Ya got the same feeling from the ones I done. They seem to be carbon copy Title and Description down to the Hyphens.
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I saw this review today and simply picked what I thought best matched what information I was given. The LDS title didn’t match what the map said. I think I even zoomed out to see if Spring Creek was the town name, and didn’t see that. There’s not enough time to do personal investigations. If there was infinite time, maybe I could call the church and ask. The best you can do is utilize street view (if available) and the overhead map to verify proper waypoint locations and what any visible text says for authenticity and verification.
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I just had a title and description review for one of these, and one of the description choices had some location information in it. I chose that one, as it felt it better decided the church than the possible copy/paste description that is going around.
I would love to find out how many of these get rejected, and how many get appealed after this challenge. Maybe they won’t be appealed, but resubmitted, but still.
The description gives me more pause than the title edits. Is that appropriate for Niantic games?
Give thumbs down ratings to:
- Titles and descriptions that do not match the Wayspot
- Titles and descriptions with player names or game-specific information (artist names are acceptable)
- Titles and descriptions with promotional content, URLs, or HTML tags
- Titles and descriptions that are derogatory/offensive
- Titles and descriptions with emoticons or emojis
- Descriptions copied directly from other sources
It sure feels wrong to be pushing Christ in a Niantic game. I wish Niantic would just pull all these matching descriptions and decide them.
I’ve been choosing “none of these” descriptions. As someone else pointed out earlier, this repeative description doesn’t even sound unique or specific to any Christian church. And definitely doesn’t specify anything about the LDS faith. If the description doesn’t help you to learn or appreciate the specific wayspot you’re looking at, then maybe it doesn’t need a description.
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As someone who converted away from Christianity, I also took a moment to reflect on the description suggestion. My decision to select the description with content versus the empty one was determined by:
- It IS a church
- I did not feel like it was trying to shove Christianity into my life, but instead describing what happens in the church, as well as the last sentence being inviting rather than demanding.
If the description said something like “come to our church and repent to save your soul” I would definitely reconsider.
Feel free to contact me in private messaging if you’d like to discuss my reasonings behind converting and this topic in general.
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i like this thought process - ty
we can do private messaging here?
I struggled with this also. But then I stepped back from it and taught about on the basis of it is actually a truthful description (for this church and faith). A little history of the church could have been added to jazz it up a bit though.
Weather I practice a faith or not I’d respect it. If I seen another denomination church, temple, etc. once the description was not inaccurate or untrue I’d respect it based on the submitters beliefs.
I wouldn’t agree with “a sell” if you understand what I mean nor would I agree with statements suggesting “our beliefs are the only true one” or. "“ours are better then anothers” but I respect everyones own beliefs and once there is nothing untrue or targeted in titles or descriptions.
I especially like the Japanese ones I came across because I learned a lot about their culture through some of the descriptions. Granted in Japan they seem to have multiples deity’s for different things.
Hope I worded this ok.
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Yes what I replied above I think is the same or along the same line as you have mentioned here. I probably didn’t word it as well as your reply though.
It’s nice that someone even if spoofing or account sharing is inspired by the holy spirit enough to want to change these. Always Be Converting 
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That taught did cross my mind. Either that or they are really trying to build up those frequent flyer miles.
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Hopefully the latter. I wouldn’t want anyone getting in trouble with the Big Man.
That’s John Hanke of course… Not the other one.
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my personal view is that any title with location specific info is better than one without so i tend not to choose the “generic” option that’s being suggested for all of these.
the description reads like promo copy for the church and is spammed across hundreds of wayspots so I also don’t select that.
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Wow… Two years of blood, sweat and tears and they don’t even let you have an avatar picture?
oh if you only knew the forum shenanigans
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To clarify just in case, I don’t feel anger or disrepect towards the faith of the submitter for this description. It just feels like a generic description that doesn’t inform me of much about the specific wayspot. Churches, even part of one faith, can be distinct from one another - location, history/time serving, size of the community, pastor/preacher who is long-serving or beloved, etc. However, it is kinda a great opening line or quick way to describe any Christian church. I will give the individual props for being more clever for a quick description than “a local church”.
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Not to get too detailed about this faith, but all the things you mentioned that make each “church” unique are not supposed to be emphasized in this faith. They think of themselves as a worldwide body. The members just happen to go to the building nearest their home. I don’t believe they have a paid clergy, so talking about “the pastor” doesn’t apply here.
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I chose “nothing above” and left a comment.
After that, I got no second one, so I assume I’m disqualified for more LDS
That’s fine but this not an LDS app.
If they want that make their own or buy a sponsorship
Attempting to format every single church in a way that fits your own personal beliefs on a map mostly created by a community who may possibly not share those beliefs seems naive at best
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right, no just thinking off the top of my head why it just doesn’t sound very informative or necessary. If you want to add description to a church (not necessarily just these LDS churches) that could be the type of things to include but i’m not advocating that it has to be done for LDS churches or any churches.
I remember early on seeing “description is optional” and it has always giving me pause as to why; and I settled on asking if the wayspot really needs a description or if the one you want to add is worthwhile.