Sloppy Research

Brian -

I come on your list of nit pickers as I believe that if anyone is stating something which is patently wrong - in the best possible manner I shall correct him whether he is along standing academic - renowned author - Historian - or read the

wrong books or family legend has gone haywire - the objective truth must prevail in my view..and if they object ...then tough beans as Truth is paramount...

Cheers

 

I enjoy reading *everything* that is on offer regarding research - "nitpicking" for me, isn't a problem; rather have the correct information than find out later that there are inaccuracies.

As long as it's done politely and constructively, I'm happy to receive all assistance and critiques the vast knowledge of the forum can offer.

I'm just trying to work out exactly what I want the good bods of the forum to help me with; researching my grandfather's Maritime Artillery service has taken me 30 years, and I'm still finding little gems of info!

 

I've been 'Owen'd' a few times myself, I think it's a rite of passage here. Nothing better to set you on the proper path, is there. If he or any of the members didn't care, they wouldn't post a correction or, ahem, helpful suggestion.


Oh I feel a new listing in the
Oxford English Dictionary

Owen'd : To be corrected and paused for thought.


regards
Clive

 

My initial (incorrect) research led me to buy what I thought was the unit history of my Dad's RA Regiment. Searches came up all over the internet for 102 LAA/AT Regiment, also known as the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry. They did exist as a combined until early 1940, when the LAA & AT roles became seperate. The book cost me £100 and when I read it, I realised I'd made a mistake. The good thing is that I can still potentially sell it at a profit as it is very collectible.

After I was on the correct track, I then discovered that even the CWGC also had 160 men incorrectly listed under the combined 102 LAA/AT (Northumberland Hussars) Regt title. Following correct research into 102 LAA & 102 AT Regts and documentary evidence, I was able to prove to the CWGC that the records were wrong and they've changed them.

The downside is that the first casualty of my Dad's Regt had a Lincolnshire Regt headstone. He died 24 days after they converted to 102 LAA Regt RA. CWGC agreed to replace the headstone when I proved he served with 102 LAA Regt. I have both the service record and the war diary as evidence. Guess what they did? They gave him the headstone of the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry. Despite repeated requests, they still refuse to change it to the Generic RA headstone.

 

Diane

Aye I've been 'Owen'd' (I do like that word) a few times too-and you certainly know about it when it happens
He's a big softy really


Lesley

 

My "sloppy research" is when I respond to a query posed by another member without checking the info against the records I already hold on computer.

My memory always lets me down and I bless the day when I sent away for my personal records.

Ron

 

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's post on this thread . It is a great feeling to be able to chat with people with the same excitement , enthusiasm for a subject that we all feel passionate about and I am really happy I found this sight and all it's members. I get so wrapped up sometimes in following your threads , it's like living history when you senior members get going .

 

I like I have been Owen'd, another one I use is oh great I've been Ronald'd and am loving it - hope you don't mind Ron.

 

Everyone makes mistakes when it comes to research that is always going to be the case due to the nature of the beast. However, it is important to bring mistakes posted in a thread to light as the forum is used by people as a research tool in its own right. I hate to see incorrect information held online and passed on as fact and posted on different forums and websites as some inexperienced searchers take this infomration as being fact without doing any further background research. One should always double check facts and sources no matter where they came from.

I will always point out mistakes if I see them but I like to think I am always courteous when I question something on this forum or elsewhere as good manners cost nothing.

Regards
Hugh

 

For the record, neither Owen or Ron has ever been on my list of those who appear to take pleasure in correcting others - it's a difficult thing to get used to the online world when people speaking plainly can seem abrupt. I suppose it's difficult to hold back sometimes when something has been your life's work and some doofus steps on your toes, but today's doofus might be tomorrow's colleague. And also for the record, this forum has generally been a delight.

