[OHM] Wikimaps reporting

[Lester Caine]

Susanna Ånäs wrote:
> You are right in that the Wikipedia encyclopedia does not lend itself to
> interpretations or original research, but relies on cited sources of
> information. It is exactly that what has given it more credibility among the
> scholars, the GLAMmers - Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums - that we
> trying to work together with in bringing more of the historical stuff into
> Wikimedia's projects.
>
> Also, your observation of deletions with inadequate source references is what
> has put many unprepared scholars off. Having complemented with (quality) first
> hand information without referring to sources has been the beginning and end for
> contributions. I agree that there should be more space for negotiation - but I
> have not been involved in discussions how to realize this.

I think things are a little better today. But historic material has been lost 
which would better be maintained in parallel with what WAS allowed to remain. I 
will not go into detail, but my main grip was with how 'software' was handled 
and many of the deleted packages were important development tracks relating to 
those that were allowed to remain. The important source references are what HAS 
now been lost and we can't now track the development of what remains via 
wikipedia :(

> I am very interested in this space between Wikimedia and OSM with historical
> geography and eventually historical storytelling. The practices have not been
> invented yet - or maybe they have - but they come together from different
> sources. I hope you are willing to explore!

I can see a place for 'quality' information, but I can also see a place for 
displaying research for others to assist with. Personally I view the 'history' 
of how material came into existence is as useful as the data itself even if the 
final result is different. 'Delete' is not in my method, except for malicious 
actions, and even then they should be retained IN the version history.

If you follow the main OSM list you will see my posts about 'shared material' 
and OSM providing a base for cooperation rather than simply a database. 
Personally I see a lot of the historic data being contained in the main database 
with 'start_date', but marrying in third party data like the old OS mapping is 
already available, and the next step is providing 'overlays' of data that can 
use this existing and expanding background data.

> Susanna
>
>
> 2013/7/9 Lester Caine <lester at lsces.co.uk <mailto:lester at lsces.co.uk>>
>
>     Mikel Maron wrote:
>
>         Just seeing this. If you aren't interested in any aspect of projects talked
>         about here, that's fine, but no reason to give this kind of stop energy. But
>         many of us are interested in collaborations, and welcome the thinking
>         and ideas.
>         It's all about the Commons.
>
>
>     My objections are not directed to the "don't" but rather to the manor in
>     which contributions to wikipedia then get stripped as "not in line with our
>     objectives". If this attitude has changed in recent years then wikipedia
>     need to reduce the appearance of some of the warnings that appear on what is
>     essentially important content.
>
>     Contributors who put effort into content need to feel that their work is
>     valued, and will not simply be deleted. This does of cause need to be
>     tempered with the blocking of blatant vandalism but 'advertising activity'
>     should not be limited because someone makes a judgement call that an
>     articles target "does not have enough interest to be valid!" ... We would
>     not block the appearance of material on the mapping simply because it's "not
>     got enough supporting evidence", and on historic mapping this may be more
>     important so that alternate material may need to be supported and disputes
>     documented rather than simply deleted?


-- 
Lester Caine - G8HFL
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