Opinion please

Question

I just discovered that an American Vietnam veteran (still living) is a close cousin (3rd cousin 3x removed), should I add a profile for him or exercise patience and hold off?

Answer 1

Personally I would not add this person. If it was a closer connection maybe, but nobody can see it if you make it because of privacy settings.

Comments

I am well aware this potential profile would be unlisted given the privacy rules of WikiTree

Answer 2

In my oppinion you can just add the person, the privacy settings will ensure that you are the only person able to view this person.

Answer 3

Do you have any contact with him? Maybe you could invite him to join WikiTree.

Answer 4

Personally I never create wikitree profiles for living people (excepting my parents so I could connect myself to the main tree). I don't really see the point. I would be the only person who could see them, it could be a privacy risk (say if wikitree were ever hacked or something), and it could be akward/confusing if that person or a closer relitive joined wikitree in the future. Of course it's all up to you.

Answer 5

Richard - my opinion is that it's ultimately up to you, but I would only consider doing it if:

a) you intend to go somewhere with that profile (i.e., add family members, possibly even spouse(s) and children)

AND

b) you have put in place some sort of Advance Directive that would allow someone to maintain your living profiles should you unfortunately depart from this Earth before you have the opportunity to properly pass along any living profile information you have amassed.

Just my opinion, of course, but I'd hate to put a lot of work into black privacy profiles only to have it wiped when I'm no longer here.