Comments on: Your Ancestry.com Experiences - Good or Bad? http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html Genealogy and Family Tree How-to Help Thu, 17 May 2012 00:10:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Stephanie http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-3409 Stephanie Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:08:49 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-3409 I've subscribed for the last 10-12 years, mostly just the US edition, but occasionally have upgraded to World as needed (amounting to maybe 25% of my time with Ancestry.com). Over the course of my experience (to paraphrase another poster's "love/hate"), I've had an ongoing like/loathe relationship with them. For me, where I fall in that equation almost always comes down to: 1) travel expenses (and winter trauma thereof) to libraries/archives with enough computer access to make it worth my while (= "like" to stay home and muddle thru with ancestry.com) 2) enough time on my hands to put up with their INSANELY slow download/access times to even view a record (= "like" if I have time, otherwise "loathe"); 3) the seemingly increasing occurrences of "we are currently experiencing problems with [fill in the blank]"; (= loathe) and 4) how frustrating it is to take the time to notify them of any number of (ever-increasing) problems with a specific record (wrong page, wrong image, half an image, etc, you name it), only to never (and, I mean NEVER, E V E R) see it rectified. We are talking repeated attempts over 10+ years. (Why should I spend my time telling them about it if nothing will ever be fixed? (= LOATHE). I'm pretty good as narrowing my searches (using the OLD search, that is) so am not so bothered by their search weaknesses. (But bless their LITTLE hearts that they don't keep trying to push me into their "new and improved" (snort) search -- which IMHO is TERRRIBLE, and always returns mountain upon mountain of sheer gobbledy-gook, no matter how I tweak it.) Anyhoo. During the same period of time I've utilized any number of free resources such as Rootsweb USGenWeb, Genforum, Linkpedium, Heritage Quest (thru my state library card), and Archive.org, and the ever-free, ever-growing, and ever satisfying LDS familysearch.org, in all its permutations. Upon occasion I've also subscribed to other sites, such as NEHGS, GenealogyBank's newspapers, Footnote (now called something like f3, whatever that means) and some UK-specific pay-as-you-go sites. But recently I let my Ancestry.com subscription go, mostly because I had the World Deluxe and didn't want to renew it. (The only way to do that was to cancel my Ancestry subscription in time before it was automatically renewed, and then re-subscribe.) And I was quite happy for a while, exploring how the WWW has improved (and it has improved a lot). Ah well, because then .... I got sucked back in and subscribed again (US) for some newspapers not covered anywhere else, and the ease of searching census (which, although not perfect, is still the best I've experienced of all the sites I've used, including Heritage Quest. which has no 1850 -- but it IS soooooo much faster to pull up). And A/C's census really is easier to use than familysearch (which, half the time redirects you to ancestry anyway, for the later censuses). Note also that you can now get most censuses including slave schedules at archive.org, but again, no search capabilities. All this said -- why, oh WHY is Ancestry.com so incredibly, unbelievably SLOWWWWWWWW???? I mean, 3-toed-sloth-slow!!! (Believe it or not, when I Googled "Ancestry.com," "website," and "slowest," out of the first 10 hits, 5 were for Ancestry.com, and 4 were for the three-toed-sloth!) It's especially bad for the newspapers -- which is, unfortunately for *moi,* the #1 reason I got sucked back in -- for a year. So take note Ancestry.com: As both a die-hard family historian (and former fan) I will make it worth my while for this year, but will mark my calendar in big bold red letters, and when next November rolls around, I will cancel, and probably not resubscribe. In the meantime, I'm also continuing to explore who else is out there ... I’ve subscribed for the last 10-12 years, mostly just the US edition, but occasionally have upgraded to World as needed (amounting to maybe 25% of my time with Ancestry.com). Over the course of my experience (to paraphrase another poster’s “love/hate”), I’ve had an ongoing like/loathe relationship with them.

