tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post2193487274739003954..comments2024-03-07T23:20:49.790-07:00Comments on Genealogy's Star: My top ten worst genealogy practices targeted in 2012James Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-34105588571696987982015-10-06T18:54:50.469-07:002015-10-06T18:54:50.469-07:00Perhaps you should look on these events as an oppo...Perhaps you should look on these events as an opportunity to teach and to learn. :-)James Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-13278309024877046022015-10-06T15:55:24.025-07:002015-10-06T15:55:24.025-07:00People who walk into a research center and immedia...People who walk into a research center and immediately attach themselves to me and monopolize my time recounting every person on their oh so fascinating family tree leaving me no time to actually do any of my own research!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04151838641077717795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-49779791210935015862012-01-06T12:16:30.506-07:002012-01-06T12:16:30.506-07:00My fav:
10. People who will not accept that they...My fav: <br /><br />10. People who will not accept that they are related to someone who spelled their name differently. <br /><br />Try doing a one-name study with that attitude! LOL <br /><br />Kathleen - a McElrea/McIlrea/McElray/McIlrea/McElrae/McElrey etc. descendantKathleenhttp://www.mcelrea.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-88848469547778695792012-01-03T09:51:06.536-07:002012-01-03T09:51:06.536-07:00Hi Dad! What a funny post (well, funny unless you...Hi Dad! What a funny post (well, funny unless you hope to help someone do something when they don't want to learn or change--I guess many teachers/parents/helpers face that challenge)! I've enjoyed catching up on your posts now that the kids (at least some of them) are back in school. At least I know that I have a lot to learn!<br /><br />{So, with #1 the best idea is to just change the subject? I can imagine it's hard to tell someone that they are stating the impossible. We recently heard a very well meaning gentleman give a talk about his family history work that he had traced back to Adam. My husband smiled at me kindly while I cringed.)Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09415560241299208998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-41574334013899845192012-01-02T18:05:32.264-07:002012-01-02T18:05:32.264-07:00People who are so desperate to prove that they are...People who are so desperate to prove that they are related to so and so of historical renown that they will blissfully ignore all evidence that disproves thisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-80751835892643573482012-01-02T16:26:06.508-07:002012-01-02T16:26:06.508-07:00James, I am guilty of your number three crime - Pe...James, I am guilty of your number three crime - People who copy information directly from an online compiled family tree without sources.<br /><br />I take unsourced information, add it to my tree and publish it. <br /><br />I expect that those who visit my website and find unsourced information (and I use that term loosely) will do as I do and seek out both print and online resources to verify the facts (?) I have published. <br /><br />My family site is dynamic, a work in progress, not the end point of a piece of academic research. <br /><br />I am not guilty of your crime number 4<br /> - People who think (or claim) that their genealogy is done. My genealogy is not done - my website is my workhorse not a show pony. I choose to let people view my work in progress.<br /><br />By publishing my far from perfect work I have made contact with a number of cousins who have been able to verify some of the unsourced facts I have published. On occasion people have contacted me to correct what I had published. <br /><br />If I had waited until everything in my tree was cited correctly according to genealogical proof standards my tree would be very spindly and I would have missed out on reaping the benefits that the digital age offers genealogists who use online tools to make connections.<br /><br />My message to those who borrow from my tree is "Caveat emptor".GeniAushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09074874999181040071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-3671264904370406622012-01-02T16:09:36.186-07:002012-01-02T16:09:36.186-07:00Did you write a blog post about the importance of ...Did you write a blog post about the importance of blogs, rather than message boards, for exchange of information? If so, I'd love to have a link to that post - I couldn't find one from searching your blog.Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12356909490606580704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-66117587554779400392012-01-02T14:34:44.187-07:002012-01-02T14:34:44.187-07:00James, I wrote this reply to "Hlm" above...James, I wrote this reply to "Hlm" above but could not figure out how to get it to indent as a reply to her rather than to you...but here it is anyway in case she reads it: <br /><br />When you have spent 1% of the time James Tanner has spent bending over backwards to help both beginners and advanced researchers in advancing their genealogy research and technology skills, you can come back and apologize for that attack because THEN you might have an inkling of what he speaks. <br /><br />A person who is "done" with his genealogy or has his tree traced back to Adam has NOT done his research, he has stolen someone else's garbage and called it research. Likely, his source stole it from someone else, who copied it from someone else, who had wasted a good bit of time digging through all the begats in the bible and calling it research. <br /><br />In order to prove your lineage back to Adam, you only have to get back to locating the birth, marriage and death certificates of the sons of Noah. (Noah's line was the only line remaining after the flood, if I remember.) I have yet to see any of those vital records online or on paper... and neither has James Tanner...because no one has the proof back to Noah...never mind back to Adam.<br /><br />People bragging that they have their family back to Adam are NOT seeking help or training, they are looking for praise and adulation for work not done and praise not earned. There is no helping them. They have succeeded. <br /><br />I'm not sure what you expected from a posting entitled: "My top ten worst genealogy practices..." but I was not a bit surprised at the list. I hope you continue to read James blogs regularly and often. He has a lot to offer all of us...except for those who are "done" and don't need any help.Suzie Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144806041716992429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-20122472461181487182012-01-02T10:51:22.495-07:002012-01-02T10:51:22.495-07:00This post and it's comments are a prime exampl...This post and it's comments are a prime example of one of the major barriers others face when trying to get into geneology. You are clearly experts. Great ... but you weren't always experts and you've made plenty of your own mistakes along the way. That is how you became an expert.