Changes - Deletions
One of the main complaints from those in our community's Genealogy Club are changes made in FamilySearch with no courtesy of contact nor an explanation why a change was made. In fact, some now refuse to use FamilySearch, and these are people who spend hours in research.
When people delete a memory or a source something should prevent them from doing same without a reach out to the person who posted it (if they have been active within the last 6 months), or at a very minimum an explanation before any deletion is allowed in the system.
We are all after the same thing accuracy, but it should be collaborative, not just destroying what someone else took the time to post without even a note why it was done.
Without this change, some who has not made a contribution to an entry can still go in and delete something...with no explanation. Seems like they should not be allowed to delete any more than they contribute to any entry.
Comments
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To me, you need to generate a discussion with your Genealogy Club and make a comparison with a public park. Some people are angered that the walking paths are used by bicyclists. Others are angered that unfriendly dogs are allowed to be walked by owners. There are too many dogs that bark or growl at other dog walkers. I can imagine people saying things like: something should be put in place to prevent these kinds of dogs from being walked. They and bicycles are destroying the environment. I refuse to go to that park any more!
It all really comes down to a person's tolerance for a "community" environment. Those in your club who refuse to use FamilySearch should be respected. Why would you make them feel like they have some sort of obligation to use it? You should support their decision! If you are truly a genealogy club, you should also be talking about the use of Ancestry and other web sites.
I recommend talking about coping strategies, that would be more positive. I have had memories deleted as well as one completely ridiculous memory added which caused a huge ruckus. An ancestor of mine was tagged in a group photo taken in the 1890s. My ancestor died in 1756. The person doing the tagging then locked it so no one could untag. What happened next reminded me of the gunfight at the OK Corral. How did I cope? I grabbed a bowl of pop corn and watched the fur fly. The only way for me to cope with the hate is to treat it like entertainment.
The point is, you should be encouraging your club members to evaluate their own ability to work with the FamilySearch web site AS IS, and support them if they say they cannot. The solution is not to sit around complaining, but sitting around discussing how to be successful in FamilySearch. When I saw the memory added, I put a note in the comments that it appears wrong, and then went about my life. I don't strive for perfection nor do I strive to have the control and ability to block others as if I am some authority.
In fact, my ancestor who died in 1756 is half legend anyway. I would be tickled pink if 300 years from now I had so many descendants and other fan club members squabbling over my life. How exciting would that be!
Finally, collaboration can not be controlled, and if FS put in place the requirement for sources, the newest users would slap in anything to satisfy the requirement. We would not be much better off.
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