woodsters

Those were great Sparrowhawk, Sure does add to the old same ole same ole type of pics. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

I've not placed a cache, nor am i an approver, but here's my opinion. You have a just right to feel your cache was removed unfairly, but I would first look at the reason it was removed. Were there prhibited items in the cache, by the guidelines or illegal type of items by law? Was the cache in a location that it was allowed to be? Did you have permission to have it there? Was the cache in good repair? Was it functional? Was it a good sealing contianer? Was it affecting the natural surroundings? Where you contacted about the cache and the reason first? You should be contacted before it was archived. If you weren't contacted, then I would suggest that you make sure they had your correct contact info. Have others been emailing you and telling you problems with it? Were the coordinates correct? Where people finding it? Was it being properly maintained? I imagine there could be many many reasons for it's archival. If you know the reason why it was archived and you have checked with the guidelines and there is nothing it violated there, then I would contact your approver and see what the problem is. Good luck. If you are comfortable with it, then post the link and let others see if they can point out the reason, perhaps the approver will see it or whoever archives them and give and answer. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Mopar, I go along with what you said as well for the most. But I don't think that your previous cache finds in an area should make a difference. At least that's my viewpoint. Mtn-Man, I didn't say I was going to place a cache in Georgia and didn't mean for it to be interpreted as such. I used that as an example in response to coast cachers message. When he posted it, it brought up a good point and question. Many were saying that you need to be a local. I did not read anything in the guidelines as such and still have not. If and whenever I place a cache, you believe it will be within the guidelines and properly maintained. My feelings are that if you don't do it that way, then you've wasted a lot of time and work and gained a lot of frustration. As far as my own interpretations go, well that's what happens when things are left open. People interpret differently. Nothing you can do about that. Your first sentence said there is a guideline. What is that guideline and what does it state. I might of mistyped what I was referring to on that , what I was referring to was that there is no rule stated that says a cache must be placed within a certain distance of where you reside. My error on that is miscontrued. Did that clear that part up Mtn-man? Or is there a guideline that states there is a distance? If so where? To say that something is mundane is not a fair statement. Or let me rephrase that. It's your viewpoint and that is fine, but it's not my viewpoint. People should only take my opinions and thoughts as that. Perhaps some see insight in them. Perhaps some don't see eye to eye, and not everyone will. Just as I will not agree with everyone elses opinion. But I can freely express my feelings on my opinions and disagree with others usually in an adult like manner, until personally attacked. If people, whether new or old, don't bring up topics on here or make discussion, then the message board will not be used except for "The person below me" type of messages. Do I complain about them? No, if I feel I can post an answer, I will. If I don't want to and the topic doesn't appeal to me, then I don't post there. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Great answers everyone...thanks for your viewpoints... Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Yes it was a cheap shot Mopar. As far as reading the guidelines, yes I have read them and nothing states the distance a cache needs to be. You're right there are no medals for the most posts as there are no medals for the most caches found or placed. Nor do the numbers of either give you credibility of any form. Whether no one has asked the question about distance or not, I do not know. If no one has asked it, it doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't need to asked or defined. If things are defined without any question and logic, then I have no problem. Just as it says no vacation caches. There's no definition displayued, but many people have different ideas. I agree and have stated that I believe caches should not be dropped with no intentions of not being maintained. If one can maintain a cache whether the distance as hoys has stated, then it shouldn't make a difference. No one can tell another that they can keep it maintained. Only time will tell. If there were definitions put into it, then there would be no question. But until there are, then there should be not be a cache not approved on those circumstances, unless the cache owner is a known violator. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Yes the deal Brian spoke of is a good deal. But you need to be the one to decide of what you want and need. Your budget and uses of it takes presidence. If you can afford only $140, then the Gecko 201 is a good model in that price range. If you can spend $200, then why not go for a more expensive model with more features. But, I know how being on a budget is and not wanting to spend more than you need to on something in case you don't like doing it. Go to a store and play with them. If you go to a retail chain store or sporting goods store, then 99% of those selling them, don't really know. You may get lucky and find someone who does and maybe someon who caches. Go with what you feel comfortable with buying. Just a point, but all units will help you locate the areas of the caches. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