 

It is so easy to make assumptions when we start off with only a little information. I was convinced that Dad was in 1/8 Lancashire Fusiliers to went down that road, only to discover it was the 1st LFs... A totally different but similar experience..luckily I hadn't started writing at that point. But now unearthing what happened at White City and Mogaung is as fascinating and harrowing as what happened at Kohima.
I am not entirely in agreement with the idea of objective truth, Tom, although there are obviously certain facts involved in historical events. It seems the same events can be viewed quite differently by for example, Commanders and generals away from the action, Leaders involved in battles, and lower ranks or junior officers in the same battles. Reading various accounts leads to some common areas, but also alternative opinions where objective truth is not the main point. For me the most interesting part of research is the part that is not entirely fact based, but is opinion, disagreement and miscommunication.
On another note, I was very excited to discover that my father left a recording at the 2nd world war experience centre in Wetherby only to find that somehow he got cut off in mid sentence at about the same point as his diary ended, so I am jumping up and down with frustration at the moment! Technology was not his strong point!
But returning to the original topic I am very grateful for all the help I have had here...coulnt have started without you all...

 

Zahonado great post, as well as getting history lessons on here I am hoping I too will be able to express myself as well as you have in your post Elsie

 

Zahonada

I can appreciate various opinions of an event of historical importance as long as it is objective truth…I do rail however at using subjective truth - as many do in this and other forums

whether they know the difference is not my concern - while I appear to be on Brian's list as nit picker whilst exempting both Owen and Ron - then so be it as History is passed on to the next

generations as being ONLY the truth - alas many Historians - Authors - Academics seem to forget that at times - not that I am implying that they use "porkies" but rather "bending the Truth "

Cheers

 

Send Three And Fourpence, We are Going To A Dance

 

Clive

that of course is bad listening - Not bad talking or writing…bad writing is telling the world that the 17th battalion of the 21st Lancers captured a small village in the Liri Valley.. and that from the pen of

a Pulitzer prize winner and renowned Author…whose elementary research is a bit suspect...

Cheers

 

Sloppy Research ?

Occasionally, some of us try to put things right, but it is not always that easy.

Take this as an example:
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/9559-am-i-bovvered/

Ron

ps
On re-reading my ww2talk article I see that I was, on one occasion, at least, able to put things right
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/40/a4768040.shtml

 

We would be at a loss and stuck at sea without a boat if it was not for Tom, Ron, Sapper, Steve, ramascal, Zahonado the ladies,Drew, the list is far too many to list. Without most of the people and this site l would be so ignorant of the truth . I have had this internet since it started, the first computer was hardly used and as the kids were growing up too busy working, living life and having fun. I have only started getting my internet money's worth since I retired and as I got bored in my leisurely retirement I have got a beautiful garden but the challenge was gone the day it was finished, I have made beautiful things on my sewing machine and again once you have achieved the tricky bits the challenge is gone. Sat bored I picked up the 5 year old laptop that had only ever been set up and never used and ended up doing the family tree . By this time I had been on a couple of sites . Twiddling my thumbs I decided to do dads war service record and the kids said mum you need an I pad and wifi printer/scanner so here I am nearly completing another challenge but the difference with this project as it nears completion is the challenge is growing to learn more and more about ww2 and the people . I just cannot get enough of the learning and I hope it never fades.This is the first site I have actively got involved with and internet chat turns me into a person that always opens mouth before engaging brain , get too excited when learning something new . This, l think is from having four years of having no intellectual conversation because what I have found , as sad as it may seem my new interest bores my family, mums careers and my friends . This I have learnt from being all bubbly about telling them this chap, that lady have put a great link to a fantastic site and their faces say it all so I shut up. So you see when I am on this site and constantly learning all my enthusiasm takes over and logic is gone.. And that's where you people come in your comments and advice reel me in and get me thinking which is never a bad thing and to be honest if you all never gave me advice or correct me and later I found out the truth for myself then I would think you were a load of T......s and P...s taking clever sods taking the Micky and I would not log on. So please carry on putting the ignorant right because how do people move out of the ignorant zone if no one is willing to correct their mistakes