Once someone has been disproved as a descendant of an entry, should they retain managerial status?

Question

If someone has added profiles in the belief that they pertain to their own ancestors, and this was later disproved, should that person retain managerial control over the pertinent profiles preventing better informed researchers from altering the information if they do not add these researchers to their trusted list?

Answer 1

Hi Upton,  WikiTree is a one world family tree.  We each add our twigs and leaves to the branches on the WikiTree in the hope that we can eventually connect to the WikiTree trunk.  I create and manage profiles for people every day that are not related to me.  It is all part of our mission to connect the leaves to the twigs, to the branches and hopefully, to the trunk.

Our Honor Code says:

1. We collaborate. When we share ancestors we work together on the same ancestor profiles.
2. We care about accuracy. We're always aiming to improve upon our worldwide family tree and fix mistakes.
3. We know mistakes are inevitable. We don't want to be afraid to make them. We assume that mistakes are unintentional when others make them and ask for the same understanding.
4. We know misunderstandings are inevitable. We try to minimize them by being courteous to everyone, even those who don't act accordingly.

If you have a difference of research on a particular ancestor, you should post your research on the bulletin board section of the profile with your sources.  If the PM disagrees, there are mediation processes available, but if everyone plays by the Honor Code, this should never be necessary.  

Answer 2

Anyone can manage any profile, whether they are related or not.  There are no relational requirements.  If Wikitree had such requirements, there would be no Cemeteries Project, no Notables Project, etc.

Comments

Once you have over 5000 profiles under your management, as I understand it everything slows down for you.  I have experienced that already.  I have dropped many of my profiles to speed things back up.  Just because I dropped them from my management does not mean I not interested in them, I just don't have to be there manager any more.  And I am hopping someone else that is family will adopt them.

Answer 3

Well I've entered a lot of people who aren't my ancestors.  Most of them are, of course, cousins.  But even if there's not a direct connection, a person may have other reasons for maintaining PM status. They may know people on the line, they may be former neighbors or school chums, or even ex-spouses.  Wiki does have a rule which keeps members from hoarding  all the people they've ever been a PM for.  That is, if you have more than 5000 profiles you should release some of them to get back under.  Now I expect that I have about 100,000 people in my computer family trees so I could never be PM for more than 5% of them on Wikitree.  So far I've only added 800, though there may be some which I attach to and so wouldn't have to enter in myself.  Now that said, I expect most all members would be happy to let you be on their trusted list  and even to be a co PM.  Beyond that, I don't see why someone should be forced to relinquish a PM status.

Comments

You're focusing on quantity.  I think the question was more about someone who has been shown to make bad connections, kind of inept, incompetent, or sloppy, or a cheat.  And yes I would like to see some of the people doing a bad job held accountable.  If you look at the error reports, some are really bad.

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Yes, indeed, that was what I was referring to. Thanks for the support Mikey. Upton.

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If there's an issue with a specific member (ie they are making bad connections, sloppy or a cheat) then they can be reported via http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Problems_with_Members and we'll have a Mentor or Leader work with them if necessary.

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You specifically said that they added the profiles "in the belief that they pertain to their own ancestors."  That doesn't necessarily prove they were "inept, incompetent, or sloppy."  It simply means they made a mistake in a family line.  Believe it or not, that can happen to anyone.  Sometimes better documentation comes along later.