There is already enough threads on the subject of duplicate placemarks to weave the Bayeux Tapestry, some of the more notable ones are:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/11880/an//page/0/vc/1
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/72513/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/112821/an/0/page/0#112821

There are lots of suggestions put forward and discussed in the above threads, but I am not seeing any real progress. Maybe progress is being made, and we are just not seeing it (Mods--If you are closing in on a solution, just delete this thread so we will not waste any more time on it )

I propose this message to start a thread as a place to post suggestions for addressing this problem. Suggestions should be brief and to the point, and if you think necessary, a short explanation on the expected benefit. If we keep this list crisp and on topic (fat chance ) who-ever get assigned the job will have an easier time creating a list for the next phase.

Remember: During the brainstorm phase, anything goes, and negative criticism is not encouraged. The stupidest suggestions are assumed to have some possible gem of merit. (dont make us regret this assumption). Expansions and improvements to a basic idea are encouraged.

What if there were a Wading-pool? An anyplacemark-goes forum, your house, your girlfriends house, duplicate placemarks, test things you are not sure how to do, polygons, tours, overlays... New members could be directed to this as a learning and practice forum. And members with over 100 posts are not allowed there, except to give attaboys, and constructive suggestions. New members should not post any questions, (there are plenty of help forums already) just jump in and give it a try, and, like the Open forum, placemarks set here dont go in the Layers. Moderators could monitor, and particularly interesting posts could be moved to a forum with a more permanent. Perhaps a "new-member-post-of-the-week" award would add enough potential honor to attract more of the early posters.

As a newbie I have made most of the common mistakes; duplicates etc. But I have gone back and deleted or edited my posts when my errors were pointed out to me. Starting to use GE causes one to be sparked with enthusiasm, and eager to join the fun before learning all the things one should know. Yes, I eventually read the tutorials, collected wisdom etc. and gradually learned ( still am ).

Now for my $0.02 worth. Why not, before allowing a member to upload placemarks, make them pass a quiz covering the things covered in the documentation? It should include editing and deleting posts, using search etc.

As for removing the existing duplicates, it's gonna be a lot of hard work no matter how you slice it. Before tackling that job there should be means in place to minimize new duplicates or the work of cleaning up will be in vain.

Hope this helps to keep the conversation going on ways to improve GE.

Drop the BBS layer completely, that is my suggestion.

Bonjour,

The problem of duplicates should be dealt with the problem of wrong locations (because of change of resolution, as I've known the case, mistake, etc.).

An idea: a pool of known people (as in "certified") who would be in charge of checking the good location for placemarks in areas they know. This means that every visitor would still have access to all bbs placemarks, but that these people in charge would have the possibility to delete those they consider as not valid, and even to move these.

To avoid that the process repeat, a very low level of Artificial Intelligence plus human intervention would be enough, something as: if the new placemarks is at less than X meters from another placemark, or if it has the same name as (or many common letters as in) another placemark, then a human intervention (by still these same people) would be needed before displaying.

Philippe

Periboob,

Well done for launching this thread. It is a very laudable thing, but I fear it is doomed to failure. As you are well aware there have been similar threads previously, and I have made suggestions on those threads before, but nothing has come of those discussions and ideas. At least a couple of my ideas have been supported by others. There have been ideas by other users which have been better than mine, but they too have gone to nowhere. Either this is because the people behind the board have decided that it's rapid growth and popularity mean it needs to be completely changed, or they have some, as yet unknown idea up their sleves.

Until then, here are my suggestions again, for the record. I wish you luck.

[1] The creation of several splits in the forums to make it easier to find things, and for someone to check that their post hasn't been already made, or locate relevant threads. A common idea has been to split the HISTORY ILLUSTRATED thread into two sub-sections. Ancient History & Modern History. If you were really keen (which I am) you could spli these sections - Ancient into Egyptian, Babylonian, South American, Europe. Or something like that.

[2] The addition to the "Whooooa message" at the start something along the lines of

"Placemarks added to the community are regularly added to the BBS layer automatically (unless you post them in the Open Forum), you do not need to do anything else."

Finally, I agree that the BBS layer should be on by default. Particularly if we find some mechanism to clean up the existing placemarks. Again, we could assign particular areas to particular people - I, for instance, would be happy to take on cleaning up duplicate place marks from London.

Perhaps a rewording of the "Whoa" message.

Something on the order of

"Wait!" are you going to post a placemark?

Are you **sure** there's not one there already?

Did you **look** (Community BBS layer "on" ) ?

Did you know your placemrk will be for the WHOLE WORLD to see?

Please THINK & CHECK before posting Placemarks, Thank You.


After all, not everyone adds a placemark, and this might help hammer the point home.


It's a fine line between overwhelming enthusiasm, and being a damp wet blanket.

Perhaps you can suggest that new users, wanting to share placemarks with a few friends, copy them and email them. That's what I do for most placemarks I have so as not to add (too much) to the clutter.


Just my two florins on the matter...

Zoom in to Bhutan and get a load of these GE names !!!

And list the various activities underway? Here's a neat graphic I stumbled across that would be perfect for GE BBS. Appears to be generic. I see it on multiple websites.