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; as, "Mandatory".
Just my thoughts.
Brett
ps: There is ONE place, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; where, a "Reason Statement" (ie."Reason This Information Is Correct:"), IS "Mandatory", that being, in the "Source Linker", when "Creating" an individual/person (who DOES NOT already exist), that would appear to be Born LESS than x110 Years ago; and, could possibly be, STILL "Living" - that HAS been circumvented, with various forms of "Garbage" ...
.
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When FS requires a reason statement for the death before adding a profile, I put in a period, and find it extremely annoying that I then need to go to the new profile to delete that reason statement. Now, granted, I'd be going to the profile anyway, to add and tag the source(s) that prompted the addition of the profile in the first place, but the principle of the thing -- the nonsensical requirement to justify marking someone as deceased when I just finished entering a death date or an 1800s birthdate -- rankles no matter what.
Another consideration is that currently, FamilySearch's reason boxes conflate two completely different things: change log annotations versus a record of one's reasoning. The presentation is better suited to the latter: a person looking at a profile's Details page cannot see a conclusion's change history, so seeing something like "no reason or sources given" comes across as nonsensical at best. A record of one's reasoning, on the other hand, is very often superfluous, especially in the Vitals box, which can be tagged with sources. "I've entered this conclusion because that's what the sources say" is just as redundant as "I've attached this source because I believe it applies to this person", and I know I am not the only one who would be thoroughly unappreciative of any requirement to enter either one.
I disagree strongly with your idea. It would not serve your purpose, because people would put in whatever nonsense or bare minimum character count they could get away with, and the requirement would anger everyone. Therefore, like the required reason box on some profile additions, it would add absolutely nothing of value to Family Tree.
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Thanks Brett and Julia for your answers and after reading your comments I find I agree with you. You're right that there are many times when a note in "Reasons" is not necessary and even redundant. I have to live with my frustrations at all the changes with no sources. I guess a better answer would be education and educating users on how to properly document research. That is a huge task in itself and really won't solve the problem as there are constantly so many new "genealogists" and once-in-a-blue-moon users.
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@Allen Geisler - Would you be comfortable with me closing your idea?
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