GEN-FR-L Archives

Archiver > GEN-FR > 1999-06 > 0928284206


From: Bill Savary <>
Subject: Re: errors in geneaology
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 17:43:26 -0700


I think you'd find that most of the people who complain about imperfect
databases are people who have never done research of their own, and are
not used to dealing with research-based publishing (which nowadays
includes the Internet). In any field I can think of, research
publications are simply a forum through which researchers can compare
findings. They are not Holy Writs, and in all fields are subject to
challenge and revision. Genealogy is no different from other fields in
this respect, but it is a field that attracts complete novices
unfamiliar with the concept of research publishing. Also, I think there
are a fair number among the complainers who are conditioned by our
culture to expect instant, alledgedly correct information from
"authoritative" sources, and get upset when the information turns out to
be slow or innaccurate. Fortunately, some of these complainers will
come to some sort of realization that they must contribute as much as
they seek, and will shift from complaining to producing.

>
> I would like to say something here. Every day I find some new complaint
> about people finding records of their ancestors that are botched up.
> Folks, one thing I have found is that no matter WHERE you find your info
> there is a chance of errors. Isn't part of geneaology about comparing
> evidence and info and piecing everything together like a big puzzle? I don't
> care who you are or how you research...you WILL find errors. I have a paper
> of my ancestry on my fathers side going back to the 1600s...even though I
> have all of that info I am planning on doing everything from
> scratch....getting the birth records and death records.
> Anyone who lets the errors frustrate them should not be in geneaology.

This thread: