In a message dated 9/1/2007 12:47:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, RoverLSmith@aol.com writes: << Rootsweb free sites do encourage you to use the Ancestry.com / formerly Rootsweb trees. >> ---- Debbie- How so? You've completely lost me on this logic--what is your source for this statement? They may advice you that you can post a GEDCOM on RootsWeb's WorldConnect because GEDCOMs are not permitted on the websites (because you would be storing them there). Instead you can store and display them and link to them on WorldConnect--but you are by no means required to do that. << I AM referring to paying for web space. It isn't so expensive that it wouldn't be worth owning it rather than borrowing it from Rootsweb, which only exists because it has to per the agreement with Ancestry.com. Not all Rootsweb web pages are unlimited and free >> ---- Ancestry may have inherited Freepages, Homepages, virts, etc. but they are not being forced to perserve the original agreement forever--they do so because they choose to do so for the goodwill of the genealogical community. What accounts are NOT unlimited and free? You have me curious. Accounts must be used for genealogy-related content and there are limitation as to the types of files that may be housed there--but I'm curious as to what you mean in saying they are not unlimited if properly used? Clarification of [my] statement that Ancestry/RootsWeb encourages you to store your database at Ancestry -- what do you mean by that? I know of no such requirement or "encouragement." << "Also, please do not upload GEDCOM files to Freepages accounts. They should be uploaded to _WorldConnect_ (http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/) and then you can link to your files there." >> ---- Explained above. That doesn't say you have to upload a GEDCOM to WorldConnect--it is merely telling you a place is offered to upload these trees at RootsWeb since they are not a type of file that can be placed on Freepages. << I don't want my gedcom at Ancestry.com. Can I put it somewhere else and link from my Rootsweb page? >> ---- Absolutely! What would lead you to believe otherwise? << When I said this: "You would have less control with a Rootsweb free site because you wouldn't have to fly their banners and you wouldn't be encouraged to store your database, if you have one, at Ancestry.com where it would end up sold and mixed up with a bunch of poor research." >> ---- As already explained there is no requirement that you house a GEDCOM on RootsWeb if you have a Freepages site, and even if you did decide to upload a GEDCOM to WorldConnect it remains a separate entity and isn't merged with other trees. If you can find free web space elsewhere with fewer restrictions and no banner ads and/or ads and popups -- then great--go for it! Free user-contributed data house at RootsWeb is never sold and no fee is charged to access it. << I was referring to OneWorldTree. After spending several years undoing some old bad genealogy for a certain family and disproving most it, my tree would be hooked right back up to the same old trees with the wrong wife and kids. I don't want my work anywhere near this ... I don't want it packaged and sold this way, regardless of whether they link to the original trees. And, as I said earlier, Ancestry.com arbitrarily chooses the trees they think match. It's a bad idea and it serves only the purpose of making money from the submitters and their work. >> ---- You have a very distorted concept of what OWT is and does. What is being paid for with OWT is the search engine and trees are not MERGED -- suggestions are made for possible matches. Personally I don't care for OWT and I don't use it--but that doesn't mean my WorldConnect trees are not still available and accessible and searchable as they always were directly from WorldConnect. It also doesn't mean I mina Ancestry having a search feature like OWT for those who might wish to use it. << I don't plan to run 30,000 genealogy mailing lists. I would only need a few, which can be done. Free lists are also available at usenet and other places. >> ---- If you are referring to usenet Newsgroups they are quite a different "animal" from RootsWeb mailing lists. And, of course, there are other places that offer free mailing lists but there is no other places with a cohesive easy to find genealogy group of mailing lists. << Also, I believe when Ancestry.com took over Rootsweb the mailing lists were a part of the deal. They didn't keep them out of the kindness of their hearts. >> ---- Just because they inherited the mailing lists, message boards, WorldConnect and other assets of RootsWeb and made an agreement to keep them going at the time...that doesn't mean they are REQUIRED to do so forever and to make no changes. Joan ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour