Hose502

Bug repellent.

If you are concerned about uneven trades, then don't leave anything of value. When I started caching, I assumed it was always trading useless trinkets for useless trinkets and I was surprised when I found items that actually had some value. I don't really don't trade much anymore because I don't really get this whole "trade even or don't trade" thing. I put six decks of unopened cards in my first cache and I want them to go. I don't want them to sit there due to people feeling that they can't trade fairly at $2.16. I'd rather have someone take them and actually play cards instead of passing and letting them sit in the cache to rot. If young children really want the deck of cards, I want them to take it. That is what it is there for. Trade it for a $0.05 plastic ring because that is tradition. I realize nobody else feels this way, but I don't really understand the emphasis on swag quality. I play skeeball because I like skeeball, not so that I can collect 4500 tickets for the stuffed panda. If I really want the stuffed panda, I'll go out and buy a stuffed panda. Do other cachers actually carry around a swag bag in varying increments of value?

The CAPS LOCK key really needs to be stricken from the keyboard.

I totally agree with WalruZ's post: they should be for you, and primarily for you. And I totally agree with CoyoteRed's post that you should be able to have separate logs, but, unfortunately, that would probably be too complicated in actual usage. Now, in my opinion, you should write what you want to write. I don't understand the point that hiding a good cache entitles you to having cachers write "good" logs as a "reward" for placing the cache. If you place a cache, it should be because you want to. It should be because you want to provide a resource to the sport for others to enjoy. If you place it, they will find it. Someone who writes "TFTC" could love the experience of the find just as much as someone who writes a small novel. If you place a cache in the most perfect location in the entire world, someone writes "TFTC", and you feel cheated, then why did you place it? Was it because you wanted to share something with other cachers, or was it because you wanted everyone to tell you how great your cache is? If it is a great hide, it is because it is, not because every single log entry show that. And many caches have many purposes as well. Caches don't always have to be in the most perfect place in the world. Even LPCs, which many people are vocal about not liking, can be great or have important utility to them. Also, length of log entries does not dictate the quality of the cache. That is subjective anyway. There are some I like, some I dislike. For other cachers, it could be the opposite set of caches. It is possible to visit a cache that you dislike, but events leading up to it provide a great story that results in a long log entry. It is also possible to visit a great cache, and while great, might not give much to say. And sometimes, you could be in the mood to write a lot and sometimes not. You should never feel obligated to stuff a log entry with words to give an "optimal word count" to show your approval. Say what you want to say, that's it. By the way, TFTC = Thanks for the cache. A lot of times, in the real world, a simple thank you is enough. Some people are going to like to write logs as a record for themselves, to reread later to relive the moments, to provide entertainment to others. Some people are going to love the hunt but don't feel the need to record it in detail. The former shouldn't be more "right" and the latter more "wrong". We should all be here to have fun, not to win a popularity contest based on log entries.

According to Google Maps, it looks like 162 miles today round trip and we did 5 caches. Some of that mileage was in the wrong direction to stop by the Wildebeast's house to pick him up. The weather was absolutely perfect today and worthy of going a little further for a fun caching trip up to a state park. And there were a lot of people up there today so I guess everyone else had the same idea.

True, and I also do not keep a record of the TB codes. But, that is why I like to get the bug in my inventory as soon as possible because it then doesn't require the code to drop. I once made an unlogged drop by accident where I picked up a bug and dropped it on the same day, forgetting to write down the number. Luckily, I realized this on the way back home and I was able to return to the cache to write down the number. Now, to prevent that happening, I always try to pick up and drop off each TB on different days, and for the times where that is not desirable, I get paranoid and write down every single number I see that day in my notebook so I can sort it out when I get home. Key point is that if I don't immediately grab the bug, it increases the chances that I will make a mistake by forgetting about a small bug stuck at the bottom of my bag, or dropping it off the next weekend without logging it because the previous drop status is still unresolved. Watching TBs move around is the fun part and keeping the current state accurate is important but these are not records for the National Archives. From what I've seen, the common case is the TB just simply wasn't logged. Uncommon is that the previous cacher hasn't yet logged the one drop, but with the grab, drop-and-go, the logs correctly reflect what happened. Rare is where it has passed through multiple hands or caches (or desired drop-and-gos) before a log has be recorded. I'd rather work on correcting errors in the rare cases when the rare cases occur (and the TB owner would like to help fix it), than to have to worry about the rare case every time a TB state is not up-to-date. Sometimes it might not even matter. A case where it would: previous cacher did a previous drop-and-go in a "goal" cache (or a cool cache) that was requested by the TB owner. A case where it wouldn't: the TB owner is unresponsive or is okay with the current logs.

