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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1999-09 > 0938721343


From: "D. Spencer Hines" <>
Subject: Re: Ruvigny
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 09:55:43 -1000


This is so good it bears repeating:

| As with all these "authoritative" works, the rule has to be: use
| it as a guide, a starting point, but don't rely on someone else to
| do your work for you - if you can, verify the information in original
| sources. Any compiler tends to follow those who have gone before, and
| it's amazing how something can acquire the aura of 'established fact'
| just because the well-known X repeats what he finds in the works of
| the well-respected Y.
|
| Regards
| Peter Freeman
| University of Leeds

And, never rely on just a <single> genealogical source --- unless there
is <absolutely> no alternative. Confirm a genealogical fact by
"triangulating" with other independent sources --- if possible.

One of the significant problems, however, as we saw right here on
<soc.genealogy.medieval> quite recently, is that often, when one asks
for confirmation from someone, they take offense.

"What, you are questioning my genealogical data! How dare you!"

Then, if you discover that someone _has_ made a transcriptional error or
error of some other sort, they may get really heated.

"Why it was just a <typo>, a human error. I'm never going to give you
anything again, because you embarrassed me in front of my friends and
clients!"

So, people back off and don't confirm data --- for fear that they will
"offend" someone. I see it happen all the time.

There are flawed GEDCOMS and other genealogical data all over the WWW
that remain uncorrected.

Why?

Because, folks are afraid that if they draw the errors to the attention
of the folks who have contributed the data, and/or put it up, into a web
page, that they will cease cooperating and perhaps just pull the data.

People often stay quiet out of fear and greed.

D. Spencer Hines

Lux et Veritas et Libertas
--

D. Spencer Hines --- Warriors --- "There is much tradition and mystique
in the bequest of personal weapons to a surviving comrade in arms. It
has to do with a continuation of values past individual mortality.
People living in a time made safe for them by others may find this
difficult to understand." _Hannibal_, Thomas Harris, Delacorte Press,
[1999], p. 397.

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