[OSM-talk] A message to our friends at HOT, Peace Corps etc. about Changeset Comments

[Heather Leson]

Good day fellow OSMers,

I have read this thread with great interest. There are some productive
solutions such as training and technical changes. Thank you. Every day
someone joins OpenStreetMap. Every day someone tinkers and tries to learn.
This is a good thing. In open communities, there is a varied learning arch
from beginner to expert. And, in most open communities, there are a few
moments when the growth from early adopters changes to include a wider,
diverse and global (multi-lingual) community. This is also a good thing.

I am concerned that these discussions close the door for new community
members or quieter community members or people of different skills or
people with lower digital literary skills. To me we are responsible to be
good leaders - welcome new people and be thankful that the community and
OSM improves. Yes, there are processes to change. But the one thing that I
really want to make very clear is that some of the comments are very
elitist and potential limit OSM. I also think that the tone of some of the
notes does not bode well for a healthy space for all.

We are collectively so much better than this potential road. We need to be
kinder.

Thank you,

Heather
OSM Member
HOT, Board of Directors


Heather Leson
heatherleson at gmail.com
Twitter: HeatherLeson
Blog: textontechs.com

On Thu, Nov 19, 2015 at 8:06 PM, Simon Poole <simon at poole.ch> wrote:

>
> Am 19.11.2015 um 15:53 schrieb Blake Girardot:
> > ....
> > It is a ridiculous statement on its face; obviously HOT does not
> > succeed if OSM does not succeed.
>
> I think we fully agree and if you recheck you will see that I said
> essentially the same.
>
> >
> > As to the original issue Ramm raised:
> >
> > Most HOT folks who commented agreed the example changeset comments,
> > while useful, could benefit from improvement (as could the vast
> > majority changeset comments in OSM). Mikel has already opened an issue
> > in github to improve them and the issue has already been brought to
> > the people who manage HOT OSM Tasking Manager projects, how is that
> > not working with and being responsive to the larger OSM community?
>
> Again if you go back you will see that I couldn't quite believe that a
> shism was really being declared because it doesn't make any sense.
>
> On the other hand you can't deny that HOT is in some ways self defeating
> since it isolates lots of people from the whole of OSM and the nitty
> grity parts. Intentionally naturally, but it doesn't necessarily
> actually help the humanitarian sectors understanding of what OSM is and
> how it works.
>
> >
> > I think HOT's history demonstrates an eagerness (and outright need) to
> > work with the OSM community at every opportunity (not mistake free of
> > course).  But I can also personally point to at least 1 example where
> > HOT has reached out to OSMF and the License WG and literally been
> > ignored after repeated attempts to even discuss an issue.
>
> I would be interested in a reference to that. We get a large number of
> enquiries, ~ 200 this year to date, and occasionally stuff gets pushed
> back, particularly if there is no good answer (naturally you would get
> an answer pointing that out).
>
> Simon
>
>
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>
>
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