Perhaps when I read more, I'll be able to summon up a little enthusiasm for this project. Right now, the little I know about it leaves me cold. Here are a few reasons I feel that way.
First of all, I feel that (and this will be no surprise to many) local genealogical societies are going to get shafted in this. And when they cease to gain revenue from book sales, will they then cease to exist, close their doors for lack of funding, cease to safeguard their county's treasures (i.e., their family files, the paper records being discarded by the courts), and fail to organize cemetery reading projects, or petition to their county governments to preserve the local past? I think that sounds very grim.
Second, are only the technologically adept entitled to do genealogy? Some of the most computer-adept folks are essentially newbies in terms of genealogy. They want it online because they don't know how to go about getting genealogical information the 'old way' from a research standpoint. One of the sad aspects to that is that they will miss the thrill of figuring it out and solving the problem, if you see what I'm saying here.
Third, will genealogy become something only the well-to-do can do as many cannot afford the newest machines or monthly charges to an ISP on top of all the software and other computer costs. If the major source of genealogical information becomes the World Wide Web and you don't have a computer, what can you do? There won't be local societies to help you since they couldn't compete with the Web.
To me, putting everything online where the user essentially just plugs in the name and out pops the death date is an awfully dry way to get the data. It's like combining amino acids, certain fats, carbs, trace minerals, vitamins, etc., into a big IV bag and running it into somebody's vein. Now compare that to going to a restaurant and eating a wonderful meal with a friend or two. You get the essentials either way, but the second way is so much more appealing.
I get a major kick out of finding a long folded-away will or some obscure church record where the document lay hidden for decades. I don't think I could ever get that kick out of downloading off the web...
Half the thrill is in the process.
"A.C.", Ohio
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