My main reasoning for starting the website was for the benefit of the family. I wanted to be able to share information about our history so that family knows where they came from and why they might think and do what they do. It drives me absolutely NUTS when I go on Ancestry.com or other genealogy websites to see so-called documentations that are clearly incorrect. It is obviously someone who really doesn’t have the drive and patience to research genealogy and are piggy-backing off of others’ research.
I asked my son how I might be able to keep certain documents and other information from being taken from the website. He kind of laughed and said that anyone who is even remotely tech-savy can get the information. Its not a password protected website with members only access and I don’t ever want it to be.
So I am faced with the question of why should I share my hard work with someone who is lazy? I have pondered this considerably and my conclusion is that I am not doing it for them, but for the rest of the family. Not everyone has the same drive that I do for researching, but everyone does deserve to know their history. We are F.A.M.I.L.Y – a united group. This website is compiled of information from and for EVERYONE. Those that want to take credit for themselves for the things on this website are going to have to deal with their own ego issues and possibly a kick in the pants from the Ancestors on the other side.
I believe in gratitude. I know I can’t do everything and I don’t want to try. I need my family to help build our heritage story. Anything that you send for inclusion on the website will be acknowledged as where it comes from. Family stories are good. Let’s share the memories. And if you notice something amiss in the information given, please bring it to my attention. I am prone to making typos and transposing numbers.