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One of the main reasons I joined UER was to get help finding new locations. I couldnt wait to see the "Members Only" database. When I became a full member I was pretty disappointed that there wasnt really much there.
I have put in a dozen or so locations, but honestly its a pain in the ass to fill in all the forms. So, like a lot of people I use Google Earth (others use other mapping programs), to map sites I've seen and others I want to visit. This map is MUCH more extensive than the one on UER.
Recently, I have exchanged maps with a couple of other members and WOW! The map I had is almost completely filled in for TX, LA, AR, and OK. This led me to an idea. I would like members to send me their own map and I in turn will give you mine. Now, to be clear, I will only send FULL MEMBERS my map but regular users are more than welcome to contribute (will probably help you if you apply for full membership...).
Also, as I get more maps, I will mail you updates as they come in. In this way, we can all share locations with trusted members, and not have to go through the headache of the UER DB input.
If interested, please send me an email with your map or any questions to:
john.galt127@yahoo.com
See More on Flickr!
https://www.flickr...tos/133983270@N06/
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I to was disappointed with the database. It appears to have been 5-10 years since anyone has added, or updated much. At least in my area. I really need to get my own location map going. I have probably 50 locations saved on my phone and computer. It's a bit of a jumbled mess. Most of my locations would be in the northeast, NY mostly. So I'm not sure how useful that would be to you down in Texas. But once I get one going I'll be sure to send it your way.
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Well, thats kinda the point. While your locations may not be useful to me now or mine to you, who knows where we may find ourselves. Also, if people from all over contribute, then its going to become much more useful to everyone. I figured it was easier to put a pin on a map and send an email than to fill out all of the UER info.
Would love the contribution whenever you can get around to it. Thanks for the interest and the help!
See More on Flickr!
https://www.flickr...tos/133983270@N06/
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I'm not a full member but I have a pretty extensive map of Melbourne (Australia) and am happy to provide references or other forum/site accounts to prove I'm trustworthy, however I understand if you only want to provide to full members - it's a good reputation system this website has working so I can always wait until I apply for full membership and send mine in then.
IG: Vicinityphotography
Location: Melbourne |
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...the reason the database is disappointing is because what gets put in the database gets destroyed within a few years. The high quality and note worthy places will never end up in an online database because of what happens when they're listed.
Edited to Add: I no longer add to the database, and many of the folks I explore with are the same. We/I learned that lesson the hard way. Do Google searching, do legit research, the database is not the know-all. You will find far more impressive stuff than scrolling through some links and outdated information posts. ;)
[last edit 1/25/2016 6:43 PM by tiffers - edited 1 times]
Flickr: https://www.flickr...9156858@N05/albums |
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This is a great idea, every time I go explore with someone else my map get's even more so extensive. I'll definitely share mine with you.
My friend manhandled me up a roof once. |
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I can't say exactly why it happened but about 5yrs ago there was a large trend shift of people putting in full UE DB locations to people just posting to the forums (usually under false names). I don't know if it was people being lazy about creating a UE DB location or people not wanting to name locations.
Everyone has a dark side, mines just a little more illuminated. |
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Yeah the DB experience for me
Oh finally found something that looks cool.... annnnnd it's been demolished for 10yrs.
That shit needs to be cleaned out.
Flickr Pitchrs |
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I have wanted to do this before with a friend and I am not certain how to do this. This meaning share my starred google map with somebody, in a way which they can just apply my stars to their map. Once I'm a full member which should be in record time, I'd love to get the whole USA full of stars; zoomed out it looks like a giant yellow star glob.
[last edit 1/25/2016 7:39 PM by smokedguadacheese - edited 1 times]
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I personally think the whole concept of sharing maps online is dodgy.
All it takes is one person to 'accidentally' let someone else know who isn't on here or privy to the information normally and it's out there. A few years back some of my exploring contacts (and even myself for a little bit) were all contributing towards a supposedly private map of locations in France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. The map grew in size and content until suddenly it was leaked by 'someone', was plastered all over various websites and Facebook and had something like 50,000 views before it got taken down. Shared maps, even those which are supposed to be the most private, will always get out somehow. Because who's to know what 'x' full member is going to do with the info behind closed doors? Who is he/she going to take to these places? Are they going to be as trustworthy as those on here? You simply can't police a shared map.
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The more I think about it the more I agree with everyone, I'll share only the locations that I discovered on my own.
My friend manhandled me up a roof once. |
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The answer is simple, I personally don't know jack about programming, but I believe a lot of people on this forum do know the basics lol. ... Somebody that's super cool creates a closed source password entry to google maps database. Obviously rather then just letting in all full members, "full member does not really mean jack from my experience" The master of the program only lets people in whom they trust already, or people which prove to him/she they are worthy of being in. The cool thing is Master can by the click of a button remove all or portions of the map, if for any reason it has been threatened. Also there could be a different system of levels of access to the safe. for example noobs, could simply at first only have access to the town which they live in. Then over perhaps another three levels of proving trust worthiness, you can make it to the "Access All Areas" level.