I understand the system you were speaking of Welch, but my view is that it will make it harder for people to make a copy of that tag, other than some other way that a person would do on their own. And there is nothing saying that you can not use the numbers that are on the tags bought from Groundspeak and apply them your own way. The only thing I think is that you would want that hard to produce tag from Groundspeak as an icon of authenticity. It's entirely up to the person to actually use the tag or not. Personally I would as there are so many bugs MIA as it is, that having 2 or 3 with the same number on it won't help me watch my bug and trying to figure out which one is the real one. I understand the thought of getting the number faster. Trust me, I waited a week after ordering mine and received and email stating they would be shipped the next day. Got them 2 or 3 days short of 2 weeks from when ordering. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Welch, when you say the contact address, are you referring to the approver? Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Brian are they still offering the rebate at Amazon? I think when I last looked they were ending July 6th, which is tomorrow. If true, you are correct, don't think too long. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

hoys, very good practices! I see some people do think logically. Bassoonpilot, since you emailed me and told me you filtered my email address, i will answer you here. Here's what you said: quote:User BassoonPilot has contacted you with the following message: < Dead horse or rant....it becomes the same thing whenever a person disagrees. If you feel it is a rant or beating a dead horse, then don't read or reply. > Just as you are free to post your mostly pointless, incoherent rants, I am free to comment as I see fit. If you don't like it, that's YOUR problem. It's amusing that you have consistently failed to notice that I agreed with part of what you had stated; you chose instead to whine on, pointlessly and incoherently, about mere semantics. You should be embarrassed. < Lack of brevity? Once again, don't wanna read what I've got to say, then please don't bother to respond. > See my above comment. You have had very little of substance to say, but you have posted it as often, and in as many places, as possible. You should be embarrassed. < Breakdown of the command of the english language? Wait are you my English teacher? Do you understand what I'm saying? > No, often times it is impossible to discern your mangled grammar and syntax. You should be embarrassed. < If so, then ok, what's the problem then. If not, then you don't know what i'm talking about and move on. > The problem is, it is obvious that you didn't bother to do even a seconds research on any of the topics you post on, and haven't a clue as to what YOU are talking about. You should be embarrassed. Don't bother responding; you're being filtered. Have a nice life, and think before you post. Not that it matters, but your messages have not shown that you consistently agree with me in part. As a matter of fact you have taken pleasure in persecuing me, my ideas, and along with another have taken what Jeremy would call "cheap shots". Not to include emailing and then filtering me out as a cheap shot. I hope you feel better using your choice words in hopes to make you sound intelligent. Once again, another shot at me for the words in which I have used. Research on the topic in which I've posted? What research is there to be done? Show me where it says that a person has to place a cache within a certain amount of distance from their residence? You can't. Embarassed? Not at all. Am I the one that should be embarassed at taking shots at people personally? I don't care if you don't like my views, ideas, or how many times I say it, how many different ways I say it, or what I say. It's a forum open for discussion. That's what I intend to do. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

We got one at the early of June, it works great. The only thing is that the batteries do go fast. You can deter that with rechargeable batteries though. It's small, smaller than my Samsung flip phone when open and narrower. Fits in the pocket easily too. The only thing is that if you have it in your pocket or in something that will cause it where the buttons can be pushed, then it will turn it on when they get pushed. For the price, I think it's well worth it. We were driving around yesterday after finding a cache, just lolligagging around not knowing where we are going. We didn't have a map, but knew soem general routes of which way they went. We used the compass of it to make sure we were going in a right direction. Worked great. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

I watch some of the caches that i've been to, to see if someone logs that they've taken something I placed. That way you can tell if what you are trading or leaving is wanted or is being left like all the other junk. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

I'm sure 99% of the topics have been already discussed before, Mopar. I wanted my own topic. Yes there are some great caches out there that have been around for a while. You can't simply just place a cache in a public playground. You have to make sure it's allowed there. Just because it's a public place does not automatically make it a place where you can place a cache. There may be ordinances against it, or the manager may be against it. The idea of time limited caches may not be for everywhere, but due to others feelings on that only "locals" should place them, and with the fact that many areas do get saturated, it won't allow people in the future to place them. Some of you who have followed one or two of the latest thread will see that some think that if a person doesn't place a cache then they have no credibility as to caches (placing/maintaining). Which is fine. But when you start to think about it, what about down the road if the placement of caches doesn't slow down? Then others will not have the chance to place a cache in those local areas. The idea of limiting how many a person places was a thought as well. Someone mentioned somewhere else that most caches visits are within the first couple months, and then after that they usually slow down. I've looked in my area and that seems to be somewhat true here, but may not be in all areas. I would say a year is a decent amount of time. Just remember these are opinions, don't hold what someone says against them....lol Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

