Trail markers!
DeMonet75-PGO
Posts: 3 ✭✭
Just a little rant……Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think we should be allowing all these trail markers to be approved. I understand in a rural or remote area, but some of these parks have waaaay too many. Anyone else feel the same?
Answers
This again.
No, you'll find most people don't feel the same, as they're one of the most eligible things out there.
I will link you to a post in another thread by @thenamelesskath-PGO which shows various posts, screenshots and such about trail markers. Some of it only applies to cycling markers because the thread it initially comes from was about cycling markers, but a lot of it can apply to walking trails as well:
Not at all.. Trails can be in woodland, forests, by rivers, in fields and are great places to have wayspots in my opinion. I know they can begin to look really ugly on the map view but when you're out for a run/walk/cycle alone or with friends, I'm so happy we can use trails to enjoy the game on a similar level as walking through a town.
One of the biggest complaints I see is rural players having it rough and trail markers allow more people areas to explore that are safe. What annoys me far more are people submitting different sections of the same graffiti mural and different items in play parks, that is much less beneficial in my eyes to the game than marking out a trail with POI's.
I'm curious what specific examples you have that you feel are ineligible, and what your reasoning is?
The only thing with Trail markers that kind of irks me is where do you draw the line on these Trail markers. My city marks a green belt path that runs 27 miles from end to end with a painted Circle on the pavement every 10th of a mile. Each one of these is a simple Circle with the mileage from the center point and which direction you are along with the North or South side of the river. My question would be how many is too many? I could submit every single one of these circles and have over 500 of them along this green belt as there is both a north and south side of the river. Now while this would be great for quantity having these would also block any quality nominations that are also in the same area. Now I personally would much rather see local artwork as a point of Interest versus a white circle with a number on it. Each one of these green belts also has map markers which are situated at important Junctions, I have no problem with those as they are a little bit more spread out. I also would not mind seeing these white circles at mile markers, but do you draw the line at even miles or every half mile?
Hello and Welcome @DeMonet75-PGO
You can use this space to vent frustration a little, but it generally helps if you can give more context.
Wayfarer involves a lot judgement to be applied to general principles so there is a lot to consider. I don’t know if you had time to look for posts about this topic but you should find relevant information in the post given above.
Could you explain further why you would not want to approve a trail marker?
Would you feel the same if there was a small information board where the markers are?
As much as I don't like trademarker because they don't make good postcards 😅. They are actually quite good, and keeps people motivated to actually walk down paths. So it keeps people active.
I was once like the OP and was frustrated by the number of Hiking Trails and Trail Markers, but then realised that the trails are legitimate and supports exploring. The only ones I generally reject are the Orienteering ones as it spoils the whole point of Orienteering. Someone needs to convince me to approve Orienteering markers.
Just saying depends on the marker type. Seen a few fakes. Passed many.
Personally not a fan of the 4 by 4 in arrows. I can buy a pack of those for 40 bucks tailored to my naming convention too.
I think, and I am only going on my experience, the sheer monontony of arrow after arrow would drive me batty (no comments, yes I am already batty). And reviewing them. UGH. If I get a few in a row. I zone out switch off and go do something else or just hit skip
That said if I were camping in the b_ush and wanted to spin a stop each day or needed to achieve some challenge then you would be grateful for them.
Still does not mean I like them. But importantly does not make them in-eligible or not acceptable. And so provided, I am not over whelmed by them when reviewing them (and do a runner) - I judge them as appropriate on their merits.
But yes. They can be over whelming at times!
@P1dg3ySlayer-PGO for Orienteering. Whats the difference? As those that do that probably are not playing Niantic at the same.......Ohhhhh yes easy to cheat. HAHAHAHAH Good point ;-)
Re my spelling b_ush this way. Niantic screens it. The Australian meaning of this word is anywhere in the country side away from where you live. The term - to go b_ush is a very real term to indicate leaving town to do something. It took me a while to realise quite why Niantic was screening it. Sigh
I see your point, and agree. Also, 100% behind you on the playground equipment….that is more of an issue than the trail markers.
Thank you all for your feedback. It’s appreciated and I do understand everyone’s point.
I totally know what you're saying if there's other valid things in the area and I would genuinely hope that people would think to nominate the more interesting/visually appealing POIs first.
