Genes Reunited.....

[pinkshoes]

Hope it's OK to put this on here - no doubt someone will put me straight.

Just thought I'd alert people to the fact that when you send a message on Genes you have to untick the Send My Tree box - you used to have to tick to send, but it's now going by default.

Had a rotten experience at the weekend when I discovered someone had me and some of my living rellies on his tree - no fault of mine, this was through a 3rd party and done by accident, but still

Just be aware!

Pinkshoes

[joette]

Thanks for that Pinkshoes I had noticed but just assumed i had pressed the wrong button along the way!

[scooter]

I've had names on GR since the site first went live but have scaled back quite radically the amount I have listed (now just a few generations of direct ancestors), as the volume of emails I received from 'possible' relatives was ridiculous. Then someone I'd made my tree available to (via email) passed all the info onto someone else, and like Pinkshoes, found that all my living relatives were on the site. In desperation someone else then made up another sibling for my Mum just so that they could link in with all the names.

I know there are people out there who just collect names, related or not, but even so, I thought they would have the decency to make sure that whatever they are copying is transcribed correctly.

My experience with the site hasn’t been all negative, I did make contact with some second cousins of mine who have since become good friends.

Cheers,

Scott

[fmackay]

I too have limited what information etc I put on GR now. I agree it's a very good starting point and I check in from time to time but that's all. I'm also not keen on one of their "new" features,Hot matches or something similar. I've had emails from a lot more people which usually turn out to be completely off the mark.

[pinkshoes]

Yes I agree the amount of messages especially since hot matches arrived is incredible. Unfortunately they just match the name and date, so you could have a Jimmy McAnyone in Stornoway being matched with one in Cardiff.

I wasn't trying to start a moan about Genes per se - just pointing out the dangers and their somewhat gung ho approach to information sharing. I still think it's potentially dangerous to have information which includes dates of birth of living people complete with maiden surnames of mothers - exactly what banks etc use as "security" questions. I have contacted Genes and while they say they take my point and will pass my ravings to the developers, I doubt it.

Guess it's down to the user to take the necessary steps ...

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

[Lahb]

You are quite right Pinkshoes about the security issues. I joined them last year and within a week I actually changed my last name and that of my mom's to "Blank" Silly that you have to type in that info rather than having it optional for living individuals. If they really wanted to find out my maiden name and that of my mothers they likely could but for the most part individuals who look at my immediate family likely think I'm illegitimate . But having said that I've only given my info to two definitely related individuals (2nd cousins) and have been fortunate they've not bothered to do anything with it in terms of posting elsewhere.

[julie d]

I use GR a bit and you have made me think, I have only put a few names on my tree, at the moment I am in touch with someone who's husband shares the same name I am researching, I always let them tell me what they know first, turns out my g.g.grandfather, and his g.g. grandfather were brothers.

[Scozzie]

I use the GR site, and have been very lucky in contacting and being contacted by "cousins"; but some of the messages that arrive are unbelievable. I often get "Who was your James SoandSo married to?", or just a request to view my tree, with no other information. That's not the fault of GR, some people have no manners. The so called HotMatches are weird - I've had Scottish born people matched up with the same-name people born in places such as Bombay! Not complaining too much - I think it's great value.

[Jinty]

I've not long joined this Forum and read the posts on the subject of Genes Reunited earlier today.
I agree with everything anyone has said on this subject, but, have made it my practice that when sharing any of my tree information, always make a habit of deleting the names of those who are still alive.

I prepare my tree in spreadsheet form initially, whilst I am pursuing a line so its easy to share that way, keeping a copy of it without the up to date information on.

On the other hand, I too have had more positive effect from having joined there. Finding a whole host of children and a grandfather, and then finding he had married 3 times, someone who was helping me search told me that in GR there was someone else searching my grandfather's name. Within 24 hours I was connected to a second cousin living in the area where my father was born, knowing a great deal about my paternal family than ever I would have found otherwise - I never knew my natural father, my parents were divorced during the war and before it ended.

I too get irritated by the regular mails that they send out listing all the names I have declared an interest in. Having had my name changed when my mother remarried they include my "adopted" name to which I cannot claim any ancestry and it does annoy. I have tried to get that removed but they have not done so.

[hudggy]

Hi All,

I am in my second year of using Genes and have found it alright but good to have the problem pointed out by pinkshoes. As for the Hot Matchs they have been helpful since they have started I have found at least 4 matchs in my tree.
As far as living relatives I have only put names and no other information, that way anyone cannot contact them or have any info that can be used for any illegal purpose.