Family Trees in Cyberspace
allycat
Caution is generally advised to all who enter their precious family tree data on the internet in general.
I have seen all too many details on the living at the various gene sites such as genesreunited, gencircles, rootsweb world connect family tree projects, just to name a few. These details have included full dates of birth, marriage info etc.
Most family tree sites have a little disclaimer requesting users to ask permission of their living relatives before they enter their data, but I'm sure this is not always the case.
It would be all to easy for one unscrupulous person to use data on the living to another's disadvantage.
A simple rule of thumb is the '100 Year Rule' ... let's say someone was born in 1906 we must assume that in the year 2006 they are/or could be still living. So, it's basically a good idea to either have them as 'LIVING Smith' and an appoximate year of birth if an entry is compulsory ... say, 'abt 1923'.
And everybody please remember to record your sources of data, even if it came from another genealogist. Otherwise you may kick yourself later on as we don't really have memory banks like computers.
Comments
bcagle on 2006-06-16 08:05:28
bcagle on 2006-06-16 08:07:59Opps, try again.
This is good advice, Allycat. I must agree 100% as I have a friend who posted 'current' information (including driver licence number) which resulted in identy theft for the unfortunate relative. Glad it wasn't me!
Barbara
allycat on 2006-06-16 08:37:06Goodness me.
You know it was only just today that I saw something ridiculous on the genesreunited website in a family tree.
This one person even went as far as to include the Registration/Reference No. of their OWN Birth Certificate and then went onto include the burial plot of where they will be buried when they depart this life. This really goes beyond the pale. Al.
JenDGL2006 on 2006-06-28 22:43:40good advice allycat. I am new at this so am glad to have come across your notation before I committed the ---probably ---unpardonable. Jen
allycat on 2006-06-29 11:54:09Dear Jen, thank you so much for your comments. It's very nice to know that I can help anybody out there and that others are actually reading my journals.
Al.
Dibbles on 2006-08-11 23:28:30That is excellent advice Al. One of the things I always do before uploading my file is to privatize it which means that only the names of living people can be seen but not any of their dates, they are merely listed as living.
I am not sure if all programs can do this but the one I use on my home computer is Family Tree Maker 2005 and it can so I presume there are others that can too.
Deb
Jo on 2006-08-18 13:31:42Wonderful I have learned more than onr lession today.Thanks a Million. JO