Brooklyn51

I may very well do that and thanks for that suggestion. I guess one of the reasons I asked this in the forum was feeling frustration for what should be a fun side of caching ruined by someone like this guy. At least, in this case, we know who it is. I was just wondering if saying something to HQ might possibly shake not only mine but the other hoarded TBs loose as well. I realize it's a long shot though.

Thanks for your perspective. I guess now I have to decide if the matter is even worth bringing to HQ's attention given how much time has already passed and as you've pointed out, there's a fair to good chance he doesn't even actually still have any of the TBs anymore. On the other hand, he *is* still active, more or less and has been around for a long time, so he should know what the rules are. Although it's unlikely to matter much, maybe one more message from me before I contact HQ would be worth a shot.

I had a TB that I released on a visit to Florida way back in 2011. It traveled around for a short while until it was picked up by a cacher who brought it back to Florida in 2012 where it has been in his possession ever since. Despite my polite requests to him to please release it back into circulation and his repeated assurances that he will as "soon as he finds a suitable cache", it has remained with him. Over time, because Life has a way of distracting us with more serious matters, I sort of gave up hope on seeing my TB travel again. Recently, though, looking through my short list of TBs, I saw this one again. Curious, I also looked up this cacher's profile and without much surprise, I saw that he had collected several TBs besides my own and has never released any of them. Is there anything that can be done? Would Headquarters get involved it this? Would locking my TB down matter in any way? Should I just let it go?

Thank you both! I found I needed to update my version and now I can turn off that proximity alert.

Does anyone know how to turn off that annoying proximity alert when you get close to the cache? It really isn't necessary and can be distracting or worse, draw the attention of nearby muggles.

YES! This!

It's been almost a year since I wrote to STK Phoenix about his having my TB in his possession for several years now. He has also collected several other TBs and although he "promised" me in a response to my note that he would be dropping mine as well as a few others off "soon", this hasn't happened. At least, it doesn't appear that he's picked up any new ones though. It would seem that he has no intention of releasing any of the TBs he has now so I'm more or less resigned to the idea that it's pretty much lost. On the other hand, it is still accruing mileage each time he caches, not I believe that he physically has the TB with him. So, I'm torn. Should I lock the TB down and deny him further access to it or let it continue to collect mileage, limited though it is? Maybe another note?? What would you do?

I do read logs looking for clues, but the most common reason is just because I like reading stories. The fact that you don't understand that makes me start to understand why logs are becoming more vacuous these days. I do understand that. I enjoy reading the logs on caches I have found as well, not just on my own, for much the same reasons, the possibe hints, the stories and the common experience. I would enjoy seeing better logging become a more wide spread practice but I realize there is no way, nor should there be really, to enforce it. I rarely delete logs and I have on occasion sent emails to exceptional loggers. I was just trying to think of a way to encourage and reward, in some small way, those who do write more than TFTC.

That's an interesting take on such a system and may have some merit but I would have two concerns. Firstly, I'd be a little worried that a "Useful log" rating could encourage "spoiler logs" rather than "experience logs" which as a CO is what I'd be most interested in seeing. Secondly, opening the evaluation of the logs to the general caching traffic could quickly become unwieldy, especially on a popular cache. It does raise another question about something I've often wondered about. How many of you read the previous logs of a cache either before or after you've looked for it or even during the search for that matter? And do you do it to glean a hint or two about your search or to compare your experience with that particular cache?

Mostly, it's at the CO's discretion how strictly to enforce the guidelines. The general rule is that the log has to be signed in order to claim a find. In cases where the log itself is missing or unsignable, I think that it is generally accepted that there was at least a good faith effort made there (getting to within 5 feet after a treacherous climb notwithstanding)

I don't know that I've ever seen anyone suggest that longer, meaningful logs should be required but I suspect that quite a few think that meaningful are appreciated. Technically as players of this game we are not required to be courteous, polite, generous with our time and knowledge to help out other players but the game is improved for everyone when we are. +1

Apparently this isn't the first time this has been mentioned. Thanks for your input and all the links.

I received a few new logs on some of my caches today. The first one read, in its totality, "!" , which I found a little perplexing. Did they like it or were they exasperated by something at the cache site? Dunno. I've completely made my peace with "TFTC" type logs though, so I didn't really dwell on it. But the next couple of logs were interesting narratives of the cacher's find. They weren't necessarily very long, just brief paragraphs really, but it made me kind of wish I could award some of the better logs I've gotten over the years with some kind of a favorite point, much like we do for the caches we like. Such a system wouldn't be at all punitive, if someone wanted to continue with "TFTC" or even "!" they certainly could, but it might encourage better logs in general to be given some small recognition for writing fun logs to read. I know several cachers in my area who would most definitely deserve that. I'm not a programmer so I wouldn't have the first idea how difficult it would be to implement, but I'd enjoy hearing everyone's thoughts on the idea.

