I don't understand the reasoning behind many members wanting to hold on to memorials of folks they have no relation to, genetic or otherwise, when there are people willing to maintain them. Findagrave guidelines are just that, guidelines. They are not rules or laws that must be obeyed. The logic behind the beyond-the-four-generation and non-direct-line transfer request guideline from multiple members is specious at best; those requesters would be related and should be able to work out maintenance issues far better than the unrelated memorial creator. The following is directed to those who rigidly follow the guidelines: Why are you holding on to these memorials for people to whom you are not related? What are you going to do with them? What have you done to improve upon the quality of the "bare bones" name and dates memorials in the time since you created them? If you created them a number of years ago, and nobody has made a request to maintain them in all that time, don't you think Findagrave's "reasoning" might not be completely valid? Do you always have the time and enjoy having to act on SOC's requiring additions to the bio section or gravesite details of these memorials (assuming you don't ignore them altogether)?

Regarding members who won't transfer memorials. I ask because they are my ancestors, my blood, and my family. For those of you who hold on to memorials, which often have mistakes, you are doing a disservice to the memorial by holding on to it. Anyone can verify the intent of the person asking to transfer the memorial, if that is your concern, but what nefarious reason can you conjugate for the asking? We are all just trying to maintain an accurate representation for our descendants.

The first Paragraph was reprinted with permission from David McInturff.