That's all very true (being on the web for eternity). Family Tree Maker urges users
to
send their data to FTM when it reaches a certain number (used to be 500), knowing that
these probably are new genealogists who don't realize that what they are sending will
be
sold to the public. A couple of years later, they are horrified to find that (1) Some of
the information is incorrect, because they hadn't known to verify, and (2) It includes
names, dates and places of birth, parents names and maiden names, of the very youngest
members of the family.
This particular person who complained is trying to stand on the statutes to say that her
parents' divorce should not be listed because their birth dates are less than 100
years.
That doesn't sound like a valid complaint, but if it includes something that hurts one
half of the family, I guess it would have to be considered on a case by case basis.
I have USGenWeb counties in other states, along with some independent genealogy sites,
and I've never had anyone ask me to remove a posting. However, I urge contributors to
police themselves and remove private information on living persons, and I do my best to
double check as I'm formatting and uploading.
As I recently uploaded a cemetery transcription that included the name and dates of a
child who died in 2005, I certainly wondered how the parents would feel, seeing their baby
listed on a genealogy site. I didn't remove it, but it made me squeamish.
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Baker" <kamaba(a)ct.metrocast.net>
To: <ctgen(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:59 PM
Subject: Re: [CTGEN] CT Vital Records Statutes - Interpretation Needed
Births, marriages and deaths are public and pretty much accessible by
all if
you know where to look, they can be found published in the SS Death Index
(SSDI), newspapers, old city directories, church records, etc. Original
records held by the town of occurance, especially birth records are another
matter, the State of CT sees the cutoff at 100 years on birth records unless
you are a member of a recognized genealogical society. However the Federal
government publishes census records at 70 years, obviously there are still
living persons on those records. My own mother is still living and her age
is a matter of public record in both the 1920 and 1930 census, it lists her
parents, siblings, age, residence. Although not as much information as found
on the original certificate it is personal and by tracing back from there
it's not difficult to trace her life. I however choose not to publish her
name and date of birth with my online genealogy records and I will not
publish any information on any living person no matter what their age. I
don't see where tastefully publishing information on any person who has died
within the last 100 years would be of any harm to anyone as long as any
living person connected to them is excluded.
When I originally took the oath at the CT Soc of Genealogist I swore that I
would not publish information on any living person, nor any information on
births occurring outside of marriage. You will forgive me if I don't
remember the exact text, after all, it was the early 80s.
Their code seems to have changed, you can find it here --
http://www.csginc.org/csg_code_of_ethics.php
As all records are digitally converted in this information hungry age more
and more of our lives become public fodder, nothing is hidden if you really
want to find it. But, I have my own standards as stated above and I intend
to stick to them.
If someone has an objection to something that has been published I believe
it should be reviewed and if found in poor taste that it be removed. I will
say though that once it's on the web it's there for eternity and I hope
everyone will remember that before they hit the send button.
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