Checking new trees

Question

This is probably down to me missing the point, or not understanding how things are done, but often one sees on their news feed that someone has added a surname to their list. However, you cannot check their tree against yours for matches, because they have nothing entered. However interested you may be to help, if there is nothing to work from, there is nothing you can do.

Have I misunderstood the idea behind it ?

Answer 1

Tags are a two way street. To give members a name to follow, and to allow others to help.

A new member is asked to add the surname tags to their profiles. This generates their family genealogy feed (to help them). But, they are new and haven't had a chance to add profiles. So you're right there is nothing at this point you can specifically do to help them.

You could, if you were inclined, say something like 'I'm a descendant of immigrant Joseph Peck, is this your line too? Perhaps I can I help you connect your line.' Sometimes I see people who added SOULE, and the comment "I'm a descendant of George Soule from the Mayflower."  I will let them know I have a copy of the 2015 book on George and will do lookups.

Comments

Yes, Annie B, that makes good sense, if I get the opportunity, that is what I shall do, Thanks.

Answer 2

They may well have added that surname to their list of tags *because* they know nothing about it - other than perhaps it was their great-grandmother's maiden name or something.  They want to know more.

Comments

I fully appreciate that Ros, but unless there is something to compare with there is no way we can help them. If we cannot identify the data subject, how can we volunteer any possible relevant information ?

Answer 3

I have been researching all of my family trees for about 48 years and I have many people on my tree through Ancestry.  I just started this WikiTree thing in the middle of the night within the last 48 hours and have all ready received a nasty response about how you can't help if I don't have a tree on there.  I have an Ancestry account and I have much information on my trees.  I am perfectly aware that you cannot help unless I add a tree, but I am unfamiliar with WikiTree and it will take time to figure it all out.  Patience is a virtue.  

Comments

My remarks were not intended to cause upset, simply to point out that in order to collaborate effectively, we need something to work on. Past experience brings me to have very little faith in Ancestry.com. I hope that with the help of others here on Wiki, you will be able to build a far better tree, one that has all names and dates verified.

All too often I see 'anonymous' has joined, but offered nothing, no names, dates, parents, locations, not a thing, yet they seem to expect instant results. Generally, members on Wiki are very happy to help you in every way, but the key word is collaboration, unless there is co-operation from both sides, it cannot work.