Can Family Search provide a direct process for reporting Bogus Information?
I came here looking for a way to report bad information on FS, hoping to find a main link to a place for doing so. So far, I'm only finding scattered discussions of fake or bogus, or incompetent information.
I would like to see a main button in the left column that says, "Report Bad Data", or some such, where garbage information can be reported with the expectation that it will be cleaned up. There may be some response requesting clarification, but it would be lovely not to get the "Report Abuse" style messages back saying they don't deal with such issues.
The button can sit in right down a the bottom under "My Role" where it can be readily located.
Thanks
Comments
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If you are referring to Family Tree, where there is a lot of data that needs to be fixed, improved, and corrected, FamilySearch has never in the past and does not now do anything to clean up such aside from a few, very limited types of problems that only system administrators can fix.
All cleaning up of data in Family Tree is up to us users. So if you see garbage information there don't expect anyone else to clean it up and don't bother reporting it. Just fix it.
I have to say I am really surprised at all the messages being posted in this community along the lines of "My grandfather's name is spelled wrong, please fix this" or "My great-great-grandmother is linked to a wrong husband, please fix this." The answer is always going to be the same: "You need to fix this yourself." Apparently there are a lot of people out there who do not understand how Family Tree works.
Addendum and clarification: I see that under Ideas - Family Tree, you pulled to the top of the list a conversation from last November regarding completely deleting clearly fictitious profiles from Family Tree. That does fall into the category of things only system administrators can do. Since that discussion states that FamilySearch does want to remove these when appropriate, the best thing to do under this new help system is probably to compile a list of names and ID numbers and post them under Q and A - Family Tree. I would do sufficient evaluation of the records to be able include clear, brief, well reasoned statement as to why each record should be deleted.
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Allen
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
As an aside ...
I 'see', that it appears, that you were originally posting, this as a 'Comment', in the post
[ In which I was a minor participant ... ]
"Ideas" Section
'Category' = Family Tree
Home > Ideas > Family Tree
Dated: December 2020
Please set up a mechanism to deal with stuff like "Donald Duck"
Where you "Removed" what you and "Entered" in that post
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/267249/#Comment_267249
and, instead created your own post, here.
Quite understandable.
Just so you are aware ...
The WHOLE process of "Contacting" 'FamilySearch' has recently "Changed" somewhat.
I will allow those in 'FamilySearch' "Support" to respond to you directly.
Just please be patient; and, aware that NEW "Systems" are in place.
Be assured that, I am certain, you will be contacted from Personnel from 'FamilySearch', to try to assist you.
I know that this does not help; but, I hope this gives you a little perspective.
Brett
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There was no option for deleting the comment, so I attempted to blank it out. Guess that did not work.
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Allen
'Yes', that has been ability to "Delete" one's posts has been requested/suggested.
Please be aware that, this current iteration, of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, is a Very PLATFORM; and, has only been operating for a few short Months; hence, is still very much a 'Work in Progress'.
Plus, just a very short while ago, the 'FamilySearch' "Support" has been INCLUDED into this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; and, as such, it a 'Brave New World' ▬ a very big 'learning curve' for all concerned.
I know that this does not help; but, I hope this gives a little perspectice.
Brett
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Yes, I know about the changes. Old cases are gone; there is no more ability to open new cases to deal with specific issues. Exchange with the helper-bees at Report Abuse have lead to pointers to this site, when the suggestion that maybe FS management might see the issues I have raised with them, which I think amount to abuse of the Familysearch system.
When I searched this site, yesterday, there really was no direct way to report problems. I am not talking about the simple stuff - names, spellings, duplicates - I am talking about people who submit strings of people with no surnames, no documentation, general locations, no spouses, from the 1700's, all of it clearly figments of of their imagination. People who refuse to post their "private information" - all of it pointing to fake info. Then they submit them to the temples and further waste people's time.
