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FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Professional Genealogists/Purpose: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Professional Genealogists/Purpose (view source)
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If I remember correctly, the Family History Library used to have a list of professional researchers that patrons could reference if they needed professional research help. My understanding was that the professionals were vetted, both their research credentials and that they had an honest business.This protected both the reputation of FamilySearch and the Library but also mitigated fiscal exposure if a patron was unhappy with the service they received from the professional. The professionals list on the wiki doesn't appear to have any vetting. It looks like anyone, valid pros and fraudesters alike can add themselves to the list with no more than a working FamilySearch login.Additionally, I'm told that the links and text associated with advertisements were removed from the wiki over the past few years. The policy of putting ads back on the list flies in the face of that older policy opening up wounds from the earlier removal process. --[[User:Ldrew|Ldrew]] 20:29, 26 July 2012 (UTC) | If I remember correctly, the Family History Library used to have a list of professional researchers that patrons could reference if they needed professional research help. My understanding was that the professionals were vetted, both their research credentials and that they had an honest business.This protected both the reputation of FamilySearch and the Library but also mitigated fiscal exposure if a patron was unhappy with the service they received from the professional. The professionals list on the wiki doesn't appear to have any vetting. It looks like anyone, valid pros and fraudesters alike can add themselves to the list with no more than a working FamilySearch login.Additionally, I'm told that the links and text associated with advertisements were removed from the wiki over the past few years. The policy of putting ads back on the list flies in the face of that older policy opening up wounds from the earlier removal process. --[[User:Ldrew|Ldrew]] 20:29, 26 July 2012 (UTC) | ||
I agree with the comments about vetting these people and if you look at the Guiding Principles of the Wiki, in the Spam section, it clearly states "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." I think this project should have been brought before the Wiki Community for input before it was implemented. This goes against the community aspect of a Wiki. [[User:Averyld|averyld]] 15:59, 30 July 2012 (UTC) | I agree with the comments about vetting these people and if you look at the Guiding Principles of the Wiki, in the Spam section, it clearly states "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." I think this project should have been brought before the Wiki Community for input before it was implemented. This goes against the community aspect of a Wiki. [[User:Averyld|averyld]] 15:59, 30 July 2012 (UTC) | ||
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I'm sorry, but I am unable to take off my "wiki defender" hat. I just don't think the wiki is a place to advertise. Are we going to allow Ancestry, FindMyPast and others to advertise ... I think if we make the jump from referring people to paid sites and allowing private advertising on the wiki, then it is a much shorter jump from genealogists advertising to websites expecting to advertise here too. I think what bothers me most is that we are soliciting them, offering free advertising, and placing no expectations on them to add content. If they are as skilled researchers as they are supposed to be, adding a page of content should be nothing for them. Why could they not be required to first add content to the wiki before adding advertising ? At least then I could see a benefit to the wiki in taking this detour around the Purpose and Appropriate Topics. [[User:Evancol|evancol]] 17:20, 2 August 2012 (UTC) | |||