[Geocache Quality]

11 hours ago, FatHap said:

 

• Allow anonymous feedback for bad caches, kind of like the opposite of a favorite. Feedback should be specific about the problem with the cache. Having it not displayed on the cache page could prevent people from ganging up on another cacher, but it could provide reviewers another tool to know who the delinquent cache owners are. Cachers with too much negative feedback shouldn't be allowed to place new caches.

 

Not displaying negative feedback will not prevent people "ganging up" , on the contrary it would make ganging up easier because a non local reviewer does not necessarily know the "chemistry" of local caching communities and might be inclined to just archive based on quantity of negative feedback. 

[Geocache Quality]

• In your mind, what is a high quality geocache?

Any cache that meets the guidelines and is well maintained. As long as that is the case, any cache has it's justification. We should always rememmber the different motivations in the community. You might not like a traditional cache in a boring residential area but for me or somebody else this cache might just be the motivation for a little digestive walk after a dinner with firends living there.

• In your mind, what is a low quality geocache?

Caches in bad state maintenancewise or in disgusting locations - but I have to admit I have not found many caches that would meet this criterium. Only one or two but both could have been avoided easily.

• What steps can the community take to improve geocache quality?

Report DNF and damaged containers even if somebody has already done so.

• What steps can Geocaching HQ take to improve geocache quality?

I am not in favour of any downvoting tools because as mentiined above tastes and motivations are different and this would just lead to some people feel entitled to act as "cache police", which would only lead to hostilities in the community. Leave that responsibility with the reviewers, maybe have some more but add one small feature - an obligatory maintenance log of the CO every six or ten months in which the owner has to formally confirm that the cache is in order and well maintained. This would help identify inactive cache(r)s and improve the general focus on maintenance.