I have attached my appeal rejection information to try and understand what I could have done better, and whether you think it is worth trying again. This was my first submission and I would like to understand and improve my submissions.
The photos are of a bus shelter and memorial bench in memory of a person who served at that location for two decades as a crossing guard. For reference, though I understand past accepted wayspots are no indication of future accepted wayspots, there are likely a dozen memorial benches in my community that have become pokestops. I am thrilled by this as it’s kind of a quiet area. When I realized that Aggies bench and shelter wasn’t yet included it seemed like a perfect spot. However it was rejected for the below reason. This is a difficult thing in my mind because a local hero like Aggie is just that - local. I guess my question is would it be worth trying again? Is there anything I can include that would help? For reference I found online two newspaper links that interviewed her for other reasons that refer to her as “crossing guard Aggie” but only in reference to the topic of the article so it doesn’t really seem like that would be useful. Any insight would be super helpful and thanks so much for taking the time to read this.
First off, memorial benches are only eligible is the submitter can prove that the person it’s in memorial to was of influence in the area. While you do provide some good info on Aggie being a long-time crossing guard, I don’t know how significant a crossing guard is to an area, so the links could have been helpful in the supporting info (links are encouraged to be included in the supporting info).
Bus shelters are usually not eligible, as they are seen as infrastructure, and are quite common in many places. Therefore, I would focus your nomination on the memorial bench to Aggie and provide the links when resubmitting.
Although she was just doing her job, it was a job of very strong significance to the local community. I reject nearly every memorial bench I come across, because they are nearly always to random people of no significance outside of their friends and family - and, crucially, with absolutely no evidence otherwise. This submission, if it had evidence, I would accept.
Links, links and links (in the supporting information only).
When you have a submission that is a difficult type of object to get accepted, but you have a strong case to make, having evidence to back up your strong case is crucial. The only evidence is by linking to existing reliable sources (websites). Merely stating your case, however strongly you state it, is not sufficient.
Sometimes you don’t have room for everything. Try and find links that are as short as possible (create shortcut links if needed), but don’t skimp on having links.
I know it isn’t fun to get a rejection, but thank you for sharing this rejection statement! I love that the appeals team went the step beyond to tell you specifically what they needed to be able to accept it. That is not a standard reply. With any evidence linked at all - maybe even the obiturary - I personally would have accepted this as a reviewer the way you originally submitted it, and will be even stronger with any kind of proof of your statement that you can provide.
Echoing others, you need citations. I wouldn’t understand the significance without them. The problem that you have is making people read them. If you can find some references in the local press then add them to the supporting text. But you have to persuade reviewers to not just click “reject” so think carefully about what to say - I’m particularly taken by “Aggie’s Stop” and the story behind it.
Also, consider what the best photo is. I’m not sure the main one does anything for me. What you are trying to do is nudge reviewers in your direction, so if you make slight improvements to all of the elements then you have a better chance if you resubmit.
Hello all. I hope it is ok to provide an update here. I wanted to thank everyone who helped guide me with my submission. With the information I was provided by all of you I was able to get the Wayspot approved upon my next attempt. I greatly appreciate all of the advice and I am so glad to have gotten Aggie’s Stop added. Again, thank you.
