It is true Genealogy is Ruthless. It is not for the weak and weary. I have found in meeting fellow genealogist they seem to have a lot of attributes in common.
1--Many of them come from a profession of engineering, documentation, or record keeping of some kind.
2--They seem to have learnt the disciplines, and pit falls of documenting anything.
3--They are people who can see the whole picture while also being able to stick to small details.
4--They are stubborn (I wonder how many have ancestors from Missouri where "You don't believe until you see it with your own eyes"?)
5--Over 50% are compassionate yet have grown some rather hard shells (some of these stories are heartbreaking!) It is surprising to see very sweet, small in stature, ladies doing genealogy but as you talk to them ---- they are as hard as nails about the realities of life.
6--The remaining 40-something % are men.
7-- Intelligent -- these people are informed, savvy, and gadget happy!! Keeping alert to all new highly technical releases-- they are there to explore ways to apply it to genealogy.
8-- They are PIONEERS!!!!! A lot of our generation (50+) pioneered the cyber space and now we are pioneering and compiling this vast wasteland of documentations. We leave no stone unturned beating down, novels, Bibles, personal letters (did I also mention we have no-sense of decorum when exposing very personal and private communications?) court records, cemeteries are packed with genealogist ----
9--Genealogist are goal driven ---They get things done!
10-- Friendly!!! They are just about the most fun people I know.
11--Helpful --- Willing to help others get started, find elusive relatives, or just give encouragement.
12-- And have a lot of time to devote to this crazy obsession.
There are more similarities but we also are always in a hurry to get back to our research!! So more later ----
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Nice first post, Ruth!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of genea-blogging. I have added you to my list. Now blog osme more!
Hugs -- Randy
Great list! I can identify with all of them personally! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I'm another that can identify with much of the list.
ReplyDeleteMy first genealogy blog. June 30,2009, Just after my first So Cal Jamboree. I must say when I was at the 2009 Jamboree I felt like I found home!!! I found immediately 12 attributes that I related to with these people. Some of those traits have caused me to "get into hot water" more than once. But as I review them a year later. I must say they rather accurately describe my last 52 weeks in blogging. Fun on Saturday is totally appropriate and timely for me as I get ready to attend the Jamboree once more.
ReplyDeleteTo go way back --- I may also for fun rummage through my very earliest emails and dig them out regarding genealogy done years and years ago.