Inform Patrons of the Shared nature of Family Tree
Many of our contributors to Family Tree do not understand that we have a collaborative shared tree. They think they have their "own" tree and are upset when someone adds or changes something on "their" Tree.
Perhaps we could have an Information box which comes up when a patron begins adding to the Shared Tree (aka starting their Tree). The information box could explain that Family Tree is a collaborative tree, that all deceased individuals can be seen by everyone and that collaboration is welcome.
I realize this information is in the Terms of Use but I'm thinking if this information in our patrons face they will better understand the nature of FamilyTree and there would be less angst.
Comments
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Perhaps the people who are creating new accounts are bypassing the Getting Started section that onboards a new user. They should be seeing all the Getting Started sections including the Create a Family Tree section https://www.familysearch.org/gettingstarted/create-family-tree
What is the tree?
It’s a growing collection of family genealogies. People from all over the world have added their branches over many years.
Adding people to the Tree
Connect to the community Family Tree
As you add names to the tree we’ll look for matches. So, if your deceased grandmother is already in the tree, we’ll find her and make the connection. Finding matches is common—the community Family Tree is made up of contributions from researchers from all over the world, made over many years.
This article from the FamilySearch Blog is also helpful: https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/getting-started-shared-family-tree/
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Kerrebee
So glad someone brought this up, AGAIN ...
This is a REOCCURRING 'Theme' that is NOT being fixed/addressed ...
I have just recently responded to some:
▬ 'Questions' in 'Q and A' ...
... latest one being, "How do I delete my family tree from Family Search"; and,
▬ 'Ideas'
... latest ones being,
... ▬ ▬ "PLEASE privatise submissions of living people to Family Tree"; and,
... ▬ ▬ "Accountability & Merges"
There is NO 'Indication' on the INITIAL page/screen; nor, the ACTUAL "Create" an "Account" page/screen, of 'FamilySearch', of the ACTUAL, 'Nature'; and, 'Premise', (ie. "Model") of the "Family Tree" Part of 'FamilySearch', being a SINGLE 'Tree' for ALL, with NO "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees', by ANY User/Patron.
Basically ... it is NOT ... 'in you face' ... 'so to speak' ...
Initial ...
Once the "Create Account" is selected ...
NOT even in the "About" ...
[ https://www.familysearch.org/about/ ]
This is a REAL Problem/Issue, that NEEDS to be fixed/addressed ... and, 'Sooner, rather than Later' ...
Perhaps, it by INTENTION, that 'FamilySearch' DOES NOT indicate, the the ACTUAL, 'Nature'; and, 'Premise', (ie. "Model") of the "Family Tree" Part of 'FamilySearch', being a SINGLE 'Tree' for ALL, with NO "Private"/"Personal" 'Tree' (or, 'Trees'), by ANY User/Patron.
Just maybe, 'FamilySearch' DOES NOT want to "Scare" OFF potential NEW Users/Patrons, from "Contributing", in the FIRST instance ...
IF, such IS the case; THEN, I am afraid to say that, 'FamilySearch' is truly 'misguided' in this approach ...
As, 'later on down the track', many NEW (and, some OLD) Users/Patrons are so, "Upset"; and, "Incensed"; and, "Alienated", with the fact that they, DO NOT, have; and, DO NOT control, their OWN 'Tree(s)' on "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
'Yes' ... as 'Amy' has indicated ...
Although, it is in 'fine print' ...
I can, advise; and even, attest, that far too many, NEW (and, some OLD) User/Patrons, DO NOT; and, DID NOT, do ALL the NECESSARY 'Reading' and research, to 'see' if "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch, is a programme/application, that suits their needs and expectations.
Far too many (of us) are guilty of NOT reading ALL of the ... 'fine print'.
Whereas ...
This problem/issue is so SIMPLE to fix/address ...
Just ADD something like ...
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is a SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us.
There are NO 'Private' or 'Personal' "Tree" (or, "Trees") in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
And, include a line like ...
You DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Your OWN ("Deceased") Ancestors (or, Immediate Family) in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
OR ...
More so, what I always proffer ... but, of course, a 'scaled down' version ...
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, more importantly, we do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN ("Deceased") Ancestors (or, Immediate Family) the 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'.
Now ...
That said ...
The oft brought-up reason of 'Lack of Space' ...
There IS ample, "Real-Estate"; or, "Space", on, BOTH, the INITIAL page/screen; and, the ACTUAL "Create" an "Account" page/screen, of 'FamilySearch', for such to appear.
That way it is ... 'in you face' ... 'so to speak' ...
Potential NEW User/Patrons can hardly be, "Upset"; or, "Incensed"; or, "Alienated", if such was the case.
Of course, some may (or, I should say, will) still be, "Upset"; or, "Incensed"; or, "Alienated" ...
BECAUSE, they DID NOT read ALL the 'fine print' ...
Such is life ...
But ...
That said ...
Doctoring that famous 'Quote' ...
“You can HELP some of the people all of the time, you can HELP all of the people some of the time; but, you CANNOT Help all of the people all of the time.”
No matter what is done ...
MANY will NOT read ALL the 'fine print' ...
As, a "Programmer" once said to me ...
You CANNOT make a "System" FOOLPROOF; because, 'Fools' are so ingenious ...
Just my thoughts.
Brett
ps: 'FamilySearch', PLEASE fix/address the SIGNIFICANT Problem/Issue ... Sooner, rather than, Later ...
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Thanks for your thoughts @Amy Archibald and @Brett .
I agree with what you both said.
The information is there but it's not in your face and doesn't explicitly say that we are building one tree. People just don't get the concept from the information in the Getting Started materials.
People don't read the Terms of Use or the Getting Started materials. We all have too much going on to read that stuff.
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