This is probably not a good forum to discuss this (and the issue certainly won't be settled), but genealogy is not just a study of people who lived more than 70 years ago. I've been actively working on my family tree for almost 28 years. (I've had plenty of time to think about this.) Just about everything in my computer database of over 83,000 people can be obtained from PUBLIC records. The most accurate information about your immediate family should come from you. But if you refuse to give it to me because of "privacy" concerns, I assure you that I'll eventually find someone among your relatives who aren't so anxious about these mostly imagined evil possibilities that have an extremely low probability. My biggest concern with getting information from your friendly cousin is that the vital statistics they share on your family will be less accurate and less complete than what you could have provided if you weren't so paranoid. Just because someone else will do something illegal with something good that I've accumulated DOES NOT in any way suggest that I've done anything wrong. We shouldn't be trying to make genealogists feel guilty about enjoying their hobby. I'll continue to post the dates and places of births and marriages and deaths for my family on the "world's bulletin board" and wouldn't hesitate to do the same at the local grocery store. My household will not live in fear. There are risks in life that are worth taking. (Haven't your ancestors taught you that?) Let's not turn genealogy into just a study of dead people. Personally, I much better enjoy the living people I've found through my life-long hobby of genealogy. And it's exciting to think of those I'll yet get to meet who share an interest in my family heritage. Very sincerely, ~~Michael S. Cole, M.D. Michael Steven COLE, M.D. born: 28 Apr 1955, Harrison, Boone Co., AR married: 16 Aug 1975, Searcy, White Co., AR living: Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR http://www.theColeFamily.com/hobby