Incorrect changes made by WAY distant family
I've noticed that lately there have been several changes on my tree - even to my own mother's details, of which I know personally - that are being made by 3rd and 4th cousins once removed and some separated by me by almost 10 generations! One record for my great great grandmother was deleted and I couldn't correct it! I had to search it back out and relink it to her. Is there anything in place to prevent issues such as this? I've messaged the distant relatives and asked about the changes they've made and I have received no responses.
Answers
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I am alarmed by the number of people making incorrect additions and "corrrections" to my contributions! It is like a free-for-all out there! Does anybody get any training in how to CORRECTLY build a tree? I am seriously considering abandoning this effort and using another option that will allow me to build a properly researched and verified one. Your disgruntled user MJ
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@Gayle Gouyton ( & @mjwells166 )
Gayle ( & MJ )
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
You are not alone ...
MANY; Many; many, of us, ... have been there ... done that ... still do ...
Many of us have had 'wayward' "Changes" made to our "Ancestral" Lines ...
I, 'hear', what you are saying; and, I totally understand, where you are coming from ...
Now ...
That Said ...
Short Answer: You CANNOT ...
Please be aware, that technically, you DO NOT have a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' ...
Please let me explain ...
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.
So ...
That Said ...
Basically, we DO NOT have, a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', than is common misconception.
And, OTHER Users/Patrons, DO NOT need/require, our (ie. one's) "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 ...
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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'.
I hope that this gives you some, insight; and, perspective.
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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 ... ]
Plus ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of US are PREFECT ...
None of us want to have our "Ancestral" Lines 'messed up'; but, unfortunately, it happens.
Just my thoughts.
I know, that this certainly does not help/assist; but, I hope, that this provides you, with some additional, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
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@Gayle Gouyton ( & @mjwells166 )
Gayle ( & MJ )
Furthermore ...
Just in passing ...
FIRSTLY ...
That is exactly why, many Users/Patrons, ALSO maintain their own PRIVATE "Database(s)" (ie. Copies) of their "Ancestral" Lines , on '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).
And ...
SECONDLY ...
All that one can really do, is 'Monitor', one's "Ancestral" Lines, for 'wayward' CHANGES, by OTHER Users/Patrons.
Nothing more, nothing less ...
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", one's 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
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If I could cautiously point out, that just because you "know" a fact to be true, the only way to help preserve that information is to properly source it. Yes, perhaps someone came in with an incorrect fact on your relatives, but if they had a source and your information didn't, you are not helping to prevent the situation you are upset about. I have had to battle the "this is my grandmother and I know her life" argument, and because I had my ducks in a row, she had to admit maybe there was another person in the same town with the same name as her grandmother.
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If someone is separated from my mother by 8 or 10 generations and have no clue of her life, their 'information' is not going to override mine. If you're that far out generationally, why are you trying to alter the more current information in the first place?
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Gayle Gouyton I have all kinds of information I've inherited on people I'm not related to AT ALL, and yet I can use what I have to add information. For example, I have a slew of newspaper clippings dated from 1880s through to 1900 which are biographical in nature about senior members of a small town. I am uploading images of these clippings to the records and editing the records to show the new information. For example if the clipping mentions two spouses, and provides not only the names but dates, I have updated the records to show an additional spouse who had been previously missing. I also have a kind of accountant's ledger with transactions dating 1832 to the Civil War which give great insight into occupations of individuals who are not my ancestors. I have been uploading images and adding information.
So yes, separation has NOTHING TO DO with information available.
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@Gayle Gouyton, other users cannot always tell what the relationship is between other contributors and the profiles they've edited. There isn't a label saying "this is this person's daughter, she probably knew her better than you". If two users are related to each other, and they've both enabled relationship viewing, then they can work it out, as you have, but this only applies to blood relatives. When I'm working on my spouse's side, every contributor comes up as "no relationship", so I have nothing to determine who is a closer relative.
As to why people edit conclusions to match their less-than-current data, it's because they don't realize that their data isn't correct. Perhaps the sources for the correct data haven't been attached? Or they point behind a paywall? Or the sources are there and accessible but the other contributor either didn't notice them, or didn't believe them -- maybe he or she misread something, or misremembered something.
