I am currently trying to get a bench approved at a local reserve (Sweeney Reserve in Berwick, Victoria, Australia) and it keeps coming back as a duplicate. There is another bench near the one I am trying to get approved but a) they are different, b) they are in different cells, and c) I have had no problem getting benches that are near one another approved without them being flagged as duplicates. Wayfarer is currently auto-rejecting my submissions for this bench despite providing supplementary proof and images to prove they aren’t duplicates.
The images I have linked provide the supplementary information and photos I used for my submission and the title, description, location and notice of rejection (since I wasn’t able to upload images here for some reason, maybe because I am using my phone).
A dugout does not meet any criteria except to represent the field. The first one should not have been accepted, and this one is correctly being rejected as representing the same field.
This isn’t the only reserve in the area with approved dugouts. They are everywhere, hence why I started submitting them, having them approved, and then continuing to submit them. If they don’t meet the criteria (which I thought was the case until I started seeing them pop up everywhere) then why approve them to begin with?
Sadly many reviewers are clueless about the actual criteria, clarifications, and guidelines. Much of the information only exists here on the forum, the Helpshift web site, or the Wayfarer web site. Virtually no criteria information is presented to a player when they make a nomination within the game. Many who review, likely do not bother to familiarize themselves with the criteria and guidelines available even when they do visit these sites. Or worse, are ignorant of the criteria knowing full well they are reviewing against it.
This is why a submitter should never consider what is in game as what is or is not eligible. Criteria has certainly changed over the years. Clarifications have come and gone. Nominations unfortunately get wrongly accepted. Not to mention there may have been additional context in the nomination that convinced reviewers something does meet criteria, but you wouldn’t know just from the way spot in the game. Even Niantic gets things wrong (far too often in my opinion).
S2 cells have no bearing on criteria. You are meant to nominate and review as if you do not know they exist. And should not be used to manipulate the game board to favor a player.
The Wayfarer site now has the ability to submit nominations. And through this form on the Wayfarer site, you are able to upload up to 5 (I think) supporting photos. This would be a much better way to include multiple supporting photos for any nomination that needs it. Though looking at your screenshots, keep in mind that if you are submitting in game where you are limited to only 1 supporting photo, that photo should include the object being nominated to provide context.
Unfortunately as @cyndiepooh stated, the player bench is not separately eligible from the existing soccer field.
This would be very akin to the clarification on playgrounds which state:
I would highly suggest you do not resubmit, or make any further nominations of player benches like this. Spamming ineligible nominations risks your account getting a punishment.
Thanks for the clarification. It is frustrating because I always try to adhere to criteria as best as possible and then stuff like this is consistently approved and I question whether I am actually familiar with the criteria or whether things have changed.
I also didn’t know you could now do nominations through Wayfarer, I am guessing that came through the same time the map did. That is super helpful.
These might be approved by community which may not read criteria. But it can be reported later by other community member. wayfarer is run by community and this is check and balance thats happening.
