Find Ancestors

In the last couple of weeks I have recieved yet more people just sending me their tree to view and check any matches! and asking me to inform them if I find any....Most of them dont have any matches at all! What a nerve! Are people getting lazy? Do they think I have time on my hands to trawl through their ancestors? Ive come to the point where I cannot be polite any more! Does anyone else have this proplem or do they see me comming? Glad to get that off my chest - Sara

Are they asking about specific people when they send you pemission to look at their tree. As sometimes when i think I may have a match I have sent permission for the other person to view my tree and see if they think there is a link. If not they often do not answer or send a short message saying Sorry no match. If there is they then allow permission to view their tree. Most people wont open there tree unless there is a possible link. How many of these have you had Mary

Mary, I have had quite a few.. ...If they want info on a specific person why dont they ask me? I dont need to see their tree. They are obviously having a shot in the dark and matching surnames up with areas.. then wanting some-one else to do the work..

Iam sorry you have had people just sending you their tree, like Old Nick I have never had anyone do that to me. But I do share information if the link is strong. I thought that was what this was what the records office is all about. sharing and helping others find the info that they might not have access to Mary

I know just what Sara means...I've had a couple along those lines. Just today I had one from someone asking for 'all the info' about a particular person. No hint of an offer to share info........... Reg

Mary, The opening/sharing tree senario whether you do or you dont is a debate all on its own! What I object to is sifting through other peoples trees... eg: Yesturday recieved message off gr member regarding Joe Bloggs. Message ; Hi any connection to my tree? Please look and let me know. So I go on to their tree type in Joe Bloggs and no matches. What do they expect me to do? What would you do? Sara

I apologise Sara I see what you mean. that would drive me up the wall. Everybody has so many names on their tree it is difficult to sift through it all to find a link. I agree that everbody should only ask for what they think are deffinate links. and do their own searches. I remember a thread on here quite a few months ago where someone wanted all of us to do the research for them as the had no money to subscribe to most of the sites. My opinion then was (why start something that you cant possibly continue unless at everyone else's expense) Lets hope a few of the people you have encountered read your thread Mary

Sara I frequently get sucked into sorting through other people's trees and I wish I could stop myself doing it...but I can't! I think - how do they know that? And I have to check (why do people never put their references/sources on their trees? Am I the only one who does?). Several hours later I discover they have gone wrong in 1933 and have absolutely no connection to my Mary Ellen born in 1701. And yes, there are one or two members of Genes who are far too lazy to do ANYTHING themselves, even Internet research (because I'm no good at it/it takes soooo long...yes, it does take hours but the more of it you do, the quicker you will get). And while we are on the subject, I currently have permission to view the trees of over 30 members. I have never asked to view anyone else's tree. Perhaps everyone should do a quick check of who they have granted permission to? Olde Crone

How about this for downright nerve then, I was contacted by a lady who thought we might be related as indeed we are... She didn't just want information from me on her line but wanted me to hand over 7 Yrs of research in Gedcom format for her to keep, saying she didn't really have the time to research herself!!... And, when I very tactfully explained my reluctance to part with the info she got quite 'shirty' with me... Oh... didn't part with the info and havn't heard from her since!!. Folk eh?? Best wishes, Jennifer

Jennifer, That is a cheek.. a pile of names on a gedcom file is really meaningless...unless you have done it yourself! I must admit I rarely open my tree, I dont see the need... I was contacted by a distant relative last week and we chatted for ages and helped each other and swapped information without either of us opening our trees, I didnt want to view hers and I dont suppose she wanted to view mine. To be honest I find other peoples trees really boring and hard to follow. Lol Sara

Sara I find my OWN tree hard to follow, let alone anyone else's! Olde Crone

Yes Sara, I have had a fair (unfair?) few of these people. My normal response is to ask them to send me date and place of birth plus siblings and parents which normally points up the fact that there is no match - but you will never know if you don't ask. David

Hi Sara, I can't stand when you get a message: 'Can I see your tree please?' Without even stating who they are interested in. I think that sort of thing is arrogant & an invasion of privacy. Regards Lyn.

Sara, its not you. I had the same problem and reported it to the site manager. They could not have been more helpful. They removed the inadvertent hot matches from my trees. I think these are automatically generated by the internal system - its gone haywire more than once.... hope this helps. susan.

Hi, just on Friday I asked someone about a person in their tree and said I thought I had the same person and lo and behold there was a connection and I was able to send them a a photo of their gg/grandparents. I never get anyone asking about any of my names and I would not mind ireally would be over the moon if I found a connection to my fathers side. Margaret

Sara, I have just had a message - the subject is 'Please look at my tree' and the content of the message is 'Thanks'. I have found the person who sent it in 'My contacts' and that seems to be the only message they have ever sent me. They have given me access to their tree, but not a clue as to why I should look at it! Is this the sort of thing you mean? It baffles me! Kate.

I wish there was a feature in which we can remove other peoples trees from our version of the site if we dont want them I have at least 20 trees i can view where I've helped people out with a search/brickwall and they have (unrequested) given me access to their tree They're of no relevance to my research whatsoever and I don't want to have to see them on the list when I'm trying to figure out which trees belong to which contact Zoe

Zoe Just send them a message saying that you have viewing of their tree and say.. I have no links ..and would you be kind enough to take me off your viewing list please... It's quite a few of the newbies who dont realise about the Ticked Box to untick before you send a message which allows you to view their tree Mo

You're right, Mayoress. As a newbie I didn't grasp the whole concept in one go - it took me time to realise how the whole system worked. I rarely grant access to my tree now without finding out why someone wants it. I also cancel that access if I don't like the 'sound' of them, never hear from them again etc. However, being a newbie is no excuse for rudeness, though you have to admire the sheer affrontery of some people...or not... Jacquie

i have just had request to view my tree,i have asked him who he is looking for but no reply yet,i have looked in my contacts and cant find him,so cant let him look at my tree