Re: Fw: The personal attacks in this group

Yes, those who really know what they're talking about on this group
make it worthwhile and stimulating. But it's dreadful to see the
insults they get from those lesser minds who, if they really took the
subject to heart. would welcome the challenges, discussions,
interpretations, and freely given expertise.

I'm very much a beginner in genealogy and am struggling with the area
that interests me. As I said some time ago I was appalled at
Richardson's attitude to the source I referred to when I posted a year
or so ago and it put me off. I'm going to follow Wanda's example
though, pluck up the courage again, and (very carefully) formulate the
questions that plague me - and hope they also interest someone else.
yours
Margaret

On Dec 16, 9:48 am, mj...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Dec 16, 8:56 am, Wanda Thacker <wanda_...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm going to make it a point not to make a genealogical statement. I do not want to have to defend myself.I am not qualified. I'm sticking to questions and comments. LOL

One question I have is this: is the need to dispute and defend a direct result of some of the members/subscribers being scholars? I understand that in scholarly journals and things it is quite common.

I think that the answer to this is partly yes, in the couple of
instances that seem to plague this group perenially.

Partly yes, inasmuch as it seems to be scholars and others
knowledgeable about the subject matter who are best placed to correct
and refute some of the rubbish that gets dumped here.

Furthermore, they appreciate the importance of doing so. I enjoy the
quiet life as much as anyone, but I am grateful for those like Peter
Stewart and Todd Famerie and Tish Cluff and Nat Taylor who took the
time and effort to issue corrections, even when (as we have seen) they
cop so much flak for doing so - a sure sign that their efforts have
hit the mark.

If they did not do so - if they merely ignored the misinformation and
ignorant statements and wrong-headed insinuations that eminate from
sources such as Douglas Richardson - then those of us not as
knowledgeable as them (eg me) might be taken in by the rubbish,
because it often looks impressive. Grandiose cross-postings,
egotistical pronouncements, impenetrable blocks of references (which,
when investigated, turn out to prove nothing) - I am glad some posters
do the rest of us the favour of pricking them, and prevent the
otherwise useful purposes of this group from being subverted, and its
archives from being polluted (any more than they already are).

This is not a matter of 'equal forces' who just happen to disagree; we
can see how much Mr Richardson disvalues this group by the disdain he
shows for other posters, by the trolls he attracts by wilful cross-
posting, and by the company he keeps (eg Spencer Hines).

I regret that at present I don't have much opportunity for research,
but I value the group and just want to say thanks to those who strive
to keep it going. And the best thing the rest of us can do is to
continue posting germane material - such as your other recent posts,
Wanda.

MA-R

.

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