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Archiver > APG > 2009-03 > 1237699482


From: "Peggy K. Reeves" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Mormon News
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:24:42 -0400
References: <05FC3A32-1608-411F-B742-65A032C7F161@keyconn.net> <49C3B044.7040209@reevesweb.com><003501c9aa99$8716daf0$954490d0$@net>
In-Reply-To: <003501c9aa99$8716daf0$954490d0$@net>


>
> Elizabeth wrote:
>
> Peggy's frustration is understandable. The reality, however, is that the
> fault lies not with that one website and not with our chosen field.
We are all aware of database errors, and I'm sure none of us believe
what we find online without first tracking down some legitimate
documentation. It's certainly not news to me that no database is perfect!

I disagree in that I believe the fault certainly does lie with the
person or entity who publishes. Just as we are all responsible for work
that we do and claims that we make in our research, familysearch.org
certainly IS to blame for gathering amateur research for years, selling
it on CDs, and ignoring all genealogists' best efforts to correct
anything. We are not talking about simple typos or transposition errors
or a misreading of a word or date, things common to all databases and
publications. No, this is a lot larger than that!

The igi is a collection of arbitrary lists of any and all mention of all
people, real or imaginary, Jew or Gentile or cartoon character, for
various "temple ordinances" with total disregard for accuracy,
documentation, and the religious wishes declared by the deceased while
they were still alive. Familysearch has continued for years without
providing any means of correcting "facts" and "events" that are
blatantly untrue and should be removed immediately (like the Celia Rae
Elbert myth).

Yes, familysearch is responsible for the mess that we see! Genealogists
who have obtained addresses or email addresses where they can supposedly
submit corrections have not been successful in getting anything
changed. Corrections are ignored. This practice is unethical,
irresponsible, and as we have seen, offensive to many. In fact, they
don't even remove things from their database when they sign a written
agreement to do so! (refer to the article that Judith posted a link to
earlier in this thread).

Maybe I am behind the times, and my BCG standards manual is outdated,
but the first item in the Genealogist's Code says: "I will not publish
or publicize as fact anything I know to be false, doubtful, or unproved;
nor will I be a party, directly or indirectly, to such action by
others." Has this been changed in recent years or fuzzed-up and made
more vague in order to accommodate familysearch?

This begs the question: Is familysearch a professional company, a bunch
of amateurs, or a church? If they are professionals, they need to have
higher standards than what we continue to see. If we are to forgive
them and look the other way because they are rank amateurs, then we need
to be concerned that these are the same folks who are creating indexes
to databases and records that we will no longer be able to request in
their original form once the amateurs get finished indexing, filming,
scanning (and in many cases bungling and omitting). These are the same
people who apparently can't cite an appropriate source or accurately
explain records that they are helping to put online through contracts
with NARA and the subscription services. If familysearch.org is a
church, then why are they ignoring written agreements, and putting every
person of every religion in line to somehow be initiated into a religion
that they did not wish to be associated with while they were alive?
After all, churches are places where people go of their own free will,
not where they are captured!

As for the Mormon-Jewish controversy, I don't belong to either religion,
so I am only looking at this as a third party.

Just some food for thought.

Peggy Reeves
> Peggy's frustration is understandable. The reality, however, is that the
> fault lies not with that one website and not with our chosen field.

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