The Church spends mega-bucks building the temples, then allows the data system to run without controls, much the way Facebook did in the early days. It is naive to think that everyone has virtuous motives when they post info to Familysearch, and the lack of high-level oversight mechanisms to control that element is baffling.
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Allen
'No', the Church had NOT let the Data System run without controls; or, out of control.
The actual purpose of, originally, "New.FamilySearch", then later "Family Tree", was to curb and slow down the amount of "Duplication" in Genealogical work by Members of the Church.
You may or may not be aware that, originally, "New.FamilySearch", then later "Family Tree", was/were developed and implemented, by the Church, for Member of the Church, to follow their tenets, it was not until later that "New.FamilySearch" was available to the public.
"New.FamilySearch" included, the raw data from many of the previous 'Off-Line' systems and processes, being an an amalgamation of such, where there was MUCH "Duplication' of the many common "Ancestral" Lines.
The hope was that much of the "Duplication" could be "Merged"/"Combined" together. Such is working, to a certain degree; but, human beings, will be human beings; and, as such, "Duplication" does continue, to some lesser degree, even now.
As such, there is far less "Restrictions", than is on Other 'On-Line' Websites, that have a similar approach and model, to "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
The lesser "Restrictions" enable the input of questionable data; but, such is necessary to enable a better flow of participation.
Too MANY "Restrictions" stifle the flow of participation.
It is either, one; or, the other ... unfortunately, it is a trade off ... there are 'Pros and Con' for either way ...
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' leans towards a more OPEN flow of participation.
As such, Users/Patrons can either, take it; or, leave it, no one is forced to participate.
Just in case you are NOT aware ...
FIRSTLY ...
As I already suggested ...
Originally, "New.FamilySearch", then later "Family Tree", was to curb and slow down the amount of "Duplication" in Genealogical work by Members of the Church.
"New.FamilySearch", then later "Family Tree", was/were developed and implemented, by the Church, for Member of the Church, to follow their tenets, it was not until later that "New.FamilySearch" was available to the public.
SECONDLY ...
(Collectively) 'FamilySearch' was always; and, has remained, FREE to, access; and, use.
'FamilySearch' is NOT a "Commercial" Website, in that sense.
There are, MANY; Many, many, competing priorities in "Family Tree" (and, the OTHER Parts) of 'FamilySearch' that need implementing/correcting; basically, addressing/fixing.
And, there are "Very" LIMITED Resources available to 'FamilySearch', to do so.
Now ...
That Said ...
Furthermore ...
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'.
Plus ...
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', operates DIFFERENTLY, that the OTHER 'On-Line' Websites, that also use the "Model", of a SINGLE "One" World "Tree".
Each 'On-Line' Website, that operates using the "Model", of a SINGLE "One" World "Tree", have their 'Pos and Cons'; as such, "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is no exception.
Again, Users/Patrons can either, take it; or, leave it, no one is forced to participate.
But ...
That Said ...
IF, one DOES participate; THEN, one is aware of; and, must negotiate, the 'pitfalls'.
Such is life ...
There is MUCH that CAN be improved in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
And, much IS being improved in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
It just takes 'Time'; and, lots of it ...
As a Programmer, once said to me ...
"You CANNOT make a "System" FOOLPROOF; because, FOOLS are so INGENIOUS".
And, that Programmer, was not related to 'FamilySearch'.
NONE of us are PERFECT ...
We DO NOT live in a PERFECT World ...
Some people like to 'look at life, through rose coloured glass' ...
Some people like to 'whitewash' HISTORY ...
Some people want THEIR Record/Data; and, ONLY their Record/Data to prevail ...
That is 'human nature' ...
[ And, some have nefarious intent ... ]
[ Whereas, most have virtuous intent ... ]
[ Some are very Experienced ... ]
[ Whereas, many, have little, if any, experience ... ]
Just some thoughts.
Brett
ps: It is NOT just the 'FamilySearch' "Support" System that have recently "Changed".
pps: It is also that the very PLATFORM of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum that has recently "Changed".
▬ Steep learning curve, for ALL ...
