There is reason why Niantic’s specifically put “~5-10” and not “0-10” or “1-10” which they could have easily put instead. Why? Because according to Niantic, a great place to be social entails multiple people gathering and doing something (not necessarily together)
It talks about people gathering. Friends, Strangers, Others, more than one person, gathering. A post office that can only accommodate one person means it cannot accommodate more than one person gathering and thus according to the specifications that Niantic has outlined then it would not be a great place to socialize.
Niantic staff please clarify: Can “A great place to be social with others” be a place that can only accommodate 0-1, and if so, how does it function as “A favorite gathering place for friends or strangers alike” or “something that draws ustogether to share an experience”
The question is not 0-1 obviously that includes 0 and that is clearly rejection criteria. The real question,if it really needs to be asked, is what constitutes socializing. Why are you so focused on 0-1 or about 5 and not the numbers in between you are leaving out that still fit in “multiple”, “more than one person” and whatever other words you describe.
So yes I am actually am focused on the numbers in between, when Niantic writes ~5 I consider that 2-5.
And I don’t use my own personal definition of socialization when I see “A great place to be social with others” l use Niantic’s provided definition: “A favorite gathering place for friends or strangers alike, where you can share a drink or meal, be entertained, or watch public life happen. Or something that draws us together to share an experience in a locally and culturally relevant way.”
Sure, but that is your own idea of what socializing is. Niantic’s definition of a great place to be social with others is: “A favorite gathering place for friends or strangers alike, where you can share a drink or meal, be entertained, or watch public life happen. Or something that draws us together to share an experience in a locally and culturally relevant way.”
You may think it is possible to socialize on your own, ok sure, but that does not fall within Niantic’s criteria. Niantic specifically mentions multiple people gathering.
If you think one person on their own can socialize and that same person doing that socializing in a space that can only accommodate one person is “A great place to be social with others” then you have an issue with Niantic and their wording.
I skip it as well, and just wish that they got rid of it. It’s of no use, really.
I mean, you could meet up with 1 person at a park just to go have a picnic, or go to an event there with hundreds of people joining in on your own, knowing you might socialize with some of the others there. It really is a bad question and unneeded.
If this is the case, then a mailbox or even those community mailboxes (on public property) are valid, even a phone booth. Since they facilitate solo socializing.
The post office being a great place to socialize is somewhat historical, as you may meet a neighbor there, have a chat, or send mail to someone for the purpose of socializing.
Being from a rural area, there is a good deal of socializing that happens at small town post offices, as not only is it sometimes the only place to send mail, you most likely know the people working there, as they live in town, and so you might catch up a bit. You might run into others in town that you haven’t talked with in awhile. I’ve run into many while dropping off mail at the post office in my hometown and had a little chat.
Most mail boxes are generic and of the same design, with the exception maybe being in the UK.
US mail boxes are blue with the USPS logo on them, and almost all the same shape. You don’t see them as much as you used to, as most are at grocery or convenience stores in the US, not down the street in your neighborhood. In the US, you can also leave a letter in your own mailbox or a drop box in your building for postal carriers to collect.
Post Offices are discussed here What makes Post Offices a "great place to be social"? and includes an old quote “ACCEPT. Connects and unites people around the world.“ I am certain there are more threads regards this.
In regards to post boxes we have it’s own thread UK Postboxes Topic . Some in the UK are eligible and are regularly accepted (apart from mine ).
I would consider the reason that all post boxes / phone booth not solid accepts but Post Offices are is the same as Bus Stops Vs Bus Stations.
Sure they can be generic, but this would be under the “great place to socialize with others” category. You’re not nominating a mailbox for its unique look but for how it can facilitate socializing. It would be like nominating picnic benches. Theyre all generic looking, table plus two row seats, but it’s not about the picnic benches itself it’s about how it’s used and how it facilitates socialization.
Read the above thread, the ruling is that those showing the Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II are not eligible as they are the most common. Those of previous monarchs are much rarer and therefor more “unique”.
Not all picnic tables are the same, as some are designed differently. I know of a picnic area near me with tables painted to look like the company’s logo.
And if you read the UK post boxes topic, you will know why some are and are not accepted.
Yes but they are not nominated for its socializing value. They are nominated for their historical significance which is under the exploration category.
And what makes a generic US mail box meet the explore criteria?
What is trying to be said is there may be POIs out there that seem generic, but we have clarification that they are acceptable and may be eligible. Yes, a picnic area may seem generic to some, but it’s an acceptable place to socialize with others.
@RGTGO is correct as Picnic Tables are eligible due to the Socialising criteria.
Where he isn’t in regards UK Post Boxes that can be eligible under the Explore criteria. There are websites where people are exploring to locate the older monarchs boxes.
Like I said earlier, the optional question on Social should be removed, as it’s really not needed. As long as you believe a POI is a great place to socialize, regardless of the number of people, just upvote and move on, IMO.
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