[OSM-talk] Things People Say

[Thomas Davie]

On 30 Dec 2011, at 16:36, Richard Weait wrote:

> On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 10:55 AM, Thomas Davie <tom.davie at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> First of all, one would have to define the exact difference between "OSM is providing maps" and "another project is providing maps". Why exactly would OSM have to provide maps;
>> 
>> Perhaps because that's the original, and stated purpose of the project – to make open maps.
>> 
>> As I've said many times – a database of map data is a *really* useful thing, it's probably the single most important contribution OSM can make, but ultimately, the *point* of the project is to make maps.
>> 
>> Pretty much everything you say is based on the premise that the point of the project is to make an enormous collection of map data, and damn actually being able to use it.  This premise is false.
> 
> The point of a project to create a really good text editor is to
> provide a tool for editing text.  Nobody expects vim or emacs to
> provide you with the finished document when you download vim or emacs.
Right, just like we don't provide where to go for a walk, only the map of the place you could go for a walk.

> Our situation in OSM is not exactly the same as a text editor.
Agreed.

Tom Davie