southdeltan

You are still in control of this thread. If you wish to prevent this from becoming a debate (and there's a 99.9% chance it will), look at the "Moderator Tools" at the bottom left of the page and select "close topic". sd

The front page of the website, www.geocaching.com, says: I'm not sure how many have been archived and how many were never approved. The rate of growth is debatable. I think non-linear is an accurate description (exponential is not). There are several threads on the "growth" of the website that explain it much better. There are also topics on the waypoint numbering system. I'm sure somebody can markwell a few threads for you (BEATEN BEFORE I POSTED - darn you, Markwell!!! ). You can also use the forum search to look for threads. southdeltan

Mudding (online gaming, not offroad riding). sd

TAR, have you been hanging out with Mopar? Oh yea, aren't "Earthcaches" listed on GC.com? Or is there another website I don't know about? sd

I don't see any mystery caches anywhere near Vian, Oklahoma. This cache is in Vian. Nothing within 15 miles except Trads and one multi. The closest mystery cache is THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. That cache is over 30 miles away. Mrekidd doesn't even have a logged find on a Mystery cache. I wonder if it's not listed yet, or listed elswhere. I'm reading this as he's auctioning directions to a cache, not ownership. Am I mistaken? sd

Well, that's not exactly a fair assessment, WR/CL, since those few states combined seem to list more new caches in a week then the whole rest of the world combined. As a matter of fact, there have been more caches approved in those 4 states in the last 5 days then in all of New England so far this year. I guess it's possible to just not have any/many new caches this week? I agree. Here are some other states for more comparison. New caches since March 18 (not counting event caches): Alabama: 16 Alaska: 3 Arkansas: 16 Mississippi: 4 Louisiana: 12 Montana: 5 West Virgina: 8 So, based on states with smaller populations - the problem isn't as bad as it seems. Something is probably amiss - but I wonder if the queue will be that long when the regular approvers get back to approving. sd

I would participate. I try to donate whenever possible. I think that somebody in Louisiana tried to have a geo-blood drive last year as an event cache and it was denied. That was before the changes to the event cache rules. I wonder would it be approved now? sd

After looking at the map, it appears that CharlieP may have been on to something. Should somebody contact the owner of these caches, just in case they are the caches in question? If they are, the owner will know more about the situation. It appears CR has found some of these as well. southdeltan

Now that we know that the area where the supposed vandalism has occured, you should be able to look up specific caches in cemetaries/etc that could be possible locations. sd

I've never understood what the big deal about FTF was. I don't like inexperienced caches. I like a cache that's been around the block and knows what it's doing.... Seriously, I do much prefer caches that have been out a while and have lot of "history" around them. I think the standard arguements for FTF junkies are that you beat people and are FIRST (but it's a hobby, not a game... right?) and that it's the only way you can assure that you found it like the hider intended it (unless they haven't worked all of the bugs out - and I see that happening a lot. YOu're just as likely to find it as the hider intended it after a maintenance visit). sd

No it is not, but we do not cut our wrist, or jump over a cliff just because some kids s&*%£%t in our caches. I don't think either of those things have been suggested. Clearly the proper thing to do here is to contact the parents. southdeltan

Whats wrong??? Just move the cache and forget about is. Just kids having you on! OR don't you have fun in the USA anymore ??? You make it sound like the kids were going to blow up the whitehouse! Below is the correct attitude Glad to know that defacating on private property is considered acceptable elsewhere. sd

I did all of that. Now it says I have to be a member to get access - which means I have to pay dues. I'm not paying dues just to look around. sd

Looks pretty good. I can't seem to get into the forums yet though. southdeltan

There's that too. Plus the fact that Jeremy has mentioned he's trying to make the site less US-centric. I think pqs and 3rd party apps are the way to go. It'd be nice if there was a basic map built into one of those applications. Punchabutton-viola: map with dots. sd

I agree on both counts. It'd be neat - but it could be problematic for people who are worldwide cachers. Perhaps you'd get to pick a continent of your choice? sd

I'd definetly go visit parents. I'd take the cache. I'll assume you probably have disposed of the box. I'd show them the log and the pictures and explain what happened. southdeltan

I did 28 solo in the Laurel, MS area. Most were micros. I had 1 DNF which would have been a find if I'd had the cache info, it was the only cache I didn't have info on and it was a multi. I normally do 10 - 20 a trip, it's too far to drive to any unfound caches without getting at least 10. I'll have to check and see how many traditional-REGULAR caches I have as a record. It's fairly easy to run up micro finds, little walking and many are poorly hidden. I'd like to see a new thread that is titled "What's your record: Regular sized caches on a solo trip". southdeltan

