Marie wrote: <snip> In the pursuit of knowledge - any knowledge - is there any one source that > holds the ultimate truth? I don't believe so. For as many "bad" internet > sites that exist, there are equally as many "bad" books and, dare I suggest, > "bad" records. Surely I'm not alone in discovering inaccurate information > contained in BMD certificates, Parish Registers and Census Returns. <snip> Paul's response: A record is a primary source, whether or not it contains errors. A secondary source (such as information posted on the internet) will repeat the original errors but may add extra ones. I can't see how Marie equates actual records with copies or abstracts just because the actual records may contain errors. That doesn't make them 'bad'. Marie wrote: <snip> Fortunately, I haven't yet > encountered any of the areas of misinformation that Paul refers to in my own > research. Perhaps it would be helpful if he could name some of these sites, > so that we can protect ourselves from them. Paul's response: Sorry Marie, I didn't make any reference to sites, but to misinformation. If you're looking for examples, I would cite Ancestral File as an extremely misleading (and popular) research tool. I have come face to face with people who have gobbled up information from it without a thought as to how it got into Ancestral File.

Paul & List, A provocative debate! What is "Ancestral File"? I am not familiar with it. Thanks, Tom. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Gorry" <gorry@indigo.ie> To: <IRL-WICKLOW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 10:32 AM Subject: [Wicklow] Re: Read a Book - An alternative View > Marie wrote: > <snip> In the pursuit of knowledge - any knowledge - is there any one source > that > > holds the ultimate truth? I don't believe so. For as many "bad" internet > > sites that exist, there are equally as many "bad" books and, dare I > suggest, > > "bad" records. Surely I'm not alone in discovering inaccurate information > > contained in BMD certificates, Parish Registers and Census Returns. <snip> > > Paul's response: > A record is a primary source, whether or not it contains errors. A > secondary source (such as information posted on the internet) will repeat > the original errors but may add extra ones. I can't see how Marie equates > actual records with copies or abstracts just because the actual records may > contain errors. That doesn't make them 'bad'. > > Marie wrote: > <snip> Fortunately, I haven't yet > > encountered any of the areas of misinformation that Paul refers to in my > own > > research. Perhaps it would be helpful if he could name some of these > sites, > > so that we can protect ourselves from them. > > Paul's response: > Sorry Marie, I didn't make any reference to sites, but to misinformation. > If you're looking for examples, I would cite Ancestral File as an extremely > misleading (and popular) research tool. I have come face to face with > people who have gobbled up information from it without a thought as to how > it got into Ancestral File. > > > > > ==== IRL-WICKLOW Mailing List ==== > Did you remind the list this month (September 2005) who you were looking For? > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx >

Dear Paul, Marie, Thomas, Nick and List, My small brain is working overtime. I feel I could learn a lot from this discussion if only I was able to read all the "inputs" in chronological order but my computer has a mind of its own! Just puts the emails in helter skelter. Have you ever thought of co operating on writing a book ( Yes, another One)? Regards to All. Inga J. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas ohare" <tohare@adelphia.net> To: <IRL-WICKLOW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 11:14 AM Subject: Re: [Wicklow] Re: Read a Book - An alternative View > Paul & List, A provocative debate! What is "Ancestral File"? I am not > familiar with it. Thanks, Tom. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Paul Gorry" <gorry@indigo.ie> > To: <IRL-WICKLOW-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 10:32 AM > Subject: [Wicklow] Re: Read a Book - An alternative View > > > > Marie wrote: > > <snip> In the pursuit of knowledge - any knowledge - is there any one > source > > that > > > holds the ultimate truth? I don't believe so. For as many "bad" > internet > > > sites that exist, there are equally as many "bad" books and, dare I > > suggest, > > > "bad" records. Surely I'm not alone in discovering inaccurate > information > > > contained in BMD certificates, Parish Registers and Census Returns. > <snip> > > > > Paul's response: > > A record is a primary source, whether or not it contains errors. A > > secondary source (such as information posted on the internet) will repeat > > the original errors but may add extra ones. I can't see how Marie equates > > actual records with copies or abstracts just because the actual records > may > > contain errors. That doesn't make them 'bad'. > > > > Marie wrote: > > <snip> Fortunately, I haven't yet > > > encountered any of the areas of misinformation that Paul refers to in my > > own > > > research. Perhaps it would be helpful if he could name some of these > > sites, > > > so that we can protect ourselves from them. > > > > Paul's response: > > Sorry Marie, I didn't make any reference to sites, but to misinformation. > > If you're looking for examples, I would cite Ancestral File as an > extremely > > misleading (and popular) research tool. I have come face to face with > > people who have gobbled up information from it without a thought as to how > > it got into Ancestral File. > > > > > > > > > > ==== IRL-WICKLOW Mailing List ==== > > Did you remind the list this month (September 2005) who you were looking > For? > > > > ============================== > > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > > New content added every business day. Learn more: > > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > > > > > ==== IRL-WICKLOW Mailing List ==== > Never feel you shouldnt ask about your ancestors~ for if the first ask doesnt receive a reply then ask and ask again, for your family ancestors in Co Wicklow. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

Hello Inga, You could try going back to the IRL-Wicklow-L Archives page, click on "browse the archives", then "September". Scroll down until you come to the relevant starting subject and then go through all the postings under that heading one by one. Mind you, I tried it out before responding and, on my computer, one or two of the postings are slightly askew!! But give it a go anyway - you might find it a bit clearer than on your email inbox. Hope this helps. Kind regards, Marie ----- Original Message ----- > My small brain is working overtime. <snip>