TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2001-09 > 0999461966


From: Mike Fox <>
Subject: [TMG] Step children and MAILMEN and Philosophic Musings
Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 15:19:26 -0500
In-Reply-To: <4.2.2.20010902111703.0192dd68@127.0.0.1>


I do like Lee's approach [below] and think it's the correct one. TMG should
adapt to social change and adopt Lee's suggestions.

Not many of us know how many mailmen are in our pedigrees, so I don't think
we should get too uptight about our "blood"-lines. Really, the most
important thing about the "gene" in "gene"alogy is the bond established
through time in passing "gene"tically determined traits, strengths, and
diseases to the next generation. Of course this is important, but I
consider the bond established and passed down through time of loving family
relationships even more important.

I believe that passing of family character traits of love, compassion, and
unselfishness (or their opposites) has significant non-genetic components.
Tracing and documenting the passage of these traits is, I also believe, an
important and valid goal for today's genealogist. Natural vs. adopted don't
add anything to that endeavor; indeed, they detract from it. Certainly,
character traits are a more important element in the sense of "Who I am"
than my blue eyes and red hair.

I want software that allows me to keep track of and report all types of
family relationships-adopted, natural, step, etc.-clearly and correctly.
TMG doesn't do this to my satisfaction. I'm not sure how to do it yet, but
someday I also want the same software to allow me to highlight the elements
of the family character for the next generation. Nature and Nurture are
inextricably entwined. For me, genealogy and family history are too. I
think they are that important to most people engaged in genealogy today.

Mike Fox

PS: To inject a little humor-- As I sat back to read this before hitting
'send', I said: "Oops! I bet someone will come back saying that same sex
marriages and adopted toddlers should fit into TMG too." I don't know if
I'm quite ready to go that far yet. But, hey, cut me some slack, I'm 65
years old, and I've already swallowed more than my share of social change.
:)

Social change has blurred the definition of the word "genealogy" such that
it is often used when "family historian" should be used. TMG _can_ be used
for both the genealogist and the family historian using however strict a
definition is assigned to each term. However, when the family historian
wants to export a report about a family with non-biological relationships,
they must manipulate the data to show "incorrect" biological data.


Currently the only way the report may be _generated_ by the current version
of TMG is to either ignore her foster brother completely or to make her
parents his Primary parents. Both methods are incorrect. Yes, the word
processor can/should be used to edit the report in either case. -- if the
data is correctly entered into TMG, (there should be an) option in the
Report Definition
to include/exclude non-Primary relationships. Then the report can be
generated more closely to the form desired by all and no manipulation of
data is needed to achieve ---- correct reports which may or may not be, as
desired,
----- edited for distribution. I italicized and edited Lee's words for
emphasis.

Lee Hoffman/KY


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