What do you do with an individual that is changing information that have sources and notes?
Hi,
There is an individual that has been copying information from other sites (geneanet mainly I believe) to add it to family search without regards for the information already in place, and without looking at the sources already there. This individual does not follow the standards (adding brackets for alternative spelling of names and lately adding all these names one after another as the system is not letting him adding brackets). He's also using his own way to keep tract of what he is doing (changing the first capital letter in small letter) and changing dates in his preferred language. - Many times he changed information that had taken me days, weeks and months of work. I was thinking that he must be a cousin on my father's side because all the changes he made to these branches but..... I am now questioning this as I am finding him changing information on the branches on my mother's side which family is in a whole different region.
I wrote him several emails via familysearch asking him kindly if he could follow the standards, giving him information and explanation the reason the info he changed was not correct, and to ask him to share how we were related, without success. My cousin did the same without success as well.
This is discouraging. Can you help?
Many thanks in advance,
Evelyne Wilden
Best Answer
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The changing dates thing is a frustrating side effect of how FT displays "standard" dates.
Each editor on a language interface other than the one used by the previous editor (call them X) sees the text in the field and does not see the little calendar icon they expect to see. So they go in and fix that. Call this fixing editor Y.
Now, any editor on a language interface other than the one used by Y sees the date has the wrong format or is not intelligible, and has no calendar icon, so they fix that. If this editor is X, they also think "Didn't I just standardize that? What is wrong with Y?!"
Around and around it goes.
I put in a feature request about this. Perhaps you would like to Like it? (I don't know why it does not have a Vote option.)
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Answers
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FS rarely intervenes in situations like this. You would have to show that this user was a vandal or extremely incompetent, and that you made several attempts to contact them.
You should tell this user to use the "Alternate Names" field under "Other Information" to record alternative spellings and different names used by the same person.
There is nothing wrong with using different languages in FSFT, the system is set up for it. The only thing that would be a problem is if the names of the person are translated into a language that they themselves never used.
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Hello @Evelyne Wilden
Your concerns about other users making inappropriate changes in Family Tree are shared by many. It sounds like you are doing your best to collaborate with the individual.
If you wouldn't mind, it would be helpful to have some examples of what you are describing so that we can advise you further. Please reply with screenshots and/or ID numbers.
We look forward to assisting you.
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Evelyne
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
You are not alone ...
Many of us have been there ...
I would humbly suggest that you DO NOT post the, 'FamilySearch Person Identifiers" (PID); or, "Details", of ANY of the individuals/persons concerned, here in the OPEN "Public" nature of this Forum; so that, other 'well meaning' Users/Patrons (but, unrelated, to 'FamilySearch' "Support') get involved, causing problems/issues; as, has been the case of late.
There are some, actions that one can take; and, options available ...
Here is a "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch':
How can I prevent other people from making inaccurate changes to Family Tree?
Now ...
After that ...
As in your particular case ...
As you can 'see', "Collaboration" needs to be undertaken.
But, when "Collaboration" FAILS; and, provided that there is NO "Abuse" ...
Here is another "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch':
How do I report changes or problems made by other contributors?
that comes to the fore ...
In particularly, the last sentence in that "Knowledge Article"; which, is very IMPORTANT:
Quote
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If you have questions regarding inadvertent, suspicious or potentially malicious errors in records that you are unable to resolve per the instructions above, contact FamilySearch Support.
------------------
Now ...
All that Said ...
IF, you have undertaken "Collaboration" with the particular User/Patron in question, causing concern; and, that "Collaboration" has FAILED (eg. NO Response); and, provided that there is NO "Abuse"; THEN, you can, contact 'FamilySearch' "Support" by either,
(1) For a "Private" communication ...
Contact 'FamilySearch' "Support" DIRECTLY via the,
(a) Telephone
(b) an "On-Line" ('Live') "Chat"
To keep the communication "Private", if you are directed back to this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, insist that you do not want to do so; and, prefer that the matter be handled "Privately".
Here is a "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch', which list the various Telephone numbers [and, "On-Line" ('Live') "Chat" facilities], for all around the World, where one can have DIRECT contact with 'FamilySearch' "Support".
Contact Support
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/contact-familysearch-support
OR ...
(2) For a communication is "Public" view ...
As you have done here, 'Post' HERE in "Community.FamilySearch" Forum
HOPEFULLY, the "Moderators" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel) ] HERE in this Forum, can TAKE the MATTER, 'as is', in/through this post, directly into the workings of 'FamilySearch' "Support"; or, in the least via/through a "Private" 'Message', to help/assist you.
I hope that this may also help, somewhat.
Good Luck.
Brett
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