DEVON-L Archives

Archiver > DEVON > 2001-06 > 0993734093


From: "Peter Williams" <>
Subject: Re: Need for Accuracy and Consideration. (was: I want one !!)
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 07:16:59 -0600
References: <000e01c0ffa1$6433ae60$520d32d2@MickAdams>


Notwithstanding the request to follow these messages up off list I would
like to make an observation on the topic of accuracy in FH research.

Some very kind and knowledgeable people taught me a fundamental principle
when I started out. This was that the worth of the research we undertake is
utterly dependent upon accuracy and care in the way that we transcribe and
present the results of our work. Even small errors can lead to false
judgments. Errors shared are not only passed along but propagate outwards to
others in a ripple effect. These errors may persist for decades and cause
endless difficulty to future generations of researchers.

The use of the IGI is a perfect example of this. This remarkable information
and data base can now only be used as guide because many of the early
records were incorrectly transcribed. Now, IGI users must validate each
record that they find before that record can be entered, with confidence,
into their own family history information base.

Given this in mind, and to safeguard my work, I have adopted a private
policy that acts to reduce my risk. I simply do not consider messages posted
were there is no consideration for convention or for reasonable accuracy. If
the frontpiece is sloppy it most likely follows that the content is sloppy
also. At least, that's how I see it.

There are some exceptions. In the past people have explained to list members
that they know that they have a keyboard problem. Another lister talked
about his sight and his need to use large capital letters. (Thus, he was not
"shouting" but rather doing the very best he could under difficult
circumstances.) There is also dyslexia and associated difficulties to
consider.

Bluntly put then, if a lister defies convention and personal consideration
for no good reason, there is at least one individual who will simply pass
them over. There are probably other listers who do the same thing. These
individuals could be the only people on the list with the information
sought.

So, sloppy listers, as they say in Yorkshire, think on.

Peter.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mick Adams" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 1:10 AM
Subject: Re: I want one !!


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 3:46 PM
> Subject: I want one !!
>
>
> > Where can one get a computer that has no upper case and no punctuation?
> >
> >
> > There seem to be an awful lot of messages coming through without the use
> of
> > either.
> >
> > Bob
>
> Ooohh, Ahhhhh, Bobs being sarky Bob is.!!!! LOL I'm with you Bob, makes
it
> so much easier to read with upper case, AND, a good idea is to put the
> surnames you're interested in, all in upper case.
>
>
Mick
> Adams (ex Plymouthian)
> Nr. Launceston,
Tasmania
>
> ______________________________

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