[OSM-talk] [OSM-legal-talk] In what direction should OSM go?

[Anthony]

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 12:13 AM, John Smith <deltafoxtrot256 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 30 September 2010 14:08, Anthony <osm at inbox.org> wrote:
>> If it doesn't need to be edited, then it shouldn't be imported.
>
> Why not if it enhances the database?

Enhances the database how?

I actually agree with Frederik Ramm (on this particular point):  If
the data doesn't need to be edited, and it doesn't connect to (i.e.
share nodes with) other data that needs to be edited, then "Instead of
importing data, data should be mixed in at the rendering stage."

In the particular case we were talking about data that "cannot be
obtained by surveying" (*).  So it wouldn't share nodes with roads,
riverbanks, etc.  Why bother having it in OSM?  It's just going to
clutter up the editors.

(*) I actually can't think of any boundary data for which this is the
case, though.