For me, where I fall in that equation almost always comes down to:

1) travel expenses (and winter trauma thereof) to libraries/archives with enough computer access to make it worth my while (= “like” to stay home and muddle thru with ancestry.com)
2) enough time on my hands to put up with their INSANELY slow download/access times to even view a record (= “like” if I have time, otherwise “loathe”);
3) the seemingly increasing occurrences of “we are currently experiencing problems with [fill in the blank]”; (= loathe) and
4) how frustrating it is to take the time to notify them of any number of (ever-increasing) problems with a specific record (wrong page, wrong image, half an image, etc, you name it), only to never (and, I mean NEVER, E V E R) see it rectified. We are talking repeated attempts over 10+ years. (Why should I spend my time telling them about it if nothing will ever be fixed? (= LOATHE).

I’m pretty good as narrowing my searches (using the OLD search, that is) so am not so bothered by their search weaknesses. (But bless their LITTLE hearts that they don’t keep trying to push me into their “new and improved” (snort) search — which IMHO is TERRRIBLE, and always returns mountain upon mountain of sheer gobbledy-gook, no matter how I tweak it.)

Anyhoo. During the same period of time I’ve utilized any number of free resources such as Rootsweb USGenWeb, Genforum, Linkpedium, Heritage Quest (thru my state library card), and Archive.org, and the ever-free, ever-growing, and ever satisfying LDS familysearch.org, in all its permutations.

Upon occasion I’ve also subscribed to other sites, such as NEHGS, GenealogyBank’s newspapers, Footnote (now called something like f3, whatever that means) and some UK-specific pay-as-you-go sites.

But recently I let my Ancestry.com subscription go, mostly because I had the World Deluxe and didn’t want to renew it. (The only way to do that was to cancel my Ancestry subscription in time before it was automatically renewed, and then re-subscribe.)

And I was quite happy for a while, exploring how the WWW has improved (and it has improved a lot). Ah well, because then …. I got sucked back in and subscribed again (US) for some newspapers not covered anywhere else, and the ease of searching census (which, although not perfect, is still the best I’ve experienced of all the sites I’ve used, including Heritage Quest. which has no 1850 — but it IS soooooo much faster to pull up).

And A/C’s census really is easier to use than familysearch (which, half the time redirects you to ancestry anyway, for the later censuses). Note also that you can now get most censuses including slave schedules at archive.org, but again, no search capabilities.

All this said — why, oh WHY is Ancestry.com so incredibly, unbelievably SLOWWWWWWWW???? I mean, 3-toed-sloth-slow!!! (Believe it or not, when I Googled “Ancestry.com,” “website,” and “slowest,” out of the first 10 hits, 5 were for Ancestry.com, and 4 were for the three-toed-sloth!)

It’s especially bad for the newspapers — which is, unfortunately for *moi,* the #1 reason I got sucked back in — for a year.

So take note Ancestry.com: As both a die-hard family historian (and former fan) I will make it worth my while for this year, but will mark my calendar in big bold red letters, and when next November rolls around, I will cancel, and probably not resubscribe.

In the meantime, I’m also continuing to explore who else is out there …

]]> By: Ian http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-3347 Ian Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:45:19 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-3347 I have been researching my family history and my surname globally since aged 17 (1968). I learned as much as I could about genealogy, bought 'how to' books, joined genealogical societies and made it a study. I set up systems for storing my research, created family files, numbering systems etc etc. In those days it was traveling to public libraries, cemeteries, interviews with the older generation, reading microfilm, reading microfiche, ordering fiche and rolls, pouring through documents in Sydney's genealogical society, putting adverts in newspapers, printing a book of my research to gather more research, subscribing to magazines etc. EVERYTHING was cross referenced, checked, proved and double proved. It was SLOW! Later I created my own family name website to gather more and more information. That sped things up, BUT nothing like Ancestry. I have never researched for money and everything I have researched I have made available on my website FREE! I charged for my books at cost to make the research available. Ancestry charge, BUT they are a business and businesses make money. That's what makes the world go around. Without it you would have to shoot rabbits for food. The creators of Ancestry deserve a reward because they took risk. I didn't and I don't make money from my research. I could but I choose not to. My only beef about Ancestry is not about them because they have created a wonderful means to research. My beef is about the turkeys who come on and put trees together that cause confusion. "Oh this names looks good, I'll use that" or I can't find a John, so this one will do. "Oh there is a James and look a photo. Oh goody, I now have a photo of my great great grandfather". Please do it properly, so that you don't wreck it for those who are serious about finding their CORRECT ancestors. WELL DONE ANCESTRY. I have been researching my family history and my surname globally since aged 17 (1968). I learned as much as I could about genealogy, bought ‘how to’ books, joined genealogical societies and made it a study. I set up systems for storing my research, created family files, numbering systems etc etc. In those days it was traveling to public libraries, cemeteries, interviews with the older generation, reading microfilm, reading microfiche, ordering fiche and rolls, pouring through documents in Sydney’s genealogical society, putting adverts in newspapers, printing a book of my research to gather more research, subscribing to magazines etc. EVERYTHING was cross referenced, checked, proved and double proved. It was SLOW!

