[OSM-talk] Update: Advice needed - dispute regarding names in Cyprus

[Paul Fox]

hi -- OSM newbie here.

isn't the real issue that there's really no "fundamental truth"
with regard to geographic placenames, and even borders?

does osm have the ability to present multiple views of the
database, for a given region?  rather than try and put all the
(variant, disputed) data in one place, perhaps the data should be
(effectively) put in two (or more) places/views, and when such a
region is requested, the user should be forced to choose which
view of the region they wish to see.

realistically, this current issue in cyprus is just the first of
what will probably be many conflicts over naming and political
geography.  if osm can't handle such disputes (which have been
going on for as long as mankind has been making maps), perhaps
osm needs to adapt.

paul
=---------------------
 paul fox, pgf at foxharp.boston.ma.us (arlington, ma, where it's 36.7 degrees)