A Question to all:

+18 votes
480 views

Hello all,   alittle over a year or so, I was told i did not know what I was doing here, and  I should leave wiki tree  and leave it to the pros, so I left.

I have returned to my genealogy  on the  net, but I would like to thank of all who have added more to their trees since i had  been off wikitree, cause it has opened some brick walls   for me

but after not being on wiki tree for some period,  am i considered still a  member?

than you

debbie mcdonald

in The Tree House by Deborah McDonald G2G6 Mach 2 (20.8k points)
edited by Maggie N.
You are still a member. Very few of us are "pros" and most of us had a lot to learn here. Be open to instruction and constructive criticism, but ignore anyone who says you don't belong here.
What Nelda said!

Welcome back, Deborah! Today's Genealogy Word of the Day:

ultracrepidarian
uhl-truh-krep-i-dair-ee-uhn

Adjective: noting or pertaining to a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice beyond the span of his or her actual expertise.

There aren't all that many pros on WikiTree--only 25 if we judge by those with the Professional Genealogist badge--and typically you'll find the ones who really are will be happy to inform and teach, not knock you down. Generally speaking, ultracrepidarians are somewhere else on the Dunning-Kruger effect curve and not actually as expert as they may think they are.

Once upon a time we all knew nothing, and did not know what we were doing. However, we persevered, we made mistakes, we fixed those mistakes, and we have learned.

Good people have helped us along the way, and we learned more.

Then, we got to the point where we knew what we were doing, but, we are still learning.

We all have something to offer.

So, welcome back!
Edison, when I saw the word "ultracrepidarian", it reminded me of an occasion I had to write an evaluation of a young and brand new engineer I supervised.  I never knew there was a word for this and had a very hard time finding words to put in my evaluation.  My final product was "He is very smart, in fact he is almost as smart as he thinks he is."  This was less diplomatic sounding that I would have liked, but it was the best I could come up with at the time.  What a neat word!!!  Too bad I didn't know it then.
I'm glad you didn't know the word - what you said about him was hilarious!

7 Answers

+15 votes
Debbie, I'm a "newbie" on WikiTree, but I've been "doing" genealogy since 1959. Yes, I'm older than dirt.  WikiTree has a steep learning curve, but please stick with it.  And ask lots of questions.  Most of the folks on here are more helpful than anywhere else on other genealogy sites.   

And start watching all the WikiTree videos and LiveCasts, too.  You will learn lots just by watching the interaction of the team.  There are some really great "pros" on WikiTree and they are generous with their time and help.  I learn something new almost every day.
by Willodene Adams G2G6 Mach 8 (89.0k points)
+11 votes
Welcome back, Debbie!

Since you have been away for a while, it might be good to review the new member how to pages:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:New_Member_How-To

Don't let anyone get you down, it is a learning process for us all. Come back here to the forum if you have any questions along the way.
by Peggy Watkins G2G6 Pilot (839k points)
+8 votes
Welcome back.  I thank you for the service of your father in WWII.  

I have been on WikiTree for a little over a year.  I have had several people encourage me along the way so that feels good.  Half the time I felt like I was in over my head.  Then I looked at profiles that were really well done.  Then I read some "Help" stuff.  I went back and re-worked some of my Profiles and Sources so they were more according to WikiTree standards.  Little by little I have made progress.  I still have questions.  But, I feel better about the profiles of my relatives.  

I hope you feel good about coming back.  It is awesome that others have helped add to your tree.  I hope you enjoy the journey with your ancestors.
by Robert Clark G2G6 Pilot (950k points)
+7 votes
Hi Deb, I hope you do not get discouraged again. I have been in your shoes . Wikitree did not start off easy for me. And i had some that said the same to me. It made me work harder to prove them wrong.I am still not the best at it. I still think it is so much fun.Any time you get stumped or need help or encouragment let me know. Hang in there!
by Teresa Davis G2G6 Mach 6 (62.8k points)
+9 votes

Debbie, the only person in the whole wide world who "should" decide whether or not you participate here is YOU!!!!!!!!  That word is always a red flag to me and my standard response to someone who tells me what I should do is "don't should on me".

When I joined WikiTree, I couldn't even spell "genealogy" - knew absolutely nothing, other than that a grandson had asked me to tell him all about our family so I set out to learn that.  I asked a lot of questions, learned (among other things) that sources are not things that come out of my kitchen to embellish fancy dishes, but still don't know very much about genealogy.  

Many members helped me and, as a result, I now know a whole lot about my family that I had no idea was ever possible to know.  I guess I was fortunate to have only encountered all the members who so freely offer their expertise to newbies like me and never experienced anyone telling me that I don't belong here.

I try to repay all that I have been given by offering help with what I do know a lot about - computers, the workings of the internet, and how to do technical stuff on WikiTree.

Every one of us has expertise in something different - what makes us a community is the way we all benefit from the knowledge one member has in a field that is not part of the specialization of another member.  I am oh-so-glad that you have returned and look forward to learning from you all the things I don't know and you do.

WELCOME BACK !!!!!!!!!

by Gaile Connolly G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
ty Gail for the nice words.  I think the best thing for me to do I start over all the rules  etc..  If I need help I can come back here, cause there was a few things that had confused me.  , that is easy  LOL  thank you agian   

debbie
+6 votes
I'm sorry you had that experience. WikiTree is a collaborative website and opened to everyone. Even if you were not respecting the guidelines for instance, you should have been told that nicely and been offered help to get better, not be pushed away.

Welcome back!
by Léa Haupaix G2G6 Mach 9 (95.1k points)
+7 votes
ty for your kind words.  I am gonna go over all the beginners pages again.    If i need help do i come to this page?

debbie
by Deborah McDonald G2G6 Mach 2 (20.8k points)
Always feel free to ask for help, here on the G2G, Deborah, It's what it's here for.  Welcome back!

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