Genealogy

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Anyone here caught the genealogy bug? It seems as if everyone I talk to has joined an internet genealogy site, or had their DNA 'profile' done. If so, have you unearthed family secrets, found anyone famous? Or is your ancestry as boring as you expected it to be? What about DNA? Were you distraught to find that you have no trendy 'native American' ancestry after all? Do you think it's safe to have your DNA profile in the hand of the mormons, and did you know that they use your genealogy information to 'induct' your dead ancestors into the mormon faith?

[QuantumT]

I find it intriguing, but I never pursued it.

I know I'm a direct descendant from the vikings, which is kinda cool. There was also a rumour in my family (on my fathers side), that our great-great-great.... grandfather was the 17th century outlaw called Jens Langkniv (Longknife), but it was never proven. On my mothers side however, we do have a very famous 19th century poet.

When I get older, I'll ask my aunt. She is currently investigating it, and has been for years. No point in two of us doing it.

[henry quirk]

I'm a good mongrel: that's all I need to know.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

I'm a good mongrel: that's all I need to know.

Ha. You might find out just the opposite. The biggest low-life on 'Who do you think you are?' turned out to be a direct traceable descendant of William the Conqueror.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

It would be quite cool to suddenly come across Einstein, or Abraham Lincoln, or Bach. Unfortunately Beethoven had no children.

[-1-]

It would be quite cool to suddenly come across Einstein, or Abraham Lincoln, or Bach. Unfortunately Beethoven had no children.

None that we know of. But mysteriously the four Beatles each share 98% of their DNA with Beathoven.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

It would be quite cool to suddenly come across Einstein, or Abraham Lincoln, or Bach. Unfortunately Beethoven had no children.

None that we know of. But mysteriously the four Beatles each share 98% of their DNA with Beathoven.

[henry quirk]

Veg,

I'd rather not know.

Le's say I am related to the exalted so-n-so of whatsisfrababbastan: of what possible use is the information?

To claim whatever it is I might be entitled to probably entails a level of scrutiny I couldn't abide.

Le's say I was related old Albert: ridin' coat tails isn't my thing.

Me: a good (anonymous) mongrel.

[-1-]

Veg,

I'd rather not know.

Le's say I am related to the exalted so-n-so of whatsisfrababbastan: of what possible use is the information?

To claim whatever it is I might be entitled to probably entails a level of scrutiny I couldn't abide.

Le's say I was related old Albert: ridin' coat tails isn't my thing.

Me: a good (anonymous) mongrel.

This is why a lot of atheists reject god-belief: it's niftier to be able to claim achievements for one's own merit than to share the glory with some other dudes who were not anywhere near even when you got your accomplishment.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Veg,

I'd rather not know.

Le's say I am related to the exalted so-n-so of whatsisfrababbastan: of what possible use is the information?

To claim whatever it is I might be entitled to probably entails a level of scrutiny I couldn't abide.

Le's say I was related old Albert: ridin' coat tails isn't my thing.

Me: a good (anonymous) mongrel.

It's just interesting and oddly does give you a sense of 'who you are'. It adds another dimension. Actually the rich are boring as fuck. It's the paupers who have the interesting stories to tell. I have a sneaking suspicion that a direct ancestor was Jack the Ripper

[henry quirk]

Oh, I don't have a problem with genealogical research for those who have an interest.

As for Jack: I can think of worse ancestors.

Atheism: as good a reason as any.

[thedoc]

Anyone here caught the genealogy bug? It seems as if everyone I talk to has joined an internet genealogy site, or had their DNA 'profile' done. If so, have you unearthed family secrets, found anyone famous? Or is your ancestry as boring as you expected it to be? What about DNA? Were you distraught to find that you have no trendy 'native American' ancestry after all? Do you think it's safe to have your DNA profile in the hand of the mormons, and did you know that they use your genealogy information to 'induct' your dead ancestors into the mormon faith?

My one daughter did that, then I found out that each site will give different results, so you just pick the one you like best. I have never done the test. I already know where my most recent ancestors came from but I don't know where their ancestors came from and that is what the test will show.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Anyone here caught the genealogy bug? It seems as if everyone I talk to has joined an internet genealogy site, or had their DNA 'profile' done. If so, have you unearthed family secrets, found anyone famous? Or is your ancestry as boring as you expected it to be? What about DNA? Were you distraught to find that you have no trendy 'native American' ancestry after all? Do you think it's safe to have your DNA profile in the hand of the mormons, and did you know that they use your genealogy information to 'induct' your dead ancestors into the mormon faith?

My one daughter did that, then I found out that each site will give different results, so you just pick the one you like best. I have never done the test. I already know where my most recent ancestors came from but I don't know where their ancestors came from and that is what the test will show.

Each sites gives results that focus on something different. There's one that gives a health profile, one that gives direct paternal and maternal lines, one that gives cousin and geographic links (best for hobby genealogy)...

You have to wonder about the privacy thing though, with the internet and the latest craze for genealogy. These people might be dead, but it still seems pretty invasive to have their secrets dug up by curious descendants. Must be a huge money-spinner for the mormons--they used to do it for nothing as a way of 'soul-gathering'.

[henry quirk]

Wait till it becomes a common practice to DNA map newborns. Only a hop, skip, and jump from there to the mappers laying legal claim to gene sequences.

You need a new liver, lung, heart, eye, etc., you'll have to go to the mapper who 'owns' your DNA profile to get the cloned replacement.

[Sir-Sister-of-Suck]

Do you think it's safe to have your DNA profile in the hand of the mormons, and did you know that they use your genealogy information to 'induct' your dead ancestors into the mormon faith?

Huh? Mormons?