Let's turn db_errors into "teaching moments"

+42 votes
597 views
While I am impressed with the db_errors project and all the "errors" they have found, I think we all can agree that these errors should be an opportunity to help people understand the potential "flaws" in their family trees and NOT use the errors to critique the person who entered the data.

I think we all need to stop and think about how we approach letting a person know about an error, and offering help to solve the issue.  Just because we have a "system" to find errors, doesn't make us better at Wikitree or genealogy than the person who made the error.

My example is a recent profile where I realized in reading the biography that the marriage date had been put in as the death date.   Rather than tell the person the death date is wrong because of "XYZ", I left a note that said....hey, I think you might have accidentally put the marriage date in the death date field.

Any other thoughts on this?
in The Tree House by Robin Lee G2G6 Pilot (852k points)
retagged by Dorothy Barry
You make a good point, I think it's also important to remember that this is we are communicating just through text so we that's all we see and not somebody's tone, expressions, or body language.  So what you write might seem neutral or pleasant or have good intentions but the person reading it might not see that all.
A common cause of that is that somebody doesn't have a death date, so they just put "after" the marriage date, but the word "after" then gets lost in transmission.
Thank You Robin.  Many of us are already aware of our db_errors without the list.  But I like to have someone contact me like you mentioned.  I also am more than willing to take help if I know it's offered.

I have made many friends thru collaboration and communication .
Excellent post, Robin. Thank you :-)
Great idea! But please don't suggest to the recipient that you are "teaching" them -- that language may be perceived as condescending.
I have absolutely no problem with using the words  " teaching them "  because that is what is actually being done.  I don't find it condescending at all.  After all we all learn though being taught.  If someone wants to learn they should understand they have to be taught.  

I have taught many people to ride horses and handle show dogs.  The first thing I tell them ,  is that I understand they may have knowledge but I'm going to start at the beginning.  I'm going to treat them like they have no knowledge.  That way they

have a foundation.  I have yet to have anyone find that condescending.

I have also trained many people in my employment.  The same way when I was in supervisory positions.  Only trouble I had was with boys between the age of 18 to 21 one who think they know more " than a skirt".

I think teaching opportunity is good.  Leaning is most certainly an opportunity that should not be walked away from.

I was very skilled at the things I did because I never let go of an opportunity to have someone teach me.
When I correct missing genders and stumble upon other incorrect info or helpful info, I leave a friendly  note for the profile manager, along with links with some good leads for them to follow up on and/or to fix their self. I've received a lot of thanks and positive feed back for doing so. So yes it can be educational as well.

6 Answers

+28 votes
 
Best answer

Robin -- I agree with you 100%, and I'd like to expand the topic beyond the db_errors project to include any moment you come across someone who might need a little help with something.

All of us who are working on our families here signed the Honor Code, and point #4 says:

We know misunderstandings are inevitable. We try to minimize them by being courteous to everyone, even those who don't act accordingly.

Click that little link up there that says "courteous" and go read that whole page. I'll wait.
 
Are you back?? Did you read it all? I'm so glad!!
 
So here's what we all need to take from that:
 
A) Don't be snippy with people because they don't know what they're doing yet. There's a lot to learn here, and you can't eat the whole elephant at once.
 
B) This is a hobby. While some of us spend many hours here each day, not everyone is able to do that. So, it's going to take some people longer to work through their profiles than others, and that's OK! After all, these ancestors aren't going anywhere. ;-)
 
C) If you receive a note from someone who seems frustrated with something that you've done, take it with a grain of salt. Maybe they've had a really awful day; maybe their dog died; maybe their wife is sick; maybe they have a headache; maybe they were in a hurry ... you get my point. Don't take it personally. When someone seems snippy, it could be for any number of reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with you. Maybe you could send them a note and ask if everything's OK because they seem like they're upset. I've done that before. It's an amazing feeling to get a note back from someone apologizing because they didn't realize their message came off that way. 
 
D) If you *do* find yourself in a kerfuffle with someone, and it's not getting better, the best thing you can do is to use the Problems with Members link on the Help menu. It's there to get you help so that you don't have to feel that you're alone dealing with someone who isn't cooperating. It's always good to get a 3rd party who isn't emotionally invested in the situation to take a look. I've always told my kids that there are 3 sides to every story: your side, the other person's side, and the truth. We all bring our own perspective to situations, so getting a neutral party involved will very often bring a more balanced perspective.
 
I'm done now. Before I go, though, I'd like to share with you my favorite quote. I have it on a big plaque in my family room so that I will be reminded every day to ...
 
Be silly.
Be honest. 
Be kind. 
(I stole that from Ralph Waldo Emerson, by the way)
 
Now go and be good to each other!
 
 
by Julie Ricketts G2G6 Pilot (481k points)
selected by Susan Smith
You right Julie.  I have 3 groups of ancestors I won't work because of nasty comments when I first started.  Those groups of profiles from 3 year as ago have never been worked out.  I have info on them but a nasty comment can totally cause hurt and send someone away.

