اوپن سٹریٹ میپ
I was out numbering houses today... I always feel so creepy when I do that, looking at houses and mailboxes and typing things down on a piece of paper... The worst part is walking down cul-de-sacs where people are walking in their gardens and just looking at you like you're some kind of creep... All while you are walking around to every house looking for their numbers, and then walk out of the area again without saying a word. I got out of one situation by asking a guy about help with my project and explaining it, but doing that every time is out of the question.
I've been thinking about buying an OSM surveyor vest but I'm not convinced I could go around wearing that and still feeling like a decent human being...
Any suggestions?
Discussion
ایہہ 15؍April 2010ء 02:56 تے «JohnSmith» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
The trick is to act like you own the place, it's basic social engineering, if you wanted to go a little further you could print up a name tag and put something like "OpenStreetMap Surveyor" under your name.
People only start to be suspicious if you act otherwise.
ایہہ 15؍April 2010ء 03:55 تے «andrewpmk» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
Get up early on a Sunday morning and do it - no traffic and hardly anyone outside, but it's still light out (in the summer).
ایہہ 15؍April 2010ء 06:11 تے «nmixter» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
Or you can find a database to import. Just try not to be too creepy. Be open and be honest.
ایہہ 15؍April 2010ء 08:19 تے «kenguest» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
I tend to bring along a few printouts of one of these 'posters' with me and given one to anyone that asks what I'm doing.
http://blogs.linux.ie/kenguest/2010/03/25/openstreetmap-posters/
ایہہ 15؍April 2010ء 10:17 تے «chillly» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
Buy an OpenStreetMap surveyor's jacket (I think Andy Allan sells them). Then you look very official. Be prepared to answer questions which spreads the message.
ایہہ 15؍April 2010ء 23:34 تے «robert» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
I think the simplest low-key way of doing it is just using a small clipboard.
Looks like you've got a job to do. Which you have.
ایہہ 16؍April 2010ء 07:35 تے «agsochi» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
You can use OpenMaps - iPhone App, add any tag at any place.
http://itunes.apple.com/ru/app/openmaps-free/id359719250?mt=8
It's free.
ایہہ 16؍April 2010ء 09:32 تے «Grillo» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
I could, if I had an Iphone :) Thanks for all of the suggestions, I'll think about getting one of those jackets after all... Also, I got out at a bad time. Nice weather and just after people start getting home from work. It's probably better to choose less crowded times like the middle of the working day or in the morning of a weekend.
ایہہ 16؍April 2010ء 09:33 تے «Grillo» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
Checked the link to the iphone app, WANTS!
ایہہ 17؍April 2010ء 15:38 تے «G3YAC» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
I've been thinking about getting some business cards printed up to help with this type of isue. http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/ (and maybe others) will make them to a standard design for around £3 or £4 for 250. Somewhat more if you want to fully customise them with your own choice of logo and screed on the back but it would spread the word and probably placate the mildly suspicious.
ایہہ 19؍April 2010ء 04:36 تے «LivingWithDragons» ٹپݨی کیتی گئی سی۔
This may be why I always hope people ask what I'm doing, so then I can explain nicely and not be a creep. The jacket helps though, if they don't want to approach you they can look up OpenStreetMap on the web.