Managing editor Diane Haddad's special report on online etiquette reminded me of an e-mail I got several years ago from an infuriated genealogist (I'll call her "Linda"). She'd found a family tree on GenCircles <www.gencircles.com> that contained incorrect information about her ancestors and personal data on her living relatives. The submitter, "Bill," had offered to remove Linda's personal details, but ignored her request to change any other data.

Incensed by this, Linda threatened Bill with legal action. She then contacted us to report the violation of GenCircles' privacy policy, saying it was our duty to warn the genealogical public against using GenCircles because of what had happened to her.