It was mentioned in another thread about that Arkansas state parks were imposing a time limit on caches in their parks. This brings up a good point. How long should a physical cache be left out? Should there be a time limit on a cache? In just 3 years there have been over 58,000 caches placed (I assume that includes virtuals as well), but some areas become so saturated with caches. Many people feel that only locals should place caches, which is their opinion, but what happens when it becomes too difficult or even impossible for even a local to place one? Especially when you look into the future of geocaching down the road. Will there be any places left to put caches? Will people who would like to place a cache, get the experience that some feel others need? My opinion is that a cache should have a time limit. Perhaps, 6 months or a year at the most. I think that once the time goes by, then it is the responsibility of the owner to remove it and that it will be archived. Then there should be a time limit, before that cache placer can replace a cache there. What are your thoughts? Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

quote:Originally posted by BassoonPilot: That's because your eagerness to continue beating a dead horse, your lack of brevity, and the total breakdown of your command of the english language in your rants are hilarious. Sorry if I let the "cat out of the bag." Dead horse or rant....it becomes the same thing whenever a person disagrees. If you feel it is a rant or beating a dead horse, then don't read or reply. Lack of brevity? Once again, don't wanna read what I've got to say, then please don't bother to respond. Breakdown of the command of the english language? Wait are you my English teacher? Do you understand what I'm saying? If so, then ok, what's the problem then. If not, then you don't know what i'm talking about and move on. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Very good post hoys! As I agree with it. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

My whole thing with this was that coast cachers were referring to a cache they placed in their hometown, although they do not reside there. They made the mistake of calling it a vacation cache as it really wasn't a random cache drop. They also made the mistake of not being able to keep it maintained as they should be. I stated that way earlier in the start of this thread. My opinion which later, as coast cachers referred to me in an email, was thrown on a grenade, was why can't someone place a cache in an area in which they are knowledgble of, taken the time to research, and especially if there is a lack of caches there. The rules say no vacation caches. No problem, my definition is one that you randomll drop without any research, in an area that you do not frequent or have no way, means or care to bother to maintain. That was my definition which I have to derive, since there really wasn't one for a short sentence of "No vacation caches". After all, why would you place a physical cache that can't be maintained? That's part of placing a physical cache, is that you have to keep them maintained. As Alan stated, why would it matter if you place a cache and keep it maintained? Whether it's you, your friend, a relative or whoever that has agreed with you? Jeremy posted a point that if hte land manager wanted to place their info for contact in those cases. Why not place the contact info of those who are maintaining it, if not the actual cache placer themself. If it doesn't remain maintained, then it gets archived like all the other caches that people don't maintain that are in their town of residence. There are no rules stated about a radius that caches must be in, in the residence you currently live in. And if ther ewas and move outside a radius that prescribed, would your cache be archived? Even if you moved a few miles outside of the area? No one can say whether or not a person can or can not maintain a cache. I might be capable of traveling 1000 miles on the whim to check on a cache. Who's to say I won't? Who's to say I will on a cache in my backyard? Like I said, it becomes a rant to someone who doesn't believe in it. And what is funny that those that say it is a rant, keep replying to it. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Haven't yet come across one that I felt should be archived. I imagine that the approvers for that cache should have a system in place that they follow in order t archive one. I don't think that just someone saying it should be archived that it should be, especially without any verification. I can't imagine that an approver would not archive one without trying to contact the cache owner and fix any discrepancies that are major enough to result in an archive. When someone clicks on TCSBA, does it automatically send a notice to the approver? Or does the approver have to make rounds of the pages and see the ones that are marked that way? Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

watch out alan, the words vacation cache will come with adverse remarks and possible personal attacks. My OPINION is that a distant placed cache is a better term. Since that it does say no caches are to be placed on vacation. But then again, what constitutes a vacation? Glad to see someone with more "credibility" than me agrees somewhat. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

wheelchair accessible database is a great idea. Although not handicapped here, I think that Jeremy ought to look at possibly adding an icon like the "bug" and the checkmarks to the cache list pages. Would make those accessible for handicapped or wheelchairs are marked. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

quote:Originally posted by BassoonPilot:It has a lot to do with how the position is presented. A lack of focus tends to undermine that individual's position. For example, some posts ramble on and on, touching on several unrelated (or perhaps tangential) topics. A total lack of experience in an area also tends to undermine that individual's position. Geocaching _is_, after all, a _participatory_ sport. Fair or not, I give greater consideration to the opinions of those who participate, and less consideration to the opinions of those who are 'desktop experts.' Ok, if you want to look at numbers, then lets do. I've been on here a month. I have 12 finds already. I've dropped 2 travel bugs, I've found 3. Some people who have been here over 2 years, own no travel bugs, and grabbed barely anymore than I have. On their found cache counts they average less than 4 a month? And their hidden count is barely more than their travel bug grabbed count and a 1/3 of those are archived or at least put on hold because they are placed somewhere they weren't allowed to be? Numbers mean nothing. If you do look at that, then who participates more? I agree that it takes more "know how" of placing a cache than maintaining one. But for someone to jump in and make things personal right off the bat and state things like "place a cache and we will see" or "we will see when you place a cache", not to mention "why does he care so much about vacation caches(when it was not such a cahce as spoken in the explanation of the messages), is it because he has a vacation website?" is childish. First of all that person never bothered to look at my website and only saw a word that said vacation. Which was referring to cabins. If camping, fishing, hunting, bike riding, rollerblading, geocaching, and other outdoor activities are considered things you only do on vacation, then yep he got me there. To insinuate that a person has a lack of knowledge of geocaching (which I still don't see what a timeframe, number or "knowledge" of caching has to do with being able to find a cache or place one), because of a number or date on profile, doesn't necessarily mean that they are lessa knowledgable. There are those out there that I am sure that don't place these type of things in profiles, just for simple things like this. I have not claimed to be an expert. I know I'm not and would never even say I am even if I had 1000 finds. I do have an opinion, knowledge, and ideas. Just because I don't agree about something that there is, doesn't make those attributes any less. I've received email from the topic starter, thanking me for actually reading the message s and understing them. I've maintained focus on the thread. Point being that the topic starter shouldn't of used the words Vacation cache. I've stated that there should be no reason that there is no rule that says that a cache has to be within a certain amount of distance from where you reside. They state that they should be maintained. They say that to maintain them that they should be checked periodically along with the other rules. There is no definition as to "periodically". What one may define as Periodicially, another will define it different. I might think that it means weekly, you may think it means every other week or once a month. A person who owns a 5/5 may have a different viewpoint. If there is going to be such rules, then define to greater extent. But if you aren't then you can not hold anything agaist them as long as the rules are followed. If a cache becomes disarrayed and it appears that it is not being maintained properly, then archive it. I use a lot of analogies and hypothetical situations to make my points. Do not confuse them with not being focused. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

