Genealogy Chat

A Tip For those who don't know. It is NOT a good idea to put Living Relatives on your tree. This information can be used for sinister purposes, identity theft etc. Regards Ann

I've been told by Government sources, to say ' 't*ts' to them, it's Public Domain '!!!! Living people in these family trees? What people fail to realise is that everybody's BMD's are online to public view anyway, for eg. Ancestry, say someone wants to know something - if they don't get it off here, then it's on Ancestry for free anyway and they are there for the public to view. I forgot when my marriage was and there it was on Ancestry, I clicked on and it's even got the facility of 'finding the spouse'!!! People aren't going to get your credit card details and stuff are they? It's no different really to the Phone Book is it, other than it's safer in a way because in the Phone Book is your address and phone number. I must admit though, (nothing sinister about me!!!!) that I found information that I shouldn't have done, through these geneaology sites. But that's a positive for me, not a negative. If we didn't have living people in our trees, how would the links be made? When some people don't know about who or where their Grandparents were or came from etc? That's my input about it anyway. Kind Regards ~ Stella Can I just say aswell, it's the same for the Electoral Rolls....

It's a valid point it's all out there easily available anyway. But you are joining the dots for them somewhat, and making their lives easier by displaying it here. OK, you choose who sees your tree, but a few sensible precautions probably wont harm either. I personally prefer not to display info on relations under 18, and do not display exact birth dates or any in depth info on any living adults on my tree. Recently I was searching for a long lost uncle, we hadn't heard from since 1973. Within in an hour I'd found out where he'd moved to, when hed married, his wifes name, his childrens name, when his children had married and their spouses names, and his full adress and telephone number! I used two sites, both free, and neither genes. Great for us, but does make you wonder if it would have been so great if I'd not been a reative and had wanted that info for sinister purposes.

All members should bear in mind that GR's T&C require you to have the permission of each and every living person you include in a tree on this site.

Do the government ask us for permission to be online on Electoral Rolls, Does Ancestry and their BMD records ask us for permission? It is Public Domain, and we are all identifiable one way or another online whether we like it or not!!! Stella

Hi You dont put living people on your tree because its NOT your right to (unless the person has given you the permission)....How would you like to see your name splashed across half a dozen family tree sites. If you want to put living people as links in your tree then you put living smith etc with no other personal information.

Stella you can choose not to be in the edited electoral roll register which is available for sale and on 192.com by ticking the opt out box on the annual registration form, or on a re-registration form.

Thanks for that Willow the Wisp (I loved that cartoon as a child!!!) I am comfortable with being on the Electoral Roll and anywhere else for that matter.....all I am saying is that we are all identifiable in so many places online, that it's not really worth getting into a tizz about it!!!! Nobody can wipe off your name in the BMD indexes etc, can they? Stella

Never mind Government policy, GR's terms and conditions are perfectly clear. You DO need the express permission of each and every living person, before you include them in a shared tree here.

Hi Stella I think people get in a annoyed and feel invaded because they dont like the idea of their child etc being on another persons tree, and that tree being placed anywhere the author likes on the internet. However, GR do not make it clear enough or loud enough that you shouldnt included living people on YOUR tree without THEIR permission, and as some has already said that really means anyone over the age of 18, because how can a child give permission? p.s thanks, was my favourite show!

Stella You say that all our details are available in the public domain anyway - well, yes, they are, but you have to spend quite a bit of money to collect them all up, to make a profile of one person. I am not aware that I am on any online Electoral Roll. I have a listing in the phone book, but you cannot tell my age from that, nor what I do for a living, nor how many times I have been married, nor the names of my children. I think it is quite naive of you if you cannot see the harm in putting living people on your tree and I sincerely hope you never have cause to regret it. I don't have details of any living people on my tree, not here or anywhere else. It has never held up my research. Almost every week, someone comes on here in great distress because someone else has details of them and their living family on their tree, or their recently deceased parents appear as a distant twig on a complete stranger's tree. Apart from the fact that it is against GR's T and C, it is a question of good manners and consideration for other people's feelings. OC

Old Crone, Thankyou for your words of wisdom!!!! Yes - I am naive, very naive.....and it has sunk in with regard to what you have told me. I had got my Children in the tree and I have deleted them off here now. Why don't GR put a limit on the entering Birth Dates, say the highest Birth year of 1920 or something then? Just a thought, maybe someone should tell them ?!!!! Kind Regards Stella

Stella I totally agree with you - GR should have a cut off date for entering birth dates. But they don't, along with many other things they don't have, lol. OC

The thing that has always given me cause for concern is IDENTITY THEFT What is to stop someone from stealing your identity when they have so much information on your family? One of the main SECURITY questions that they ask for on a bank account or stock brokerage account is your MOTHERS MAIDEN NAME....HELLOooooooooo.... Margaret