Microfilm rage
“Genealogy is nothing more or nothing less than the most selfish form of history imaginable.” Yes, Liam Hogan’s stoush with the family historians continues. “What is the social benefit of giving … middle-aged retired folk [the ability] to boast at dinner parties that one of their ancestor was transported from Lancashire in 1805 for fucking a chicken, or that their other syphillitic ancestor married some bag of tuberculosis in Devon in 1590?”
Geez, the one line I regret you quote me on. Talk about going over the top.
Any evidence of a large increase in chicken fucking after decriminalisation?
Just wondering.
A policeman north of Brisbane, a few years ago, pulled aside a car where a young man was doing such an action. This is one of those stories that did not make the evening news.
Its a little thing called heritage and we like to know.
Maybe we should knock down everything heritage protected too.
Chicken fucking is your family’s heritage? Fair enough, but I wouldn’t be bragging about it on the internet.
Only kidding.
Family history is important, but Liam has a point — family historians are the least friendly, most self-important variety. They should lighten up, and yes, broaden their horizons a little bit. Their family is important, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
OK, seriously now kids.
Australian family historians generally have little use for libraries and find more of their sources in the various State archives, which tend to hold the records of direct use to them: birth, death, marriage, immigration, conscription, conviction, and so on. State archives put a lot of money into servicing genealogical requests and also have fantastic internet resources for those willing to look.
I don’t mind family historians at all, but they do shit me to tears when they monopolise equipment and resources meant to be available to non-family researchers.
I was once advised by an historian that when I was seeking help from the archivists at the state library I should, for my own benefit, make it clear that I wasn’t a family historian…
It’s fair to say, I could see why I might have been offered such advice.
And I say that as someone who plans to sit down one day and research my family history.