[OSM-dev] Removing functionality and giving just No as answer

[Jóhannes Birgir Jensson]

As evident in the discussion on issue 
https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/issues/1446 there 
are several people interested in maintaining functionality that existed 
only a few days ago - being able to view single tiles just as easily as 
before.

A patch was submitted which added the tile to the new context menu 
(which in itself is a fine addition but eliminated the functionality 
being discussed). See 
https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/1450

It was closed and rejected in a very abrupt and unconstructive manner.

The issue itself was also closed with accusation of brigading.

However what was most aberrant there was the assertion "If you want 
something to show tile status then fine. I might even agree to an option 
to get the tile URL or expire a tile (though the latter is perhaps 
unlikely) but it needs to be properly integrated, not just dumping the 
URL in another tab and letting the user fiddle with it."

As the issue is closed to non-collaborators I don't find any other place 
to bring this up than here. Every person who has put their name to the 
discussions, for and against, has done tremendous work for OpenStreetMap 
- that is never in doubt.

But removing functionality and then denying it to be re-added based on 
very little but personal objective is unhelpful and detrimental.

What should have been a great patch with addition of context menu is 
turning into an issue because of one very simple change and resistance 
to tweaking it.

Denigrating active mappers because they are "the 0.001%" of the user 
base is hardly a solid reason - nor is "what makes good UX for the 99% 
not what will make the 1% a little happier".

Did the default map suddenly become a commercial entity overnight which 
thinks of margins and market share? If so I'd like to see the result of 
the A/B testing that validated removing the functionality of viewing 
tiles directly.



--Jói / Stalfur