Good Idea? Bad Idea? Online Trees? Part 1

Is there such a thing as One World Tree? One tree that documents every ancestor back to....... well, as far as records exist. Those advocating a One World Tree believe (as do I) that we're all children of God and therefore we are related. Somehow. Somewhere in time. But the information on those 20th generation ancestors is beyond our ken and our reach, isn't it? 

Let's talk practicality. Ask yourself these questions: 

• How far back can I, or do I want, to find (and document) my ancestors??
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• Aren't we mostly happy if we can find records back into the 1500s? That's 20 generations, a million names! Can we keep track of a million ancestors? Can we know a million ancestors? I think not. I cannot!
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• Do we really care what path other genealogists might choose to pursue?
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• What do know about the last 5 generations of ancestors? (That's nearly 200 years!) Isn't that the point of doing family history.... to get to know at least something of an ancestor's life and times? 

Once those questions have been answered in your mind, consider these:

• Do I want to share my tree/information or keep it (safely) to myself?
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• Back 200 years (or more) are those folks just your ancestors? Hardly. 
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• Besides, how many answers have I gained for my family tree/ancestors from others?? Isn't sharing really the best option?
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• Lisa Louise Cooke (FamilyTreeMagazine, May/June 2022) advocated YES for sharing but to "keep the heart of our genealogy at home..... a master family tree of your family tree, built on your own computer, is the key to securing your family history now and for generations to come." 
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• While I greatly respect Lisa Louise, I puzzle her answer. Just keep my tree on my computer? What if my computer crashes/floods/burns in a fire...... and I've not kept backups regularly? And/or shared them with family? All will be lost. 
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• Everything I've read, and from all the genealogy/tech gurus, say this: DO have an online tree, do keep it backed up in multiple places, and DO keep your tree in a home computer program on your own computer. 
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• Puzzle and ponder your answer to these questions and "problems"............ Part 2 next time.