Hello hello!
This will is my 2nd and last post amongst the forums, and I will not be monitoring it after this post is created.
To be be blunt, the forums here are awfully handled. Just browsing through multiple threads, it’s clear that many users who actively post replies typically don’t provide useful information, and typically look for debates rather than providing answers.
Not to mention that those who are active posters to these threads, tend to have the same type of replies over and over again. Moderators of the forum seem to be fairly careless and hypocritical of their statements too.
Hypocrisy in the forums is fairly obvious, with one moderator stating that asymmetrical comments regarding the same topics are okay, but then you browse and see that threads made regarding a subject topic near identical to another thread is judged to be “reposts” and are subsequently locked down.
Wayspot inquiries will typically have more “what-if” replies than anything. With Niantic’s awfully poor handling regarding approval and rejection odds for wayspots, this is not a surprise. Too many of the replies on threads tend to state the bland: “oh, well yeah, a lot of these types of wayspots get approved when they shouldn’t be” response. Which is hilarious given that Niantic themselves tend to review a large amount of wayspots, meaning they themselves don’t follow their own criteria.
Many of the replies will also link the wayspot criteria, to which again, becomes redundant, as many wayspots are approved regardless if it meets criteria or not, to which confuses those looking for clarification even more so. Many of the active replies are also filled to the brim with “what-if” scenarios, making the wayspot criteria more like loose guidelines, meaning that even though something that may follow all criteria perfectly, could still be denied simply based on that “what-if” scenario.
Let’s not even get started on the fact that in multiple posts, moderation members sometimes go off the topic of the thread. Example: Some posts I scanned through, I found that some of the thread creators replies had the word “bro” or “dude” in their replies, to which mods are quick to correct those people in reminding them to be careful with how they address people when replying.
This in itself shows how less interested they are with enforcement of topics, and more enforcement with how someone is addressed. However, it’s also hypocritical again to just assume that when a poster says those words, it’s to instantaneously and inherently assume they refer to the person as a male, when in fact many people would use these words in a generic sense or terminology.
I could go on and on about the forums. Honestly, go to Reddit, Discord, anything but these forums. You won’t find much of anything useful here you could find pretty much anywhere else. From mods who care more about their personal views or feelings more than enforcement policies and rules; to replies from users being redundant, unhelpful, or even unnecessary.
You’ll find that the moderators of the forums even promote necro threads. Many posts being actively revived over and over again, regardless if the topic has been resolved or not, meaning you as the answer seeker may just end up looking through hundreds of threads that could have an already determined answer, but swayed away by the fact you’d have to go in and out of threads that may look active, but in reality, someone simply wanted to post an opinion on the topic, reviving a thread almost a week old, making it look ongoing.
Mods consider this being a “feature” of the forums, when a website builder/coder could easily tell you that it’s an oversight, and the mods simply just try justifying this by stating they promote “open discussion” which again, is funny, considering how some posts can immediately be locked down by them if they themselves deem it so.
The ludicrous of the forums here are beyond comprehension. So many “what-if” replies and “self-interpreted” replies truly make the forums here more of a debate club rather than a resource of discussion and answer seeking. Oh, and don’t go saying any bad words or basically anything that could be interpreted as offensive, as in these forums, even though they promote open discussion, saying the wrong thing can end up immediately having the thread locked down, and you restricted from posting. You could go and use many other forums that don’t have this backwards psychology.
I’ve posted once here on the forums, addressing an issue with how Niantic had handled a response to a memorial submission, representing tge frustration from some of my group. I will tell you immediately that any active and excessive user of this forum, will gladly run to Niantic’s defense, which immediately is a huge red flag, as you’ll again, find that many answers like to tip-toe around subjects, and bring up the “what-if” scenario, to try and twist and turn your point of validation. This in itself is an abhorrent and exhausting time waster to have to deal with.
Overall I’d wager you could easily find a far better resource to handle your topics and questions. These forums overall don’t have much to offer as incentive. The only thing you’ll find here necro-threads, over-sensitive mods or users, and too many “what-if” replies to try and cover the hypocrisy and poorly handled guidelines of wayspot nominations.
As for right now, I myself and many others whom I’ve shown these forums to will not be utilizing them going forward, to which I can guarantee most of the mods and users would simply state that they don’t care if we left or not, further solidifying the accuracy of the statements made.
While I love being a wayfarer, and trying to assist communities getting more active in their respective areas by setting up POI’s within their area; enjoying a game (Pokémon GO in my case) that has brought me to also enjoy socializing and making friends amongst others again… I cannot say I’m impressed with the forums, as they simply seem too disconnected from player perspective, and more from a tunnel-vision corporate perspective. Not to say you can’t find some things or users helpful within the forums, but sadly you just have to go looking too deep to find them half the time.
For those who made it to the end, I appreciate you taking some of your time to read this! Remember: It’s a review, and should no way directly affect you in any way, shape, or form.
Note: I’ve currently no interest to debate this, nor engage in any amount of discussion regarding thoughts on the forums. I will not reply to any responses and will have this discussion topic muted. I’m aware there are a few grammatical errors, but frankly I’m too tired now to bother correcting them. As is the purpose of these forums, you are obviously free to comment on this at your own accord.
All the best!
) a possible frame. Feel free to c/p and change it in understandable english, if you like it.