tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post7741500055185677147..comments2024-03-18T07:38:53.380-07:00Comments on Genea-Musings: Reader's Genea-Rant #1 - "My cousin's done genealogy research, and it's wrong!"Randy Seaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17477703429102065294noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-62949952056392064192011-03-03T11:30:59.113-08:002011-03-03T11:30:59.113-08:00"Always check the original document" - i..."Always check the original document" - it's not always easy, but it's the only way, and as Debbie said, a good source citation can lead you there. You have to balance the evidence for yourself so you are satisfied that the various pieces of (possibly conflicting) evidence add up. Jo :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-9986823752168509662011-03-02T11:48:29.687-08:002011-03-02T11:48:29.687-08:00I ran across a similar situation. My cousin had do...I ran across a similar situation. My cousin had done years of research on my paternal side and had even given my dad a book with her results. <br />When I started to look in to this I discovered many errors and inaccuracies. However, instead of confronting her and causing debate I decided to continue researching using her info as a "clue" and because of that I have been able to maintain a good relationship and even obtain some of the few sources she did have! <br />Sometimes you just have to realize you have to search through the "genea-crapola" and find the real steak at the bottom of it all! :-)Ken Spanglerhttp://www.kenspangler.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-77918978287152522332011-03-02T04:55:15.564-08:002011-03-02T04:55:15.564-08:00Genea-Rants. Love it. We all have them! I shudd...Genea-Rants. Love it. We all have them! I shudder when I think about those who will buy this guy's CD and then post the info therein to an Ancestry FamilyTree which will then be linked to ten other trees and each of them linked to ten other trees, etc. Just like the Shaking Leaves that attach to the completely wrong person! And it's very difficult to convince a new researcher who has just discovered all these ancestors on the Internet that he may have indeed dicovered nothing.Kay Hadenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16775054088464354234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-86899367300920032402011-03-01T19:05:15.500-08:002011-03-01T19:05:15.500-08:00At least the cousin acknowledged that the data was...At least the cousin acknowledged that the data was not reliable. I have read of conflicts between various researchers, each certain that "their" interpretation was correct. Sources/Citations don't ensure that the conclusions are correct, only that the evidence trail can be traced.<br />Our ranter may look forward to the time when that cousin asks for a copy of his work, probably to be included in an update of that book (hopefully with credit and maybe profit).bgwiehlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904956507742860598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-2290238703572805942011-03-01T18:23:46.428-08:002011-03-01T18:23:46.428-08:00I used to think of them as clues, but I've eve...I used to think of them as clues, but I've even stopped doing that. I will say that a good portion of what I found on FamilySearch (when I started), mostly turned out to be true. Two things I have learned since starting this: 1) SOURCES!, and 2) If you didn't actually see the thing that is sourced, it is suspect.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783554294784604970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-65976215929507598312011-03-01T17:34:32.744-08:002011-03-01T17:34:32.744-08:00Randy, thank you for this. The ranter really shou...Randy, thank you for this. The ranter really should not have been surprised that he was not going to be handed evidence-based genealogy on a silver platter.<br /><br />Similar to his experience, most tree stuff on the web has not been researched at all, but is copied from other trees, from the user-submitted material on the original LDS familysearch.org site, and from surmise-based genealogies, other books and newsletters. Thus the circumstances where there may be 'clues' in trees are far and few between.<br /><br />My own genealogy shares the configuration in sundry trees noted just yesterday by James Tanner in his Genealogy's Star blog: "those of us who already have generations of ancestors mangled by the program . . . ."<br /><br />http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-familysearch-goes-public.html<br /><br />There really is no substitute for careful, critical, step-by-step research in the records. I learned this by wasting loads of time and energy trying to verify assertions published in a string of different books.Geoloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050268303916428230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-55436176634686645912011-03-01T17:26:09.877-08:002011-03-01T17:26:09.877-08:00I actually posted about this exact same thing in m...I actually posted about this exact same thing in my last post, though more specifically about Ancestry's Family Trees. They both have common ground.<br /><br />I know I'm guilty of some of that stuff early on, but as with most people, I've learned from my mistakes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zalewskifamily.net/2011/02/25/the-problem-with-ancestrys-trees" rel="nofollow">The Problem with Ancestry's Trees</a>Brian Zalewskihttp://www.zalewskifamily.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-71720070199174047572011-03-01T16:28:56.154-08:002011-03-01T16:28:56.154-08:00also, my nominations for the flawed work are:
gen...also, my nominations for the flawed work are:<br /><br />genea-junk<br />genea-jumbleFrances Elizabeth Schwabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06318677841148391758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-90510869898637747472011-03-01T16:28:19.060-08:002011-03-01T16:28:19.060-08:00I agree with Greta. I like to do my own research....I agree with Greta. I like to do my own research. It is part of the fun. Another person's research (right or wrong) might give clues but that's all they are...simply clues.<br /><br />Also there are all kinds of genealogists ranging in interest levels and skill levels. And that's okay. <br /><br />Good, better, best...I don't like to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for the hobby/passion/addiction.Joan Miller (Luxegen)http://www.luxegen.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-49365313909455262532011-03-01T16:17:32.084-08:002011-03-01T16:17:32.084-08:00fortunately I learned about Family Search early on...fortunately I learned about Family Search early on in my research. One time on Family Search I kept clicking the links until I reached...wait for it...Adam and Eve. Seriously. Still makes me laugh when I think about it. My ancient Eyptian ancestors were a particular high point.Frances Elizabeth Schwabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06318677841148391758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-54939295619906789392011-03-01T15:55:50.892-08:002011-03-01T15:55:50.892-08:00Genea-rants, genea-crapola - love the neologisms! ...Genea-rants, genea-crapola - love the neologisms! I would also tell the cousin not to be too disappointed - he is really only out the money for the book. It may seem exciting at first to hear that someone else has already done the research, but as he gets into the research he will find himself having so much fun that he will be glad to have to "do it all over."Greta Koehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05429623811794360612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-72336755238739439602011-03-01T15:53:13.834-08:002011-03-01T15:53:13.834-08:00This is why all good genealogist must practice the...This is why all good genealogist must practice the act of "citation"<br /><br />To have the TANGABLE and Writen Proof, such as a copy of the birth, or marriage records in hand, you have no back up to your citations.<br /><br />so just do your own cited research knowing you ARE right...not everyone is wrong, but when it comes down to it, the PROOF is in the pudding ...so to speak.<br /><br />And cite, cite, cite!!!!!!!Debi Sargenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329807359851732011noreply@blogger.com