I cannot not, but the log entry says, "Grabbed it", not "Grabbed it from cacher x". Yes, that is possible. The mileage is a cool thing to track, but there is a good chance it won't be correct. In the rare case that I grabbed a bug, and the mileage isn't correct because of that, and the bug owner would like to have the entries corrected and is willing to cooporate, and the previous cacher is also willing to cooperate, I'm all about helping out with fixing the logs. It is way more overhead to do detective work anytime the travel bug state happens to not be up-to-date. If that makes me thoughtless, then I apologize in advance for any bugs I may "grab", but I will continue to do so.

I don't understand why people would be upset if a TB gets grabbed before the previous holder gets to log the drop. I get all my bookkeeping done as soon as possible after a caching run because that's what *I* need to do to stay organized. If I hold a TB that hasn't been dropped in the cache I retrieved it from, I immediately grab it, drop it in the cache that I found it in, and then retrieve it. Mileage is correct, the state of the TB is up-to-date, and it is in my inventory so I can't accidentally drop it unlogged. So what is wrong? If I'm on an extended trip where I can't get computer access and I find a TB I dropped that got grabbed before I could log it, I'd be happy to know that it got picked up so quickly.

Nothing interesting here with making a collage, but I did develop the photos from a cache and posted them to the cache page: Cache Photo Gallery

Make sure that "The descriptions below are in HTML" is checked and then use a tag with a style attribute such as: <div style='font-family: Verdana, Arial, Sans-serif'> This is my description! </div>

If I get someone new to go geocaching with me, I like to revisit a cache that I've already done. That way, I know what we are getting into and I let them do the searching with the GPSr with the guarantee that we will find it (well, almost guaranteed). If they enjoy that trip, I'll then take them on a run with me for geocaches I haven't found yet.

Expecting everyone to write detailed logs is unrealistic. The people who like to write will write, and those who don't won't. Just because someone doesn't write a detailed log doesn't mean they are lazy--there are many reasons for why people log they way they log. Some may not have enough time as the actual hunt squeezes out all their remaining free time. Some people may not like writing lengthy details in a log that is readable by the public. And, it only takes one cache owner who is trigger happy on the delete button to make you rethink about how you do your logs. Of course, some may not know that detailed logs are fun for everyone. Encourage those that are willing to write to write and that may cut down on the monkey-see-monkey-do factor. But a sincere "TFTC" is always much better than someone writing a long but insincere log just to fill in space.

I call mine "Chigger" because it is really good at finding them. I also have named a new dance move that I call the "Compass Calibration Shuffle".

Obligatory Hitchhiker's Guide quote:

Wow, there are some great photos here. One of my favorite things is to go to people's profiles and look through their photo galleries. I wish people could flag their account as "I like to take photos" and have it show up next to their username (with a camera icon or something). Ambrosia and briansnat have quite a few! Anyway, thanks for sharing these.

I love playing cards. Bridge, poker, hearts, spades, pitch, canasta... Problem is that it is hard to get people interested in playing card games these days unless it is poker. My first (and only cache right now) is a tribute to that and to try and promote the classics more. In the cache is a set of Copag playing cards that are not for trade, but for cachers to sit down and play a quick game if they like before continuing on. The cache is Shoot the Moon (GC13X0Q)

I love taking pictures, but I keep them off the cache pages. I put them in my personal travel bug log and up in my online photo galleries. Here's my photos if anyone wants to see: Geocaching - Volume II Geocaching - Volume I Travel Bugs - Volume I Photos do include spoilers.

