Bad Apples

This page is created to assist WikiTree contributors and other genealogists contemplate how to address sensitive topics relating to "bad apples" — persons who engaged in conduct that was morally objectionable or hurtful to others — the details of their lives, and sensitive topics that pop up in genealogy research.

Discussions

To start, here are some G2G forum threads that have been discussed in the past:

• 2019-12-20 "Stannard" Post.
  • Summary: Visitor finds a profile of his father, created by a nephew, which omits any negative (likely private) aspects of the subject's life.
• 2018-11-16 "Can we say how bad they were?" Post
  • Summary: Asking whether we can be honest and open about the behaviour of (long deceased) ancestors who were abusive.
• 2019-05-06 [https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/825016/i-have-a-very-bad-ancestor-what-to-do "Terrible ancestors and trigger warnings" Post
  • Summary: Risk upsetting relatives or go into the detail of an ancestor's crooked past?
• 2015-08-01 "Documenting Grandparents' Divorce" Post
  • Summary: Should we include accusations made in acrimonious family court disputes?
• "Disturbing Categories in the Black Sheep Project" Post
  • Summary: Contributor requests that the Black Sheep Project remove categories for rapist, child abductors and domestic batterers.

Relevant Help Pages

• Help: Biographies
• Help: Communication Before Editing
• Help: Resolving a Disagreement
• Help: Help with Disagreements
• Category: Conflicts
• Help: Mediators