Later I created my own family name website to gather more and more information. That sped things up, BUT nothing like Ancestry. I have never researched for money and everything I have researched I have made available on my website FREE! I charged for my books at cost to make the research available. Ancestry charge, BUT they are a business and businesses make money. That’s what makes the world go around. Without it you would have to shoot rabbits for food. The creators of Ancestry deserve a reward because they took risk. I didn’t and I don’t make money from my research. I could but I choose not to.

My only beef about Ancestry is not about them because they have created a wonderful means to research. My beef is about the turkeys who come on and put trees together that cause confusion. “Oh this names looks good, I’ll use that” or I can’t find a John, so this one will do. “Oh there is a James and look a photo. Oh goody, I now have a photo of my great great grandfather”. Please do it properly, so that you don’t wreck it for those who are serious about finding their CORRECT ancestors.

WELL DONE ANCESTRY.

]]> By: Carol Y Larson http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-3309 Carol Y Larson Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:35:35 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-3309 I have been a member of Ancestry.com for over ten years. Just recently I typed in a name and actually found the Sophia that my mother thought was her "Aunt Sophia", whom she had met when she was age 4 or 5 when her mother took her over to Iowa to visit. I found an 1870 MN census record with this Sophia living with her son. I have learned that she was not my mother's aunt. She was really her great-grandmother. I have been searching for years for information about this Sophia. This census record states where in Germany she was born. Also, just recently I finally found the rest of my paternal grandfather's siblings who came from Norway in the 1850s and 1860s living in MN. Ancestry tries to connect us with potential family members. Well, I was directed to a website of someone who had been a member, but who had quit six months ago. It was a public tree, so as I was searching through the members, I found my Grandfather Hans Larson listed but the birth date was incorrect, so I left a comment. A few days later I received an email letter from Florida from a distant cousin. He was able to fill in the details for the other siblings, who also came to America, got married, had families, etc. I was then able to post this information over to Norway. Personally, I believe that although Ancestry has its problems, I have been able to connect with distant cousins and to update my family history. Several of these folks have shared some pictures with me too. And, I am thankful for all the information and pictures I receive. I have learned that those who transcribed the various census records for Ancestry must have had very "poor eyesight", because there are so many errors to be found. When I find errors, I always leave a Comment to correct the error. Ancestry always thanks me for the information. Also, when I find someone else who is also working on a family member, whose information maybe faulty, I leave a Comment where I correct the information. Most of the people thank me for my help. There is a man who has over 20,000 family members in his data base and has no idea how he is related to my mother's maternal line nor my father's paternal line. When I wrote to him to ask how he was related, he just told me he didn't know. Lately, I have learned that he is a professional genealogist and was hired by several distant family members to do a research on various families. I wish he would share the information about who these "distant" relatives are. Perhaps, the "brick walls" would come down if I knew who they are. What I don't like about Ancestry right now is they are using pastel green ink and bright yellow ink for the list of names in my trees so it is very difficult to read the names with my computer. I also pay the lowest monthly fee to have the basic US information, which also includes the ship records. I do use other genealogy websites, but most of my data comes from Ancestry. One thing I do like about this site is the information can lead me to the original document sources. I have been a member of Ancestry.com for over ten years. Just recently I typed in a name and actually found the Sophia that my mother thought was her “Aunt Sophia”, whom she had met when she was age 4 or 5 when her mother took her over to Iowa to visit. I found an 1870 MN census record with this Sophia living with her son. I have learned that she was not my mother’s aunt. She was really her great-grandmother. I have been searching for years for information about this Sophia. This census record states where in Germany she was born.

