Working on an orphaned, unsourced profile that had a geni.com link as a source. Can I simply remove that? How to handle?

Question

I adopted an unsourced profile created by a former member. There was a link in sources to a geni.com profile as the only reference. Is it ok for me to remove that and proceed with actual sources, or should I leave it as a secondary?

Thanks!

Comments

And do all of these questions just stay here forever? When answered, delete or leave?

---

Our questions live on!

---

Saying that all references to Geni are bad is like saying that all Muslims are terrorists.

---

It's great that no one here has said that all geni refs are bad.

---

Here, here

---

Anybody going to fix Eugene's LNAB?  He's orphaned, so anybody can.

Answer 1

The actual sources are good that you have added. There is no harm in leaving geni.com as a secondary source.

Comments

Thanks, I will just leave it. The funny thing is that on the geni "source" there are no sources listed at all. The emporer has no clothes!

---

I've adopted profiles like that too. The emphasis on sources is one reason I choose to work on WikiTree instead of Geni.

---

Yes, this is so much better!

---

Mmm... if the geni.com source includes no source information itself, I see no value in retaining it as a source on the wikitree profile when you have far better sources on the profile.

Answer 2

Please do not remove the Geni source. Replace it with a link to Geni.  I suggested a link template in G2G and now add

== See also ==

* Geni Record File Number: geni:6000000016346766430

Even if there are no 'real' sources, someone has identified family connections which I have found useful in finding good secondary sources using Hiski an better primary sources using Finnish church records.

Comments

Maybe each new profile needs to be reviewed and graded as to whether it has no sources, Geni-like sources, personal recollections, or contains good sources.

---

I've encountered a number of profiles that cite only "geni.com" as a source. No hint as to a URL or the nature of the cited content. Considering that Geni is full of misinformation, I see little value in going to Geni and trying to guess what the contributor was trying to cite, merely so that I can supply a link. I probably won't delete the indication that the profile came from Geni.com, as that tidbit could be useful to somebody, but I'm not going to go to the trouble of finding a specific link. Why not look for a real source instead?

---

Yeah, I just saw one like that. I'm wondering how long it will be until I see a source that just says "internet."

---

The Geni references which I would like preserved include a Geni ID number.  The link to Geni given above goes directly to the Geni Profile and thaqt includes a link to WikiTree.  I used the information on Geni to then usi HISKI to reference the actual church books.  I consider HISKI to be one of the best Scandinavian search engines available.

Links:  Ulrika Tawast (1769 - 1853)        HISKI

Answer 3

I wait until I find other sources. If Geni data is confirmed by  the other sources, I cite it as a cross-reference. If not, I delete it. Geni doesn't not make it easy or encourage citations IMO.

Comments

That is not the value of Geni, it often does give important information and should  not be deleated.  Trust that the genealogist can decide the value of the source.