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Archiver > GEN-NEWBIE > 1999-03 > 0920296240


From: <>
Subject: Re: New Cousin
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 08:50:40 -0500


Dear Linda:

I am answering this to the list as it is important to them as
well. You did not insult him/her. There are some people out her
who have done a lot of work on their family tree and they just don't
want to share. It isn't anything new but here is a reason or two
they won't or don't want to share with other cousins

One; They have put a lot of energy and time into something they
have built into a family tree and they are afraid that you will take
advantage of the hard work they did. Commercializing it by
sending it to a Genealogy Company.

Two: Their work is their work and they don't like sharing because
you might find something incorrect and discount their work.
Recently I wrote to someone asking them to share with me a line
of their tree as I was unable to download the Gedcom file. Yet they
had made it public on the net. It just made it harder for me as I
had to write everything down by hand.

Three. They are just not the sharing type, or don't have the time to
download the file to you or maybe they don't know how to. They
could also have some information in their line that they do not want
someone else to see.

I hope this has answered some of your questions regarding the
new cousin.
Jean

Date forwarded: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 02:47:52 -0800 (PST)
From:
Date sent: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 05:45:33 EST
Subject: New Cousin
Forwarded by:
To:

Could use a bit of advice here....We discussed not too long ago the situation
where you send someone alot of your hard earned information with the best
intentions assuming they want to share in the same spirit of helping each
other out and then you find out that it not the case. In my case a distant
relative of ours contacted us because of a post I'd done and when I said I'd
be happy to send what I had in exchange for just his small part of a line he
acted as if wanting to "trade" info was somehow bad form. Was I wrong to say
that I would exchange info? Should we be willing to indiscriminately forward
our family tree information to anyone who asks?
I personally always indicate that if a person would be willing to send me what
they have I would be more than happy to send them mine. I feel that if I
don't ask for their info they may assume that I'm just anxious to send out
stuff but wouldn't hope to get something back.

Have I committed an unforgiveable breech of etiquette LOL or is this person
perhaps overly sensitve? Help me out here guys.....

Linda Johnson

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