2022
This week, I was traveling for work and got to visit a new government building complex in northern Arizona. Always searching for mapping opportunities, I drove around photographing the directories, signage, and new buildings.
When I finished, I sat in my car deciding what to upload, and I saw a man in my rear-view mirror taking pictures of my license plate. He looked serious but also like a character from an old movie about the gold miners staking claims in the Western United States in the 1800s. A long white beard, typical western wear, and now photos of my car!
I've been through this situation, usually with business owners who pop out when I'm taking pictures before or after hours, but never with a small-town government employee. So, I hop out of the car before he has a chance to upload my license plate to a Federal database of some sort. I immediately introduced myself and gave him my first and last name to put him at ease, hopefully. He asked what I was doing and said I raised concern with the staff ... in the 2 minutes I was outside trying to get a picture of the accessible parking spots!
Thankfully, I have a short explanation of what a Local Guide is and what we're trying to do. It also helped that he recognized my company name from my shirt. He eased up, and then came my favorite part of these encounters; we stood around and chatted for ten minutes or so about the town, his history working for the community, and all of the changes he has seen over the years. It was an encounter I would not have otherwise had if I had just spotted this character in the grocery store, nor would he likely have wanted to talk with me.
At the end of our chat, he told me about a delivery driver that just came into their office looking for an address that was supposed to be nearby. Google Maps showed the location in the middle of nowhere. My LG lightbulb went on again, and I fixed that issue, too. A few extra points, no arrests, and a great conversation. All in a day's work, I guess.
Do any of you have funny stories of encounters with weary or skeptical locals? Maybe I just come across as some international spy that must be up to no good?
Yes, of course... dear fellow LG friend @JustJake.
I have been asked to go to a police station, once. For my best luck, the inspector himself was a Local Guide! While I was Level 10, he was only Level 7 (if I remember correctly). We spent some time chatting, and he was kind enough to offer me fresh fruit juice also.
I have many other stories and experiences.
Regards
@TravellerG Thankfully I have never been taken to the police! That's a true stroke of luck that you had a fellow LG at the station. I guess in a pinch we could just flash our Local Guide socks to try and prove that we're telling the truth 😁
@MortenCopenhagen I see a lot of salons and massage places where the owners feature their own photos in their business profile. Maybe she just didn't have time to get a headshot, yet.