As people have said before: one of the great advantages of the open-edit tree is that anyone can edit anything, and one of the great disadvantages of the open-edit tree is that anyone can edit anything.
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I'll just keep changing it back. Seems there are many users that feel as I do and many that just want to feel like they know more than close family members. Adding pictures and news articles are not what I'm talking about... It's the detailed information that's getting changed by people who do not have the correct information to begin with. I've had users contact me via email about information I had linked to great great grandparents that didn't seem correct to them and TOGETHER we figured it out. They didn't just change the information then expect me to just leave it. There's a better way to work together than making changes that are most likely incorrect. But if someone has passed in the last 10 years, people should reach out to the last person who entered information and verify with them before they just change it. Another user had my aunt as passed away and she's very much alive! When I reached out to them, they were related 3 generations back by marriage and just couldn't find anything recent on her so assumed she was deceased. I had just entered details on her son's death in July 2021 and this person assumed she was gone... All this person had to do was see who made the last change and reach out!
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Some talented helpful people are on these threads, if you could provide specific profile ID and info. that you feel you need help with maybe try adding so others can give better, specific advice to what you experienced.
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to answer the question "If you're that far out generationally, why are you trying to alter the more current information in the first place?"
simple answer: we can. that is a key feature of an "open edit" collaborative tree.
Contributors come in all shapes and sizes...
Legacy contributors and databases, volunteer transcribers, computer driven intelligence, direct relatives and non relatives, puzzlers, "cleaner outer" genealogists with rare documents and photos they inherited trying to pass on to "directs" and "non directs" profiles alike, genealogy social media thread helpers who use Family Tree to assist those stuck or new, profile standardization field housekeepers, rule followers and sometimes the rule breakers, etc....
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Random "helps" on how to minimize errors (different from a change) in a world where all can change and contribute:
-Understand the basics of the platform and the tools we are given to use.
-Use the "reason" field profusely vs. entering vitals dates and locations without a reason.
-Reasons such as "Ancestry trees say so", "Findagrave says so", "GEDCOM", and "my uncle's awesome tree" all are acceptable for maybe starting a profile "build" but likely will get changed over time if other relevant sources or facts come to light which add to the the ancestor's fact or life story.
-Make the change log and profile changes/following tools your top helps. I use both for staying engaged with this constantly growing, changing, and yes, taking 2 steps back at times open edit collaborative tree.
-The "mature", well sourced, well reasoned profile gets changed less over time. the collaborative process, though messy at times, does work.
enjoy the journey!
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Gayle,
that's terrific you could work out and help on some of the vitals disparities with another user..that is a side benefit of this at times messy process. Only a guess, but maybe the same disparities are likely being repeated multiple times at Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, the paywall places.
likely TMI..
in short, maybe use the family tree reason, Notes and life sketch fields to your ancestor's advantage for solving/sharing "repeatable" or "propagated" disputes.
longer...
I've found if the disparities are widespread and propagated, it is helpful to leave comments in the "Notes" section of the ancestor in addition to the vital reason field. In worst cases of widely spread error propagation (e.g. ancestors with same error in several hundred trees or even 10) I will attempt to outline the propagated error and the alternate source documents or contradictions to the "Life Sketch" area so others coming to the profile at FS can understand why I've entered a vital field as I did.
I've learned over time, some users are on tablets and phone apps, while I'm on a computer. Their experience level, active participation in the tree AND/OR the info they can see on an app vs. a computer is different.
Randome esg.s for reasons....(for vital reason field, notes or life sketch)
-Though the headstone photo at findagrave memorial xxxxxx as of Mar 2022, shows a birth date of XXX1, the recently found baptism record found at xxxx or in the possession of relatives Mrs. Jxxx shows a birth and death date of XXX2. See digital copy of the birth/baptism image shared to memories.
-John Smith's middle initial was listed as "W" in propagated compiled research linked to the family bio shared in 195X. Court documents XYZ, bible record held in possession of Mr. Jxxx, etc. shows John's middle name as Wxxx".
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