Family Tree websites?

Question

I'm new at this, as you can probably tell from my numerous questions in this category.

On a site like genes reunited where you can allow other people to view your tree, is it frowned upon to copy information from someone else's tree to your own?

Answer 1

It is best to ask permission before doing so. Most people don't mind as, after all, you are related otherwise why would you want to copy another person's family.

Answer 2

You need to define the word "copy".  

The one biggest risk is that until you have some experience.. if someone SAYS that so and so are the parents of your ancestor, how do YOU know that it is right?  ESPECIALLY if that person does not indicate if they got the date from someone's birth record, or if they copied from someone else's file, and THEY don't know how anyone arrived at the date.

This has been a growing problem for many years, in research.. it was pointed out years ago, but many people ignored it.  

Most people today, don't give credit to who did the work. Let's say that you spend 5 yrs putting together a family tree.. including spending your money to travel somewhere to find original documents, that no one else knows about; subscribing to a service to find the census (or .. the old way.. hour on hour of searching through microfilm, with no index, on a hand cranked machine).  You post it online, with the intent of sharing (which, in truth, means someone else contributed to the labor).  The next week, you find a distant cousin posted all the information, claims it as her work, and you recognize a fact that only comes from a family Bible..sitting on your desk.  

Bottom line is the Golden Rule. If all you did was find a tree online, it isn't your work, and you should not pretend it is. If there are no sources for the info, you need to learn WHAT THE SOURCE IS, and decide if it is correct.  I admit that I have downloaded files.. but I keep them separate from my own database, and only enter what I have confirmed, AND make note of who/where I got the information.  Most of the time, they are references only, for me.  

Answer 3

Generally speaking if you open your tree on GR for someone else to view, you are actually inviting them to copy your tree.

Sadly there are many people that don't bother to check your information then they go and plaster  the thing all over the WWW, right or wrong they don't seem to care at all - someone else finds the information and also takes it for gospel and so on etc etc.

Genes-reunited is an excellent tool for finding others researching the same families, I have had so many contacts, as close as a second cousin, whom I never knew existed.

The way I use GR is once I have established that there is a genuine link I send them a modified word pad of the family concerned, that way we are still sharing our information, sources etc and are open for correcting mistakes and adding aditional info.

It works much better this way.

Answer 4

I think it should be ok to use the information as a guideline, but also, determine that the information is correct.

I've located a couple of different entries for a great, great, grandfather, both have the same spouse listed; however, the date of birth of the spouse on one entry would make the spouse  3 years of age when the first child was born.

This information is on a well known website so I'm surprised  no one has noticed the mistake.

Go slow, and double check everything.   I've located cousins on my dads side and an uncle that I never knew existed.  Plus a lot of relatives listed on line.  

Answer 5

some people are funny about sharing info that they have researched, my opinion is that you use any info as a guide or reference and than conduct your own research.

i found a cousin that had conducted a lot of work, but i still did my own and proved by allowing them access to my own research to prove i had'nt copied- its worth doing coz you will always end up finding things that they have missed.

its always best to visit the relevant records office in person

Answer 6

no

Answer 7

Be careful of those websites. I uploaded my family tree, someone copied it to theirs and changed things so it would fit. Then uploaded theirs. I think it is ok to look, even copy but verify it first before you call it truth. I also naively put my tree up on a site that would merge your tree with others of the same line. In other words it made a mess of the information. So now I wonder who has found that info and thought it to be true, and worst of all my name is still attached to it. Personally I think it started out as a great idea and way to connect families but by having no one to verify the information sent to the website it is a very poor source of information. Use it to find others researching your line to get the most from those sites.

Answer 8

I felt it was better not to do this, at least not without asking the person's permission or acknowledging them as the source in the notes section.  I just said in my notes to look at the other person's tree if they had permission, which they probably would have anyway if they are in shared trees, or you can say if they have put the tree somewhere public like RootsWeb. I'm not too bothered if people take things from me, but I had not researched as extensively as that person, and it would have been very time-consuming anyway for me to have entered the whole thing.

Answer 9

No . Remember that quite often they have made mistakes in their research ( it is not a competition to get the most names ! ) .Genes Reunited is a super site but always make sure that you double check the info on it and then and the person to your tree .Slower but correct . People  especially distant relatives are usually delighted to hear  from you . Good luck !!  

Answer 10

people have to request to see your tree and then you give them access.

The idea of genes is to share information.

im re-searching my family tree,  on my nans side i am back to 1814 and my grandfathers side 1740.

I have found reletives in USA, and even some living just down the road and we all keep in contact  now.

so good luck and enjoy

They also have a noticeboard on on Genes, and you can post messages to that for people to see