Wayspot removal request appeal

Wayspot Appeals
1
  • Wayspot Title: The Salvation Army
  • Location (lat/lon): 46.879118, -96.789358

The Salvation Army is not a church, but a Christian-based social services organization; they have masses, but that’s not their main purpose, andnot at this location. This particular Salvation Army location has a soup kitchen for the homeless and those who are food insecure, as well as an emergency shelter for those who have been displaced. They provide other social services, such as rent assistance, mental health care, food/clothing/toiletries for those in need, etc.

Please see their website for more info on the sensitive services that they provide:

Please remove this Wayspot as it’s a sensitive location for those that go there seeking help. Rejection screenshot is below. Thanks in advance!

Screenshot 2024-12-24 125553
Screenshot 2024-12-24 125553940×697 39.7 KB

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Their website states they are in fact a church.

3 Likes
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That’s not their main purpose. Their main purpose is to provide social services to those in the community, whether that be through their daily soup kitchen, food pantry, emergency shelter, etc. They are faith-based social services first and foremost. Don’t know if you’ve ever been by one and seen homeless people coming in and out, people in need that deserve to be treated with some dignity.

The Salvation Army is also an international social services organization. Many may know of their Red Kettle campaign during the holidays, where they have volunteers outside malls and stores ringing bells while standing next to a red kettle in which people can donate money. The money raised goes towards continuing to provide social services to those in need.

So, because of the services provided and their sensitive nature, it’s not an appropriate place for a Wayspot.

1 Like
4

They might be a religious organization but their sites are not churches. They are indeed a social service organization. Go to their website and you’ll the long list of services they provide.

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We should just wait to see what staff says at this point. No further discussion is needed.

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You don’t need to say anything more if you don’t want to , but the community is free to comment. No need to give others directives.

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There’s is already a private discussion going on about this, hence why right now it’s just best to wait to see what staff has to say.

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Of course, feel free to not comment further.

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I stand corrected! @RoIi112 , this site is in fact a church offering services! From their website “ JOIN US FOR WORSHIP’!
Adult and children’s Sunday school: Sunday, 9:45 AM
Worship service: Sunday, 11:00 AM
Adult prayer and Bible study: Wednesday, 6:00 PM
Youth Programming: Tuesday, 5:00 PM”

That isn’t so common, but you are correct!

1 Like
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But that’s not its primary function, and I laid out tge prinary functions in my appeal.

I don’t know why we have to nitpick over something so trivial.

Please, please, please, just let staff make their decision now.

1 Like
11

Its important to add any details staff might miss to help make their decisions, you added something thatvwasnt correct that can falsely sway their decision and Leedle disagreed but later found I was correct. Whether that matter or not is of course up to Niantic, but all the evidence is important and you shouldn’t disuade anyone from presenting any.

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But you’re incorrect in the main purpose, and I fully listed the main purpose of this Wayspot. Don’t act like you don’t know what the Salvation Army mainly does. You know.

Now please, please, please stop this. I truly have been hurt.

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I never mentioned anything about a main purpose. You said it wasnt a church, and i said their website states it is a church. End of that point. I didnt comment on the rest of your feedback in the appeal as that is also still relevant.

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You are nitpicking, you are being “smart” with me all the time! Just keave this to staff already! You are hurting, not helping.

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You think making accusations and puttong words in my mouth dont hurt me? I simply made a comment on information your provided thay wasnt correct. Relevant information that can wrongly get a waypoint removed and wrongly affect players. Your appeal did include relevant information and Niantic should take that information into account. But plz dont take all feedback provided as bitpicking or an attack it was mere facts presented as relevance applied and not opinion based getting a leg over or anything of that sort. I have no eggs in this basket on whether the waypoint stays or goes and i dont wish your appeal to fail.

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A quick reminder that the Wayfarer Community Forum is an open space where Explorers are encouraged to share their insights, observations, and interpretations. While opinions may differ, these contributions are intended to add context and support well-informed decision-making.

Please keep in mind that feedback shared here is not meant to challenge or undermine anyone’s appeal but rather to ensure all relevant details are considered. Let’s stay focused on the topic and approach each other’s input in good faith, avoiding assumptions about intent.

Thank you all for keeping the discussion respectful and constructive!

Note: With the thread now in slow mode, let’s use the extra time between posts to provide thoughtful and considerate responses.

7 Likes
17

Thanks for the appeal, @DTrain2002. We took another look at the Wayspot in question and decided that it does not meet our criteria for removal at this time.

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@NianticAaron Can you please take another look at this? It’s main purpose is fully outlined. Monday through Friday it’s a social services organization, with a free soup kitchen, case workers to help people find services, food bank, as well as other services for the homeless, low-income, and displaced residents, such as an emergency shelter.

The mass services are a minor part, only happening a few hours every week. Otherwise, it’s a social services organization that many in need may turn to. I’ve even been told of some of their services in the past when needing assistance, and it certainly isn’t a place I’d feel comfortable going to if I did need any assistance. I’d want some dignity if I had to go there, as would those who are seeking services right now.

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@NianticAaron I haven’t heard back yet on my apeal of the appeal.

@NianticLC @NianticAtlas Also tagging.

20

Hey there.

I was hoping for a reply here, too, but we both know what to expect with individualized responses for appeal handling and the headache of (dis)associating rejection criteria with removal criteria. Even my requests for clarity were ignored.

I hold conflicting opinions on this. “Sensitive location,” from the review screen, is defined as:

Sensitive - funeral homes, burial grounds, cemeteries, memorials, plantations, political campaign offices, concentration camps, homeless shelters, abórtion clinics, domestic violence shelters, jails/prisons, bail bonds places, and graveyards

I did not immediately see anything on Wayfarer — Niantic Technical Support and Help Center site with additional information. I feel like a soup kitchen should obviously be considered similar to a homeless shelter, and I’ve shared (no longer “criteria”) posts from staff stating that “blessing boxes” (food pantries) are ineligible (but did not elaborate as to being “sensitive” or simply not meeting criteria.

Myself, I have a mixed opinion. If this was a weekday daycare or kindergarten thru grade school, there would be little debate and the “ineligible location” removal criteria would come to play and usually demands removal of the connected church, unless there is obvious separation. Is “sensitive location” taken less seriously than a youth school location?

If so, then I guess my suggestion is to improve the Wayspot as possible by offering a better description to make it clear that this Salvation Army is a Wayspot for the church. Elaborate the church services and any relevant information to pull focus from the “side” you consider sensitive.

I hope this is not considered “repurosing,” however we have lack of clarity on that definition and on this location.