Should newly created profiles get "Unsourced" tag?

Question

The format for creating new profiles on WikiTree includes a box for entering one or more sources at the time of creation. In the event a source is not added, three options are offered:

1. Information from personal knowledge of the creator
2. Information from an unsourced family tree handed down to the creator
3. A source will be added by the creator by a specified date (Does add Unsourced category)

None of these options include the addition of an "Unsourced" category tag to the new profile. 

In my opinion, the software should be changed to add the "Unsourced" category if one of the above options is selected. This would serve as a reminder to the Profile Manager that sources are needed. It will also let other WikiTree members who may be interested in this family line know which profiles need some TLC.

What do you think?

Comments

What about living people, or people born after the 1940 census? I'm just curious to know if they would be included in what you're proposing.

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I believe the number #3 does add the unsourced tag?

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Living people could be excluded. But dates entered for the profile should be consistent with a living person. Perhaps a birth date of less than 100 years ago could be used as a determinative factor?

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Okay. That sounds good to me!

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It would be so helpful if every non sourced profile received the template - would save wear and tear on our fingers.  Many of the newly enter unsourced profiles, also have data_doctor errors or are duplicates that involve work by others and having to also add the template grows tiresome.

Best would be if the new profile couldn't be added until a source is added. And that source should be a minimum number of words, not just a dot, or "Census", or "Ancestry".or "Aunt Ruth"

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That would help the situation for identifying the unsourced profiles but not a method to control how many of these would be allowed to be added by the same profile manager. 

I believe this ties in with another question posted today here: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/542624/the-only-source-is-unsourced-family-tree-handed-down-_______

I strongly suggest a designed "unsourced profile limit" consideration be added so that 6 months from now those same profiles are still unsourced. 

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Good idea.  Maybe one of those boxes for editing (maybe the one for horizontal lines) could be changed to create the unsourced category.

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For the record, I just used #3 and it did add the {unsourced} category. Personally I really like. it.  I ususally just use it to create a profile so I can use RootSearch.  But sometimes I need to do more research, and its helpful to be able to pull up my Unsoured Watchlist profiles.

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Thanks for bringing this matter up, Shirley. In my book, ALL unsourced profiles should get the tag. 

One of my favorite MENU lines is checking my OWN unsourced profiles is by going to FIND>>slide down to Unsourced Profiles

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Have noticed  when there is (on the profile) a <ref> added by so&so </ref>, the system thinks the profile is sourced.

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My default is to choose the 3rd option and then fill it in immediately after. This has the benefit of having the software fill in the parents, if they already have profiles. However, once or twice I have discovered that I've forgotten to get back in there and add the sources. Given that the option gives you a time span in which to add the sources, is it possible to have the system alert the creator if they forget to do this within the set time frame by sending them a follow-up email?

Answer 1

I think that's a great step.

Perhaps  #2 should be changed to something like  "Information from unsourced family tree handed down to the creator,  with profile relationships known or verified by creator."

I.E.  I've been given numerous unsourced family trees that totally fell apart after the first few generations and I've seen similar problems on WikiTree profiles. (And the "creators" of these profiles are frequently unresponsive.)      The creator should at least acknowledge their confidence and familiarity with the unsourced family tree.

Answer 2

I am in agreement with this, as well as with what Dorothy Barry commented. Having the date inserted, as in point #3, means nothing without some sort of enforcement. It does give a reference point, so that anyone visiting the profile for data doctoring or sourcing knows how long it has been waiting for sources.

Answer 3

I think this is in alignment with a description of unsourced.   It certainly would help, as I have come across people who say that they have no unsourced profiles and when I look at their profiles, there are many with the #3 above.

Answer 4

I always get an unsourced tag. I choose not to enter a source until after the profile is created. When I go into the profile to add the source, there is always a tag I have to remove.

Answer 5

Every profile should have the "Unsourced" category until a valid source is added to a profile.

1. Information from personal knowledge of the creator (OK for only a living person who created their account and profile)
2. Information from an unsourced family tree handed down to the creator (Should have the "Unsourced" category" added)
3. A source will be added by the creator by a specified date (Does add Unsourced category) (Should have the "Unsourced" category" added)

I see a lot of profiles with number 1 and 2 with out sources and no "Unsourced" category" added.

Comments

I agree that, for the most part, all 3 options should add the Unsourced template to newly created profiles. The reason these options were created in the first place was to allow us to create profiles now, but to source them later. By definition, they are all unsourced profiles at their creation.

In my view, we are using too broad a term (source); what we really want is documentation (more accurately, an authoritative record), which we identify with a citation. A profile that doesn't have a properly cited record is essentially an unsourced profile.

 

Answer 6

Is it possible for each option selected to have a unique template:

1. Information from personal knowledge of the creator
2. Information from an unsourced family tree handed down to the creator
3. A source will be added by the creator by a specified date (Does add Unsourced category)

If so, what options are possible?

 

Profiles using these options for open profiles could be added to the suggestion report. as separate suggestions. It might encourage more specific information to be added after creation. In the case of 2 it would highlight family groups that could be researched as a group. Suggestions for option 3 would be a reminder to those who don't add sources immediately after creating the profile.