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Archiver > ABERDEEN > 2005-11 > 1131931567


From: "Ray Hennessy" <>
Subject: Re: Re:[ABERDEEN] Lookup
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 01:26:07 -0000
References: <20051113224507.92011.qmail@web32802.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


~ Catherine ~ <> wrote:

> I maybe way off here, but isn't the whole point of this
> e-mail List/Group to share/gather information that
> others might have on your line?

Of course, Catherine, but Gavin has stressed many times
before that the MIs cost money to record which comes
out of the anesfhs coffers. It is only right that people
using that information should respect its provenance.
It is actually copyright and should not be freely distributed.

As Gavin says, one offs are one matter [especially if you
aren't sure about the usefulness of the entry] but a general
offer to "anyone who wants to know anything in xyz MI
book, just ask" is outside the norms of sharing. It is
basically saying: "I've paid my £2.25, but no-one else
need do so." That way, the remaining MIs would never
get published.

And while defending the society's position, consider these
points:

Neither Paulette not Gordon appear in the anesfhs
Membership Lists for 2005. They may be joined through
another family member, of course, but if they are not
members, they should think ten times before complaining
about how the society does its business - and then not
do so! Anesfhs has one of the best reputations in the
world but, like all such societies, is not rolling in cash.
Revenue should be raised for extra services provided.

Secondly, Gordon's suggestion that a CD of all the MIs
of Scotland should be available, is plainly - er - simplistic.
Nothing like all the lists are available yet. If some income
isn't generated by the ones already published, the whole
of Scotland's MIs will NEVER be listed. If he thinks it
is just a matter of a quick visit to a Kirkyard, he is sorely
mistaken. Each graveyard takes dozens of people several
visits to record, usually all day, often in appalling weather.
And they all do it for the greater good of the rest of us.
At £2.25, or $5cdn, an MI booklet is a bargain.

Just a final salvo: the fact that the material appears to be
in the public domain, does not mean that the organisation
which collects and distributes the information should not
be paid for this service. How many of us drink bottled
water from some "pure stream". That was in the public
domain at the point of collection, but to you it costs
more than petrol/gasoline, even in the UK.

Sorry to bang on but you can tell I feel strongly about this.
Apologies if I have offended anyone.

Ray Hennessy

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