[or-roots] Genealogy and security

[CKlooster at aol.com]

There have always been genealogical exploiters, but the Internet compounds  
the problem and makes it more visible.  Back in the days when genealogy was  
conducted in person or by mail, there was always a delicate negotiation  
regarding data..."willing to share" was an offer with the implicit understanding  
"you show me yours and I'll show you mine".  There were even in those days,  
people who wanted a peak at "yours" without giving you a peak at "theirs"...or  
those who professed a willingness to share, but once they had your data, seemed  
to forget your address.  But for everyone of those who didn't play fair,  
there were dozens who went above and beyond to help find illusive  ancestors.  
I've had people send me family Bibles and other valuable family  papers and 
photographs to copy and who trusted me to return them.  As a  result, I've always 
been willing to share with other researchers.  My  irritation is with the 
companies who have gathered family data from willing  donors, and have in turn 
sold the access to that data...and the cost of access  is far more than I believe 
it should be. 
 
I also have gripe with the "geezer collectors".  An example of this in  my 
own family is a very distant relative who made contact with my father.   My dad 
has never had an interest in genealogy, but he did have files of my  research 
that I'd downloaded on his computer on the off-chance that the family  history 
might interest him.  He, without a second thought, passed  my research on to 
this woman and they began a brisk and cordial internet  correspondence.  To my 
irritation, this was the same woman that I had  e-mailed several times and 
received no response...probably because  I expressed an interest in sharing data 
and clearly her interest was not in  sharing, but in gathering.  Shortly 
after my dad gave her my research,  I found it posted on several "for pay" 
sites...and I knew it was mine because it  contained several errors that I had not 
had a chance to correct on his  computer!
 
But, I refuse to let a few bad apples spoil my climb up the apple  tree!  The 
Internet has been far more of a blessing than a  curse for me, and for 
genealogists in general.  I get somewhat of  a kick out of looking at various 
versions of some of my family lines found  here and there online.  I can usually 
tell the ones that I've  contributed to by some of the obscure facts included.  
Old-time  map makers used to put in a bogus city here and there as a copyright  
mechanism.  This seems like a good idea for genealogists who want to  trace 
the journey of their files on line!
 
Carla
 
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