Why are people allowed to change other peoples information to what they want it to be not what it is
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@Cassandra Griffith
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FYI
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We hear you ...
Many of us understand your angst, your pain ...
You are not alone ...
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Please understand that that is the 'Model' of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', that will NOT change.
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Many Users/Patrons who register and use "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', DO NOT understand the BASIC 'Model' and premise of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Please ley me try and explain ...
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We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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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'.
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"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is NOT like other 'On-Line" "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
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We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like other 'On-Line" "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
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We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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"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'.
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Many Users/Patrons who use "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', ALSO have their "Ancestral" lines as "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' on other 'On-Line" "Websites"; and/or, in 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes, where they CANNOT be "Changed" by others.
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In other words, they have 'the best of both worlds' ...
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There are "Third Party" Applications that are 'Certified' to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Those "Third Party" Applications that are 'Certified' to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' include, both, other 'On-Line" "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
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Some of those "Third Party" Applications that are 'Certified' to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' have, both, a basic FREE version; and, a prime "Subscription" (ie."Paid") version - the latter prime version just has more "Bells and Whistles". The basic FREE version is sufficient for most Users/Patrons - no need to upgrade to a prime "Subscription" (ie."Paid") version.
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Some of those "Third Party" Applications that are 'Certified' to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' can "Download' one's "Ancestral" lines directly from "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'; as well as, interface (talk backwards and forwards/swap information, between) directly with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Those "Third Party" Applications that are 'Certified' to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' can be found in the "Solutions Gallery" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Here is the direct link to the "Solutions Gallery" of 'FamilySearch':
https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/
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You can use, ONE; or, ANY NUMBER, of those "Third Party" Applications that are 'Certified' to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' - the choice is yours.
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You must remember and be aware that "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' was initially created by the Church for the use of Members of the Church to follow our beliefs. The use of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' was later expanded to include EVERYONE would wished to use it, not being limited to just Members of the Church.
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The real problem/issue is that, even today, when people register and use "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' they still DO NOT understand the BASIC 'Model' and premise of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' as being SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, where we only have "Branches" (ie. "Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected; and, that "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'.
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Now ...
That said ...
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Here is a good place to start, with how things work in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' (and, other programmes as well):
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Introducing The Family History Guide
https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/733
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Introducing The Family History Guide
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The Family History Guide
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I know that this DOES NOT help; but, I hope this gives you some perspective; and, other options.
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Brett
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I'm having the same problem. How can this be avoided? Also, angry family members trying to override my contribution on my own family.
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@Kohlweiss Kohlweiss
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Please read the original answer, my previous answer, to this 'Question'.
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There is NO problem/issue ...
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You MUST try to understand that that is the BASIC 'Model' and premise of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', being SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, where we only have "Branches" (ie. "Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected; and, especially, that "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform.
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What you consider is a problem/issue, is actually NOT such; and, cannot be avoided; except, possibly, through "Collaboration", with the other Users/Patrons that work WITH you on your "Ancestral" lines.
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'Yes', unfortunately, the BASIC 'Model' and premise, of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', does cause angst between 'Related' Users/Patrons; sometimes, being Family members; even, immediate Family members.
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Such angst can sometimes be worked out through "Collaberation"; but, unfortunately, not always.
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We are all different ...
We all have different opinions ...
We do not always agree ...
[ It certainly would be a boring World if we were all the same ... ]
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"Collaboration" is a means, to try, to help everyone come to an amicable agreement - but, even that, is not always possible.
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As I also indicated in, the original answer, my previous answer, to this 'Question', you could try one of the "Third Party" Application that are "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' which can be found in the "Solutions Gallery" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Good Luck.
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Brett
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Seriously? That was sooo helpful. Thank you
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Once you have entered any information into the single shared FamilyTree, it is no longer "your information" as it is then owned by FamilySearch. This is per the user agreement that that every one using the site is bound to.
The trick is to provide as much documentation for why you made the change as possible. This includes sources for the data, Notes containing logic as to how you've derived the information from the sources (if it isn't real obvious) and entering information in the "Reason this information is correct" box (which could be a simple statement or a reference to the Notes and sources that are related to the data you've entered)
Technically, for someone else to change it to some other value, they are supposed to provide the sources and reasoning for their choice. Theoretically, this way the tree would IMPROVE in accuracy and content each time data in the tree is altered.
Unfortunately, there ARE some stinkers out there that totally ignore all existing research documentation and will change it just because some great aunt of theirs said that it was different based on some distant memory. Frequently in these cases accurate data that has been thoroughly researched and well documented over the last 30 years can get trashed as a result of someone's undocumented "opinion".
If someone changes data that you've entered, they should have provided justifiable reasons based on attached documentation. If they haven't done this, you can change things back to where they were with your documented values.
Of course, if you are not providing documentation for why you are changing things as well, you would both be on thin ice 😊
"Genealogy without sources is Mythology"
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See my post below on some ways to mitigate this issue (I say "mitigate" because you can't totally "avoid" it)
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Thanks Jeff! Your post actually made a lot of sense, however, it is annoying when someone changes a female to a male just to be the contributor who wants to manipulate the information. Our hope is to improve accuracy and update information but there should be rule enforcement.
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In every civilized area where common resources exist to be used by all, there must be rules. But rules that have no policing or enforcement are useless. And I would invite a little more enforcement from FS on these issues, but they appear to have been strictly told to "Not get involved" unless certain extremes occur.
Unfortunately the real rules of the FamilySearch FamilyTree are just "Survival of the stubbornest" which can be really weird sometimes. 😶
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I live in Sweden and I get so much message to change people in my family-tree and I don't know what to do to keep my branches when people delete and change what I have done.
Many people do not understand that some people are adopted or foster children in homes and the churchbooks sign up them to be sons or daughters to that man in the family and when I write the real father to my tree people write me to delete this people even my closest relatives do they want to change that I have paper on that they who they are.
My mother did paid for Vadstena here in Sweden to make her family-tree it was professional done according what the churchbooks said but after done a DNA-test did I see how wrong the family-tree was and how wrong those researchers was. Based on churchbooks is not cut in stones and those who read them and write them in to date-base read and write wrong because they are young people in USA that not know anything about Europe history and how the names are set up.
It is not their fault because they are told to write down what they can see and I have been working as a job to read churchbooks here in Sweden and was told to not even if I saw it was error in the names should I write it anyway as it was because many times the names was cut off because the one who write in names assume everyone knew the correct name anyway and never thought we should sit here and make research for our family-trees.
I correct those names that I know for 100% is not correct but that make me not find those names in FS because the name there is not correct.
It is a problem with those people in USA who do not know their roots in Europe and in my family-tree do I have royals on both sides and I have come to know by talking to some people in USA that am related to me that they don't want to know there is royals so they never write it because they hate Royals without knowing that the Royals of today have no power. oooohhh they hate so much that they have royals in their trees without understand Europe today and it's history.
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The following article from the FamilySearch Help Centre may also be useful:
This issue often generates questions, and these may have been answered previously. Just a tip to save you some time......before posting a question, it may be helpful to you to check if this topic has been addressed previously - You can add keywords (in this case 'Prevent changes' ) to the search bar, and other similarly themed questions will appear and may provide you with a quicker answer.
Hope this helps.
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