ROOTS-L Archives

Archiver > ROOTS > 1998-09 > 93148


From: Lena Hurst <>
Subject: Reasons
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 08:58:11 -0700


Maybe its just my perspective, but I'm seeing more cases where people
forget that we aren't all doing genealogy for the same reason. When this
happens we see people who take it upon themselves to arbitrate what and how
someone else obtains and maintains their information.

There are many cases where a person is not doing the work as a scholarly
endeavor, and they are not doing it to join the DAR. If a person is
satisfied with an email source so be it.

If I look at their work at least I know who their source was, and if I want
further documentation then it is up to me to obtain it.

In actuality an email source varies little from a snail mail letter source,
but these have long been accepted for some purposes.

Its time that hardcore researchers allow the light hobbiest the room to
pursue their work with out being put down and trampled on a regular basis.

During the course of my own genealogical research I have met (sometimes not
in person) a lot of really wonderful people. I have also had the
misfortune to meet some really knowledgeable people who have turned off
others by their arrogant and self righteous attitudes, they indicate they
are the only people capable of doing the job right.

As a volunter at a genealogical library I have watched several
"professionals" who are more than willing to snidely tell someone they are
going about doing research all wrong, but I can also tell you that these
same people never volunter a minute of their "valuable" time to help
without a fee, to act as libarian, or to return anything to the market
segment where they make their living.

When we are all willing to be more helpful than critical, then we will all
accomplish more. I have hesitated to hire a genealogist to research on the
otherside of the United States just because of the attitudes of people I
have dealt with here. I want quality research, but I don't want some
librarian, county clerk, etc to have to deal with the type of self
righteous, pushy, arrogant, self serving individual I have had the
misfortune to encounter. The other day a lady literally left the library,
probably to never return because one of these people informed her that she
should quit using a piece of equipment "if, that is all you are using it for."

I hope that I never become like this.

This thread: