[OSM-talk] Advertising debate held hostage by Wittgenstein

[Barry Smith]

I've been mapping for about 6 months in West Oxfordshire UK, since I found
OSM after developing my own GPS software. I've had negative reactions, from
one member of OSM in particular, and my initial reaction was to withdraw and
go away.

However after cooling down I reconsidered and am now back on the "fringe" of
the community.

It seems to me that Steve has put more than most into this project, and it
probably would not exist today, but for him. He is obviously very committed
to OSM.

We all react badly sometime to criticism and negativity, me more than most.
So the occasional "Dumbwit" or "dumb fuck" should be taken for what it
hopefully was - someone "venting" frustration. He probably regretted it a
split second after hitting the send key.

Lets just forgive and forget and get on with it, and stop throwing "toys out
of the pram".

Steve "Fucking" good job with OSM  - keep it up.

Regards

Barry






----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Basenga Kiyanda" <kiyanda2 at uiuc.edu>
To: <talk at openstreetmap.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: [OSM-talk] Advertising debate held hostage by Wittgenstein


>
>> Now, as a member of this community, I need to make a decision.  I have
>> only been mapping for about 6 months, but I absolutely love it.  I have
>> mapped substantial amounts of Saskatchewan and have worked on software
>> to follow rivers on Landsat images.  (not bragging... just pointing out
>> i have been more than casually involved.)  I have also spent many late
>> nights on IRC as a member of the community.  My experience, however, has
>> been soured by the actions of its leader.  Do I want to be led by
>> someone who may call me a "fuckwit" or "dumb fuck?"  (remember, I
>> actually feel the same about the ads as the people who were directly
>> called this)  The answer is "no."  I see the ads have been removed.
>> Sadly, by now, that's not even the issue anymore.  The damage has been
>> done, and I see little to no attempt to begin repairing it.
>>
>> For the near future, at least, my involvement with OSM will be reduced
>> to "Lurk."
>>
> I hear you on this one. I haven't been nearly as involved as you are.
> Basically, I've been submitting tracks in New Mexico and started mapping
> the streets properly (although I haven't updated any changes yet). I was
> in Hawaii not long ago and brought the gps along for the express purpose
> of doing some mapping of the highways I would be travelling on while I
> was there. Yet, with all the bickering, I'm reconsidering whether I
> should really get involved deeper into this project. "Open source"
> projects like this one aren't just about embracing a good cause that one
> wants to see furthered. It's also about enjoying the time you're doing
> it. The bickering on the list and the fuckwit and dumb fuck comments
> (especially since they come from the leader of the project) make me
> reconsider my choice to get involved.
>
> No offense to anyone, I'm just adding on the situation as it is
> experienced by new members.
>
> Regards,
>
> Charles
>
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