tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post2961111142711810172..comments2024-03-26T11:22:41.940-07:00Comments on Genea-Musings: Dear Randy: How and Why Do You Use the FamilySearch Family Tree?Randy Seaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17477703429102065294noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-34752925059523532142017-09-01T11:51:51.156-07:002017-09-01T11:51:51.156-07:00I too advocate for using Family Search Family Tree...I too advocate for using Family Search Family Tree. I agree with what RootsRunDeep said about the paid sites and have my tree only on two free ones. I upload my working file to Rootsweb about once a month (or so) and I work on the collaborative tree at Family Search. I use Reunion software so do not merge or pick up hints electronically from family search. But I have found that what parts of my tree I have entered into the Family Search Family Tree has served a few purposes. 1) it has caused me to look again at the parts of my tree that I have entered so far and to more carefully read over the information I have and why I thought what I thought at the time I entered it. 2) it has helped me out to find typos and other mistakes I made along my genealogical learning journey and repair them in my tree - along with finding the inevitable electronic errors that happen when one moves from one type of software to another, and with updates etc. 3) It has provided a system to look at my media files again - re read obits etc and in that way catch some mistakes I made along the way too. 4) It has enabled to me to a wealth of source information and documents to my data base. 5) I have met some helpful people and found some very cool pictures that I would not have otherwise found, and finally 6) I have made some progress that I had been unable to make prior too. I am not LDS but very much appreciate the free genealogical services offered at Family Search in general including the collaborative family tree. If I disagree I try to address it in the discussion box rather than change other people's work and I have not been frustrated with others who might change my work. Having my tree on my lap top with separate software probably avoids that frustration. It is a group project and being a team player means going with a flow a bit. I highly recommend participating in the collaborative tree at Family Search along with the rest of the website to others. Mary Rohrer Dexterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130749558811827084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-76810426402408392402017-09-01T07:24:33.904-07:002017-09-01T07:24:33.904-07:00I use the FamilySearch Family Tree for exactly the...I use the FamilySearch Family Tree for exactly the reasons you describe. I sometimes wish that there were more of an editorial screening process for changes (since I have had some correct, sourced information changed from time to time with no sources or rationale added), but I find your arguments for this resource (and those of James Tanner) to be persuasive. I also enjoy contributing to this project. The FSFT has, by far, the best sourcing mechanics and features of any online tree I have seen.Ryan Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04728982039283896167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-45584130603384987492017-09-01T06:07:57.746-07:002017-09-01T06:07:57.746-07:00Randy, I use FamilySearch Family Tree on a weekly ...Randy, I use FamilySearch Family Tree on a weekly basis, syncing my research from my Roots Magic database just like you. While I have run into "discussions" and "collaborators" on my German, Irish and French lines with big families, or my husband's early American lines, I found that I am practically the only one working on my Hungarian lines so in this way, I feel like I am contributing original research (not duplicates). I have been reading Microfilms for years and now, most of my Hungarian locations have digitized records (because of transcriptions errors, I always need to see the original record for proof).I also access my FamilySearch watchlist through WikiTree's FamilySearch app so in essence, I have two public family trees.Magdahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01335449359566720836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-28521914651367048562017-08-31T20:58:19.441-07:002017-08-31T20:58:19.441-07:00I personally decided to delete my trees on "P...I personally decided to delete my trees on "Paid for" sites like Ancestry and MyHeritage for several reasons, but one major one is my hard work and time being used by those companies to make a profit. Let's be honest, they aren't selling access to records, they are selling access to your work.<br />That said, I will only be putting my trees on FamilySearch, WikiTree, GEDmatch, Family Tree DNA, and maybe a couple select others. As a matter of fact those 4 sites are infinitely more valuable than Ancestry or MyHeritage as those 2 mostly encourage anti social genealogists who only care about making a "Novelty" tree. I've found more serious genealogists else where.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-52665903663204840502017-08-31T20:05:43.223-07:002017-08-31T20:05:43.223-07:00Thanks for sharing the why and how with us Randy. ...Thanks for sharing the why and how with us Randy. I have never had a serious discussion about the use of FS family tree. I've chosen not to use it myself for a couple of reasons. One, I'm not very familiar with it, and when I did try it, I found it confusing. Just as with anything new, if I want to learn how to use it, I know I would be able to. <br />My second reason is the collaborative part. I've just been a bit reluctant to have a tree that other people could change. <br />Legacy now links and provides hints from both FS and My Heritage. I've chosen not to turn those hints on. I do, however, use the hints on Ancestry to locate new information. Nothing is ever just randomly added to my tree either on Ancestry or Legacy, so I don't copy family tree hints to my tree. <br />Next time you and I are at the same place, I'd like to discuss this subject in more detail. Maybe I'm missing out on something I could benefit from?<br />Thanks. Diane Gould Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15362418860289987479noreply@blogger.com