OpenStreetMap
Well, unfortunately, it finally happened. While mapping a small residential street, I saw a truck zoom down the street and make a sudden stop next to me, where I was walking on the sidewalk. Two older guys kept asking whether they “could help me”, but they looked like they were ready to start trouble. This redneck patrol was making it clear that they did not like strangers in their suburban neighborhood. I am not sure what they thought about the road being a public right of way, but they drove off saying that I should watch out. Kind of put a downer on my day.
Should you envision a dirty drifter typing this, know that I was just heading into work with a jacket and tie, and had a haircut the day prior. Sadly, the people around here buy property on a road with a cul-de-sac, with hopes of never seeing anyone other than their five other neighbors and the post man. I have always sensed people being unhappy to see me walking to the end of their road, but this is the first time someone went out of their way to say something. Maybe this isolationism says something about the politics of the day.
讨论
woodpeck 于 2016年10月14日 00:08 的评论
Over here in Old Europe where people tend to have a residual respect for everything that is “official”, it often helps to wear a high-viz vest emblazoned with “SURVEY” or so. Certainly more conspicuous, but even less suspicious than a suit-and-tie ;)
Vincent de Phily 于 2016年10月14日 09:44 的评论
Pretty much all OSM surveyer have to deal with that. I find that giving lots of info when locals get curious/suspicious works best.
Be cheerful and use it as an opportunity to evangelize about OSM. Print some small flyers to hand out. Show osm on your smartphone. Show the photos you’ve taken. Be ready to answer the usual “it’s a private road” (It’s actually public, no trespassing needed), “what company do you works for” (it’s a worldwide community of volunteers), “we’ve had burglaries here recently” (I can understand why you were worried when you initally saw me). Compare with Google Map/StreetView (more pervasive privacy issues, harder to fix, lower quality data…). Etc