I agree with you 100%. I have in the past however provided information to individuals that have posted this info on the internet using my name without my knowledge. Therefore, I do think that if someone plans to use the information provided them in such a public place that they should at least ask that person if he or she would mind first. I was a little upset because quite frankly alot of my information was not conclusive and was speculative and I did not have permission from individuals in the tree to publish information about them since I had not planned to do so and never thought ahead that someone else would. I enjoy being a part of the group, keep up the good work. ----- Original Message ----- From: <TLTURBO@aol.com> To: <LITTLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 1999 5:07 AM Subject: I HAVE TO VENT!!! > OK, you have never seen me get upset about anything but I am now. This > subject has come up several times lately so I thought I'd explain my position > on it to all of you. Mainly, to be blunt, the newsgroup sponsor can > establish just about any guidlines for their list. Since I sponsor this > list, here is my guiedline on this subject. > > I have never encountered anyone on this list that has ever refused to provide > another LITTLETON researcher with whatever help they can provide. I am very > proud of all of you for your professional, courtious behavior. But a > situation developed about a month ago that resulted in my being REMOVED from > another surname newsgroup for disagreeing with the phylosophy of that lists > sponsor about divulging information on living people. I am writing this, > because I just found an important link to a LITTLETON line and wrote the > person that provided the info asking for more than the persons name and was > refused the info because the person was still living. This person was NOT a > subscriber to this list. A LITTLETON married into their family line. > > Now this is MY opinion, and therefor that of this list. I feel the world is > entirely too paranoid. Granted, there is the remote possibility that an > enraged, ex-spouse or a stalker MIGHT use a genealogy list to locate a > person, but I feel that possibility is remote. The people I have disagreed > with feel they do not want to be held responsible for giving someone like > this information that could lead to problems. I feel this possibility is > extremely remote and does a great disservice to all genealogists that are > looking for ancestors. > > How many of you have I, or others on this list, put you in touch with other > living cousins that have provided a wealth of info on your family? Quite a > few. What if I had refused to tell you, "OH YEAH, I know where you fathers > missing brother lives but I won't tell you?" Wouldn't you feel very > frustrated? > > I got into an argument with the sponsor of the Lower DL, MD, VA newsgroup > about this subject and she subsequently removed me from the list. Several > other people unsubscribed in my behalf which I greatly appreciated, but I > felt it was totally against the research ideals of all genealogists. After > all, we look to the ends of the earth for information, then are deprived of > vital contacts just because a person we find and want to contact is living? > > In actuality, with this attitude, none of us should be talking to each other > since we are all living. > > OK, now you know how I feel. I want you to know that if will not tolerate > anyone withholding information from another researcher. BUT I will NOT > remove someone for doing that, as everyone has a right to this list unless > they become a trouble maker by flaming, etc. But if this happens to you, > please contact me and if I have the info, you will gladly receive it. > > Thanks for letting me vent and explain my stand on this issue. I understand > it has been tossed around quite a bit in the Genealogy community and opinions > vary. Seems like opinions are strongly one way or the other. > > If anyone has any comments, feel free to make them, but PLEASE, don't let > this deteriorate into an argument. > > ALSO, would someone PLEASE come to SW Florida and take this darn 40 degree > weather away? It's not good for my bananas and papayas. HA HA > > Hope everyone has a great Holiday Season > > Terry Littleton - listdad > > > ==== LITTLETON Mailing List ==== > LITTLETON-L@rootsweb.com >