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Archiver > PAWASHIN > 2000-09 > 0967874261


From:
Subject: [PAWASHIN-L] Living Persons Query
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 01:57:41 EDT


Recently I was going through old PAWASHIN archives to see whether I had
missed any family tree information, when I came across one for Aug. 14, 1999.
It caught my eye because my uncle's name was listed as having died "aft.
February 1, 1979". I immediately sent a friendly note to the poster of that
data informing him that my uncle, with whom I had visited about a month ago,
was still quite alive, even if in failing health.
The response I received took me aback. It was as follows (with identifying
data omitted): "Mornin' George. If ((your uncle)) is still alive, as you
indicate, then the above notation is totally accurate. After your email, I
have changed it to read "aft. August 29, 2000", which is also a true
statement. My reason for notations like that is that it provides me, and
other researchers, a base date from which to look for a person's date of
death in the future. Mostly I use it for older persons whose spouse has died
and the obit indicates the mate is still alive. Hope this clears that
up.....hee hee...wasn't trying to kill your uncle off prematurely."
I responded: "I would strongly argue with you that you are not being
accurate by entering death dates in the manner you describe. Indeed, you are
being quite misleading, and one might well consider such practice even
immoral because it does not take into consideration the impact on relatives.
Any time I have ever seen "d." expanded, it has been "died", which means an
act that has already occurred, not one that will occur at some date in the
future. While it may seem trivial to you, and while your practice may be
fine for your personal files that are not disseminated publicly, because you
understand what you mean by such an entry, I know that the family of ((my
uncle)), of which I am one, does not appreciate it and we strongly recommend
that you correct that entry in any of your publicly disseminated data. I have
never seen anyone else use the method you describe to indicate death
information. A blank space after "d." is the appropriate way of indicating
that a person is still living. It is absurd to treat a still -living spouse
differently from any other still living person. By the way, how do you
distinguish between someone, like my uncle, who is still living and someone
who has definitely died, but for whom you do not have a specific death date?
Is it not "Aft." , "Bef.", or "Abt."? If you would like, I will be glad to
post my position on your practice to the PAWASHIN-L for general comment, or I
can send a private note to the person in charge."
The respone to my latter note, received Sep. 1, was: "Dear George, I do
not intend to alter my files. Take the matter where you wish. No harm is
intended or done."
I would like to know what is considered acceptable genealogical practice
on this matter, and whether there are any PAWASHIN site rules relating to
it. Thanks. -- George W.


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