Mooving Along (TB198RR): Key Chain Reaction (TB1905F): ...in action: Mei Xiang Bling (TB19543):

There was a guy I used to work with and through our discussions, I found out that we might have a similar taste in music. I burned a CD of a particular artist that I love and gave it to him to try it out. He ended up liking it a lot, ending up buying a bunch of their CDs and got him interested in attending their concerts with me. I did this to share my interests--not to "stick it to the man", not to protest against the RIAA, not to steal music, not to screw the artists out of their fair share. I placed a burned CD in a cache for a similar reason, to hopefully share my interests with another cacher, maybe get someone liking it and maybe striking up a friendly conversation. I never thought I would strum up a lot of enemies instead. Yes, I made an unauthorized copy. Yes, promotion is not an 'excuse'. I do not mass produce CDs, I do not share my music online, I do not let people rip my entire music collection. If someone likes a lot of what I have, great, they can go buy it for themselves. I do, and will continue to occasionally burn a CD from my collection to give to someone else. If you don't approve of that, fine. Don't do it yourself and don't take the copy I make. There are a lot of things I don't approve of that people do, but I don't get in their face about it. I really don't understand why everyone is so blood thirsty in these forums. Maybe this is the new internet. Yes, it is a black and white argument and there is really no gray areas in the law in the case. But there is a point where it is harmless even though you may not agree with this. Should I finish the sudoku puzzles and find the caches or mark them as SBA for a copyright violation? Should I destroy all caches and travel bugs that I find that are in violation of the Groundspeak logo guidelines? That would be a little silly. And there are actual cutoffs in the real world even if they don't strictly apply here. I won $20 in keno last year. Should I report that as income on my tax form? I won't. And the state doesn't care. But I guess I should? If I won $2000, that is a different story. Should I have put in a 1099 form in my cache for the FTF to fill out because I left a gift card? I know people who regularly run the state line to get cheaper cigarettes. If you get pulled over on the way back and they find a carton, they aren't going to say anything. A hundred cartons will get you in trouble. I realize that nothing I have said here will validate anything. People will still call me a criminal for my actions. And, "it tells us a lot about you and your worldview" is quite judgmental there and unnecessary. I've known some people for years and still don't know a lot about them but apparently this one thread is enough to know a lot about me and the OP and our worldview? To disapprove and not agree is one thing, but why the need to get so feisty?

Oh no! I just let someone borrow my Harry Potter book and they read it without paying for it. I also left a Terps sticker in a cache recently and I don't own the logo. I took a sudoku puzzle from a cache that was published in a local newspaper and not designed by the cache owner. I scanned in the back of a Copag playing card for the background of my cache page and I don't own that pattern. Turn me in! I say that in jest--don't take me the wrong way. Leaving *a* CD isn't that big of a deal. Mass producing hundreds of illegal CDs for a cache is a problem. Some may not see it this way, others may. Should I go back to that cache where I left the CD and recover it if it is still there? Oh, and I left a CD of NES ROMS in a cache as well so that is even worse.

From what I have seen, it comes down to this: Cachers are going to log how they think it should be. To some it will be right, to some it will be wrong. Most cachers do it in good faith, a few may not. Cache owners are going to monitor the logs how they think it should be. To some it will be right, to some it will be wrong. Most cache owners do it in good faith, a few may not. Differences in opinion is what causes conflict and this is usually because the cacher's log overlaps with the cache owner's log. For the cacher: keep you own separate log and then deletes don't have any impact on you. Cache owner always has final say even if you don't agree with it but you have to respect it for better or worse. No matter what: be polite when interacting with fellow cachers, have fun, and don't get upset at a disagreement on something.

Well, a burned CD of something cool and original is much better than the original store bought CD of Wilson Phillips I found in a cache recently. Who is going to take that? Just remember that.

"One person's trash is another person's treasure" That said, I'd love to find a music CD in a cache, even if it is a burned copy, to be able to discover new kinds of music that I might not otherwise know about. Viruses are overrated, by the way. I visited this cache (GC10C67) where I left behind a burned audio CD of my favorite CD at the time because I thought it fit within the theme of it. Not sure if anyone took it, but I hope someone does. It is good stuff Leave the burned CD(s). I would take one. Others may not, but that could happen with anything you leave anyway.