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FamilySearch Wiki:Guiding Principles: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Wiki:Guiding Principles (view source)
Revision as of 20:23, 31 August 2015
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==Purpose and Scope== | ==Purpose and Scope== | ||
The Research Wiki is a tool that allows individuals to come together and teach the world how to do genealogy research. | The Research Wiki is a tool that allows individuals to come together and teach the world how to do genealogy research. In the Wiki, anyone can share knowledge in specific areas and topics. Through collaboration, sharing, open-edit, and forums the community can build a high-quality resource. As a community of contributors we follow these guiding principles to ensure we are creating an exciting tool for the research community.<br> | ||
[[Image:BuildaBetterWiki.jpg|right|325px|BuildaBetterWiki.jpg]] | [[Image:BuildaBetterWiki.jpg|right|325px|BuildaBetterWiki.jpg]] | ||
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=== Sources and Delimiters === | === Sources and Delimiters === | ||
Articles should [[FamilySearch Wiki:Verifiable| | Articles should cite authoritative, [[FamilySearch Wiki:Verifiable|verifiable sources]] whenever possible. Any unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Limit discussion of religion, politics, ethnicity, culture, and history to those aspects which affect family history research or record keeping. The Research Wiki does not contain copies of the [[FamilySearch Wiki:Link, don’t copy|source documents]] (except the few pages used as examples). Do not include details about specific ancestors or individual [[FamilySearch Wiki:Biographies|biographies]] unless they are used as examples on a record or as case studies to illustrate a process or principle. | ||
=== Neutral Point of View === | === Neutral Point of View === | ||
The Research Wiki must be written from a [[FamilySearch Wiki:Neutral point of view|neutral point of view]], representing fairly and without bias | The Research Wiki must be written from a [[FamilySearch Wiki:Neutral point of view|neutral point of view]], representing fairly and without bias all significant views of family history related topics that have been published by reliable sources. This allows those who use and depend on the knowledge contained within the Research Wiki to see and try all techniques and suggestions for finding records about their ancestors. Neutral point of view also requires the citation of sources that are authoritative and verifiable. Avoid personal points of view, personal opinion, personal experiences, or arguments. The Research Wiki is not the place to include personal testimonials, stories of research success, or advertising platforms. Overly religious, political, ethnic, cultural, historic, and nationalistic discussions can tend to be biased and one-sided. They rarely apply to family history research, records, or instruction. The best way to avoid being personal or dogmatic is to write with a neutral point of view and cite authoritative sources for the ideas you express. Strive to fairly explain any competing points of view that differ from your own. Even though this site is sponsored by a religious entity, it is neither reviewed nor correlated for doctrinal correctness and therefore should not become a forum for doctrinal discussions or discourses—even ones that are purely informational in nature. Other sites may exist for this purpose, especially [http://www.lds.org lds.org], and may be linked to within the Research Wiki. | ||
=== Spam-Free === | === Spam-Free === | ||
As a tool designed to guide users to the best sources of genealogical information, the wiki has some sensitivity around the topic of [[FamilySearch Wiki:Linking|linking]] to commercial Websites. Like any librarian, wiki contributors writing an article on Ohio death records will recommend a variety of good sources for these records, including free sources (like FamilySearch Historical Records Collections, RootsWeb or U.S. GenWeb) or fee-based sources (like Ancestry, Heritage Quest, microfilms at Family History Centers, or even a government records office). The goal is to recommend sources ''in the order that the user might want to | As a tool designed to guide users to the best sources of genealogical information, the wiki has some sensitivity around the topic of [[FamilySearch Wiki:Linking|linking]] to commercial Websites. Like any librarian, wiki contributors writing an article on Ohio death records will recommend a variety of good sources for these records, including free sources (like FamilySearch Historical Records Collections, RootsWeb or U.S. GenWeb) or fee-based sources (like Ancestry, Heritage Quest, microfilms at Family History Centers, or even a government records office). The goal is to recommend sources ''in the order that the user might want to use them'', taking into consideration budgets, time constraints, and speed of response desired. | ||
That said, the wiki may not be used simply as an advertising platform. Pages should not be slanted overwhelmingly to any one vendor's products in exclusion of free sites and other vendor sites. Do not direct researchers to an expensive source when a free one will suffice. ''Recommend sources to users in terms of what will help them, not what will help your business.'' | That said, the wiki may not be used simply as an advertising platform. Pages should not be slanted overwhelmingly to any one vendor's products in exclusion of free sites and other vendor sites. Do not direct researchers to an expensive source when a free one will suffice. ''Recommend sources to users in terms of what will help them, not what will help your business.'' | ||
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=== Be Bold === | === Be Bold === | ||
Do not wait for permission to make a change that you feel will be beneficial to those who use the Research Wiki. If you see something that needs to be done, do it. Don’t make a suggestion, make a change. However, remember that when making changes don’t do anything that would prevent those who disagree with your changes from reverting back to the original version while civil discussion happens to reach an acceptable compromise. Don’t let the possibility of disagreement stop you from making the changes. If you feel the change is needed change it. Don’t take edits or changes as a personal affront. Contributors and editors are encouraged to work with the community to make the Research Wiki a superior site for family history research information. | Do not wait for permission to make a change that you feel will be beneficial to those who use the Research Wiki. If you see something that needs to be done, do it. Don’t make a suggestion, make a change. However, remember that when making changes don’t do anything that would prevent those who disagree with your changes from reverting back to the original version while civil discussion happens to reach an acceptable compromise. Don’t let the possibility of disagreement stop you from making the changes. If you feel the change is needed, change it. Don’t take edits or changes as a personal affront. Contributors and editors are encouraged to work with the community to make the Research Wiki a superior site for family history research information. | ||
=== Learn More === | === Learn More === | ||