If it were by this logic we would still be here without being able to play, most cities don’t have anything historic or places to socialize, churches and government places are very common here, city halls have several offices and here they are eligible
In my small hometown, everyone knows who works at the post office, everyone knows their carrier, so there may be a little socialization. Thus, I can see both sides of the argument
@Jyub246e Most electronic stores and mobile phone companies would be considered generic businesses, especially if they are chains with many stores. In the US, there are some Verizon stores with Wayspots, as they have a paid sponsorship, but I don’t see other mobile phone stores with Wayspots, even independently owned ones.
There is a large sporting goods store where I live that has many Wayspots, but none are for the store itself, as it’s a chain. Instead, it’s for the indoor ferris wheel, the old plane hanging from the ceiling, statues and other art located in and outside of the building.
With any business, you really have to convince reviewers as to why it’s of importance to the community. Not everyone is going to see a locally owned bike shop as a non-generic business, but it does promote exercise if they sell bikes and other sports gear, and could be a meeting place for those that participate in the sport, making it a social spot.
The Criteria Clarification section here in the forums does have more information on some of the most discussed places and items that get nominated, approved, and/or rejected.
The socialization that I think qualifies for Post Offices is the letter-and-parcel form of communication that takes place there. Every letter, care package, birthday gift or sympathy card sent through post offices is a tangible form of communication with the outside world. Of course, I also see all churches as socialization not because there might be groups meeting up there to chat, but because every person attending a place of worship is seeking to communicate with their higher power in some manner. Socialization has many forms!
4 Likes
Post offices are used in historical sense because it gives an idea when an area was established. (even today)
A post office means establishing some new local route for mail in the local community area was needed. The last mile for delivering any kind of parcel is the greatest importance. It’s like a de facto “hub” to a neighborhood or local populated place.
In Italy there’s the tradition of pensioners picking up their pension checks at the post office, with elders gathering together to catch up on gossip and chit chat while waiting in line to pick up their checks. It’s a little tenuous and sort of an outdated stereotype, but it persists in the popular consciousness. Like was said above, socialization takes many forms.
1 Like
Your various opinions are very informative. Also, thanks again to DTrain2002 for introducing me to the “Criteria Clarification Collection”. (Themes include: sporting goods stores, bicycle stores, electronics stores, and if we don’t need to explore directly, directional/guidance signs to historic sites or unique buildings?)
Also, if the fact that it is a chain store is a priority reason for rejection, then I am troubled by the fact that, as I mentioned before, since post offices in Japan belong to branches of Japan Post Corporation, they are equivalent to chain stores and, if judged strictly, are not suitable as “Wayspot”. If you don’t mind, I would like to hear from Leedle95.
By the way, is a bank functionally similar to “government offices” and therefore not appropriate as a “Wayspot”?
Banks aren’t generally eligible because they do not meet any of the criteria to socialize, exercise or explore.
Hi again. Could you say more about what I can add? I agree with @seaprincesshnb that The inclusion of post offices is “soft”. Apart from post offices, however, I think it is important to focus on how the point of interest meets one of the three eligibility criteria. Can you say with confidence that your nomination is either a great place to socialize (not just a place where socialization can happen), a great place to exercise, or a great place to explore. Is it a place where you would bring a friend from out of town just to show them, or a place where you would love to meet up with friends to hang out because you really like the place? I think if you ask yourself some questions like those about potential nominations, it becomes clearer how the POI does or does not meet one of the eligibility criteria.
First of all, @SeaPrincesshnb, thank you for telling me how you handle your bank. @Leedle95, I apologize for the lack of explanation, but what I would like to ask @Leedle95, who is familiar with Niantic’s standards, is your opinion on the following”If the fact that it is a chain store is a priority reason for rejection, then I am troubled by the fact that, as I mentioned before, since post offices in Japan belong to branches of Japan Post Corporation, they are equivalent to chain stores and, if judged strictly, are not suitable as “Wayspot”.” Also, sporting goods stores are a topic that should be discussed in the “Criteria Clarification Collection” as @DTrain2002 mentioned. Recent appeal give the impression that there is a great deal of individual variation in judging how a POI meets or fails to meet one of the eligibility criteria.
Thank you for your confidence 
, but certainly the ambassadors here have a greater understanding of criteria.
But again, I think your approach is a little backwards. It’s not that any category of business or agency or other site can be categorically eligible or ineligible, with a few exceptions (e.g., private single family homes, adult-themed businesses, schools for under 18 are all ineligible).
Rather the very first step is always to figure out if the place meets one of the three criteria: great place to socialize, great place to exercise or great place to explore. Some places are obviously not going to fit any of those three, but sometimes people can come up with good arguments as to why to include something that might not typically be accepted. My advice is don’t worry as much about categories, first figure out if you can convince others that it fits one of the three eligibility criteria, then check to make sure it doesn’t fit any exclusion criteria.
3 Likes
I feel intensely uncomfortable with the current discussion. Why are we ignoring @Shilfiell’s opinion in the discussion? The post office is a business that cannot be established without a branch in the country. And in Japan, handling of letters is a de facto monopoly of Japan Post. The Post Office is required to set up 100,000 post office boxes to handle letters. It is different from ordinary businesses. And it is completely different in nature from a restaurant or retail store. It is also strange to treat them all as branches.
The requirement for social should not be limited to only face-to-face conversations between people. Post offices, which can be used as a means to maintain and deepen friendships between people by sending written correspondence and gifts, should be considered a great social location.
That is not the criterion. The eligibility criterion is that the place is a great place to socialize, NOT that the place can facilitate socializing. The argument is stretching the concept beyond anything recognizable.
I think we are looking at socialization in different ways, and that’s fine and understandable! For me, I think Post Offices are a great place to socialize, although the socialization I partake in there comes in the form of written communication and tangible objects exchanged. I’m not a terribly social person, so those interactions mean a lot to me! This might not be the case for all others - maybe stamp collectors socialize there when a new stamp or series is released, or maybe other people go there just to transact business quickly and leave without interacting much at all.
The key value, I think, of the clarification collection is that it provides a framework for submitters and reviewers alike. Submitters need to show, in their description and supporting info, how they think their nominations meet their selected criteria - and make a good argument for inclusion. I’d never assume outright that ALL post offices should be accepted without scrutiny - I’d assume, rather, that eligibility can be argued for any such spot nominated. It’s up to the submitter to prove their point.
1 Like
I completely agree with your second point, and understand that mail can offer a link to others, but a post office is not required for mail. Your personal mail box can receive and send out mail…would that meet the criteria, say if you lived in a multi-unit housing complex (not a SFPRP)? How about the mail collection bin around the corner? Honestly not trying to be difficult or sassy. I just wonder how much of a stretch we can make to make things fit.
Thanks to everyone for the lively and high-level discussion. In particular, @CrownFeather’s comments below are the ones I wanted to confirm.
”It is different from ordinary businesses. And it is completely different in nature from a restaurant or retail store. It is also strange to treat them all as branches.”
Thank you also @Shilfiell. ”Rather the very first step is always to figure out if the place meets one of the three criteria: great place to socialize, great place to exercise or great place to explore.” as @Leedle95 said, there are many different ways of thinking from many different people, but it seems important to stay true to the basics. However, it is surprisingly difficult to judge correctly🤔 I have learned a great deal.