Hello and welcome to OpenStreetMap!

As you’ll no doubt be aware, OpenStreetMap is about mapping what’s there in the real world, and we’re all editing the same map, so “mass deletions” such as in osm.org/changeset/33149078 affect everyone.

I notice that local mappers have been in contact in osm.org/changeset/33152447 (comment “This is a joke that I am playing on you”) and have also tidied up the problems, so hopefully everything’s back to how it was before.

Obviously it’s possible that you didn’t make these edits at all and someone guessed your password or got access to an unlocked PC, so I’m sending this message as one that has to be read before continuing to edit so that you’re aware of it.

If it was a “PC unlocked” accident I’d definitely reply to the changeset discussion on osm.org/changeset/33152447 apologising and explaining what happened so everyone knows - as I said before, we’re all editing the same map and need to work together to do that.

If you’re looking for some sort of “test server” then you’ll find that http://api06.dev.openstreetmap.org/ is exactly that (though I don’t think that anyone renders tiles from the data there). If you want an place to map imaginary places, then http://opengeofiction.net/ may be for you.

However, if changes that need to be reverted continue you may need to be blocked from OpenStreetMap.

Best Regards,

Andy Townsend, on behalf of OpenStreetMap’s Data Working Group.