The Advent of the Genealogy Forum
The internet is a glorious creation mainly because it has the ability to bring people around the world together in one format or another. Yes, many times these gatherings serve the purpose of creating a way for people to argue with one another (sadly) they also create an ample opportunity for people to share knowledge for the common good. This can be evidenced in the various message boards and forums that have abounded on a variety of subjects. One of the more popular forums that have sprung up has been the advent of the genealogy forum that serves the purpose of providing a resource of knowledge for those who have genealogy questions. Of course, not every genealogy forum is a solid resource, but many are and that is why a person with an interest in the subject matter should check these particular types of forums out.
Caveat Emptor
Of course, if there was one caveat that needed to be put forth when it comes to information on the internet it would be the notion that not all information is accurate. Often, when it comes to sources such as a message board or a forum there is a decided lack of editorial oversight so it is not uncommon that really flawed information may find its way into the public domain. If there was any solace that should be taken here it would be the fact that a genealogy forum covers a much more serious and intelligent subject and because of this it may be less likely to suffer from poor quality posts or squabbling arguments among members of the forum. If there was any advice that could be put forth here it would be that it is important to simply double check information that is provided on a genealogy forum and not automatically take things on fact value.
If you wish to know whether or not a certain genealogy forum is a solid one or not it is best to look at who is sponsoring the forum. If the sponsor is a credible organization or individual who is sincere in their approach to sharing information or has a long established background as a reliable source then such a genealogy forum would clearly be a place to invest one's time. So, in addition to performing some research into your actual genealogy you may wish to perform a little research into the genealogy forum as well. After all, it wouldn't hurt to be sure would it?
