Should the pre-1700 badge be more restrictive?

+22 votes
294 views
Since the implementation of the pre-1500 badge there's seems to have come an end to the creation of unsourced pre-1500 profiles.  Maybe it's a good idea to do this for pre-1700 as well.
WikiTree profile: Thomas Jackson
in Policy and Style by Vincent Piazza G2G6 Pilot (249k points)
One side of the family been able to source (yes with links, documents, baptisms) back to 1480, though haven't created the profile.  Reason being the obstacle of being pre 1500 certified - so at the present time have left that side of the family alone.

Since joining I've had a nose round various profiles and some are fantastic, well sourced and a credit to the profile manager, other profiles purely say 'sourced from Ancestry' - which actually does not help.

Each time I create a profile I'm learning/adapting and hopefully improving on my method.
For the profile in the question, the grandfather does have three pipes in the suffix field so maybe it's a family of plumbers.  :D
I would love to rewrite the 1700 "test" Question that addresses the sources to make it clear what is and isn't a source from Ancestry.  If that is a possibility I'll put up a draft here for all to comment on.  It would probably also be useful to use it in the intro for all Wiki genealogist to read.
While I don't think think I have enough expertise to present an informed opinion, I will comment that given the number of gedcom generated duplicates and gedcom generated unsourced profiles in my lines, I would be happy to give up my pre-1700 badge for more restrictions on gedcom imports.  Frankly, my experience leads me to think gedcom imports are very close to being more trouble than they are worth.

5 Answers

+15 votes
 
Best answer
I’ll offer my view from a PGM perspective. I have found a number of users who had lower contribution counts who happened to be superlative genealogists. I have mentored some of them for the PGM project. Others needed no mentoring – they were good to go. They are invaluable to PGM. I am grateful for anyone who wants to do the manual labor of entering profile data for PGM even if it is their first day on Wikitree. The key is communication. Sourcing profiles post-input is easily. My point is ***the number of clicks someone makes is not proportional to their talent.***

 

On the other hand most of the problematic issues we deal with in PGM have to do with GEDCOM imports. GEDCOM imports are not limited by the pre-1700 badge. So tightening up the pre-1700 badge won’t help PGM at all. GEDCOM imports are already screened by a human being and they do as good of a job as they can. I don’t think we can improve on human GEDCOM import screening. So I think we just have to live with fixing bad GEDCOM imports. But tightening up the pre-1700 badge restriction may actually hurt not help our ability to recruit talent for PGM.

 

So instead let’s find new talent that is out there, treat them with respect and set them up for success in the challenges they seek.
by Living Baker G2G6 Mach 4 (42.4k points)
selected by John Beardsley
Well said Roland.
+9 votes
Hi Vincent.  I am not in favour of this one, personally.  I think we have good protections and member initiatives in place that strike a balance between an open and friendly atmosphere and ensuring quality of our profiles.
by Living Hoolihan G2G6 Mach 6 (61.3k points)
+10 votes
I think there should be an "experience" requirement for pre-1700 profiles, in addition to the self-certification process. Say, for example, 100-200 contributions.  It would also be helpful to ensure that the profiles of those 100-200 contributions included quality sources added by the user seeking pre-1700 certification, but this would be harder to ascertain. I've seen many people join WikiTree, and then jump into pre-1700 within days, not really understanding what makes a good profile.
by S Willson G2G6 Pilot (219k points)
+6 votes
Providing the granting of Pre-1700 Certifcation is not too early in a members Wikitree experience, then I think the we are OK. Discussion has already focused on attaining a level of contributions before being eligible for Pre- 1700. Any level must be on manual input, rather than Gedcom.
by Living Woodhouse G2G6 Pilot (280k points)
+6 votes
I doubt I can say it any better than Roland, so I'm not going to try. What I will add is just that we need to keep bringing new members into the WikiTree, and not just experts in the field of genealogy. Beginner family researchers have a lot to add, and I'm not talking about their information. Their enthusiasm and delight when they discover new twigs and break down brick walls can refresh the most jaded genealogist . . . or at least ones like me anyway.

The pre-1700 "restriction" in place now is fine, and serves its purpose. It does not prevent bad data from being entered, but in the long expanse of time I'll bet the pre-1500 won't either.

All of that said, maybe a slight twist on the idea might be to require the pre-1500 badge for importing gedcoms . . . I don't think beginners need to have that ability and almost definitely would learn more and develop an appreciation for what is already here and see what "bad" gedcom imports have left to be fixed.
by John Beardsley G2G6 Mach 4 (44.1k points)
Hi John!  All pre-1500 individuals are automatically skipped before a GEDCOM import.  If there are pre-1700 individuals the uploader has to get the pre-1700 badge before they can import those individuals.
Thanks for the clarification, Lady of the Shield-arm, good info.  :-)

Even with those restrictions though, I still lean towards requiring the pre-1500 before being given the "privilege" of uploading gedcoms. (though after working through uploads of my own, the ability is a dubious privilege at best IMHO).

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