ETHICS-IN-GENEALOGY-L Archives
Archiver > ETHICS-IN-GENEALOGY > 2003-08 > 1061850367
From:
Subject: Re: [Ethics] Ethical values
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 18:26:07 EDT
In a message dated 8/25/2003 5:53:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
> I agree, genealogy information should be for everyone. What I don't
> like is having to pay for it, if I'm wlling to give mine for free, why
> should I pay for what I want. Anne
>
Anne-
It depends upon what you are looking for. If you are looking to share a
family tree (user-compiled data) which is only as good as the individual's
research, then that is widely available for free. If you are looking for facts such
as vital records, Social Security records, etc. then you will need to travel
and search and pay for copies -- it doesn't all come free.
If the information you seek is in a book that cost money to produce and
publish, or in a database on the Internet that someone or some company had to pay
to obtain and house, then there should be no expectation that this data will be
supplied to you for free. You don't expect to walk into a deli and have them
give you a sandwich for free, so why should you expect others to work to
provide "goods" to you for free?
Joan
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