In a message dated 3/28/00 8:23:29 PM Central Standard Time,
Betty.Obst(a)skycon.com writes:
<< Hi All:
I'd like to pose a question or maybe conduct a survey re: a recent concern I
have. How do you feel about putting a list of
descendants that includes living relatives on an email list like this or on
a web page that is open to the public?
I've been thinking a lot about this recently, because I'm ready to post my
information and I'm having some bad feelings about this.
My list begins at my grandparents and most of the names are living
relatives, many of them young people. I don't like the idea that
a "lurker" on the internet could have access to some of this data and use it
to get close to someone. I'm thinking of them
pretending that they know "so and so" or were good friends with "so and
so"
in order to cultivate a friendship on-line.
I notice that at the Mormon Family Research Center, most of the genealogies
I pulled had blank data and a statement "living
relative" when this occurred. This has also been the case in most of the
GED com data I've looked at. It makes me think that these
professionals, who've been around for a while, may recognize problems with
publishing this information publicly.
I have no problem with sharing the information one-on-one, but if I don't
post this myself, I wouldn't want anyone else posting it
either!!! I know a lot of the parents in my family are not real comfortable
about this, even though they recognize that I would
never have been able to get the information I've gotten, if people hadn't
been willing to share. What are your feelings regarding
this?
>
Betty,
You pose a good question. I always send this information out publicly....but
omit anything on living people. For example....I am fortunate to have one set
of grandparents living on one side......and a grandmother on the other side.
As with this case both their parents are deceased..........So I list all
information from their parents on back...........once I think that an
individual is "trustworthy" I will send my grandparents names----but no dates
or any other data.......just a name.
Now on the other hand......Some of the "cousins" I have met via internet and
list such as this.........I have also literally met face to face on several
occassions since or internet meeting.............after several face to face
meetings I usually will give up the living data as well. Those that I have
done this with are cautious just as I am.
It never hurts to be safe or cautious.........and I feel that anyone who has
been doing genealogy........will understand this and understand why you do
not give up your whole family .......related or not....you are still
strangers to each other. Most understand and there are no hard feelings.
I did have one person contact me about my MANN line. He got rather upset that
I would not share anything past my great grandparents (both are deceased).I
refused.....mostly because he was not sharing a whole lot which made me
suspicious. I have never shared anything more with him...........but a week
ago.....while at the library......they have a new book on the shelves about
the MANN line...............guess what......yes my information is in there
(it could have been from someone else) but I am sure it is my research. I
also noticed that he published information on other lines and lines that tied
into mine......and listed living individuals.
I do not agree with this.....although my grandparents would not mind nor know
if I did give it out. Again, Better safe than sorry.
Debbie
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