We may review public facilities, and we believe that City Hall has an aptitude for exploration. We believe that libraries meet the suitability criteria for social interaction and exploration, and community centers meet the suitability criteria for social interaction.
Elsewhere in Japan, the following public facilities may be screened.
Should these be accepted? If so, do you consider them to be explorer, social , or exercise?
Should these be rejected? If so, on what grounds should we reject them?
Please give me your opinions.
Tax office: As a government agency under the jurisdiction of the national government, it receives tax returns, provides tax consultation, conducts tax audits, and manages tax collection.
Public health center: As a local government agency, it is responsible for local health administration, including prevention of infectious diseases and health guidance for residents, registration of pet dogs, and supervision of businesses handling medicines and foodstuffs.
Public Employment Security Office: As a government agency under the jurisdiction of the national government, it provides job placement services to job seekers, conducts procedures for the provision of unemployment benefits, and handles procedures for the acquisition and loss of employment insurance qualifications.
Labor Standards Inspection Offices: As government agencies under the jurisdiction of the national government, they supervise the labor management of business establishments and process workersâ compensation insurance benefits.
Pension office: As a government agency under the jurisdiction of the national government, it handles procedures for enrollment in health insurance and pension insurance, and provides consultation on pension payments and premium payments.
None of the government agencies or offices in the list beginning with tax office appear to be suitable as Wayspots. As government buildings, some of these may have elements with unique artistic or architectural value to explore.
If the only function is adminstration then that does not meet criteria. This applies whether it is a government or commercial building. The focus on government run is not crucial as itâs about the activity.
The building might be notable for specific reason - notable architecture or historical significance.
There may be points of interest eg plaques, works of art.
There maybe spaces or activities that are around social interaction those may be acceptable.
I agree that none of the offices from tax on meet eligibility criteria. Here in the US, many nominate the Department of Public Works in their towns. Well, these are typically nothing unique, as itâs where the offices are for those that work with public infrastructure are, a garage for their vehicles, some of what may be heavy equipment and off-limits to the public, and possibility even public plants, like the water treatment plant. Sure doesnât sound like a good place to be social, exercise, and/or explore, and nothing unique about the buildings they are in.
However, we do have government buildings that require screening to get inside, but they have Wayspots. Many county courthouses screen people before letting them inside the building, but, like the ones in my area, they are older buildings with unique architecture, with the Waysots being accessible to anyone outside of the building. The county courthouse in the city I live in is over 100 years old, and has a unique clock tower at the top of the building at the main entrance. The courthouse in my hometown has a 1920s art deco design, which is when it was built, and itâs close to 100 years old as well.
Another place of note in my city that has 2 Wayspots is the county public health office. One Wayspot is an outside mural encouraging youth, and the other is their garden and outside picnic area, both of which are open to the public. The office itself does not have a Wayspot.
Yeah, these places are not necessarily eligible for what they are, but theyâre definitely the kind of buildings that could have interesting items on or inside them that could make nice waypoints.
Government buildings often have artwork, cool architecture, statues, historical information boards, and plaques that can be submitted. So I would definitely look for interesting things in and around those places.
I would say⊠town halls or city halls are almost always significant buildings and are likely acceptable. Major government department buildings, for example the main Finance Ministry or Education Ministry building are also significant and probably acceptable. At the very least, those types of building are socially significant.
For other government buildings, unless there is something significant about the architecture or it has historical value, then you are probably looking at secondary things such as public art (for example).
As a rule of thumb - if itâs the sort of building that you donât really notice even when you are looking at it, itâs probably not eligibleâŠ
Thank you all for your opinions. I agree with your opinion that the listed government offices themselves do not meet the eligibility criteria, and that secondary factors such as historical origin or artistic fixtures may meet the eligibility criteria.
So a new concern arises for me. These are the options I have listed for rejecting such government offices in general.
Business in general: applicable if it is a business in the broadest sense, but indicates a for-profit activity if it is a business in the narrowest sense. In fact, I think NianticWayfarerâs general business description indicates a for-profit business as it indicates a franchise or chain of stores. Rejecting it on this basis would make the recommender resentful.
