Unauthorized editing of Family Tree

LegacyUser

Daniel Brakeville said: How do I edit my tree? Someone was nice enough to screw it all up and put people in there that is not my direct line and removed what I had in there. Also How do I stop it from happening again?

LegacyUser

A van Helsdingen said: The FamilySearch Family Tree (FSFT) is a "one world" tree. This means there is a single family tree for all humanity, and there is no "my" tree (except for living individuals you have added). If you want to have individual control over your data, use one of the various software packages available for this.

A downside of this model is that "wrong" edits can occur. I strongly suggesting "watching" direct ancestors or relatives. You'll get an email every week with the edits that were made to those profiles. If an edit you think is wrong occurs, you can click on the editor's name and there's a link to contact them. Politely state why you think their edit was wrong, and provide evidence. If a person appears to be a vandal or highly incompetent, you should contact FamilySearch Support.

If you post the ID number of the profiles on the FSFT you want help with, someone on this forum will be able to offer specific help for your problems.

LegacyUser

Paul said: Daniel

Why did you even register to use a product about which you obviously know so little? I can only assume you are a member of the LDS Church and use the program in relation to ordinances. However, whatever use you put it to, I suggest you familiarise yourself with its basic features and operation. Otherwise, there is a very good chance that YOU could be the one inadvertently screwing things up for other users - through your lack of knowledge regarding carrying out merges, etc.

Please take time to read the available guides and "knowledge articles" relating to Family Tree before proceeding any further with its use.

LegacyUser

A van Helsdingen said: If I was a new user to FS and the FSFT, I'd be very much put off by statements such as "a product about which you obviously know so little" and "your lack of knowledge regarding carrying out merges, etc. " All of us were newcomers to FS and genealogy at some point.

How can you assume that Daniel Brakeville is using FSFT for Latter Day Saint ordinances and not genealogy (is this an anti-LDS sentiment? ). How could you say he lacks knowledge about merges when you've never seen any of the work he's done in FSFT.

LegacyUser

Paul said: He asks: "How do I edit my Tree?" I suppose I was speaking from the experience of having individuals who have really "screwed things up" on some of the branches I am watching. Upon offering them the opportunity to correct their mistakes themselves, I have honestly received the reply, "How would I do that, then?"

Perhaps I have been incorrect in assessing Daniel's position, but making changes or carrying out any work in FT without really knowing what you are doing can prove highly damaging.

I am far from the first person who has suggested inexperienced users (I repeat, "How do I edit my tree?) should undergo some sort of training before they really get going. I wonder how I am being so unreasonable here, based on Daniel's own question on one of the basic issues most of us have to deal with pretty soon after our becoming users.