Taoiseach

I just find an old stump that is naturally hollowed out and put the cache in it, no need to cut or install hinges. With the insides normally filled with punk and leaves I just cover the cache with that. (NOTE: no point tool was used to cover the cache, just my five fingers!) If I'm real lucky I can find one with a rotten root that is also hollowed out and put the cache there. Jim Fingers do qualify as 'pointy objects' But covering the cache over with otherwise loose material is fine - It's pretty much standard practice around here to cover a cache with snow in the winter

Everybody has a watchlist...

It is your mistake. He was asking for help in a manner that is expressly against the guidelines. He wasn't "attacked". People explained to him why he was wrong. That's all. You're taking that out of context. "My mistake" was believing that all geocachers are good people. The few that aren't are a slim, slim minority - There are very few (no?) groups that contain no bad people...

I'm a student - Twice cachers have helped me out. The first time, bluelamb03 bought me a meal (albeit on the condition that I name my first born son after him ) The second time, narcissa bought me some groceries when I was really poor at the end of the semester - A move I'm still appreciative of. Much like you StarBrand, I've been enjoying seeing her smiling face every morning (er... afternoon) as well Milujem t'a! Neither time did I ask, but both times I was extremely grateful

I don't for a second doubt that he was on the level. He still went about asking for help in the wrong way

**facepalm** You've missed the point entirely... The point was that he asked for help, but in doing so violated one of the more important guidelines. Had he have asked for help outside of his cache pages, he likely would have received it. Instead, he used his cache page to solicit donations, a Groundspeak official called him on it, and then he got bent out shape when we all took Groundspeak's side. I forget who it was who said this, but it was absolutely correct - This is Groundspeak's sandbox, and if we want to play here, we have to follow their rules.

Crap - That sucks... Unfortunately though, there's very little you can do - You just happened to have bad luck. Energizers are usually pretty good, and as long as you don't mix old and new batteries or batteries of different types, you should be fine. One other thing to note - Narcissa points out that the Ikea batteries tend to leak on occasion... For off brand batteries, I've always had really good luck with President's Choice batteries in terms of longevity and not leaking... But that doesn't really help you if you in the States

Now, now - Let's not be too hard on him... I'd like to hope we're making our point

A toast to my new favourite n00b!

I'd debate that. You're seeking assistance in maintaining your own caches - That is asking for charity - It is asking to support you and your property, regardless of whether or not that property is a part of the hobby.

and responses like this is exactly why I and many of my former geocache friends aren't happy of what geocaching has become. After reading the responses in this thread, and that of the MARYLAND group, I guess since I'm poor I don't belong in geocaching anymore...perhaps it's just for the rich folks these days. ...And that post doesn't deserve an eye roll at all... I've given you a suggestion as to how to maintain your caches for around $1 US each, and we've all told you that using a Groundspeak cache page to ask for donations is against the guidelines. There's really very little we can do aside from that. You own a GPS, and therefore you can still participate if you so desire, however you can't violate the guidelines in order to keep your caches active - They will be archived if you don't comply with Jessica's request. It's not unreasonable to ask that you comply with the guidelines. Nobody is telling you that you don't 'belong in geocaching anymore,' all we are saying is that the caches that you own are your responsibility.

I don't know - 'distasteful' might be a bit far. He certainly isn't going about it in the right way though

No, because asking for assistance should not be, and I feel is not against the rules. Yes, yes it is. I'm sorry, but it is.

That is against the guidelines, and it's probably only a matter of time before the CO gets a similar email Quite often cache descriptions are changed after publication, or else slip through the cracks. Also, quasi-religious caches, such as ones that require you to visit historic churches are usually fine, as long as you put a disclaimer on the page, and as long as the cache page talks about history, rather than theology That's a grey area, and it ultimately is Groundspeak's call as to what constitutes 'solicitation'

Ugh... There's nothing like a cache being MIA and on your closest to home page at the same time... Especially when both you and the ranking cacher in your area have DNFed on it several times...

The Waterproof Matchstick containers are less than a dollar are less than a dollar at American Walmarts. They make fairly good containers, despite their small size. As for a logbook, I make my own for virtually nothing. I take a piece of blank paper, cut it into strips the width of one of my rulers, 'staple' them together (I actually use a little piece of 20 gauge wire, because my stapler sucks...), and wrap the top of it with a piece of hockey tape. They only cost a couple of cents (if that) and 2 or 3 minutes of my time. They seem to be working well too! Solicitations and agendas are against the guidelines, and although I know that you're not trying to cause any trouble with this, it is still a violation of the guidelines. I definitely think that you would be wise to simply comply with Jessica's request

GC6FBE Pizza Micro Oh, and any of mine

I had many problems with it - The lines, the blue screen (Why does the black & white screen turn blue?), and the joystick issue (up didn't work for the longest time, but left, right & down did)... Aside from that, the antenna was always a problem. My quick fix was to buy a better GPS

Sign me up too!

No - Just be warned though - Almost nobody takes things like business cards, and so they just end up wet and mouldy Other signature items are usually pretty good though!

Breaking news! There is now an FTF for "Rainbow Hydrothermal Vents!" Even better, someone else was there to capture the entire event in a video. You might want to check that one again. Looks like a DNF. Thank God! I was afraid I had missed my chance! I thought I had booked that sub for nothing

Why do you suspect Taoisearch of being a FTF Hunter Hater? I certainly didn't get that impression from his post. What I picked up was more an apathy emotion than a hateful one. Since FTFs are not recognized, sanctioned or controlled by Groundspeak, many feel that they are not a legitimate part of the game. The FTF proponents have chimed in here several times, stating what the "FTF Rules" were, yet there are no FTF rules. The entire concept exists as a fiction between the cache owner and the person who locates the cache first. While it's true that for many, this fiction can add a tremendous thrill to the hunt, there is nothing official about it. Strictly a subset of the game, which many don't participate in. Typically, those who don't participate aren't haters. They just don't cache for the same reasons as the FTF players. Don't confuse accuracy with thoughtlessness. That sums it up nicely!

Does GC.com keep a stat on it? I can't find that stat bar anywhere...

Pocket Knife, and a bit of effort. This is the key to winter caching.

If there's anything that makes someone a "D****e," (misogyny is so appropriate on a family forum, btw) it's making up arbitrary rules about things that don't really exist to begin with. *cough* <snip> *cough*