<br /><br />In your post you say you will "kindly and patiently" help these "impaired and handicapped" offenders. Well, you already blew the chance for kindness. The whole spirit and attitude of the post is mean-spirited, arrogant, and demeaning. As for patiently, statements like "screaming off into the desert," "makes me go crazy," "makes me walk away and ask someone else to help" are not statement of a patient person. Sometimes you even have the "self control" to explain these things. Why would I come to you for help with genealogy? Certainly not for your kindness and patience.<br /><br />The problem is, it seems that you and the other commenters on this post have the unrealistic expectation that all people who do any genealogy should know the best practices. And if they don't, they are "impaired or handicapped" to the extent that they are not even worthy of your respect as fellow human beings.<br /><br />Would you go screaming off into the desert or walk away in frustration if one of your grandchildren was learning to walk but kept falling down, held onto a piece of furniture, or wasn't using a proper stride?<br /><br />Instead of deriding and criticizing the people who do these things, you should celebrate them. They are infants in genealogy. They have much to learn and many of them are actually eager to learn best practices. You, as an expert, are blessed to have the skills and ability to help them.<br /><br />As an expert, you also have the opportunity to lift and guide those who venture into the noble adventure of genealogy. Whether or not your points are valid, the critical and negative way in which you present them is not helpful. There are ways to teach without making people feel like fools.Himhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13693682783450779551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-15875283269919802232012-01-02T07:59:13.662-07:002012-01-02T07:59:13.662-07:00Looking out at my local genealogy society members,...Looking out at my local genealogy society members, I can pick out offenders of each of your pet peeves. I guess all we can do is keep trying to educate and concentrate on those willing to listen.Becky Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04375430428083496025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-77557161751728235852012-01-02T07:10:05.502-07:002012-01-02T07:10:05.502-07:00I met a woman who told me she could trace her line...I met a woman who told me she could trace her line back to Adam and my thought was "Do you know how crazy you sound?"Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714440790407126206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-25038449797452086392012-01-02T06:50:25.360-07:002012-01-02T06:50:25.360-07:00We must arrange a meet-up.. then you will have ...We must arrange a meet-up.. then you will have 'met' a young person with an interest in genealogy. I was 21 when I got around to starting my research but had much of the information before hand. (Having spent years listening to my parents/grandparent's stories about their parents and granparents.) :)<br /><br />My family tree is currently 'sourceless' but that does not mean I don't know where the information comes from. I have a 'notebook' full of names, dates and sources but lack the time to research and update my online tree. (I prefer the research side, naturally). <br /><br />Oh, and keeping a back up is all well and good, I have backups of my backups too.. trouble comes when your computer dies before you get chance to backup the latest copies. This happened to me a few months ago.<br /><br />And one of my pet peeves....<br /><br />#14 The people who take your information and connect it to their tree incorrectly...<br /><br />I believe I have just written a short essay.. Apologies. ;)Bethhttp://www.walkingwithancestors.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-46767930864158393402012-01-02T05:52:48.415-07:002012-01-02T05:52:48.415-07:00Oh how true! It is sad we still see these things. ...Oh how true! It is sad we still see these things. The other one I see a lot of is the Nobleman's daughter who ran away with a servant and changed their name (have to love the family stories! while hitting your head against the wall)Helen V Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418865928294578567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-28049939102086073292012-01-02T05:40:47.924-07:002012-01-02T05:40:47.924-07:00Love it!Love it!Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099651984506366012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-34340150105380804332012-01-01T22:14:59.468-07:002012-01-01T22:14:59.468-07:00If it wasn't so sad, I'd pee my pants laug...If it wasn't so sad, I'd pee my pants laughing. I'm running screaming into the desert with you on the backup thing.JLhttp://www.jgen.ws/jlog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-31531678560478725912012-01-01T18:59:18.712-07:002012-01-01T18:59:18.712-07:00Love your list, and the additions (esp #11)!
#13...Love your list, and the additions (esp #11)! <br /><br />#13 -people who don't accept the very specific primary evidence in front of them, because it doesn't fit what they like/heard/read on the internet. <br /><br />I can hear all our soundless screams like an Edvard Munch painting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-85891034029669590272012-01-01T18:00:16.390-07:002012-01-01T18:00:16.390-07:00Here are a few you omitted:
11. People who think...Here are a few you omitted:<br /><br />11. People who think that it's all online (so they don't need to look at any paper or microfilm records).<br /><br />12. People who think that everything online is useless (despite the fact that many original records have been digitized and placed online).Drew Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12537180168534039546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-46879142571450123042012-01-01T17:50:08.713-07:002012-01-01T17:50:08.713-07:00If I didn't know better, I'd say you spent...If I didn't know better, I'd say you spent this last week at our public library. <br /><br />My # 1 peeve is the individual who arrives with a huge notebook and has to page through it looking for each record. Said record is always folded up and inserted into a plastic sleeve. They dig it out, unfold it, and say, "No, this is the wrong one." And the hunt goes on. <br /><br />My tongue is often raw after trying to help "the notebook genealogist."smjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18229122992622035709noreply@blogger.com