[Talk-us] Slack: Do we need an Alternative (was Planning an import in Price George...)

[Greg Morgan]

On Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 9:42 AM, Martijn van Exel <m at rtijn.org> wrote:

>
> I would argue that it is a good thing that people converge on one platform
> to talk about OSM. Whether Slack remains the right choice is something we
> can debate. It was really the only feasible choice that was available to us
> at the time we (OSM US) felt the need for a better platform for
> conversations. Slack has done its job as a for-profit non-open company well
> in the sense that we're somewhat locked in now. I dislike the fact that it
> is a walled garden, and becoming more so, as much as anyone who values free
> and open data and software. If there is a practical way to improve that
> situation, we should pursue it.
>
> Finally, please stop your unpleasant trolling, it has no place in OSM.
>
> Martijn


I am thinking of something that happened _even before Slack was around_.  I
found out late that, let's say it was, USSOTUM was already a go and that
planning in high gear.  Come to find out that I guess that I should be
reading the US Chapter's blog every day.  I don't recall seeing the
information in an email.  Well with the job that I have now, I have only so
much time to divide between mapping and other activities. Sometimes all I
have time for is a quick scan of email and adding a single node.  My older
phone was only 8G.  I had no room for anther app like slack.  What is nice
about email is that I can watch various OSM messages along with various
github notifications with just one app.  I just don't have time for all the
social media channels out there.

If part of the mission of the US chapter is to "spread the word", then the
chapter is not succeeding by selecting just one channel.  Not everyone has
a nice phone to load apps, or would care about slack, facebook, or
Twitter.  I think that the board needs to use all of the systems to get the
word out.

https://www.openstreetmap.us/
We support OpenStreetMap by holding annual conferences, providing community
resources, building partnerships, and by spreading the word.

Regards,
Greg
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