I'm glad to see that went as I thought it would. It's been my experience that land managers around here are very receptive to the idea of geocaching, especially when mentioned with an increase in visitors to the park and the possibility of CITO. Good job, JamieZ! southdeltan

It's cooler than you think, because it's not easily attainable by everyone. There are 318 caches within a 100 mile radius of my home. Of course, that's 100 chromes. I'd have to discount the ones in Arkansas and Louisiana because they are MUCH further than 100 miles driving even though they are only 50 chromes. There are 115 or so unfound caches within 100 miles of my home. The nearest is 90 miles of driving away. If I wanted to find 1 cache each day, and had started doing that when I started caching, I'd quickly have been driving over 100 miles one way to log one cache. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I keep track of my finds (of each type of cache, bechmark, and tb), dnf's and notes using the GC.com website. I also try to keep an eye on the find counts of my friends in the MSGA and know that many of them do the same to me. southdeltan

You asked for opinions, I gave mine. You shouldn't dump the thread because one person has an opinion that doesn't match yours. I'll back off from posting and let others chime in. southdeltan

I think you pretty much proved my point. People that hide caches contribute to the sport. Jeremy Irish has said that himself (I don't feel like digging up a link to one of his posts). Your statements imply that people who pay are more committed. I may be mistaken, but if people who pay are more committed, people who don't are less committed. You don't want to meet less committed people. That's what I'm reading. I've met many geocachers and I can't recall one that wasn't a great person. I couldn't tell you which ones were premium members and which ones were not premium members. I think it's elitist to try to exclude who can come to your event. Some people have valid reasons why they are not members. (I personally think that anybody who is more than an occasional geocacher and can afford to be a premium member should be a premium member, but that's a different arguement). Premium members are not necessarily any more commited (or anything else) than non-premium members. sd

I agree. Only geocachers that I know personally should have hides in their yards approved. Further, they should be required to be home when I seek their cache and afterwards they should invite me in for a drink and some snacks. We would have a really swell time. In this case they don't even need to make any special notation on the www page of the cache. Makes things nice and simple doesn't it? Well on second thought they might want to make note of anytime that they will not be available for tea and crumpets. This will help avoid negative thoughts by the odd disappointed cache seeker................. or two. Huh? I don't quite understand that response to my post. I found the cache in the yard of somebody I knew, so what? It's clearly stated on the page and all of the people that didn't know the cacher wrote good logs. On caches where they were in yards with no mention of that, some people felt uncomfortable - they got there and didn't know the cache was in somebody's yard. I can understand them being upset. southdeltan

I personally am offended by your accusation that people that don't or CAN'T pay somehow expect less. You don't want to meet those people? You probably shouldn't hunt for THIER caches either. Wouldn't want their smell rubbin off on you, now would you? I'm a premium member and I'm committed to providing opinions in the forums. (Oooh, I think I found a new sig line). Anyways, I seriously think that the number of people you might offend wouldn't be worth doing it. That's my opinion. I can't think of a valid reason to have a members only event, although they've been done in the past (well, the first one had a couple of reasons: To be the first and to see what would happen). It seems to go against the guidelines, but they've been bent before. I wouldn't host one and I wouldn't attend. Many of my best geocaching friends are non-members and many have valid reasons that they aren't members. That doesn't make them less dedicated. southdeltan

I've found one that was in a geocachers yard. I happened to know the geocacher very well and it stated plainly on the cache page where the cache was located. They live in a suburban area, so it's not like there's a lot of traffic. I was totally comfortable with the experience and my friend and his wife saw me and came out and we had a nice chat. I know of 2 caches (well, one might be archived now) in North MS where it's stated on the cache page. JamieZ mentioned the one that I know is still active. I also know that geocacher and it's CLEARLY stated on the page that it's in the geocachers yard. I also know of a few caches that are outside the offices of geocachers. Both state it on the page, so you KNOW you may be watched while you're searching. I found one like that, but the cacher drove up after I found the cache. I HAVE heard of several caches that were hidden in somebody's yard or on their property with NO mention of it on the cache page and in all cases the cache hunters I've spoken to were very uncomfortable. Many didn't look (yea, probably all shouldn't have looked, but sometimes when you've put the gas money in, you take the risk). I personally think it's ok if you clearly state it on the cache page. southdeltan