Originally Posted by
sgmcgregor
Oddquine,
Like you mentioned in your post in regards your parents, I too would prefer my father's gravestone not be viewable online. But in saying that, the cemetery is a public place, and the stones are openly viewable by anyone who visits the cemetery, and I would imagine that there is nothing to stop them taking pictures (legally speaking) - how they can be used is another matter. The problem lies in the fact that everyone will have different views and sensitivities. Speaking for myself, it is a close personal link to someone, in the sense of having known them directly, which would be likely to be the source of any issues.
For your own protection and peace of mind you could find out what the legal standpoint is, and proceed from there - possibly also stating that you are willing to remove items if asked to do so by relatives. Otherwise, I would suggest you go with the time constraints used by archive centres - public records cannot be viewed unless they are 100 years or older.
That is my tuppence worth, but others may (and probably will) have different views.
Regards,
Steven
P.S. At this point I should also admit that I have used these types of website in my own family history research, but only when I have been unable to visit the site personally. Gravestones can be very useful in family research, and especially for details that are under the 100 year rule of archives. However, any information I find I keep for personal use only, rather than make freely available. And any information I do find, I would be able to get via a visit to Edinburgh and a little time spent in the Scotlands People (Register House) offices. So to confuse things further, the 100 year rule doesn't apply if you make a visit there - you cannot print the information but could research it if you have the mind to do so!
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