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Genealogy

What's the etiquette when someone on GenesReunited asks for access to your family tree?

8 replies

said · 20/09/2011 19:12

I don't mind in principle but then realised it gives access to all of the other half of my family. Can you hide parts without deleting?

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schroeder · 20/09/2011 21:51

Someone approached me; said he knew my Auntie and so on. I just told him to contact her then.

I suppose I'm suspicious and grouchy, but my 1st reaction to requests for personal info on the internet is NO.

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exoticfruits · 20/09/2011 22:04

Get them to give you access to theirs first.

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said · 20/09/2011 23:45

Thanks schroeder and exoticfruits. It's re a distant relative who I have very vague info on so might not even be same person. I would be intrigued if thought it was more certain. Think I may just email back that the details she might need (not many of them and everyone long dead)

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exoticfruits · 21/09/2011 07:29

Definitely get more information from them first.

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HappyAsASandboy · 21/09/2011 07:45

I would definitely keep using the message facility to work out whether they are actually talking about the same person.

If they are the same person, I think I'd make another copy of my tree (if there's no copy facility, save as an external file, open a new account and import the tree) and delete all living people and people who are not related to the enquirer.

But that's just what I would do. It is difficult to know what to do with other people's information.

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ForYourDreamsAreChina · 21/09/2011 07:50

I think the point that you have your tree on GR sort of precludes any preciousness about privacy.

What exactly are they going to discover? That I had 485 great-rellies all called Enoch who are all dead, because you put living relatives down as "living relative" (ie anonymous) don't you?

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said · 21/09/2011 21:11

No, it doesn't feel right to just share your whole tree to a stranger, to me I'll just send a message, if I can be bothered.

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SingleMan25b · 18/10/2011 00:29

Normally, before letting them view my tree, I ask which person in my tree there interested in and how they think there related.

Then I judge what to do by their reply.

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