I would totally be down to donate money to the individual that takes on the challenge for their time! I'm sure others may as well.
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Posted by enirus
The more I think about it the more I agree with everyone, I'll share only the locations that I discovered on my own.
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Please don't. Just because a person is a full member does not mean you can trust them. Sorta the whole reason full members dont add to the database!
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Posted by mookster
I personally think the whole concept of sharing maps online is dodgy.
All it takes is one person to 'accidentally' let someone else know who isn't on here or privy to the information normally and it's out there. A few years back some of my exploring contacts (and even myself for a little bit) were all contributing towards a supposedly private map of locations in France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. The map grew in size and content until suddenly it was leaked by 'someone', was plastered all over various websites and Facebook and had something like 50,000 views before it got taken down. Shared maps, even those which are supposed to be the most private, will always get out somehow. Because who's to know what 'x' full member is going to do with the info behind closed doors? Who is he/she going to take to these places? Are they going to be as trustworthy as those on here? You simply can't police a shared map.
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Remember, taggers have web forums and message boards too : )
It does sound like a cool idea, especially for folks who travel out of their usual area. But, the risk of a map like that falling into the wrong hands would be huge.
Maybe we should see if there would be a better way to go about filling out the database? Or, if there's any coders out there, see if it can be optimized in some way. I think someone was working on a Chrome extension for UER, weren't they?
"I'm just not set up to mold hard rubber..." |
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I totally agree with Mookster.
We have a location map ( This map was started years ago and has been added to for awhile by different people) that is only given out when we have a meet. If you come to our meet, then that means we know you or someone can assure us you are trustworthy.
I also agree with Tiffers! We have some really neat spots here that we would never put in the DB because they would quickly be destroyed.
To each their own though.
[last edit 1/25/2016 8:26 PM by Granuaile - edited 1 times]
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." |
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Us Wisconsinites have a collaborative map, but we currently don't share it with anyone outside of Wisconsin (and only trusted explorers we know personally.)
It's definitely far too dangerous to have a state-wide or even world-wide collaborative map with numerous people who don't actually know one another. It's a sure way to cause amazing locations to meet their demise more quickly.
100% against sharing location maps with strangers from the internet.
"When it rains, just find bigger drains." |
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Posted by relik
100% against sharing location maps with strangers from the internet.
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Amen.
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." |
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Posted by relik
Us Wisconsinites have a collaborative map, but we currently don't share it with anyone outside of Wisconsin (and only trusted explorers we know personally.)
It's definitely far too dangerous to have a state-wide or even world-wide collaborative map with numerous people who don't actually know one another. It's a sure way to cause amazing locations to meet their demise more quickly.
100% against sharing location maps with strangers from the internet.
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Yeah I agree with that! doing a shared map with the whole country or world would be bound to fail. Perhaps I'll learn some basics with programing and attempt to at one point create a "collaborative map" for Portland OR.
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Posted by smokedguadacheese
The cool thing is Master can by the click of a button remove all or portions of the map, if for any reason it has been threatened.
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The terrible thing is that it gives total control to one individual over a collaboratively built project and it does not mean that the discretion of self appointed master can be trusted.
[last edit 1/25/2016 9:09 PM by Deuterium - edited 1 times]
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Posted by Turd Furgusen
I can't say exactly why it happened but about 5yrs ago there was a large trend shift of people putting in full UE DB locations to people just posting to the forums (usually under false names). I don't know if it was people being lazy about creating a UE DB location or people not wanting to name locations.
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You are correct. Ive noticed this too. I think it has more to do with people not wanting to just add their galleries to a location entry someone else already posted rather than laziness. This I have been told.
The UEDB does not require you to post real names or even use exact coordinates or street addresses but if you go to small town XYZ and post a location of the only elementary school in town well..who needs a GPS to find that?
I have always used pseudonyms for my DB locations, many of which are in the same condition they were since 2005.
Most I kept full member only until recently so the argument non-member taggers and copper thieves can find those through the DB doesn't hold up. The same people that have decried the DB are often the same ones that post all their photos on public flickr pages and some even use the real name! This is far more likely to result in a location being compromised than a full member DB location with a fake or scrambled name. Google does not see those but it does see these photo hosting pages and other social media accounts.
Bottom line if want to keep someplace secret don't post it on the Internet, which includes most of these amateur photographer pages. I like the idea of sharing a database though. We actually had one in DFW for years but it lived on one guy's laptop computer there was no Cloud then. I assume you can create a Google account for just this purpose and share access to your Cloud with trusted friends.
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Ethics