Also, just recently I finally found the rest of my paternal grandfather’s siblings who came from Norway in the 1850s and 1860s living in MN. Ancestry tries to connect us with potential family members. Well, I was directed to a website of someone who had been a member, but who had quit six months ago. It was a public tree, so as I was searching through the members, I found my Grandfather Hans Larson listed but the birth date was incorrect, so I left a comment. A few days later I received an email letter from Florida from a distant cousin. He was able to fill in the details for the other siblings, who also came to America, got married, had families, etc. I was then able to post this information over to Norway. Personally, I believe that although Ancestry has its problems, I have been able to connect with distant cousins and to update my family history. Several of these folks have shared some pictures with me too. And, I am thankful for all the information and pictures I receive.

I have learned that those who transcribed the various census records for Ancestry must have had very “poor eyesight”, because there are so many errors to be found. When I find errors, I always leave a Comment to correct the error. Ancestry always thanks me for the information. Also, when I find someone else who is also working on a family member, whose information maybe faulty, I leave a Comment where I correct the information. Most of the people thank me for my help. There is a man who has over 20,000 family members in his data base and has no idea how he is related to my mother’s maternal line nor my father’s paternal line. When I wrote to him to ask how he was related, he just told me he didn’t know. Lately, I have learned that he is a professional genealogist and was hired by several distant family members to do a research on various families. I wish he would share the information about who these “distant” relatives are. Perhaps, the “brick walls” would come down if I knew who they are.

What I don’t like about Ancestry right now is they are using pastel green ink and bright yellow ink for the list of names in my trees so it is very difficult to read the names with my computer. I also pay the lowest monthly fee to have the basic US information, which also includes the ship records.

I do use other genealogy websites, but most of my data comes from Ancestry. One thing I do like about this site is the information can lead me to the original document sources.

]]> By: Matt http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2314 Matt Fri, 06 May 2011 19:47:01 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2314 I find Ancestry.com incredibly horrible. Their search is basically worthless. How is it if I put someone's Birth as 1946, im getting census records from the 1880s. I feel like every search looks at name only and the rest is mostly ignored unless they have some exact search. I cant even find my grandfather on ancestry.com. I know his name, spelled correctly, his death year, and even his birth year. and thats not enough for ancestry.com. I will be cancelling my 1 month membership in a day or two. Its ridiculous. I find Ancestry.com incredibly horrible. Their search is basically worthless. How is it if I put someone’s Birth as 1946, im getting census records from the 1880s.

I feel like every search looks at name only and the rest is mostly ignored unless they have some exact search. I cant even find my grandfather on ancestry.com. I know his name, spelled correctly, his death year, and even his birth year. and thats not enough for ancestry.com.

I will be cancelling my 1 month membership in a day or two.

Its ridiculous.