Having said that, it's also not really for us to consider drawing a line on how many, so long as they're legitimate and independent markers. Much of that would be managed by individual game proximity rules (although, admittedly less-so for Ingress) 🤷♀️
As somebody who lives in an area where most trails don't have commonly accepted markers (or any at all), all I can say is: "half your luck" lol 😅🤷♀️
Welcome @DeMonet75-PGO 👋
As asked by @Gendgi-PGO and @Elijustrying-ING already, I'd also be interested in more specific context/examples. It might be irrelevant in this case, but when Pokemon Go Players complain about density of POI, I have to wonder if there's some kind of tomfoolery at play 🤔😅
Crappy stuff like ugly mass-produced stripmall signs, trail and memorial markers is why we cannot have nice Waystops. They rob the S2 cell of anything else to nominate. Especially after a major park renovation and beautiful new art sculptures, artistic murals, and water fountains are added.
But nope, go spin and send me a postcard of crappy trail stickers, metal street signs, shopping signs, and granite rocks.
Niantic clarified very recently that the more trail markers the better and pretty much anything can be used as a marker along a trail.
So if you wish to vote correctly you should be accepting them no matter what your personal views on them are.
The forum just doesn't feel complete without a few trail barker posts a month 😂
Your idea of nice is subjective, it's not a way of thinking that aligns with anything Niantic have asked for.
We are not creating art for intellectual analysis.
Regarding Orienteering, yep... it can give some people the incentive to use Pogo to find the points and not use a map and compass (whic his how it was intended) to find the next points. So for me it's a hard sell.
The person subbing has to prove it is a trail marker - if it is a simple footpath sign then that isnt enough proof.
Secondly if there is a proper trail marker nearby, the footpath sign should be rejected regardless. The footpath sign should be the last chance saloon for a trail not the first thing.
I hear you on sending. Don't send me postcards of markers of ANY sort. I would rather you stick the challenge or any thought you being nice elsewhere. Rather have nothing.
I get the monotony too. I really dislike going to an area and only seeing one thing. Does not make them ineligible. But it does not get me out exploring or exercising. As for things that are ineligible. There are few things in playing a game or reviewing that are more boring than to only see consistently the same thing.
@P1dg3ySlayer-PGO I created one. But I created the start point as the POI for the entire course. Similar to Disk Golf. Use one for the entire course. Sorry :-)
That's quite a dark assessment if you think Niantic wants to make their visual games dull. I understand that some people do not appreciate beautiful things so they can focus on winning PVP (player-vs.-player) battles in Pokemon Go or use Peridot to find a trail post for their dog to go tinkle or whatever.
Still, I would like to believe that Niantic wants to make their Waystops attractive and motivating to play their games.
They are not visual games. They are AR games about exploration, exercise and being social. Trails and their markers are great places to explore and great places to exercise. That is why they are great wayspots. That is why Niantic wants them in their database.
You can enjoy pvp, take your dog for a p1ss and still appreciate other things. Enjoying one thing does not engender an inability to do other things.
Again your view is purely subjective.
Of course most trail markers are not superficially aesthetically pleasing.
One of my local trails, the Tamsin Trail , circumnavigates Richmond Park, a 2,500 acre nature reserve and site site of special scientific interest.
I've added lots of the trail markers as have other locals on the 9km walk.
On the way I can pass by
There are cafes, ponds , paths on the national cycle network, poets corner football fields, rugby pitches, kite flying areas, wild deer, playgrounds, The Way Gates, Robin Hood Gates' community Garden, London's Capital Ring Trail passes through the centre of it.
Each of the 300 year old gates takes you out to either Wimbledon, Richmond, Putney, Kingston, Petersham, East Sheen. Each with their own unique history and culture.
It looks like this,
I could go on and on and on and on. If you can't see how trail markers can lead to exploration, exercise and socialising and have more than the picture plonked in front of your eyes you are missing out.
To digress slightly ……Those are gorgeous photos I particularly like the winter one.
and yes it’s about the journey and looking around not just about what takes you there.
Sorry, but I'm not into pvp. I enjoy to play while exploring more rather than focused into whatever gimmicks Niantic would throw into the game. Another reason I won't complain too much about controversive game changes that caused #HearUsNiantic movements.
That "gimmick" is literally the only skill-based part of the game. Most people avoid the competitive aspect of the game.