Challenge of the week: Clean up as many location names as possible [closed]

Question

Hi WikiTreers,

Will you join our "Data Doctors" Challenge? This week's challenge focuses on location fields.

Aleš has prepared a report of profiles from around the tree that have potential errors in their locations. These are usually simple typos that are easy to fix. But a thinking genealogist needs to give them a quick "reality check" and consider the intent of the original member and the sources before making any changes. Will you try some?

Click here for the list.

After making a change, click the "challenge tracker" button and then the edit the status. This will record a point. The member with the most points at 11:59pm EDT on Sunday night will get the badge and the bragging rights. But we'll all benefit from a neater, cleaner shared tree.

If you're participating, please post here to let us know. This helps us coordinate and cheer each other on. Or post if you have any questions about how to participate.

Thanks for helping!

Real-time tracking results: See your stats  
alongside other participants here.

Top 10 Participants

• Dana O. Burns - 2,461
• Paula A. Hawkins - 2,039
• Rodney A. Long - 1,242
• Esmé van der Westhuizen - 1,196
• Cory Fulmer - 874
• K. Anonymous - 663
• NJ Penny - 519
• Andy A. Haight - 508
• Linda J. Peterson - 490
• Sandie Schwarz - 481

Comments

I'm curious about how to participate.  Also regards exactly how to make it so the error is fixed so it doesn't show up again?  Is it required to do something with the status button (as with the one I see on my suggestions list (which is NOT currently loading)), or is just fixing it enough to make the error go away?

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edit: I guess this is not for me.   I thought fixing misspelt place names was something I could actually do, but I don't do googledocs at all (or google groups).

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Challenge is active. Chris published it too soon.

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https://tinyurl.com/weekchallenge  spreadsheet link 

All updated and ready to go. Below is a link on the G2G post explaining how to do Data Doctor Challenges with screenshots.

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/631771/data-doctor-challenge-guide 

Challenge Tracker

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I'm in, I look forward to the weekly challenges, to help edit profiles with errors

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I tried to participate in this challenge but struggled to see exactly what I was trying to do. More step by step guidance notes from somebody please - or a pointer to where they already are please.

But - I suspect that I am contributing to the problem as I create new profiles.

My big issue is the limited options given by the certain and uncertain buttons.  Typically the information I have about a person is their baptism date/place and their burial date/place.  It is a reasonable assumption in the vast majority of cases that the individual was born in the parish where they were baptised  and died in the parish where they were buried.  Not in 100% but 90?95? 99?   Dismissing the location as 'uncertain' is not detailed enough.

So I enter the death location as "Sherston (based on burial)" or the birth as "Tetbury, based on baptism".  Often I only know of a marriage by the joint naming of parents in their children's baptisms but I know ( or think I know) where they were themselves baptised.  If the parishes are all close together I might want to put "Wiltshire (estimated from other locations)"  This is more than just dismissing the entered location - tight or broad- as 'uncertain'.  It might be extra radio button category of 'reasoned assumption' with a box next to it for the rationale.  Just leaving it to go in the main free text biography box does not seem satisfactory.

This needs structural change, not just individual workarounds.

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Most of the errors I attempt to fix don't have a edit button. If we all pm the same person and he doesn't respond how do the errors get fixed?

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I finally found the Suggestions link on my own menu and made a bunch of corrections to what I had done.

Ready to give it a shot in a Challenge now.

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Hi when I click the tracker button it gives me options for which projects I work on. It won't post if I don't click an option. Which option am I suppose to click? None seem related to this challenge.

Thank you

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Not sure where this will appear in the comments but this is in response to David Brush's observations on the location. I personally like the certain/uncertain buttons as the binary choice offers simplicity. You either know the fact, or you do not. If it's reasonably certain, you can always comment in the text - I do not see why this is unsatisfactory.

I think there's a tendency in all of us who deal with genealogy that we want to know the answers and/or want to close off uncertainties - but being happy with these uncertainties is surely the key. I have no idea what the % of people is that die in the parish they are buried in but I am reasonably certain it is well below 90%. You might argue you have a reasoned assumption (he/she was buried in X so he/she died in X) but it is surely more persuasive to say just because he/she is buried in X does not mean he/she died there...for example, one of my wife's relatives is marked in a grave in County Donegal, Ireland when his ashes are in fact in a vase held by another relative in the US.

Embrace the uncertainty!

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Can someone please tell me where I'd find WikiTree chat?  Do we have a 24/7 live chat place, for example:  Discord, Hangouts, etc.?  

On spreadsheets and updating my information, my message/chat area wasn't found.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Happy  Holiday's!

Answer 1

Status should be updated, so they know it was fixed, but on the next data load, it should also go away.

They are probably doing the next data load of suggestions, which is why it isn't loading currently.

Answer 2

I’ll take part. I enjoy doing these challenges in my spare time.

Answer 3

Count me in! 

Happy Holiday's!

Answer 4

I'll help with MN locations.

12/6/18-Finished MN. Going to work on Ohio locations

Answer 5

I'm doing some, Australian profiles.

Answer 6

I'm in, I look forward to the weekly challenges to help edit profiles with errors

Answer 7

This is something even I can do!  Count me in.

Answer 8

Late getting in, but I’ll participate as time allows.

Answer 9

Im in! Id like to fix Texas info.

Answer 10

I'm happy to contribute!

Answer 11

I looked at a few of the linked profiles, but didn't see anything that needed editing.

Answer 12

I'll attack the Scottish ones again :-)

Comments

in. I've been working on the Massachusetts 603's for several weeks, since the total 603's were over 100K. I hope we put a major dent in the number this week.

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I have been working on the connected errors for a few weeks.  Last week, we got the 663 - USA too early in marriage location completely cleared for 'open' profiles.  Those are huge numbers, but it feels good to see them get  cleared.  Working on the 633 Death errors this week.

Answer 13

I'm in for this challenge.

Answer 14

I'm in, enjoy the easier fixes. My internet is too slow to do much investigating.

Answer 15

Count me in, my spelling nazi tendencies are already coming out to play!

Answer 16

Happy to assist.

Answer 17

I'm late to the party, but I'll do a few today.

Answer 18

13,420 for the week! Good work team.