Since 2015/16 I’ve been a massive fan of user based contributions on Google Maps as I used to live in Kurdistan and there was very little in my local area on the map to give people at home a reference point as to where I lived, or where I went, during the course of my day. After years of war and strife in the region (ongoing just 30 miles away), the area was reforming, new roads were being built and new businesses were springing up all the time. My friends and I would find new places to hang out or a new road to take home and I would dutifully add them to the map. At the very least it acted as a record of where I’d been when I’d perhaps had a particularly good evening, or at best where my friends had left their handbags!
Fast forward two years and I’ve spent a significant amount of time travelling and wherever I’ve been, I’ve tried to post photos, edit information or answer questions as best I could. My approval success is every bit as high as I would like it to be, yet despite having lived mostly here in Azerbaijan during that time I’m still struggling to get places I suggest added or edits approved here in Baku.
We have a couple of issues in the city with businesses popping up and then disappearing within a six months but it can go days or weeks without my edits or place creations being addressed, until usually they’re denied (I know it’s user approval based which takes time). We also don’t have the luxury of being able to use location history (it’s not available here) so if I add a place it’s because I’m usually sat having food in the location I’m trying to add. There are locations I’ve submitted several edits for or tried to create them multiple times because they’ve been denied with no good reason.
I’d like to think I’m pretty responsible and stick within guidelines. I always try to post new businesses with opening times, websites, etc usually, because I’m trying to recommend (drinking) locations to other expats. Local Guides is a community that is meant to be helpful, but it feels like people are playing games trying to outdo each other. Does anyone have this problem in Baku, or in other cities?
