[OSM-talk] Detrimental validation software

[Dave F.]

On 13/10/2014 17:18, Aaron Lidman wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Richrico should have responded. The Mapbox data team has a policy to 
> respond to all questions from the community. I'm sorry he didn't, he 
> has now, and we've reminded all members of our data team of this 
> policy. This should no longer be an issue in the future and all of our 
> data team policies are completely transparent and can be found on the 
> wiki: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Mapbox#Data_Team_Guidelines
>
> The software is not "being misused to insert errors into the OSM 
> database", it was a mistake.

For whatever reason, mistake or intentional, the software was still 
being misused - those roads do not join & he wouldn't have made that 
amendment without it.

> Looking at the imagery I can see how it might be thought they connect, 
> especially when none of us are using google maps for verification, right?

Wrong. I was using Streetview to confirm to the forum what I already 
knew - that the roads don't join. I don't need Google as I went there & 
did a proper visual survey, whereas your employee just "thought" they 
"might" join. This armchair guesswork is bad for the OSM database: If 
you're unsure if an edit will improve the quality of the map - please 
don't make it.

I use the validation software you mention, but only to correct data that 
I have first hand knowledge of & never to amend something in another 
time zone where I've never been. Even when I do use them, I stop to 
think whether it is an accurate error report & not blindly fix it 
assuming it must be true.

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