I have also learned to ask for help.  I have enjoyed wikitree alot more lately because of working with some members well.  It has been fun.
Nice addition to what Robin stated, Julie! Thanks!

[comes back from reading] wait... we hate to lose the more experienced member A -- but don't care if we lose member B because B is a beginner? (it doesn't actually say that, but almost kinda implies that).

Maybe beginner B eventually becomes the more valuable contributor :)

@Dennis -- that's not how I read that. What I read was that "we hate to lose Member A, but if they can't be nice, then we have no choice but to lose them because ... well ... they can't be nice."

See? Different perspectives. ;-)
Thank you, Trudy and Abby!

And Trudy, I'm really glad you're having fun. :-)
Julie, a wonderful post!

I always read thru a message at least once after I've written it, but before I send it. I double-check that my wording sounds like I intended it to, and not condescending, abrupt, or inflammatory. That's why it sometimes takes me awhile to reply to something. (It also explains why I'm not a fan of texting...)

On that note, if I ever offend anyone, I guarantee it was not intentional. Please take deep breath, then let me know what I said wrong.
+18 votes
I think it's always important to remain objective when researching.  I am always happy if someone sees I entered in an error incorrectly.  If you want to involve feeling and ego, it's best to remember the intent behind the action.

I had an instance on another site where I contacted someone b/c the information they had on their family was very incorrect, but it also looked like they put a lot of effort into it.  I tried to be as delicate as I could and referred them to my wikitree page so they could see the proof sources and decide for themselves.  Instead I got attitude.  Needless to say, even though this person is my cousin ... I don't have time for that.  I contacted another person on that site and said the same thing ... we are now kindred spirit cousins.

*insert box of chocolates reference here*  haha
by Skye Sonczalla G2G6 Mach 9 (97.9k points)

>> I think it's always important to remain objective when researching

It would be much easier if WikiTree supported quality better and had a process for people interesting to learn more and get reviews e.g you can flag a profile I have done as much as I can please review this profile and help me progress....

With a process like that you spend time on profiles people care about which make sense. 

Todays sourcing whatever profile you find inside WikiTree I guess the result is often to work on something no one cares about and will never read or a profile that a person get upset if someone touch.....

I disagree with softening everything with euphemisms. I make lots of mistakes and seek to correct them when db_errors helpfully picks them up. I believe that the harder I work on WikiTree the more mistakes I will inevitably generate, but that should not stop me making the effort.  I call them mistakes but I prefer errors because the word is shorter. I can't wrap my head around people "passing away" rather than dying. I believe I am going to die; I won't be passing anywhere.

 

In short, no, no, no.
+7 votes
I love your comment!  I actually go through my Wiki feed everyday & glance at each entry, decide on which ones I want to explore further & do so.  When I find something (especially when it is someone new) that could cause that member lots of errors, I correct the error with a short explanation & often send a private message letting them know how to avoid those issues.  I just am trying to do my part for the 'most polite website' as the thank you page says!  Kindness goes a long way & I have felt kinder since I starting WikiTreeing!  Thanks y'all!
by Cindy Lesure G2G6 Pilot (126k points)
+8 votes
I agree with Robin 100 %, I had a stroke, now it is still in my head, but if someone acts like they are getting onto me I am like a child being yelled at. She made suggestion on one of my profiles when I labeled it to be checked. Her way of handling it allowed me to fix that profile and use what she showed me on all the others I have corrected since then. It lets me remember to try to be careful when I copy dates from my program to enter them here, and while working on that program. I know I have a problem but still have the deep desire to do my linage as correctly as I can to record family facts where my descendants can find it.
by Cynthia Mangiafico G2G6 (7.4k points)

Here is an example on a responce I got that has been handled in a way that would confuse a normal person much less the mother of the person in the profile, my 21 year old son that died 2 years ago. Why ask for help when you know you could be responded to in this manner. 

Profile Style Review. Do you really want me to Review this? If so, I would suggest you work on it. Otherwise remove the Profile Style Review Requested from the top.
+9 votes
I like the emphasis on how we deal with each other. It seems like a lot of nerves are frayed recently. We do these activities for fun. Adding encouragement helps people feel good about the activity and themselves. It may be more important than the activity itself. I like the idea of more classes. I am learning and I need to review the issues regularly to increase my understanding. Seeing how people react in these comments brings home the awareness of how what we do effects other people. I get enthusiastic when I get involved in new projects and may blunder in and annoy, but I don't mean to.
by Sue Hall G2G6 Pilot (167k points)
+8 votes
Every one makes mistakes. It's  a fact of life. When you have 20 -30 profiles to add, silly mistakes easily get made. The errors project is a great way to pick up these sillies.  A gentle reminder, or suggestion is the  easiest way to get these corrected, and more than likely to get you a thank you. We are a community after all, and abide by the honour code.

What does annoy me are the errors that cannot be corrected because the profile has been locked by privacy, and the manager is absent.
by Dave Welburn G2G6 Pilot (140k points)

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