]]> By: Roberta Whitacre http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2262 Roberta Whitacre Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:45:36 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2262 I have been here before and I just want to say there are some good things on ancestry but they are only original documents; Ancestry even takes everyone's photos and puts them in their card catalogue and considers it their source now; also the other day I was researching and somehow ended up finding a tree that started with Adam; yes, that is right Adam and the place he was living was the Garden of Eden; honestly, I swear so you all need to be careful before you connect to things; I also found my own ancestor's tree where the mother was my ancestor and her children were really all of her siblings. I recently also found a man with a common name who was 200 years old when he died only because it was a very common name and obviously someone attached to a tree with the different information on it without even paying attention; there needs to be a way that when people just start connecting to trees like that where the discrepancy is so bad something should pop up and tell people because people are so excited they just do not pay attention. People say that we are all just connecting ancestors and trying to find relatives and that it would be nice to be able to say hello but when you write someone who has over 20,000 people in their trees and you just ask how they connect to you and the kind of answer you receive even if you receive one at all sometimes it is " I don't know, I just know we do" and that is because they have attached all of these trees and the ancestor that supposedly you have in common is so far back and married to a direct ancestor's third cousins's son's stepmother and that is how it goes. People think that people who have gone private are stingy but that is not so with most of us; we just want the correct info. Ancestry even has a source titled; Family Data Collections which is still not an actual source and if you do not find the actual source then it is as good as made up. Now, the few examples I have listed are true and when you find a tree with thousands of people in it try writing them and see if they even know who that ancestor is or how they connect to you. Courtesy is another thing sorely lacking with Ancestry now and it was not always that way but you catch more flies with honey than vinegar so you should be nice when you want info from a person; I do not even see a Thanks to So and So on anything anymore or Courtesy of and now I am starting to put text on my own photos of my family stating who it is courtesy of not only because others will take it and act like it is their photo in their possession without even putting the original submitter's name on it but because that is the way to find the family member; whoever has the original will be closer than someone who has taken the photo and has thousands of photos and just does not know who they are; so for those who think those of us who went private are stingy,greedy people please think again because if you really want your family history as correct as you can get it anyway you will be very disheartened when you find your tree a mess from the types of things you are attaching to so this is to just tell you all be careful; and when the leaf comes up you better check the info about what you really know to be true because a lot of times the names may be the same as families tended to name people the same names for years or a particular name was popular but the dates could be hundreds of years apart so when the conflicting info comes up or even that NEW thing comes up check to see if it is even possible it is your ancestor and check their families because you could find it is not and when you put a lot of work into your tree you could end up very disappointed; I have learned now that I rarely write someone who has 20,000 names or photos in it because of the bad answers I have received. I have gone private but I will still help and sometimes if I find wrong info I will even email the person privately and nicely tell them it is an error and give them my own correct source and do it nicely. You have to zoom in on actual records instead of taking for sure what the transcribed card states and a lot of times you will find a different name, or date, etc. No one want to go Barking up the wrong tree. Berta P.S. I have been very grateful for everything that people have helped me with and always try to put their names as the sources that gave me the document or photo and that is not done enough either. Those people have worked hard in libraries, National Archives, Courthouses, etc. etc. and were kind enough to share so don't you think they should be rewarded for their work with at the very least a Thank You I have been here before and I just want to say there are some good things on ancestry but they are only original documents; Ancestry even takes everyone’s photos and puts them in their card catalogue and considers it their source now; also the other day I was researching and somehow ended up finding a tree that started with Adam; yes, that is right Adam and the place he was living was the Garden of Eden; honestly, I swear so you all need to be careful before you connect to things; I also found my own ancestor’s tree where the mother was my ancestor and her children were really all of her siblings. I recently also found a man with a common name who was 200 years old when he died only because it was a very common name and obviously someone attached to a tree with the different information on it without even paying attention; there needs to be a way that when people just start connecting to trees like that where the discrepancy is so bad something should pop up and tell people because people are so excited they just do not pay attention. People say that we are all just connecting ancestors and trying to find relatives and that it would be nice to be able to say hello but when you write someone who has over 20,000 people in their trees and you just ask how they connect to you and the kind of answer you receive even if you receive one at all sometimes it is ” I don’t know, I just know we do” and that is because they have attached all of these trees and the ancestor that supposedly you have in common is so far back and married to a direct ancestor’s third cousins’s son’s stepmother and that is how it goes. People think that people who have gone private are stingy but that is not so with most of us; we just want the correct info. Ancestry even has a source titled; Family Data Collections which is still not an actual source and if you do not find the actual source then it is as good as made up. Now, the few examples I have listed are true and when you find a tree with thousands of people in it try writing them and see if they even know who that ancestor is or how they connect to you. Courtesy is another thing sorely lacking with Ancestry now and it was not always that way but you catch more flies with honey than vinegar so you should be nice when you want info from a person; I do not even see a Thanks to So and So on anything anymore or Courtesy of and now I am starting to put text on my own photos of my family stating who it is courtesy of not only because others will take it and act like it is their photo in their possession without even putting the original submitter’s name on it but because that is the way to find the family member; whoever has the original will be closer than someone who has taken the photo and has thousands of photos and just does not know who they are; so for those who think those of us who went private are stingy,greedy people please think again because if you really want your family history as correct as you can get it anyway you will be very disheartened when you find your tree a mess from the types of things you are attaching to so this is to just tell you all be careful; and when the leaf comes up you better check the info about what you really know to be true because a lot of times the names may be the same as families tended to name people the same names for years or a particular name was popular but the dates could be hundreds of years apart so when the conflicting info comes up or even that NEW thing comes up check to see if it is even possible it is your ancestor and check their families because you could find it is not and when you put a lot of work into your tree you could end up very disappointed; I have learned now that I rarely write someone who has 20,000 names or photos in it because of the bad answers I have received. I have gone private but I will still help and sometimes if I find wrong info I will even email the person privately and nicely tell them it is an error and give them my own correct source and do it nicely. You have to zoom in on actual records instead of taking for sure what the transcribed card states and a lot of times you will find a different name, or date, etc. No one want to go Barking up the wrong tree.
Berta
P.S. I have been very grateful for everything that people have helped me with and always try to put their names as the sources that gave me the document or photo and that is not done enough either. Those people have worked hard in libraries, National Archives, Courthouses, etc. etc. and were kind enough to share so don’t you think they should be rewarded for their work with at the very least a Thank You