quote:Originally posted by welch: I disagree. How does having to buy a metal tag, or any tag, make the TB less likely to be copied? Come on, you've seen how innovative geocachers can be! If someone wants to cause problems, they will, if theres a tag or not. Having a standard tag makes it less succeptable of the thing being copied. First of all, there will not be another tag like it with a number like it. It is a lot more difficult for someone to produce an identical professionally produced tag like Geroundspeak puts out. If people paid for a number alone and make a tag at home or wrote it on something, then it is more likely that the whole thing can be copied, causing confusion. There's nothing saying that 2 different people can't have the same item (McToy) for a bug, but hte number makes the difference. quote: First, it doesn't need to be 'printed up on the printer'. Second, How does not having a tag make it easier to copy?? Used the "printing it up" example as someone mentioned that earlier. Where will the number go? It will have to printed , written on or burned in, etc, and be on something. If someone can get ahold of the same type of item that the travel bug is and the number is not secured on a tag that can not be reproduced or one that will be expensive to produce, then it will definitely detere those who may try. quote:I'd take them all, but If I could carry only one. I would pick the traveler that I liked most. Best story, coolest item, most original design or mission & etc. would be used to determine which I liked. It would not be based on the presence of metal dog tags, or if it has a chain. Maybe I'd take the one where the serial has been carved in, or otherwise incorporated in some interesting way. But what if there are 2 in that same cache that look exactly the same and they both have the same serial number and the numbers are applied the same way. Which one of those would you take? What if you placed a travel bug out there and it all of a sudden and then someone copied it with the same type of bug, number and was applied the same way? People will do it as a game. They already steal them as it is and hold on to them longer than what we want. It's a game for them. Why add to the confusion? There's nothing saying that you can take the number on the tag that you purchase and apply it to your bug in your own cool way. It's just a way of verifying that it's a TB that can be tracked on geocaching.com. As been stated before, there are hitchhikers. Make up your own tracking system. If you have knowledge of programming and scripting, then you could make a similar system and have your own website. Do as some others and put a guestbook or forum on your own website and let others help you track your bug. quote:A TB with no tag, could show as much or as little "quality", as a TB with a tag. You would do the same comparing it to the avaiable information (description, pictures etc.), assume it is, and treat it as _the_ TB. That is fine if your travel bug is a one of a kind that can't be reproduced. The problem with people who will be able to do their own is that the tags help promote Groundspeak and geocaching.com . People will be making their own tags or applying their own numbers to them. The tags in which we currently use are of professional, grade, quality and appearance. GC has taken the time, energy, effort, and money to bring a service for us to use, free of charge. I think of dropping the quality (not everyones but probably most) of the tags or not using a common identifyer, that it will drop the fun out of the bugs. It wil lbe so saturated with them. Especially when you drop the cost down. And then if even dropped the cost down, why would someone want to pay for a number? People could do it freely on their own as I mentioned above. What if they left the price as it is and you could make your own tag or apply the number on your own? You can already do that. But, if you don't have that metal tag, which is hard to reproduce, then your bug could easily be copied, or it would be easier to copy. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

I wouldn't consider it a rant. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

Here's a question...Why is it that when someone voices their opinion in a discussion, that those who don't believe in what he believes consider him as ranting or arguing? Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com

No...I simply answered a question that he said to place a cache for him to find...I remarked that it would not be there where he lived (I can't place one there or it will be considered by most of you as a vacation cache)and followed it up with some humor.... Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com