[OSM-talk] OSM TrustPoints

[Sam Vekemans]

Agreed,
Trust points not needed.
The system in place now, which prevents vandalism, is of users all the time
always have their eyes on the map.

Unlike other websites, which bots might manage. .. we have actual people
always watching it.

The instant that new edits are made, everyone is aware of it. So as soon as
a error (weather it's a bot, or a human-error) it's found, and it gets
fixed.

Ie. in Montreal someone accidentally moved a bunch of stuff (a newbie) it
was reported on the talk-ca list, they messaged that user so to see if it
was a bot or a person.  And it was a person, who made an error, then work
begins to learn how to un-do the edit.  (Personally i don't know how, but
it's easy to find out)  ... just ask :-)   .... and when i added a bunch of
river names and accently had them tagged as towns, as soon as it got
rendered someone told me about it.  (knowing its a test area... but it still
got fixed)

I also notest there hasn't been any change on the 'history tab' where i see
all edits that happened.  So it's fine the way it is, as even if it's
bulk_uploads, i like to know whats going on.  Right now i see that new
language name tags were added.  Awesome! (it's easy enough for me to scroll
down a little to find local peoples edits). But having that option to filter
down to the area would help, but AFTER seeing all the edits. .. as the big
edits would have local impact also.

So that safegueard is what croudsourcing is all about.   If for my example,
if that user didn't respond, the next step is to ask on the talk list about
it report it on the user diaries.  Then almost instantly (within a short
period of time) all efforts are made to contact that user, and those
changesets are recorded. and can be reverted if it's found to be a bot that
was malitious.

So far (in the last year) it's only been xy bot that likes to make edits,
but that's been fixed, as we have openstreetbugs, ... and that darn
smoothness tag, that everyone likes to edit on the wiki :) ... but people
still use that tag for some strange reasons. ... it probably becaue they
want people to jump in and help further define the tags.   Maybe some admins
have seen lots? But get caught faster than we can see?

So that said, although a nice idea. .. just 'cause other sites like to give
thumbs up and use different forms of veri-sign and stuff. .. doesn't mean
openstreetmap.org has to.

I see ALL edits, no matter how big or how small as just as an important
contribution. It's all done to make the map better. .. all edits get a
changeset number, and open for everyone to see.

So in short, IMO croudsourcing with thousands of eyes on the map at all
times, is the best method of preventing spam, and vandels.  Therefore having
trustpoints isn't needed.

Cheers,
Sam Vekemans
Across Canada Trails

Twitter: @Acrosscanada
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sam.vekemans
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