Though you all might be interested in this one Tom This was received from a person on another list that I am on, and was written by someone on that list. We were asked to forward it on to other lists. "Ethics:" Hi everyone. This came as a message from the listowner for the Rockingham, New Hamspshire list that I belong to. I thought everyone ought to see what is going on. Mr. Marston has asked that we send this along to the lists we belong to so I am doing so. Please read the whole message to see what is going on. I think at the very least we ought to take it as a warning and a reminder that not all we find is correct information and just use it as a tool to look further. Lee Neilsen in Eastern Utah ************************* Dick Marston wrote: Listers: I have naively included a link to GenForum for those wishing to post and respond to Rockingham and Marston surname queries. Furthermore, I have innocently posted several responses on those forums. Today, I have amended the link on Rockingham's Queries Index Page to read as follows: **If you want still another place to search and post, try the Rockingham County message board on[genforum.genealogy.com/nh/rockingham/ ] WARNING!! Any information which you share on GenForum's message boards may be copied by Genealogy.com [/FamilyTreeMaker.com] and sold by them for profit either as data included on a monthly/annual subscription or as a CD for purchase. Much of this information is totally unreliable. Caveat emptor [Buyer beware]. In order to see what, if any, information Genealogy.com has acquired from your voluntary contributions, you will first need to subscribe to their service available to paying members only.** I am SO angry I could spit!! Until I started checking up on this fiasco about my father's pedigree, I had NO clue that Genealogy.com was doing this. I want to declare WAR! I can't get through to their leaders, but I sure would like to get through to their potential customers and unwitting voluntary contributors. Please feel free to copy and paste [or send] this warning wherever, or to whomever, you think might do the most good. You may post it as your own message or as a quote from me, whichever you prefer. Your help will be greatly appreciated."

Thomas, I can certainly understand your feelings regarding this matter. I purchased the family tree maker program and with it was the offer of a free space with them to feature my 'family tree'.....so being an innocent at the time, I created a family tree page with them on their site, only to find a year later that they had taken my whole family tree, put it on cd and SOLD IT!!! and are still doing so!!! Now just to brighten your day Thomas, the laugh is on them, because at the time that I created that site I had some misinformation and major mistakes on my tree which have since been corrected, however the cds that they are selling of my tree information are INCORRECT.........I deleted that family tree site and even though I contacted them to say that the previous information was incorrect and should not be sold to people, they continue to do so. CAUTION should always be taken when you are posting your information as you must be aware that ANYONE can receive it, copy it, and use it and yes, even SELL IT! Once your information is sent, it is considered public domain. I do understand completely your anger, it is an unfair practice. I do believe message boards and mailing lists serve their purpose and can be a valuable resource, but one should exercise caution in how much information you post. Linda Webmaster Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Macpherson" <Tomacph@btinternet.com> To: <SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 3:01 PM Subject: WARNING > Though you all might be interested in this one > > Tom > > This was received from a person on another list that I am on, and was > written by someone on that list. We were asked to forward it on to other > lists. > > "Ethics:" > Hi everyone. This came as a message from the listowner for the Rockingham, > New Hamspshire list that I belong to. I thought everyone ought to see what > is going on. Mr. Marston has asked that we send this along to the lists we > belong to so I am doing so. Please read the whole message to see what is > going on. I think at the very least we ought to take it as a warning and a > reminder that not all we find is correct information and just use it as a > tool to look further. > > Lee Neilsen in Eastern Utah > > ************************* > Dick Marston wrote: > > Listers: > > I have naively included a link to GenForum for those wishing to post and > respond to Rockingham and Marston surname queries. Furthermore, I have > innocently posted several responses on those forums. Today, I have amended > the link on Rockingham's Queries Index Page to read as follows: > **If you want still another place to search and post, try the Rockingham > County message board on[genforum.genealogy.com/nh/rockingham/ ] > WARNING!! Any information which you share on GenForum's message boards may > be copied by Genealogy.com [/FamilyTreeMaker.com] and sold by them for > profit either as data included on a monthly/annual subscription or as a CD > for purchase. Much of this information is totally unreliable. Caveat emptor > [Buyer beware]. In order to see what, if any, information Genealogy.com has > acquired from your voluntary contributions, you will first need to subscribe > to their service available to paying members only.** > I am SO angry I could spit!! Until I started checking up on this fiasco > about my father's pedigree, I had NO clue that Genealogy.com was doing this. > I want to declare WAR! I can't get through to their leaders, but I sure > would like to get through to their potential customers and unwitting > voluntary contributors. > Please feel free to copy and paste [or send] this warning wherever, or to > whomever, you think might do the most good. You may post it as your own > message or as a quote from me, whichever you prefer. > Your help will be greatly appreciated." > > > > > > > ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== > You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB >

Hello all I feel that I must add my twopenny worth to this warning. Firstly without the ability to read Genforum and similar type message boards very few of us would have made contact with others researching the same names. So long live the message boards, forums, etc. They are a very useful tool especially when you first start out. However, it has been known for a long time that Family Tree Maker and others do copy these and record the information as fact rather than a simple query. To later sell this information without contacting the person who raised the message is both wrong and immoral. It has to be said that the internet is full of wrong information and we must check, check and check again before taking anything as fact. Genealogy on the internet is fun - lists and message boards are useful - but never accept anything without checking and then checking again. Nothing beats having a certificate in your hand! If you do not want to end up on a CD then 'forget to fill in' the surname list box on genforum! Best wishes Christine chris@northants26.freeserve.co.uk Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ -----Original Message----- From: Thomas Macpherson [mailto:Tomacph@btinternet.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 11:02 PM To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: WARNING Though you all might be interested in this one Tom This was received from a person on another list that I am on, and was written by someone on that list. We were asked to forward it on to other lists. "Ethics:" Hi everyone. This came as a message from the listowner for the Rockingham, New Hamspshire list that I belong to. I thought everyone ought to see what is going on. Mr. Marston has asked that we send this along to the lists we belong to so I am doing so. Please read the whole message to see what is going on. I think at the very least we ought to take it as a warning and a reminder that not all we find is correct information and just use it as a tool to look further. Lee Neilsen in Eastern Utah ************************* Dick Marston wrote: Listers: I have naively included a link to GenForum for those wishing to post and respond to Rockingham and Marston surname queries. Furthermore, I have innocently posted several responses on those forums. Today, I have amended the link on Rockingham's Queries Index Page to read as follows: **If you want still another place to search and post, try the Rockingham County message board on[genforum.genealogy.com/nh/rockingham/ ] WARNING!! Any information which you share on GenForum's message boards may be copied by Genealogy.com [/FamilyTreeMaker.com] and sold by them for profit either as data included on a monthly/annual subscription or as a CD for purchase. Much of this information is totally unreliable. Caveat emptor [Buyer beware]. In order to see what, if any, information Genealogy.com has acquired from your voluntary contributions, you will first need to subscribe to their service available to paying members only.** I am SO angry I could spit!! Until I started checking up on this fiasco about my father's pedigree, I had NO clue that Genealogy.com was doing this. I want to declare WAR! I can't get through to their leaders, but I sure would like to get through to their potential customers and unwitting voluntary contributors. Please feel free to copy and paste [or send] this warning wherever, or to whomever, you think might do the most good. You may post it as your own message or as a quote from me, whichever you prefer. Your help will be greatly appreciated." ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.237 / Virus Database: 115 - Release Date: 3/7/01 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.237 / Virus Database: 115 - Release Date: 3/7/01