Genealogy Chat

It is quite simple, check their tree before you open yours, then you will know if they really have a tree. Jennifer

Just my opinion but I don't think folks on GR exchange enough probing emails before they open their tree to people. I usually iniitate contact and I ensure the contact can see I have a lot of info to share by conveying that fact by the tone and content of my message. However, if someone contacts me I NEVER open my tree anyway. I just ask them how they are related to the person in question. If there is a close link I give them a full report from my family tree software (no living folks of course) and if it is a tenuous link, I just give them the info on the person they have enquired about - that way I don't feel I have been taken to the cleaners!! ;-) ;-) This tree opening business always seems a little on the impersonal side to me - I prefer to exchange a few messages first and get a feel for if the contact is a proper researcher or just a nine days wonder merchant! ;-) Cheers, Horatia

I have a very small tree on GR, ..just enough to include my main surname interests and each added as individuals when I am sure of their facts. I have a much fuller tree on a family history program. Because of this it is usually me who intiates contact, when I notice a probable link.I give enough information for them to realise that I have researched that line. I don't think I have ever asked someone to open their tree though. Usually they reply and say that they have opened their tree to me and will I do the same.I then explain about the small tree but offer to share information on our direct links and have had some very successful contacts, this way. The fact that someone has a small tree posted on GR should not in itself be a problem to sharing research. Gwyn

Also make sure you check the number of names on the top of the page, I have one contact who when oyu open the tree it shows just them but if you name search in the tree you find the person, how they have done that I have NO idea

It could be that the person is in the process of uplloading a new tree. I have fallen for this before.

I wonder if i am alone in feeling annoyed when, having been contacted by someone regarding a member of my tree, I have given them access to mine and asked for access to theirs, only to find that they have just one person on their tree - themselves! What is the point of that? Isn't it a little unfair? Surely the idea is to share information and trees, not just take and not give? Sorry to sound of like this, it is just so frustrating to get excited at the prospect of sharing facts etc. only to be left feeling let down and a yes, a little cheated. Come on folk, play the game!

no you're not alone at all............ i have had that happen to me many times, but what i do is go back in and withdraw the access to my tree!!! Jane x