How to stop errors in working db_errors

Question

Once again, today, I found a profile where a well meaning person removed a death date due to an error message.   The problem was NOT with the death date on the father.   There was a child attached incorrectly to that father.   The last name of the child was different, and if you went to the profile, the biography clearly said who his parents were.   It was a case where a mother remarried, and this child belonged to the second husband.

I see this "quick fix" attitude every day from people working error messages.  And when I review the contributions of the person that made the error, this is not the first time,  In each case, I send a message to the person to make sure they understand the "error they created".

As discussed https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/343003/should-we-reign-the-errors-just-bit-who-working-them-maybe-how and https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/252903/guidelines-for-working-database-errors  I am fearful that many of the errors being worked are just creating "new issues" that will not be found by the error report.

Comments

It is also possible that the date is "correct" but with two digits transposed, or a digit is the one next to the one on the keyboard that it should be - can you recognize the voice of experience when you hear it - one of my biggest regrets is that I haven't learnt to type - too set in my ways to change now, but it does mean that it takes me as long to check my typing as it does to type it in the first place.

Removing the date also removes the possibility of correcting this date if it is simply a case of digit transposition. Always easier to verify something if you have some idea of what it should or might be. I would rather see such an error remain until someone can justify changing it.

Answer 1

The most important things for anyone who is working DB errors:

1. READ the Bios for the profiles involved. 
2. UNDERSTAND the problem.
3. ONLY correct something if you know you are right.
4. If you are fixing dates or parent connections, CITE YOUR SOURCES.

Comments

Step 0 do some basic genealogy research training

Answer 2

Have you spoken with this person and helped educate them on how to verify sources?

Comments

Hi Dennis, left that off my first draft.   Yes, I always contact the person, offer to help them "fix the profiles" they have incorrectly "fixed" and in most cases, I get a response that they thought all they had to do was correct the error....ie, no research to figure out what caused the error.

In fact here is my post from several months ago

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/309491/lets-turn-db_errors-into-teaching-moments

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(thumbsup)

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Excellent Travail ! Robin Lee !

Answer 3

When I contact a profile manager about an error I try to explain why I think it is an error and suggest what they should do to fix it.  Obviously they know their lines better than I ever will.  I think it is important to:

1.  Tell them how to run the error report (several let me know they did not know how to run it before)

2.  Tell them why we think this is an error or why I have marked it as a false error.  If I mark something as a false error I still ask them to take a look at it and make any additions or changes to make it a better profile.  

3.  I copy and paste a copy of what the error report says for them that I am seeing.  

4.  Thank them for any help they can give us.

Comments

Thank you, Laura! This sounds like an excellent approach to collaboration.

Answer 4

This is the main reason I check (usually daily when possible) all the changes made to profiles I manage. Most of the time the changes made in error have been inadvertent, but occasionally I find someone making changes without really knowing what they're doing, or paying little attention. I do point out their errors, and try very hard to be diplomatic. But it's sometimes difficult.

Bottom line: keep a close eye on changes made to profiles you manage, hoping to nip things in the bud.

Answer 5

Also, if you do find an error in a correction someone made, if you send them a message add a link to the profile in question. I recently got one of these, but no link. I can't afford to make an edit and wait an hour for comments before I make another. Generally I stick to correcting obvious errors, but sometimes a fake error will crop up.