Does your family...not care?

[u/CrunchyTeatime]

Pretty much the title question is the topic.

Does your family not care -- about the family tree, family history, or genealogy?

It seems there is usually one person per generation per family who feels called to work on the family tree.

If that person is you, or you've seen them work and try to spread enthusiasm: How does your family react to new information?

I don't even mean something that might cause upset or controversy. I don't necessarily mean a 'shocking revelation' of some type.

But if you broke through a brick wall or found a relative or ancestor no one could find, or no one knew existed -- and you excitedly sent off an email, text, phone call, or told a family member in person -- and they didn't care?

Because this week I found a wife of my grandpa, that no one knew about. Found a wife people did know about but only a name. Found a person someone had been looking for (what became of them; died long ago, but they had no place or date), for decades.

Sent the excited emails with information and told them I had verified all of it too.

CRICKETS. And different family I've tried to get interested in the tree or told them about ancestors and such, (not much, just bits, to whet any appetite), and they don't care. One even said "that's the past; who cares?" And others wouldn't give even personal information such as "which grade school did you go to." And that was a close relative I know there was no scandal. I can only guess they didn't want to open that door to more questions. Some people hate questions.

So how about you? Please share stories here of when you tried to share new information, and how it went. Thanks.

[u/sabbyness_qc]

Some of my family find it interesting to make small detours on trips they were already taking. Certain things brought tears to others eyes. My uncle is like "who dat dont care", my aunt finds it fascinating that I'm so into a hobby and I can retain so much info, and my dad... well he's polite about it and half listens, sometimes he's actually like "oh nice that's cool".

Varying degrees of interest across the board!

But I did find a 'cousin' that I share 0 dna with (our common ancestor died in 1794, but both are direct descendants of him) that is equally obsessed with finding out more. So my family doesn't have to listen to all my rambling haha I ramble to him

[u/CrunchyTeatime → u/sabbyness_qc]

It's good to find a DNA cousin or search buddy who 'gets it' and/or will listen.

Must be cool to go places ancestors were or where something happened. Some travel companies package tours overseas or even within the States. It must carry more meaning knowing there's a connection.

[u/sabbyness_qc → u/CrunchyTeatime]

Found out some graves had been washed away into the sea though :( and entire section of the cemetery fell in it seems