Has here anybody used Geni.com? I tried it and it was not a pleasant experience. I've reviewed it here: http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/geni-com-a-flawed-site/ I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone else had better luck than I did. -- Steve Hayes Web: http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/ http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/famhist1.htm http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/

In article <[email protected]>, Steve Hayes <[email protected]> wrote: > Has here anybody used Geni.com? > > I tried it and it was not a pleasant experience. I've reviewed it here: > > http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/geni-com-a-flawed-site/ > > I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone else had better luck than I did. On my resent family visit my brother-in-law showed me his relatives posting to the Geni.com site, so when I got home I took a look at the site. First things first I'm a skeptic at heart, and I was immediately suspicious when the site was more interested obtaining information from me then they were in explaining who they were. I did some research an found this article at Wikipedia: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geni.com>. The primary function of the Geni.com web site is to make money using genealogy as the catch. You cannot search the family trees of other members, unless you are related at some cousin level (3rd to 5th comes to mind). I passed on giving them any information on my family.

On Wednesday 27 May 2009 14:12, Steve Hayes ([email protected]) opined: > Has here anybody used Geni.com? > > I tried it and it was not a pleasant experience. I've reviewed it here: > > http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/geni-com-a-flawed-site/ > > I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone else had better luck than I > did. > > > -- > Steve Hayes > Web: http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/ > http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/famhist1.htm > http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/ I don't remember quite when it was some one of my kin first mentioned geni.com, but it was several years ago. As a curious newbie I of course went to the site and explored what I could without actually signing up and have to say I was negatively impressed. The site was clearly, even then, intended to be a money making proposition - nothing wrong with that - but offered little that would justify a subscription: poorly organized, limited in scope and clearly greedy. Too bad nothing has changed. Stingy Ol' Bob -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have. Thomas Jefferson

Geni.com was brought to my attention when I received an e-mail from them that basically stated that I'd been included on someone's tree, and they provided a link for me to see that tree. Only when I clicked on the link, it was to find that in order to see the tree, I had to sign up with Geni.com. I was able to contact the person who supposedly added me to her tree, but she couldn't come up with a reason as to why she'd put me on there - she is definitely not related to me in any way. I wrote an e-mail to Geni.com, expressing my displeasure over being 'tricked' into joining their site and requesting that they remove my name from that tree and their site. They assured me that they would do so, but I've never checked back to see if it happened. I found those tactics to be slightly underhanded, and promised myself that I would never use them. Cathy Steve Hayes wrote: > Has here anybody used Geni.com? > > I tried it and it was not a pleasant experience. I've reviewed it here: > > http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/geni-com-a-flawed-site/ > > I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone else had better luck than I did. > >

As a dedicated genealogist and computer engineer I agree that Geni has his pros and cons, but if you really want to build MORE than just your family tree AND get tools that really work I will suggest you to try MyHeritage.com - First, is FREE - You can customize your privacy level (from completely open to completely private and in between) - You invite family and friend to the site to do a collaborative job. - You will get AUTOMATICALLY and continuously, a report of matches in other family trees that you can see and even contact the owner of the other tree very easily. - You can upload pictures and tag people with face recognition technology and create a beautiful slideshow. - Display and input information in 34 languages (you may speak English but your relative maybe not) - Did I mention is free (till 500 people on the tree) And many many more genealogy tools. Yes they ask for your info, but only the basic to know how you are and help you build your family tree. Give it a try and let me know your opinion. Did someone already use it?? Regards to all Daniel Horowitz

Daniel Horowitz wrote: > As a dedicated genealogist and computer engineer I agree that Geni has > his pros and cons, but if you really want to build MORE than just your > family tree AND get tools that really work I will suggest you to try > MyHeritage.com > > - First, is FREE > - You can customize your privacy level (from completely open to > completely private and in between) > - You invite family and friend to the site to do a collaborative job. > - You will get AUTOMATICALLY and continuously, a report of matches in > other family trees that you can see and even contact the owner of the > other tree very easily. > - You can upload pictures and tag people with face recognition > technology and create a beautiful slideshow. > - Display and input information in 34 languages (you may speak English > but your relative maybe not) > - Did I mention is free (till 500 people on the tree) > And many many more genealogy tools. > > Yes they ask for your info, but only the basic to know how you are and > help you build your family tree. > > Give it a try and let me know your opinion. > Did someone already use it?? > > Regards to all > Daniel Horowitz You mentioned its pros. How about the cons? You did mention it had some. I saw the part about free until you have 500 people on the tree. Which I am sure most, even amateurs, already have. Albert

On Thu, 28 May 2009 03:44:49 -0700 (PDT), Daniel Horowitz <[email protected]> wrote: >Give it a try and let me know your opinion. >Did someone already use it?? I discovered that my family trees had been moved there from GenCircles (and they didn't ask me first). But now they keep nagging me that my family trees are too big for my "plan" (the free one). But since they put them there without asking me, I think that's their problem, not mine. -- Steve Hayes Web: http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com/ http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/famhist1.htm http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/

Steve Hayes wrote: > On Thu, 28 May 2009 03:44:49 -0700 (PDT), Daniel Horowitz > <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Give it a try and let me know your opinion. >> Did someone already use it?? > > I discovered that my family trees had been moved there from GenCircles (and > they didn't ask me first). > > But now they keep nagging me that my family trees are too big for my "plan" > (the free one). But since they put them there without asking me, I think > that's their problem, not mine. > > tell them to delete them Hugh W

Daniel Horowitz wrote: > - You can customize your privacy level (from completely open to > completely private and in between) > - You invite family and friend to the site to do a collaborative job. And anyone you invite can invite anyone else. Making privacy a total joke and making it inevitable that you will eventually have a member nobody wants. > - Did I mention is free (till 500 people on the tree) Only three generations, eh? Bummer. -- Wes Groleau TANSTAAFL http://Ideas.Lang-Learn.us/WWW?itemid=984

On Wed, 27 May 2009 22:12:28 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote: > I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone else had better luck than I > did. Is it any worse than the ITV plc owned GenesReunited site?