Not âPermanent and Distinctâ:It is clear that this is not temporary. But can we rule that it is not Distinct? As a building, it is very prominent. Certainly it may be difficult to explain how it differs from the surrounding buildings. I am not sure if I should reject it for this reason.
Answering no to the three aptitude criteria of exploration, social interaction, and movement: I think this is the safest answer. However, a refusal would be out of line with the new review flow policy, which requires the applicant to answer No to any of the first four options.
City halls or county buildings that have their commissioner chambers should be eligible because this is where the government officials have public meetings on important items that affect the municipality as a whole. It is definitely a social gathering place because itâs where you hear different views from other citizens.
Yes, these offices certainly are not distinct, if the nomination is just for said office. Permanent and Distinct should be reworded, as there are nominations that are permanent but not distinct, and vise versa. So, while these offices may be permanent, they may also be pretty common, not being anything special or unique that makes them good Wayspots.
Generic business can be used on nominations that are not chains. Some examples to me are hardware stores, auto dealerships/auto shops, furniture stores, etc, and all being locally/independently owned. Unless the nomination can convince me that these businesses are great places to socialize, exercise, and/or explore, I most likely will reject as a generic business.
This is my first time participating in the community.
Although not a government office, the post office, which is a public business, is listed in the Standards as an example of a place where people can interact. However, I donât think people interact with each other at the post office, so I donât think itâs suitable for Wayspot. What do you all think? By the way, in Japan, post offices belong to branches of Japan Post Co., Ltd. In other words, post offices can be considered equivalent to chain stores.
Post Offices are a unique case depending on the country. In some places post offices serve as more than just a place to send or collect mail. They may serve as places where other government services are performed, they can be places that also serve as banks or immigration/passport offices, tax offices, provide pension distribution, and some are also retail spaces. I would say use your best judgement and assess them how you think is appropriate. Niantic has provided guidelines that try to account for why many regions would consider post offices as valuable Wayspots. Not every country uses them in the same ways, so just do your best with the local knowledge that you have.
Thank you for your advice in advance. I also understand the diversity of post offices that you pointed out. By the way, I would appreciate it if you could tell me about the guidelines. I would like to learn why it is considered a valuable wayspot in many regions, so I would appreciate your help.
The original business of the post office is to deliver private letters. Today, electronic communication is the mainstream for private correspondence, but in the days before e-mail, all letters were exchanged in writing by mail. Even today, you can send a parcel from the post office as a gift to a loved one who is too far away to meet in person. So I believe that the post office is a typical example of a place of social exchange.
Post offices are listed as an example as a great place to be social in the eligibility criteria, but I think it depends on the area. Where I live, most people just go there to mail packages, get their passport processed, or check their PO boxes, if they have one. Most people are running in to drop off letters and packages theyâve already have postage for, so they processed sooner.
Not a lot of socialization goes on, especially since in the US we do have self-service kiosks in many US post offices, and thereâs no interacting with another human with those. I use the kiosks almost all the time, and Iâm in and out within a few minutes. Even if I do have to wait in line, I rarely see/hear anyone talking with each other.
Now, it certainly can be different in other countries, or even in rural areas, but most US post offices are just for doing some sort of business that is offered by USPS.
@Jyub246e I see no one has answered you question, but the Wayspot Criteria can be found at the following link:
While i think the justification for post offices meeting criteira is soft, it is at least a POI that can be found in most rural areas. We know how hard it is to find things in small towns and villages. By allowing the post office to be a POI, Niantic gives those communities at least one place to play.
Just because you donât have historic buildings around where you are doesnât it mean that something that otherwise would not be eligible now is eligible. Government offices are generally not eligible simply because they do not meet any of the three eligibility criteria which include a great place to exercise, socialize or explore. No matter where you are, your nomination still needs to meet one of those three criteria.
Thank you for your guidance. Also, thank you for pointing out the link. My impression of the post office is rather the same as Dtrain2002. Everyone has summarized their thoughts on government offices, and I think the duties of the post office are similar to those. I was hoping for a more specific explanation of how the post office falls into the âsocial with othersâ category. Are sporting goods stores and bike shops good places to exercise if you donât need to directly explore, directly exercise, or interact directly? Also, are electronic stores and mobile phone companies that sell mobile phones the best places to âsocial with othersâ?
Thank you once again for all your guidance.