conmar

After reading all of the rhetoric on this conversation, I still think it is sad that the ALR is going away. I also think it is unfair. Some ALR caches are allowed to stay while others are not. Now reviewers will be forced to determine whether or not a "challenge" is really a challenge or just a re-worded ALR. If the rule is to do away with ALRs, all ALRs should be done away with. I think it possible that a particular type of cache in my area may have contributed to the eventual ban. There are (were) several "Play-It-Forward" caches that required one to hide a new cache dedicated to the PIF in order to log a found. Personally, I really like hiding caches for others to find, so this wasn't a problem for me. But some cachers jumped up and down in a big fit and wrote all sorts of nasty notes on the pages stating their refusal to hide a cache in order to log a found. These are the same people who choose to "Take" from the game and never give anything back. They don't want to be responsible for a cache, or invest any time or creativity in participating to the fullest extent. The intent of these caches was to promote the game and get new people hiding caches for all to find. Just like everything else, GS shut this practice down because they felt it promoted poorly thought out cache placement. There are pleanty of poorly thought out caches without having been required as ALRs. I really think that the decision is very dictator-like and did not consider the majority, only the "squeeky wheel"s. Only those who sought vengence to manipulate things in their own way complained enough to get the rules changed. Does it work the other way? If everyone complains enough that the new ruling was not well thought out and rash, will it get changed in some other way? Probably not. That would require someone to admit that they were wrong, even in some small way. Who admits that they're wrong anymore? Few. Very Few. I do appreciate all that the reviewers do, and the fact that they do it on an unpaid basis, all so we can have fun. The job of reviewer is probably thankless and alot less fun that they first thought it might be. I'm sure this will not be an easy transition for them and there will be much strife and stress caused as a result. It would be easier if GS simply put clearer deffinitions for some of the cache types that have evolved instead of completely eliminating them. It seems that the game really is becoming more about the numbers. What can you do? Sit back and decide if you will choose to play the game by the rules that are dictated, or pack up the GPS and quit. Everybody just needs to take a deep breath and sigh, "Oh Well."