]]> By: Tom http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2194 Tom Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:51:15 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2194 I have been a paid member on and off since the early days. After being a subscriber for the past 3 years, I had to cancel my account. Their new search feature is terrible. Their IT guys should all get the ax for what they created. You used to be able to enable old search, link is now gone and so am I. FYI, I am an IT guy, so I know what is good and what is bad and forcing someone to use a system with too many quirks and variations, not good. I have been a paid member on and off since the early days. After being a subscriber for the past 3 years, I had to cancel my account. Their new search feature is terrible. Their IT guys should all get the ax for what they created. You used to be able to enable old search, link is now gone and so am I. FYI, I am an IT guy, so I know what is good and what is bad and forcing someone to use a system with too many quirks and variations, not good.

]]> By: Karen http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2118 Karen Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:25:43 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2118 I am a very happy user of ancestry.com. I just want to respond to the people who are upset about ancestry allowing member connect sharing of info. The whole purpose of a website like ancestry is to SHARE with each other to further each individual's knowledge of their family. It must be nice to come from a family where your history was passed on, but some of us came from a tight-lipped bunch who said next to nothing and left a box of unidentified pictures. I can appreciate the time and effort you "original" geneology researchers put in to glean the info you have accumulated, but that doesn't mean it should always be that way forever. That would be like saying we should forever have to go to a movie theatre to see movies instead of being able to watch on TV or netflix. Does that make sense? My Aunt has a lot of info she got the hard way and I have been helping her put it on ancstry to help other family members out there in their search. Please remember it is usually a family member you are helping, not really a stranger. You just haven't met them yet. Just say hello!!!! I am a very happy user of ancestry.com. I just want to respond to the people who are upset about ancestry allowing member connect sharing of info. The whole purpose of a website like ancestry is to SHARE with each other to further each individual’s knowledge of their family. It must be nice to come from a family where your history was passed on, but some of us came from a tight-lipped bunch who said next to nothing and left a box of unidentified pictures. I can appreciate the time and effort you “original” geneology researchers put in to glean the info you have accumulated, but that doesn’t mean it should always be that way forever. That would be like saying we should forever have to go to a movie theatre to see movies instead of being able to watch on TV or netflix. Does that make sense? My Aunt has a lot of info she got the hard way and I have been helping her put it on ancstry to help other family members out there in their search. Please remember it is usually a family member you are helping, not really a stranger. You just haven’t met them yet. Just say hello!!!!