A puzzle cache in a very popular park was stolen but the thief left a note behind in its place, describing the cache, which is odd enough as it is. But cachers following afterwards continued to log it as a find, even signing the thief's note. Here are some of the logs: (My favorite part is the "respectfully" in the signature at the end of the note.) The CO has left a note that he intends to rethink this situation and probably replace the cache soon.

Are you referring to the name they use on the logs they leave on other people's caches or the name they use on the cache page of a cache they have placed themselves? I've seen the latter used pretty often but it's not really an account name change. It just gives a little often humorous spin to the cache page and sometimes a hint to the find.

Thanks for all your advice. I wrote a nice note to the cacher holding my (as well as several other) TB. A couple of days later, he wrote back. Sounds promising.. here's hoping..

I wouldn't go that far. There are lots of ways to play this game, all of them valid. Some folks view DNFs as a failure of sorts when IMHO it's just another aspect of the game. Whether or not they post their DNF has little to do with whether they enjoy playing. It's beside the point anyway. The OP's concern was that posting a DNF, which he did twice BTW, caused the app to eliminate the icon from his view. Personally, I'd prefer the convenience of seeing that elusive icon on my screen too, if for no other reason than to remind me that's it's still unfound. Given a choice between posting a DNF and losing the icon and not posting and keeping the icon, I'd probably opt for the latter myself.

Maybe this is kind of what you're thinking about. Here in the Twin Cities Minnesota there is a TB hotel of sorts called a StarGate that is part of a network of other StarGates located nationally and internationally. The idea is a TB with a specific location travel goal can be placed in a StarGate in a ziplock bag with its destination marked on the outside and anyone travelling to that location can either move it there or deposit it in a another StarGate. I used it only once with the express permission of the owner and it seemed to work out fine. Here's a link to the site: http://coord.info/GC2500J

A DNF is also part of your own personal log of caches you've spent time looking for (which the website keeps a record of). Sometimes, especially when you're just starting out, it can be fun and interesting to go back to look at the logs for the caches you've found and those you couldn't find. Make your DNF log interesting, even funny if you like. Cache owners and other cachers like and appreciate a good log whether it's a found it or a DNF. And you can look back and see how much you've improved at finding them later. For now, why not just use the "Write Note' option as has been suggested to log your "adventure"

Actually, that is exactly what I meant. Knowing the history of a questionable cache can be very helpful and sometimes a NM or a NA is the way to go (unless it was published before 2001 as has already been pointed out ) I just think that in the "Getting Started" room with a new cacher, the information could have been given in a more positive, encouraging way.

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. I'll have to think of a polite friendly way to ask him to let my TB go. I feel bad about all the other ones he has too.

Congratulations on the fantastic longevity of your TB! It is more the exception than the rule however. Still awesome though. You might want to edit out the TB's tracking number in your note and replace it with the reference code,TBD6BE to protect it from bogus logs and discoveries. Again, congrats of the success of your TB. **edited for terminology

I'm siding with WarNinjas and GoBucks 32. The trouble with guidelines and generalizations is that sometimes they don't fit the circumstances. You have consider each one at the time and the situation you happen to be in at the time. A new cacher coming here asking for feedback didn't deserve the heavy handed advice he/she got, the overall essence of which may have some merit. Still, it was a nice thing to do, rmorin415. The whole point is have fun.

I have a TB (TB31AMA) that I dropped off in Florida back in 2011. It traveled around for a while, making its way to Pennsylvania and got picked up there in 2012. That was the last I'd heard from it and I pretty much figured the cacher who picked it up had just stopped caching. Old story for far too many TBs. Then in January 2015, I started getting logs from the TB again. The cacher who had picked it up in Pennsylvania was now moving it around and visiting it to caches in Florida. Oh wonderful, I thought, my TB is back from the great beyond! Great! Except... he's still doing it today in July. I'm pretty sure he still actually has it because he recently posted a picture. A look at his profile showed me that he has collected 12 other TBs and is doing the same thing with them. He has never dropped off a TB that he's picked up. He just visits them to the caches he finds. I've thought about writing him a note asking him to drop my TB off in a cache but I'm concerned that he will A) mostly likely just ignore me at best or B ) deep six the TB in the trash or a very inaccessible cache. On one hand, it is moving, albeit by the hands of this one cacher, but on the other hand, I'd like to see it actually traveling again. Any thoughts out here? Anything I can do besides vent about it?

Lately I've been suspecting that the geocaching app for the phone may be a factor in logging mishaps. There are a couple of new cachers that have been logging their DNFs via a Found It note. (I know, at least they're logging their DNFs) If you're using your phone to find and log your finds, you're initially confronted with only two options on the app... Navigate and Found It. If you don't realize that by pressing the little arrow in the corner of the Found It option, you might miss that you can pull up all the other logging options, including Didn't Find It and Write Note. It's possible that even an established CO with a brand new fangled phone may not realize those options exist and is just trying to get the info out there. As to whether it's fair, that's already been answered. It really only matters to that cacher.