Help not wanted on Family Tree

+13 votes
296 views
I have only been a member since May 30th. I found a match for my uncle. I asked for permission to see the profile, and was given that permission.

It was a perfect match, and so was the match for his mother and father.

I told the profile manager that I could help him on the Bishir family since I had been researching them for about 30 years.

His comment to me was "Since the Bishir's are my wife's direct ancestors and blood relatives, we would prefer to keep control of their pages on WikiTree to ourselves".;

Is this the policy on Wiki-Tree, and if so, what good am I to this genealogical site? The other big family that I am working on is my husband's side which is Johannes Hess. If the door is closed to me on his descendants, I may as well close my profile and stick to ancestor.com.

Thank you for any help you can give me.
in Genealogy Help by Cheryl Hess G2G Astronaut (1.8m points)

1 Answer

+16 votes
 
Best answer
This is not the policy of WikiTree. We are an open, collaborative site and no one "owns" the tree of their ancestors. Ancestors are common to many people. This is agreed to when you sign the Honor Code.

If corresponding isn't helping, you can always follow the guidelines at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Problems_with_Members
by Doug McCallum G2G6 Pilot (527k points)
selected by Cheryl Hess
Thank you Doug McCallum for your answer. When I read the Honor Code, I know that was what I signed. I didn't want to fight with another member.
Since this type of thing happens from time to time, procedures were defined and are very well thought out. We wouldn't want you to give up over what may turn out to be minor in the long run.
Doug, or anyone else who has more knowledge than me (almost everyone) I have sent two messages to this person, should I send a third before proceeding to the next level?

I am not angry. I just want to be able to contribute where I can.

Thank you.

Depends on your comfort level after their responses. In a third message, point them at the Honor Code. If you are getting uncomfortable, use the last option. I think you are at  or close to 6A.1.b. of the Problems with Members.

Cheryl, Your attitude is exemplary - it is EXACTLY the way WikiTree hopes all members approach working here.  Your actions so far are equally exemplary - you made an effort to discuss it with the profile manager and when his response did not seem in line with the rules here, you posted a question to make doubly sure that your interpretation is correct.

If it were me, I'd be out of patience by now and ready to file a MIR (member intervention request - you'll find out about it in the link Doug gave you).  Whether or not you still want to try to work with the profile manager is purely up to you - you may have more patience than I do - in fact most people have more of that than me!

Best of luck and, by all means, post here about any questions you have - genealogy or otherwise - you are now a member of a very unique and caring community.
Cheryl, I agree with the answer and all these comments.  If you haven't already tried it, I would just like to suggest that you offer the other profile manager some explicit details about what info you have to add that isn't already here, and where you obtained it.  I think most of us would welcome the contributions of another descendant who has new data to add, but may be less receptive to general requests for access with little or no supporting info that sounds like genuine help.  Just my take on the situation.
Thank you Gaile. That is kind of you to say.

I came here to contribute, and if I can't, I feel that I am wasting my time.

So far everyone has treated me like part of their family, and I LOVE that about Wiki-Tree.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer. I know you are all very busy.

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