General Chat

Just remembered a spooky experience I had a few years ago. My maiden name is unusual (as it was my dad's adoptive name, I haven't got it on my tree), but occasionally I will type it in.
I was shocked to see the names of both my (adult) nephews names come up, along with their places of, and dates of birth!! Then I saw their dad, my brother's details.
None of these people are on my tree, and no-one else in the family I know of (apart from mum who doesn't have a tree on here) who would need their details is doing genealogy.
I e-mailed the person who had put their details up - his name just came up as John - no surname, and asked him his interest in these people.
He sent a cryptic reply about his sister. this flummoxed me a bit, but I replied with another crypric comment and he then realised who I was. We'd only met a couple of times, but he was my sister in laws brother!!
He was a policeman on an investigation that meant a lot of sitting around - and he was bored, so he was accessing various websites and seeing how much personal information could be put on before it was noticed!!
We then went into a discussion about how insecure this site was/is - and he removed the names!!

Sorry I'm late in coming back into this thread as an original contributor, but my Broadband has been down. Though on here is open for all to see, I was having a conversation last night, about identity in general. A couple of years ago I went with my OH to the local registry office as he needed a copy of his birth certificate so he could apply for a private pension he had paid into. As mine was due the following year, I thought I'd get my copy in readiness. I was, and still am, more than surprised, that with so little information, I was able to get a birth certificate. And yet, after that, I was involved in organising a school renunion. It was decided that we needed a bank account, to pay in ticket revenue for the night, and then the 'profit' to a charity. I was asked to be a co-signator, for the account. I do not have a passport, driving licence,etc, so took a utility bill (paid, I must add), to the designated bank. I was turned down instantaniously, and have never felt so humiliated, and embarresed in my life. It would not be unfair to say, and without seeming to be bragging,that I was not without means. I suppose I am just trying to get this off my chest, but it seems to me, that you can access a persons identity far more easily, than you can a bank account, in this country. And they want us to pay an exorbitant fee for an identity card. I've already got one, and though nothing to hide, don't want another. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, it's just how I feel
Julia in Derbyshire

My point is that the 120 year block does not stop searching for living people, when you use "Search Trees". Try it for yourself.

Also, I don't think that children, especially the younger ones, have the wisdom to know everything that is involved by giving permission to be put on anyone's tree. This permission is necessary for ALL living people who are put on trees. Therefore, I think that GR should hide all these children as a matter of course. And not leave it open for anyone wishes to search.

Lindy xxx

Well said Sally, I put up a thread looking for someone last week I think it was.
I did not think for one minute that there may be any reason not to.

I am looking for a young girl... well a woman now who seems to have disappeared I was a bit worried about her that's all.
BUT that is a good point, and we all know someone who has had cause to disappear, don't we?
Thank you for pointing that out.
Deanna X

Unfortunately, this site is NOT secure!

Try "Search Trees" for John Smith, born 1998, +/- 10 years. You will get 95 children, born between 1991 and 2008, most with their birth places!!!

So much for the 120 year block on viewing people!!!

Lindy xxx

I KNOW A LONG TIME AGO
I WORKED AT THE SCHOOLS
BUT SOME OF THE CHILDREN
HAD SUCH A HAUNTED LOOK
IDEALLY NEEDED EXTRA HANDS
THEY WERE TO FRGHTENED TO LET GO

soo true maggie, when me and my hubby split up, he moved into a flat, he doesnt vote, he always ticks the box so not on seeing electrol role and is exdirectory..... because of some silly lady at my sons old school didnt like senco children, there was a witch hunt of all these children and their parents, me included, they had all my details but not his only name and mobile number............... they got all his details of the net............ we encurred over 2 years of abuse from these people, even though i changed my sons school and used a dummy school to pass info over to his real school......... :(
please anyone who wishes to help others, be carefull what you find for others, some are just out to cause pain, suffering and menace..
kaz xxx

THERE IS ALWAYS THE SIDE THAT
IF PROBLEMS EITHER SIDE COULD BECOME
IN A SITUATION THAT IS HARD,
SOME ADOPTES SOMETIME EXPECT A
WONDERFULL SITUATION
UNFORTUNATLYY IF ONLY,,,,

I agree with everything said so far on this board and feel that emblazoning the names of the living over the internet is a terrible invasion of privacy.
My sister (who isn't into genealogy) was horrified when I told her just exactly what I could access on the internet - without help from anyone.

A friend of my daughter hasn't seen his mother since he was 5 - he doesn't even know her maiden name.
A couple of years ago, having nothing better to do, I looked up his birth, found his mother's maiden name - then found her on Friends reunited - took me all of 10 minutes!
Strikes me, she wouldn't mind being 'found', BUT it's up to him if he wants to see her again - and certainly not up to me to 'bring them together'.
If he really wanted to know his mother's maiden name, he would get himself a full birth certificate.
Living people who want to be 'found' will let it be known, otherwise they should be left alone.

I DID SEND A MESSAGE TO GR
THE REPY
THANK YOU

Regarding Adoptions-

You need to contact a special section of Social Services or Human Services Dept or whatever they call themselves in your country.

They will contact the relevant Court and get a photocopy of the Adoption file, then make a
decision about what information, if any, they are prepared to release to you.

(Very interesting reading some of those old Adoption files)

xxxx mick

HI
IT WAS ME WHO STARTED A ROW OVER A FIND MY DAD,,BECAUSE NAMES OF SIBLINGS
ALSO DETAILS.
HOW WOULD YOUR FAMILY FEEL

I ALSO USED TOO BE A DINNER LADY,
WE WOULD HAVE CHILDREN IN EMERGENCY FOSTER CARE,WE HAD TO KEEP BY OUR SIDE ALL THE TIME

Yes Carrie I think giving general 'pointing in the direction' of help and advice is the best way. That way if the people are genuine then they will get the help needed through more monitored ways probably and the people with more sinister motives would be weeded out. If someone dives headlong into finding the info and just handing over a location to someone they never know what the outcome could be. After all very few of us actually know each other in real life.

I haven't heard from Genes yet Alan. I didn't voice a concern to them about a particular thread myself, just that in general maybe some guidelines were needed as to what information regarding living people was allowed to be posted on here. If you aren't allowed to name living people on your tree without that person's permission I see no reason for that not to apply to threads as well personally.
I did tell them about this thread I've started just so that they can come and see the real concerns that I and others have regarding this.
Hopefully they will have a think and introduce some guidelines at the least.
I'd hate to be the person who out of the best intentions helped to cause a tragedy.

n

Jonathon..............I was going to post to say there was too much, but hopefully the GR team will keep an eye on them.

If I keep posting I'll get chased off and told to go back to general:)

good advise sally
ive worked in a school at midday and had to be responsible for the whole school of kids, we were always on our guard,
it awful to think of this happeneing,
poor lady hope shes safe

There are lots when you actually look through the threads............all perfectly legal though, but I wish people would stop and think before leaping in and giving other peoples personal information out on a public board.

omg, electrol roll aswell............ :(
xx

I've seen that one also Kitty.
The one thats troubling me more is very vague. The same gentleman has posted rather a lot recently that I have seen.