Click and Claim -- the genealogy video game

In a comment to my last post, Karen of Genealogy Frame of Mind namedthe activity of gathering ancestors from online databases as "Click andClaim." I like this designation. It summarizes the video game-likeactivity of going online and copying names down into a local databasewithout any discrimination as to the accuracy of the information andwithout even knowing the identity of the individuals being added to thelocal file. Here is one example of information that is contained in manyonline databases and dozens of files (not mine, by the way).

One of my Grandfathers was killed in a truck/train accident in 1944before I was born. The accident occurred in New Mexico, but he residedin Arizona. I had never seen a death certificate and, of course, therewas no Arizona Death Certificate. Although the story had been told to meall my life about his death and although I did not doubt the accuracyof the account, I still had the nagging issue of providing documentationto my file.

This is the situation. Even if you "know" from your own personalknowledge the facts about your family, you cannot rely on your ownmemory. Why, you may ask? Because you are going to die and those thatcome after you will not have your memory. It is absolutely importantthat the video game be stopped, that accurate sourced information bepassed on to the next generation (whether they want it or not). Relyingon passed down, unsubstantiated, rumor or fable is not acceptable.

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