[OSM-talk] Paweł's q: what can be done?

[Jeff Meyer]

was: geocoding trademark thread

I think Paweł has hit on a key question: does the OSMF have plans to
operate and lead OSM in a more efficient, organized manner or not? And, to
an even more relevant issue: how many people like Paweł show up on the
doorstep and don't bother engaging for the same reasons he mentions?

There's a group working in parallel to put together a strategic plan, in
the absence of one, but doing this without leadership and support from the
top can be problematic. And, no, saying, "That's great, go for it," isn't
really support.

I hope Paweł doesn't leave, but I cannot blame him for feeling the way he
feels. His points are on target. Are there any plans in place for OSMF to
address these types of questions by SotM 2013?

- Jeff

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paweł Paprota <ppawel at fastmail.fm>
Date: Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 4:25 AM
Subject: Re: [OSM-talk] Recent edits in the wiki / Trademark issue
To: talk at openstreetmap.org


On 02/01/2013 08:54 PM, andrzej zaborowski wrote:

> I agree with what you're saying although I can't help thinking that
> if the OSMF can't take the risk of having some things in the wiki,
> the solution, for everyone's benefit, is to move the wiki to a server
> that's not paid for by the OSMF.  I'm positive finding such a server
> wouldn't be difficult (in fact the home page says it is hosted at UCL
> & ByteMark -- so if the OSMF is neither hosting nor writing the
> content, should it accept the C+D?  The admins *are* OSMF members,
> but they're not OSMF). The OSMF has at some point started assuming
> responsibility for what is being published in the database and now on
> the wiki.  In the case of the database it makes sense for someone to
> give some level of warranty that the data in it in fact is legally
> usable, although the consequences of this step have had a terrible
> effect on the map and the community so far.
>

+1000000

Current situation is getting silly to the point that I'm seriously
considering abandoning this project and leaving history tab, vector
tiles and my other projects unfinished just to have peace of mind and
work in a sane project with sane organization behind it like KDE.

On one hand OSMF is telling us they don't want any strategic planning
and involvement, on the other they are redacting and editing data and
wiki. And this is possible mostly because what Andrzej said - that they
host the servers (which I am personally grateful for - to the admins -
no to people who use it for political bullshit like this).

This is NOT how a project should work and you will only discourage
people by doing such stunts.

Either finally get your act together and prepare a proper organization
like KDE e.v (http://ev.kde.org/) or get out of the project and
leave it be. There is still plenty of energy that will fill the void
after you (I'm talking to OSMF).

Paweł

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paweł Paprota <ppawel at fastmail.fm>
Date: Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 5:55 AM
Subject: Re: [OSM-talk] Recent edits in the wiki / Trademark issue
To: Ed Loach <ed at loach.me.uk>
Cc: talk at openstreetmap.org


On 02/02/2013 02:38 PM, Ed Loach wrote:

> As far as I can see, OSMF Ltd is very like KDE ev; compare
> http://blog.osmfoundation.org/**about/<http://blog.osmfoundation.org/about/>
>  and
> http://ev.kde.org/whatiskdeev.**php <http://ev.kde.org/whatiskdeev.php>
>

Legal status is the least of what I meant. Compare what OSMF does with
this quarterly report from the KDE foundation:

http://ev.kde.org/reports/ev-**quarterly-2012_Q3.pdf<http://ev.kde.org/reports/ev-quarterly-2012_Q3.pdf>

Not only is all this stuff happening but they also have people who
prepare such a nice quarterly report.

Also note fund raising efforts, expenses and donations, partners, new
members etc.

This is an organization that actually supports the community in their
efforts. And they are not "evil" in doing that.

What can be done to steer OSMF into that direction? Can it be even done
at this point?


Paweł


-- 
Jeff Meyer
Global World History Atlas
www.gwhat.org
jeff at gwhat.org
206-676-2347
<http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/jeffmeyer> osm: Historical
OSM<http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Historical_OSM>
 / my OSM user page <http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/jeffmeyer>
 t: @GWHAThistory <https://twitter.com/GWHAThistory>
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