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?
討論
由 JohnSmith 於 2010年04月15日 02時56分 發表的評論
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.
由 andrewpmk 於 2010年04月15日 03時55分 發表的評論
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).
由 nmixter 於 2010年04月15日 06時11分 發表的評論
Or you can find a database to import. Just try not to be too creepy. Be open and be honest.
由 kenguest 於 2010年04月15日 08時19分 發表的評論
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/
由 chillly 於 2010年04月15日 10時17分 發表的評論
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.
由 robert 於 2010年04月15日 23時34分 發表的評論
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.
由 agsochi 於 2010年04月16日 07時35分 發表的評論
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.
由 Grillo 於 2010年04月16日 09時32分 發表的評論
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.
由 Grillo 於 2010年04月16日 09時33分 發表的評論
Checked the link to the iphone app, WANTS!
由 G3YAC 於 2010年04月17日 15時38分 發表的評論
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.
由 LivingWithDragons 於 2010年04月19日 04時36分 發表的評論
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.