Nite*Owls

I do understand that, and I think it's fine to change the hidden date shortly after publication if need be. I'm talking about months or years after publication.

Yep, exactly my point, the one thing that should NOT be able to be changed is the hidden date. Doing maintenance is not publishing a brand new hide, therefore the hidden date should stay the same as it always was. I guess maybe some very few COs don't understand this. I wish HQ would lock the hidden date when published because that would solve this issue. But they don't care as shown with the reply I got. Every single time over the years I've emailed them about something, I get a generic response over and over. Whether it's a bug issue, an idea, etc. They just don't seem to care at all. Seems lately all they care about is putting out more souvenirs. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the souvenirs, but I really wish they'd listen to their year-after-year paying premium members more and take into account our ideas, opinions, etc.

That's why I wrote "it's not like hides today are super rare like the early 2000's hides." Meaning the very old hides should be the only exception to the rule, although they can still be made to fit their listing. Of course nobody wants old caches archived. Anyway again, my main point was about the hidden date being changed to way after it was hidden and published, thus making finds look like they were before the cache was hidden. It looks silly and confusing. That particular CO must think they need to change the hide date every time they do maintenance.

On a side note, I wrote to Geocaching HQ about the hidden date change, and this is the reply I got. They mixed things up pretty bad lol. Sometimes I just have to shake my head, sigh and move on. If anything, it gave me a chuckle. Thank you for contacting Geocaching HQ. Those two dates are not always the same. The date at the top of the cache page (Hidden) is the actual date that the cache was published and available for all to find. The date at the bottom of all of the logs (Publish listing) is actually the day that the cache page was created by the cache owner and is not the date that it was published for all to find. The cache listing is correct and cannot be updated at this time. Best regards,

Stats I don't care about? Lol what are you talking about?? When people change their titles, D/T ratings, sizes, dates, etc. it messes up EVERYONE's stats who found those caches. Most people I've heard do not like that. I for one find challenge caches fun, but it sure can get screwy when stats are changing. Most people play "side games" with their finds and stats and how they keep track of things on here. It's part of what makes it fun. We obviously play the game very differently so agree to disagree and don't be so rude with your replies. I know there's nothing I can do about it and I accept that of course, I was just confused and curious about the drastic hidden date change as I had never seen that before.

I agree, it's very wrong. If CO's feel the need to change things like titles, D/T ratings, sizes, or dates after say a good week of making sure they are set, then they just need to archive the hide if they feel they need to change it again. Just archive and replace it with a new hide so it doesn't screw with stats. It's not like hides today are super rare like the early 2000's hides.

I was going through caches for a challenge and noticed the hidden date on a cache changed. How is this possible and why? This kind of thing can really mess with stats so this could be a big problem. The cache I just happened to notice this on is Peacock Heaven - GC89QGH Hidden date at the top says 09/07/2023 and we found it on 01/12/2023 so this caught my attention. The date this cache published was 06/19/2019. There's nothing in the logs that say the date was changed except for Owner attention requested and Owner maintenance logs between the 09/07/2023 date. I'm guessing the hider changed the hide date for some reason but now this also makes me wonder how many other caches this has happened to... I'm going to assume and hope not many at all. I hate it when titles, ratings and sizes change, but dates is a whole 'nother problem. Some things should NOT be allowed to be changed.

It's been over a month now. Maybe it's time to get some new people on the bug fix team.

One of my favorite types of challenge caches are the ones that involve the names of the caches. Like titles with animals, colors, etc. And challenge caches for places like alphabetical cities/towns you've found caches in, etc. But sadly these are no longer allowed. I don't get it, you'd think they'd want to open up more fun challenge caches to us since many of their paying members really enjoy them. Instead they just keep doing confusing souvenir Signal games. Let people place more fun challenges!

I'm planning a road trip and started getting that exact same error when I tried to reload the maps on the website. The maps on the app seem to be working fine though.

I have many ideas for fun challenge caches but unfortunately I can't place them because of the ridiculously strict rules on challenge caches. With that being said, I may not hide them in the most interesting places, BUT I would decorate the container to fit with the theme of the challenge to make it a little more fun to find!

Fun challenge caches that involve cache titles where you need to find X # of caches with a color, animal, etc. in the name, and ones where you have to find caches in certain areas like specific counties, cities, etc. make this whole game of geocaching more exciting to play. Isn't the point of all this to make things more exciting and to ADD to the game? By strictly enforcing more and more rules on challenge caches, it's taking away from the game and in my opinion making it less fun. From what I've seen, most geocachers who have been caching for awhile and actually stick with the game, enjoy and seek out challenge caches. They are pretty popular! I have several fun ideas for challenge caches but I don't even bother because I'm sure they would just get denied. If the same 'ol countless, easy P&G nanos, bisons, matchsticks, etc. are allowed, then I think more challenge caches should be allowed also so those types of finds can go towards another goal instead of just being another find number. Please reconsider loosening the rules on challenge caches in the near future. There's so many fun ideas that could be created with challenges! If it continues to be restricted, then the overall game of geocaching just won't be as much fun as it used to be. I understand everything has to have some rules, but it's always more fun to add to a game than to take away.