Why did you delete abandoned rails (the Falls Road) which have an obvious railbed? Why did you delete rails which still exist (e.g. the spur between Lee Road and the Canalway Trail?)

Mateusz: For whatever reason, yes, the library was built over the canal, which got converted into the subway.

gpserror: It should be easier to move something to OHM than delete it. Unfortunately that's not the case. I proposed a solution earlier, ("OHM=yes") which you have not commented on. Deleting items that you think are historical is not the answer. Deleting TIGER crap, well, that is. They are not the same things.

It's not on the surface, but I don't know the extent of the remaining tunnel.

If you want to move something to OHM, I'm not going to argue against that.

Here, let's pick just one part: way/594359980#map=18/43.15392/-77.60702

The rails are still there. Crappy photo, I know, but that's because it's dark.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QULogDEpiU2hC39Z9

You are dismissing a serious problem. In this particular case, the previous editor deleted things that I KNOW exist because I SAW them. Field work >> aerial photos. This has *always* been the case here at OSM.

Thus, I frankly couldn't be bothered to sort through his or her changeset to see what might be deleted and what should be retained because it was an unreliable edit.

Done, thanks for pointing that out. A lot changed in 3 months!

The tracks in the road, these tracks: https://photos.app.goo.gl/z8KdFZEak4A9UFNQ8 are still there. They aren't abandoned -- they are disused. I peeked through the fence and the rails continue. I could see them in the aerials and didn't see any reason on the ground why I shouldn't trust the aerials (e.g. demolition more recent than the aerials). Being military, and me being a foreigner, I made no attempt to enter.

It also restored data of existing objects that I have verified exist, so yeah.

The problem with "delete willy-nilly" that that the people doing the deleting usually haven't actually BEEN to the location. They are relying on aerial photos, which as we well know are not reliable. They can serve well as a *hint* for field work, but they are not sufficient.

People have gotten into the habit of deleting stale bulk imported data, but that is not the same as deleting something that someone added on purpose.

We don't have a good notification for "Hey, that thing you added? Somebody deleted it." That is why deletion is a delicate subject and usually results in conflict. It's better to add things to OSM than to delete. It's not like everything that could be added has already been added!!

No, it's the responsibility of the person who believes that something which is accurate (as opposed to TIGER crap left over from Dave Hansen), but no longer present to move it to OHM. Why? Because we have NO notification system which tells an editor that (as you say) cares about the feature that someone has deleted it rather than moving it to OHM.

How about this plan: rather than create the absence of something (hard to detect that something doesn't exist anymore), if you think something belongs in OHM, then tag it with OHM=yes ?

If you agree this is reasonable, then I'll start promoting it.

Historical data must not be deleted unless it is incorrect. It should be moved to OpenHistoricalMap. If you aren't willing to do that, then you shouldn't delete it.

We don't rely on imagery to delete things. It can be out of date, the thing under consideration may be hidden from the imagery, the person considering deletion might simply be poor at aerial interpretation.

Hey, I was just in Mechanicstown a few weeks ago, and I saw no sign that the Orange Heritage Trail Extension goes THROUGH the building north of East Main Street. I'm pretty sure that the trail stopped at East Main Street.

Could you fix this?

Can you give me a lat/lon for what you are trying to point me to?

He is continuing the practice of deleting abandoned railroads: changeset/134926999

You were asked to stop doing this. Please comply.

It's hard enough to keep these edits accurate without someone vandalizing them all the time.

Maybe we can come to some sort of accommodation? I will start tagging razed sections of rail, and you will leave New York State alone. Is that acceptable to you?

Reverting. Your edits are unreliable. I have been to these places, and you are deleting OBVIOUS railbeds. OBVIOUS. Unless, of course, you are relying on aerial photos, in which case you are being unreliable. Stop it.

Hey, Greg, did you add the Lima and Honeoye Falls Railroad based on field work? My wife and I went looking for it today, and couldn't find anything.

Your "a lot of people" is four people that you could identify by name. That's not a lot.

I still don't see the value in deleting things that someone else has added. They had a reason for adding it.

It's a "firebreak" exactly where the road goes? Give me a break, you're clowning me.

My philosophical complaint about deletionism is that it is FAR FAR easier to select and hit delete than it is to find these things in the first place. Multiple days of exploration, getting the routing correct, and some armchair mapper (NOT you! but others) can't see it on an aerial and hit delete.