HUNGARY-L Archives

Archiver > HUNGARY > 2002-11 > 1036438090


From: Donna Przecha <>
Subject: [HUNGARY-L] Exchange of files
Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 11:29:27 -0800
In-Reply-To: <200211041825.gA4IPKm1002937@lists5.rootsweb.com>


At 11:25 AM 11/04/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>I am wondering if it is proper to exchange or truth be known just leech
>GedCom files upon request...

If people use GEDCOM files to help with their own research, it is OK, but
too many people take an entire file, dump it in with their own, sometimes
questionable, research and put the whole thing up on a web page as their
own. Then they ignore it and won't correct any errors people point out.

Some people are willing to share information that is to be published simply
because they know they won't do it themselves and they would like to see it
included in a book on the family.

You are the one who will suffer if you just take GEDCOM files and put them
into your database. There are way too much very dubious information out
there and, unless you check it out, you are only going to compound the
error. I have just spent a year researching a line that was done by a
highly respected professional researcher (the editor of Burke's Peerage in
England) in the 1940s. It had errors, one very bad.

I do not give out GEDCOM files myself because people do take information
and, even without looking at it, put it into their database. I will send a
printout that they have to read and digest and process while they enter the
information - if they find it credible. I have several lines that are not
"proven". There are a lot of assumptions with lengthy notes attached saying
"it appears", "presumably", "it is likely that". The program I use (The
Master Genealogist) is quite complex and allows lots of information to be
stored in many places. Some of this may be lost when imported into another
program and give an entirely different impression. Once an error has been
passed on, it can speed around the globe in no time these days. Once it is
out there, it will never be erased!

Use other people's information for guidance but check it out yourself!

Donna

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