Comments on: Genealogy Wise follow up

By: Ancestry Tool Box » Blog Archive » Formal apology from Genealogy Wise

Ancestry Tool Box » Blog Archive » Formal apology from Genealogy Wise — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:31:57 +0000

[...] Terry Thornton. Terry was the user who was the center of the “censorship” issues that I blogged about yesterday. In that post I did mention my respect for Paul Allen and his contribution to both the genealogy [...]

By: Dusty

Dusty — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:12:02 +0000

Terry,

Thank you for sharing your story here. It seems they are trying to make things better for the future. It is unfortunate that you had to experience this. I was personally shocked to see it happen. You will be missed there. You are an active part of the blogging community.

By: Terry Thornton

Terry Thornton — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:50:20 +0000

Censorship happens. My words and the words of several members who commented and my replies to them at GenealogyWise were removed without notice. And to make matters worse, after the fact someone with the organization stated on their public forum that all of those words had crossed over some magic line and were disrespectful and bashing and now they’ve added rude as one of the offenses.

Because the post and words and replies have all been vaporized in a fit of corporate censorship I guess you could use just any old excuse to justify that action.

Yes, censorship happens. It happened to me within the past 24 hours at GenealogyWise. And that is why I removed my membership from 15 groups there, dropped almost 100 Friends there, deleted my blog posts I had placed there, and deleted a 72 member group I’d started there. GenealogyWise was not a wise place for me to be.

I won’t be going back.

Terry Thornton
Fulton, Mississippi

By: Lisa Rex

Lisa Rex — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:28:29 +0000

Thanks for the follow up, Dusty. GenealogyWise certainly got my attention when they posted their original contest… it was a poorly judged move that would have only produced bad behavior on the site. I still don’t see why they need a contest at all…. the site is only a week old! It will grow organically if the focus is on the social aspects … sharing, collaborating etc.

My other annoyance is the fact the site’s admin(s) are hiding behind the FamilyLink username. I’ve suggested they post under their real name as it’s a social site.

I haven’t jumped into GW yet because I have to be sure it’s worth my time. I do genuinely hope it benefits genealogists…

By: Tamura Jones

Tamura Jones — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:42:06 +0000

GenealogyWise deleted the original forum post criticising the contest including all comments, and later a few comments on the forum post about censorship.
Terry decided to leave GenealogyWise and when he deleted his profile, all his other content was deleted with it.

By: Thomas MacEntee

Thomas MacEntee — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:12:14 +0000

I am also in the “wait and see” mode – I am certain that if Genealogy Wise doesn’t work for me and I leave there will be those in the genealogy blogging community with a chip on their shoulder who will say “told you so.” But nothing ventured nothing gained, right? You have to be willing to try new things and to expand your horizons – that is why I have a cell phone and am not still using an 8-party line at home. Progress moves forward with or without you.

I am also willing to forgive a person or company for their mistakes. I am a strong believer in redemption and believe in giving second and even third chances – we as a country are all too willing to accuse, convict and do whatever’s next right away. And if someone comes back having learned from their mistakes and wants to move forward, how often do we not let them do that?

I always try to keep in mind this: When someone changes we often have to change the way in which we look at them.