I love sharing on Google Maps. I am not very active on social media. With people I know, I prefer to keep in touch through more direct means like calling or texting or meeting up once in a while. This definitely used to keep me out of touch with people online that I don’t know and left me feeling unable to contribute online in any way that I thought to be practical or useful. Google Maps has given me a chance to contribute online to something that has actual useful value in the real world and is helpful to real people. I love having the opportunity to answer peoples questions about places I have been. I love that the questions can be followed up on and added to by other users. I love sharing photos of places I go. I try to take photos of things that I find interesting so maybe someone might notice something they normally wouldn’t. I love the idea that maybe someone saw what I said about a place I love and discovered a place that they love. I truly believe that Local Guides program is making positive impact on the world and is helping bring people together. The amount of info available makes traveling outside of normal patterns seem less daunting and more accessible to the average person than ever before in history. The first step to travel, is figuring out how to get there. Now you can not only look at a map, but you can ask the people who have been there. It sounds simple but the effect on society is massive, with everyone involved having an effect by joining with others to help get people on the right path. Even if that is just sometimes helping someone find a good burger joint.
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