Is the database errors project flagging "Junior" as a nickname? It's not always an error.

Question

I noticed the nickname "Junior" was removed from a profile on my watchlist with no explanation. The man's obituaries, referenced on the profile, give his name as Junior. It's a rather common nickname in the United States for men named for their fathers. I've known men called Junior in daily life for whom I have little to no knowledge of their legal given names.

Is it possible that the database errors project flags this condition? Does that need to change to prevent overzealous removal of valid names?

Thanks,

Karen

Comments

I don't believe the nickname "Junior" is being flagged by db_errors.

I looked at the reports for "wrong word in Nickname field" and I didn't find any instances of Junior in the first pages of entries for 1800s and 1900s.

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Thank you, Ellen! I've contacted the DB doctor. I appreciate all the enthusiasm for error-checking that the project has generated.

Answer 1

I'd think the problem isn't with the db_errors project, but with the person who removed the nickname. Maybe approaching them and asking for an explanation will resolve it. We ("data doctors") are supposed to be more careful than that: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Database_Errors#Code_of_conduct_when_fixing_database_errors

Comments

Regardless of the code of conduct for error checking, I agree with Karen that the name "Junior" should not be treated as an error when it appears in the Nickname field.

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I think I disagree on that, Ellen. If Junior is a nickname, it's up to the person verifying the profile to check if it is actually a nickname or a misplaced Suffix. We can look at it, then show it as a false error. I'm sure in some cases the Jr. could be misplaced and needs to be moved. It doesn't *require* us to move it, only to check it.

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I agree with Bobbie, we have some over zealous folks using the DB errors project like the data is "fact".   In this case....Karen needs to identify the person to the project.

Answer 2

This are frequencies of Junior in name fields.

Error 713 Prefix
Jnr - 6
Jr - 821
Jun - 2
Junior - 11

Error 723 First name
Jnr - 72
Jr - 2627
Jun - 19
Junior - 300

Error 733 Preffered name
Jnr - 95
Jr - 3867
Jun - 38
Junior - 864

Error 743 Middle name
Jnr - 19
Jr - 82
Jun - 4
Junior - 169

Error 753 Nicknames
Jnr - 6
Jr - 113
Jun - 2
Junior - 141

In Prefered name it is quite a few of them, so i think it should be removed from errors. Maybe before correcting it, you should also check if father is Sr. Otherwise it could be a real Name.

Here you can see usage frequency.

http://wikitree.sdms.si/function/WTWebNameDistribution/Errors.htm?FirstName=Junior&MaxNames=600

And here are all errors with Junior in a name.

http://wikitree.sdms.si/function/WTWebName/errors.htm?Name=Junior&MaxErrors=2000

Answer 3

Perhaps We should also. Discuss Elder (which is surely a religious title),,senior, (a suffix) and Ygr (a. Suffix and Lairdly rank or title).

Answer 4

To me, "Junior" in any name field is a given name or a nickname. "Jr." Indicates a son named after his father, and belongs in the suffix field. If "Jr." appears in a name field , I consider it an error, but it should be checked. Also, "Jr." In the suffix does not mean "Sr." appears in the father's suffix. "Sr." is not a part of the given (LNAB) name, but used after the birth of the named son. BTW, in the course of doing database corrections, I have not encountered this situation.

Comments

I think Karen's concern was limited to "Junior" as a nickname, not to abbreviated forms like "Jr." that shouldn't be treated as nicknames.

Answer 5

I think some people read error as something that needs to be correct while is its a message from the system. "Are you sure that Junior is the nickname and is it in the correct field?". I would not call it an error, but a warning.