User:Batsondl/Sandbox 48

What should this page be called?
Can we pick one and move all the below content (that is from the 3 pages) into one?
 * FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose and Appropriate Topics
 * FamilySearch Wiki:Policies
 * FamilySearch Wiki:Guiding Principles


 * How does it compare to this page: FamilySearch Wiki:FamilySearch Research Wiki

What the Wiki is
The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online genealogical guide created and maintained by FamilySearch, a non-profit organization. It contains links to genealogy databases, websites, other resources, research strategies, and genealogical guidance to assist in the search for your ancestors. Articles included are locality pages for countries around the world and topic pages that include pertinent genealogy record types explaining how to use the record, what it contains, and how to find it.

Content Allowed on the Wiki: (we are having an offsite on this but here is suggested list so far)


 * Links to free and subscription websites regarding genealogy databases, records, images, websites, research strategies, repositories, archives, government agencies, or anything else helpful to a user to locate their ancestor.
 * Genealogical research strategies and guidance
 * Locality pages: containing information about records, strategies and topics specific to a location in locating records about ancestors. This can include all jursidictions, including countries, states, counties, parishes, provinces, departments, etc.
 * Libraries and FamilySearch Affiliate Library Wiki pages
 * Family History Center/Library Wiki pages Go to: Help:Updating a Family History Page for information regarding what is allowed on a center/library Wiki page.
 * Guided Research: project maintained solely by FamilySearch to assist researchers starting research in a locality

Who maintains the Wiki: The Wiki is maintained and run by FamilySearch. FamilySearch relies on volunteers to help update Wiki content and patrol edits made to the Wiki. Genealogical community members are welcome to add and update content on the Wiki. [To request editing rights.] Because of the enormous amount of Wiki articles, FamilySearch cannot promise content found on any Wiki page is current or correct. Like any wiki tool, FamilySearch relies on the community to help locate incorrect information and identify broken links. The genealogical community can edit the information themselves or report it to FamilySearch [link to report a problem]. Sourcing and citing information helps in the validity of the content presented but no guarantees can be made with the fast paced world of genealogy and the constant changing of laws by governments regarding records and access to them.

Guidelines on how the Wiki is written? Policies regarding content of Wiki?
 * Creative Common License: Written content on the Wiki is under Creative Commons license. Exceptions include some FamilySearch images that are copyrighted. Be sure to view the license attached to any FamilySearch images before using or sharing to avoid breaking copyright laws.
 * Neutral Point of View: The Wiki is written from a neutral point of view representing fairly and without bias all significant views of family history related topics that have been published by reliable sources. This allows those who use and depend on the knowledge contained within the Research Wiki to see and try all techniques and suggestions for finding records about their ancestors. Neutral point of view also requires the citation of sources that are authoritative and verifiable.
 * Sourced Information: Articles should cite authoritative sources whenever possible.
 * Instructions on how to find, use and analyze records that are genealogically useful.
 * Historical definitions of legal terms, occupations and other terms that are useful to genealogists.
 * Images: Includes samplings of genealogical records, images of historical interest, current and historical maps, ??

The following content is not allowed in the Wiki
The Wiki should not include:
 * Discussions of religion, politics, ethnicity, culture, and history except in relation to family history research and record keeping.
 * Images and files of record sets of source documents except when showing sample documents, especially associated with Historical Records collections.
 * Biographical information about an individual, unless it's used to describe a record or used in a case study to illustrate a research process or principle.
 * Data sets and genealogical records, such as obituaries, military histories, or transcriptions of record sources.
 * Lists of individuals in index form or a repository of individual information.
 * Personal points of view, personal opinion, personal experiences, or arguments.
 * Personal testimonials or stories of research success.
 * Advertising slanted overwhelmingly to any one vendor's products.
 * Advertising for products or services.
 * Edit wars and fighting over competing viewpoints. Use the Tips to Avoid Disputes and the guidelines to the Dispute Resolution process to help guide your efforts to resolve differences on your own.
 * Profanity or profane slang in any form or language.
 * Lengthy poems, speeches or other source text. Instead link to the information.
 * Collection of product reviews. ???
 * Information on FamilySearch products. ???
 * Holidays and family traditions. Those which affect family history records or research methods are mentioned under specific countries. ???
 * Religious doctrine or advocate or criticisms of any religious practices.
 * Doctrinal information of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even on family history center/libraries. As per Church Policy, the Wiki is to only include information regarding genealogy topics and research.  This includes PowerPoint presentations and other documents that may include doctrinal information in them. Inappropriate information as described above will be taken off the FHC Wiki page by FamilySearch management.
 * Images of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Internal policies or contact information of the Family History Department or any other affiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 * Criticism of FamilySearch or any of its business operations.
 * 3D graphics or illustrations. Please try to avoid graphics or images that require movement, rotation, or execution. ?????

What you agree to by using the Wiki

 * When you register to use the FamilySearch Research Wiki you agree to abide by the FamilySearch Terms of Use: Conditions of Use
 * Notifications from the Wiki: You may receive email notifications from the FamilySearch Research Wiki concerning watched pages, messages left on your user talk page, and when your Wiki role changes. Use the instructions found on the Notifications Wiki page to change your notification preferences.

Contributors Expectations

 * Be kind and courteous regarding Wiki edits and talking to fellow users on talk pages and email.


 * Rude, insensitive, argumentative, impolite communications are unacceptable and will result in immediate action by the administrator. Written or verbal personal attacks should be reported to administration. Civility and polite discourse

In addition to FamilySearch Terms of Use, we require contributors not to use the Wiki as a forum to conjecture, gossip, or debate about the priorities, motives, processes, policies, or competence of FamilySearch or its personnel. These activities fall outside of the scope and use of this site and may result in loss of contributor privileges.

Final determination about the appropriateness of contributed content rests with FamilySearch.

Behaviors Not allowed

 * Soliciting feedback or collecting suggestions regarding the development of products.
 * Using bots, or programs that update pages automatically, without prior consent from FamilySearch management. Bots provisions
 * Copyright violations and material except for the above stated FamilySearch images and documents, appropriately licensed and stated on the Wiki.
 * Three-revert rule. Do not revert any page or any part of a page more than 3 times in 24 hours. Doing so will lead to action being taken against your account by an administrator.
 * Anything that is added, removed, or changed in the Wiki that is an attempt to compromise the integrity of FamilySearch Research Wiki is vandalism.

Failure to comply

 * Users who fail to obey policy and who do not follow the FamilySearch Research Wiki Conditions of Use will be blocked from contributing to the Wiki. This includes, disruptive users, those who deliberately fan controversy, or who maliciously attack members of the community, community standards, or FamilySearch including on user Wiki pages. Blocking may be temporary or permanent as determined by FamilySearch.

Disputes between contributors regarding editing and behavior

 * Disputes between members. When disputes arise between community members they are strongly encouraged to talk together and resolve their differences without using arbitration or mediation.
 * Mediation. A process available for request when disputes between members cannot be resolved on their own.
 * Arbitration. A committee of administrators will form the arbitration board. Arbitration is needed when disputes about user conduct are reported. The decisions made by the Arbitration Board are final. However, a community member may Appeal to the Arbitration Board for decisions on deletions of content, blocking or banning. Appeals of arbitration board decisions are sent to FamilySearch Directors. There is no appeal beyond that level.