First - just to be honest, I believe I upset someone after talking with her and changing the internet generated stuff on the bio – which I probably should not have done and agree it wasn’t necessary – but I felt it was “clutter.”
I'm not sure what the difference is between clutter and a simple source link or a basic <ref> to a source</ref>. I have read previous clutter topics and the "tips" which are very helpful and feel I understand sourcing reasonably well. My personal problem is my research was not online when I did it and software programs had just been invented. When they were, I developed a method that will send the reader where he wants to go - it may not be the easiest or most "tech savvy" but do I have to re-do all this research to see if my records are now on line?
Ancestry gedcom clutter: uses five lines for census sources. I use one simple <ref> US Census, etc., etc.</ref> If the reader doesn’t have ancestry, they can still find it easily at a library even though Drawer and Roll # are not included. I also put an ancestry or family search link if I have it. Is it necessary to add the five line sources in the bio and if you do, why put up images? Isn't there a responsibility about "space usage.?
Frankly, censuses are the most basic source of public domain data and do not require all this additional wording. Seriously, if there is real copyright concern, one would not be irresponsible by simply sourcing National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C: Census Rolls – as long as my <ref> says where it is</ref>
More recent generations can certainly find things on the internet faster than I can. Thanks for letting me use the soap box. So the question is: What is clutter if it is not internet generated?
