[OSM-talk] Naming dispute over Jerusalem - OSM failure

[Serge Wroclawski]

2011/10/4 dimka israeli <dimka.israel at hotmail.co.il>:
> Hello to all,
>
> I would like to inform the OSM community about an ongoing dispute
> regarding the node "Jerusalem"
> http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/node/29090735.

Most of the hardcore community (the ones who are obsessive about the
project) already know about this dispute.

> In my opinion, the handling of this dispute by OSM officials has up until
> now been entirely
> inappropriate, damaging for the Israeli OSM community and  perhaps even
> politically motivated.

That's quite a mouthful, so let's break it down.

>  entirely inappropriate

This is rhetorical, see the end of this mail on why that's not helpful.

>  damaging for the Israeli OSM community

I think we can only speak about individuals, rather than others. Let's
try to stay grounded.

>  and  perhaps even  politically motivated.

Please, for everyone's sake, take a breather here. I know that you
feel hurt, but claiming that a dispute about a tag on a map is due to
a worldwide community project's hidden political motivations doesn't
help your cause. People don't like to be accused of things, and when
you're trying to get people to sympathize with you, accusing them
(even with conditioners like "perhaps") doesn't help.

> We believe that this situation sets a very dangerous precedent.  The DWG has
> obviously taken sides in this dispute and therefore proved itself
> non-trustworthy.   It allowed itself to be manipulated by people completely
> outside of OSM.

I've also read the forum and some of the problem is one of communication.

There's a lot of talk about meetings, and commitments, and agreements.
This may seem entirely rational if you live in Israel. It's not
anywhere else, not even in Washington, DC (where I live).

Such language actually detracts from the willingness of people to
listen, and makes even those who agree with you groan.

I'm writing this response for two reasons. First, because I want you,
Dimka, and the rest of the Israeli community to read it. You're not
representing your side very well based on the forums. The language of
international diplomacy comes off as confrontational.

And I'm writing for the rest of the OSM community to realize that
despite how Dimka is presenting himself, I think he, and the other
Israelis, are being honest and truthful here.

This is a real challenge. for everyone, but I suggest that we stick to
the facts, and not get into issues of politics and views, and other
issue which are sure to cause sides to harden their stances.

- Serge