]]> By: S http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2109 S Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:25:30 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2109 I tried ancestry.com for the first time tonight and after much frustration and annoyance, I had to find a place where I could officially complain. Thanks for the opportunity. I judge a site quickly, by how easy and user friendly it is. Ancestry.com fails as it has a complicated search layout. I believe an ancestry site should do the work for you, not have you do all the searching. You should be able to put in someone's name and birthdate and place and everything should pop up. The site should be able to show marriages, deaths, etc. and have other related people plugged in. ie The site should build the family tree, not the user. That's what goddamn computers are for. This site has you running around it like a monkey, forget it. One of my family members did a great deal of research on our family decades ago, travelling to the country of origin and various town halls, etc. and put together an impressive booklet for everyone's benefit. But I'll bet he didn't spend as much time as, and had a much more exhilarating experience than, these yahoos you read about lauding ancestry.com and all the searching they're doing. Forget it. Don't let these wackos program you and pay them to do it. You can find out other ways about your ancestors. I tried ancestry.com for the first time tonight and after much frustration and annoyance, I had to find a place where I could officially complain. Thanks for the opportunity.

I judge a site quickly, by how easy and user friendly it is. Ancestry.com fails as it has a complicated search layout.

I believe an ancestry site should do the work for you, not have you do all the searching. You should be able to put in someone’s name and birthdate and place and everything should pop up. The site should be able to show marriages, deaths, etc. and have other related people plugged in. ie The site should build the family tree, not the user. That’s what goddamn computers are for. This site has you running around it like a monkey, forget it. One of my family members did a great deal of research on our family decades ago, travelling to the country of origin and various town halls, etc. and put together an impressive booklet for everyone’s benefit. But I’ll bet he didn’t spend as much time as, and had a much more exhilarating experience than, these yahoos you read about lauding ancestry.com and all the searching they’re doing. Forget it. Don’t let these wackos program you and pay them to do it. You can find out other ways about your ancestors.

]]> By: Margaret http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2044 Margaret Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:09:40 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2044 I have had a consistent account with ancestry.com since 2002. My genealogy has expanded by leaps and bounds with the 24hour availability of actual census images, WWI Draft Cards, Death Certificate images, Marriage record images, etc. I couldn't drive 1.5 hours to the nearest large library and even then they didn't have census records for every state! Yes, of course, I still have to go to libraries, courthouses, archives, and other places to research my family, but ancestry has allowed a huge head start with their many records. Occasionally, I locate a cousin or a picture of a relative, which adds to the fun of my hobby. I have been a family genealogist for almost 30 years, so I learned how to research prior to the internet and family tree software. I think I appreciate ancestry more because of that. Some of the newer researchers think everything should be free and just log on and find their family. I enjoy the adventure of the search and I don't expect anything for free! I have had a consistent account with ancestry.com since 2002. My genealogy has expanded by leaps and bounds with the 24hour availability of actual census images, WWI Draft Cards, Death Certificate images, Marriage record images, etc.

I couldn’t drive 1.5 hours to the nearest large library and even then they didn’t have census records for every state! Yes, of course, I still have to go to libraries, courthouses, archives, and other places to research my family, but ancestry has allowed a huge head start with their many records. Occasionally, I locate a cousin or a picture of a relative, which adds to the fun of my hobby.

I have been a family genealogist for almost 30 years, so I learned how to research prior to the internet and family tree software. I think I appreciate ancestry more because of that. Some of the newer researchers think everything should be free and just log on and find their family. I enjoy the adventure of the search and I don’t expect anything for free!