▬ "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', is FOREVER "Changing" ...
.
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Brett - Yes, I know - I've been in this game for more than 50-years.
What is missing is a clear path for cleaning up the trash, however it arises.
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Allen
'Yes' ...
Many of us have been there that long ...
I do not really disagree.
But, even when presented with such, 'FamilySearch' is very reluctant to take the appropriate action.
Brett
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@AllenHSmith , posting in the Q and A forums does get the problem dealt with by staff, if it is a problem staff deal with.
A fake profile can be dealt with by any contributor, by merging it into another profile. I think you agree that the bigger problem is the individuals who create fake profiles that are disruptive. Once the behaviors rise to the level of serious violations of the Terms of Use, then FS will take action. However, it is a game of whack-a-mole: close an account and another account opens.
I am here, not on Wikitree or other sites, because I think they are heading in the wrong direction. Control over content sounds good until you experience the grinding overhead labor involved in maintaining control, or you encounter an unreasonable project manager or a manager building a false pedigree toward some end (membership in a certain family association, LDS temple work, etc.).
May I suggest you try Don't feed the troll. Someone makes a mess? Put a reminder in your calendar to check the mess in 3, 6, 12 months, unfollow the PID, and ignore it. Disengage.
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Sorry, this isn't a troll problem. It is one of database integrity and the lack of a means for getting FS to deal with specific false information. Until last month, one could open cases with FS where there was at least some focus on particular problems. Now, there is nothing but a community discussion group where anyone can comment.
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I totally agree that the lack of a case management system is a step backward. The ability of FS to track vandals in the Family Tree is limited.
I understand the removal of that system was not by choice.
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If not by choice, then... any idea of the reason?
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I was told the case management system was provided to FS by a vendor, evidently on a SaaS basis. The vendor abruptly discontinued the product.
SaaS = software as a service, trendy marketing jargon for you cannot buy it, you can only rent it, or in other words purchase a license.
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Interesting - thanks for the info.
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FYI
Just in case you were not aware ...
I believe that a similar thing happened to a previous iteration of the main 'Feedback' Forum, not so long ago.
That previous version, being the OLD 'FamilySearch' ("GetSatisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum.
Someone, purchased the the Company, running the "GetSatisfaction" Software.
I think that the new owner, decided to discontinue (or, something), the "GetSatisfaction" Programme.
They subsequently "Notified" ALL the relevant "Parties" concerned; but, the "Contact" that they had for 'FamilySearch' was outdated; so, 'FamilySearch' was NOT aware of what was going on, until just BEFORE the 'Death Knell'; and, so, 'FamilySearch' was scrambling to find a replacement.
As an interim, 'stop gap', measure, while searching for replacement "Software", 'FamilySearch' tacked an "Ideas" (ie. 'Feedback') Section, onto the previous Platform of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
The previous Platform of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum was aging; and, they need a new, invigorated, platform. So, a NEW Platform of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum was chosen.
Then, in the first have of this Year, that NEW (ie. "Vanilla") Platform of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum was made available, in the "Production" Environment; with, the "Ideas" (ie. 'Feedback'); as, one of the components, instead of just a temporary/interim 'add on'.
Now, even more recently, obviously; because, of the aforementioned situation, with regards to the 'FamilySearch' "Support" Case (Management) System, the WHOLE of 'FamilySearch' "Support", has been 'bundled' (holus-bolus) into this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
The WHOLE framework of REPORTING Problems/Issue to 'FamilySearch' "Support" has CHANGED; and, is in a total 'state of flux' - for EVERYONE = Both, the Users/Patrons; and, those Personnel from 'FamilySearch' "Support".
Basically, EVERYTHING is NEW; and, as such, a learn as you go process, a 'tweak' here, a 'tweak there', as problems/issues arise, with the NEW Platform of this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; plus, especially, now with the inclusion/integration of 'FamilySearch' "Support", 'into the mix' ▬ very much a 'Work in Progress'.
Just another perspective.
Brett
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