Geni Forum » General Discussion
Popular Profiles Enhancements
(33 posts)-
Geni Team
Login to Send PM
Now you can view your 100 most popular ancestors and blood relatives, sorted by popularity. This is a great way to find interesting new relatives. Who knows, you may find that you're related to royalty or someone famous!
Also look for the new Top 100 badge. This indicates that the profile is one of the most popular of all Geni profiles. Click the badge to view all popular profiles.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Can you disable the box on the main page by default or change it to show relevant results from the blood relations section.
All I've seen so far is "are you related? George Bush" or Nicholas Cage or whatever. In fact, I don't think you guys really thought this one through since I just hit F5 until it suggested a relationship with JESUS CHRIST. That makes me laugh but I can imagine some people might be rather offended.
Actually, what's the point of the question "are you related?" anyway? I have no way of actually determining if I am related. Perhaps, if I was a close relative of one of these people, I could see something, but it seems like the only way I could solve for most of them is with pro - but even then, it's not likely for many people, I'm sure.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
I keep getting Eve, but ultimately the Geni machine won't relate me to her or to any of the popular Kings (Path search in progress. If we find a path, we will notify you.)
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
it comes up at top of the front page as a green notice field. But you need to be PRO to see your path, so for me it is waste of time.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
<p>it comes up at top of the front page as a green notice field. But you need to be PRO to see your path, so for me it is waste of time.
</p>Trust me, even with a Pro account at the moment it is a waste of time. I just get told that no path was discoverable and more path search options are coming soon.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
<p>In fact, I don't think you guys really thought this one through since I just hit F5 until it suggested a relationship with JESUS CHRIST. That makes me laugh but I can imagine some people might be rather offended.</p>
I'm not offended, just disappointed that people are going to laugh and think the site is a big joke, and never visit the site again. Fictional characters belong in fictional trees.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
Genealogically Jesus as a person is better "documented" in multiple sources than any person, so let us stick to the genealogy and not the discussion whether he is the son or God or not. For me that is just a parent conflict.
Technically this profile has it's rights to exist in Maria and Joseph's tree.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Let's put aside Jesus then, even though the historical value of these "sources" is rather in doubt, as I know many historians do agree somebody named Jesus did exist (it's the character Jesus Christ who is fictional).
But Adam and Eve are provably fictional. These people have no place in genealogical record and I seriously question the judgement of anybody who believes any "sources" claiming they did exist. It makes me wonder what they might accept as truth in recent history. Maybe they'll find a tabloid about somebody claiming to be Barack Obama's illegitimate son and trace their lineage through that to him.
I'll respect religious beliefs in so far as they do not actively try to distort science, history, etc. When they do, I draw the line. Putting fictional religious characters onto Geni crosses that line. I find it quite disturbing to think that the genealogical record on Geni is being actively distorted by religion.
But all this has nothing to do with my original observation: the "are you related?" box serves no purpose and only serves as an annoyance (or, as we see, a point of controversy).
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
If Geni says I'm related to Jesus, then maybe he DID have children! Geni will reveal all when the Path Search is finished (I'll be notified when it is). I hope that Pope won't be upset...
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
My link to Jesus is through his father. In any case, I find these links entertaining, something fun to talk about with family. Obviously people agree because they're some of the top viewed profiles. It's just fun.. if you don't like it, don't use it.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
The "commonly known" children of Jesus and Maria Magdalena are already present in the tree, and unfortunately I am the manager of them, - but I did not add them, so don't blame me.
He even shows up as my 45th great grandfather.
http://www.geni.com/profile/index/5416428010080105286Another popular person shows up as my 44th great grandfather, just to give some balance...
http://www.geni.com/profile/index/4069440725120071260Posted 2 weeks ago # -
@Jeffg That's my whole point - I don't want to use them, which is why I don't want that misleading and useless box on my front page, pushing down useful information. :)
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
My father just tried it and since he didn't have a pro account, it didn't show him anything.
I suggest that you at least show non-pro members that they are related (So and so is your 17th Cousin), but not show them how they are related (reserved for pro). If they're not related, tell them that as well.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
@Jeffg I could see that adding to a lot of anger. While I find genealogy fascinating even at extremely long relations (e.g. oh, look, I found my 8th cousin), my family members are really only interested in their ancestors. If it said "so and so is related", I think many would assume they are "related", as in some kind of close relation. If they sign up to pro and find out, oh, Barack Obama is my 9th cousin 13 times removed's husband's third great grandfather's wife's tenth great grandfather's husbands 15th great grandson's brother-in-law, they'll probably put Geni on the level of classmates.com.
Personally, I think all relations should be free but I know that won't happen. I would settle for at least some kind of honesty, though, if your idea was implemented. Put in brackets, maybe, that the relation if further than such and such, so they know it's not the kind of relation they might imagine.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Geni Team
Login to Send PM
I think this just underscores the need for sources and some sort of collective input in the reliability of those sources. Chances are there are a lot of other links in your tree (to undoubtedly real people) that are equally dubious, only you don't know it.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
Matt, I was suggesting that they actually state for free that Barack Obama is your "9th cousin 13 times removed's husband's third great grandfather's wife's tenth great grandfather's husbands 15th great grandson's brother-in-law" for everyone, but not the linking relationships that makes the connection.
For Pro members, they can see the actual people that tie you to Barack Obama, meaning Your Mother, Her Mother, Her Father, His brother, etc. I think that would provide a nice feature for free, and an additional compelling reason to purchase a Pro account.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Oh, okay, then I'm all for that idea, Jeff! Sorry, misunderstood. ;)
(well, technically, I am all for showing the whole path for free)
mike, the difference is I've found dubious stuff in my tree and corrected/removed it. If anybody finds more, I will listen to what they have to say. Adam and Eve aren't going away any time soon because they're controlled by people more interested in religion than historical fact.
In any case, can we get a comment about this "are you related box?" Again, for most people, the answer will be "no" or "no clue unless you have pro", so it's just a big waste for most of us, unless something changes.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Geni Team
Login to Send PM
I could be mistaken but I believe it now shows the relationship description for free, but upsells the path (exactly as @Jeffg suggested).
As for the "are you related?" box, we're discussing it and it's possible there will be some changes to come. It's tough, because some of use have found it to be really entertaining -- it all depends on how you're connected.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
Geni staff, this is a real nice feature.
I just hope that the revision feature comes along soon enough, before this new publicity enables people to "deface" the politically problematic profiles.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Member
Login to Send PM
I don't get what the point is of the "are you connected" as it always shows up:
"No path found to XXX .. Look for more path search options coming soon"
Why not just wait for these new path search options to be active so that it actually has a reason to be there???
Posted 2 weeks ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.