]]> By: Victim_of_Lies http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2026 Victim_of_Lies Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:31:41 +0000 http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/genealogy-products/ancestrycom-experiences-good-or-bad.html#comment-2026 Yes, I can now be counted among the legions who daily realize that Ancestry.com is a nasty scam. Like cheesy dating sites they offer "free" sessions that enable access to nothing but are greedily awaiting chumps to provide them with new information, gained freely (and stealing folks' time as well) so they can then sell the info to newer chumps. If this were a financial business it would be nothing but a ponzi scheme. I knew not to get involved with this cult as they have an ulterior motive but had, over years, exhausted the low hanging fruit of genealogical data readily available. But as time wore on and all I saw was this monopoly juggernaut inhale other genealogical websites and was aghast when going to my own government's census website where I was told to go to the mormons for the data. I would recommend at this point that misguided political correctness not allow this post to vanish merely because a certain religion is cited. It is the elephant in the genealogical community room. There is absolutely NO expectation of privacy for your tree constructed there or the information it contains. The setting one can supposedly access to keep both your tree and its contents private is a damned lie. I built a tree with over 5,000 individuals and, assuming the privacy I was assured, included my many living relatives. After letting it alone for other pursuits I was shocked (shocked I tell you) upon my return to see total strangers allowed all the way into my tree, with access to the living and the ability to sabotage my work. After emailing Ancestry.com I was boldly told this wasn't possible. I closed the email and went to the site where another, fresh stranger had been allowed in. I called Ancestry.com and some (likely uncompensated cultist) puppy started out with the, doubtless trained standard response of sympathy for the plight of the complaintant. Being adamant I was put on hold and when the wimp returned he started mealy mouthing "legal liability" as some clumsy way to silence me. All this did was make me livid and I posted my displeasure on their website naming, not only the intruders allowed in my personal information but the four that had appeared since my complaint (in only a few days as though to taunt me). I'm taking steps to remove my tree and will delete it and quit the account as well. In truth even the records your government should be providing you are placed on Ancestry.com in such haphazard fashion that I have had to correct hundreds of them. Many due to apathetic laziness in the form of blatant misspellings and nonchalant, indifferent transcribing by, I suspect again, uncompensated assistants (and how can our government compete with that?). I suppose that either Ancestry.com doesn't adhere to the old adage "you get what you pay for," or more likely, is simply one of the many greedy who are ruining our country. I now will have to physically go to such places as the National Archives as well as state archives and local newspaper archives for data on the 11 generations that preceeded me in North America. Yes, I can now be counted among the legions who daily realize that Ancestry.com is a nasty scam. Like cheesy dating sites they offer “free” sessions that enable access to nothing but are greedily awaiting chumps to provide them with new information, gained freely (and stealing folks’ time as well) so they can then sell the info to newer chumps. If this were a financial business it would be nothing but a ponzi scheme.

I knew not to get involved with this cult as they have an ulterior motive but had, over years, exhausted the low hanging fruit of genealogical data readily available. But as time wore on and all I saw was this monopoly juggernaut inhale other genealogical websites and was aghast when going to my own government’s census website where I was told to go to the mormons for the data.

I would recommend at this point that misguided political correctness not allow this post to vanish merely because a certain religion is cited. It is the elephant in the genealogical community room.

There is absolutely NO expectation of privacy for your tree constructed there or the information it contains. The setting one can supposedly access to keep both your tree and its contents private is a damned lie. I built a tree with over 5,000 individuals and, assuming the privacy I was assured, included my many living relatives. After letting it alone for other pursuits I was shocked (shocked I tell you) upon my return to see total strangers allowed all the way into my tree, with access to the living and the ability to sabotage my work. After emailing Ancestry.com I was boldly told this wasn’t possible. I closed the email and went to the site where another, fresh stranger had been allowed in. I called Ancestry.com and some (likely uncompensated cultist) puppy started out with the, doubtless trained standard response of sympathy for the plight of the complaintant. Being adamant I was put on hold and when the wimp returned he started mealy mouthing “legal liability” as some clumsy way to silence me. All this did was make me livid and I posted my displeasure on their website naming, not only the intruders allowed in my personal information but the four that had appeared since my complaint (in only a few days as though to taunt me). I’m taking steps to remove my tree and will delete it and quit the account as well.

In truth even the records your government should be providing you are placed on Ancestry.com in such haphazard fashion that I have had to correct hundreds of them. Many due to apathetic laziness in the form of blatant misspellings and nonchalant, indifferent transcribing by, I suspect again, uncompensated assistants (and how can our government compete with that?). I suppose that either Ancestry.com doesn’t adhere to the old adage “you get what you pay for,” or more likely, is simply one of the many greedy who are ruining our country.

I now will have to physically go to such places as the National Archives as well as state archives and local newspaper archives for data on the 11 generations that preceeded me in North America.

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