amianda

Thank you, Mule Ears, this is exactly what i meant. I'm by no means saying this is the worst forum out there - far from it - but alot of the responses to people's questions and concerns are similar in tone to the majority of the answers I'm getting to this one, even tho the topics vary by quite alot. IE, 'there's no problem because there's worse out there'. Which, quite frankly, is kinda silly. There's no reason to be mean, so don't be mean, just because it's less mean than the ones over at http://forums.i-hate-everyone.com. You know? Anyway, just making an observation. No big deal

Hey Geocachers (or Terracachers, if you prefer?)- I'm a friendly newbie with no ill will for anyone, just thought I'd throw this out there since I'm sorta a neutral 3rd party. I've been on these forums for about a week, maybe more, and I have to say that I'm surprised by the negativity around here a little bit. There are definitely a bunch of awesome posters who favor enthusiasm and humor over irritation, but the amount of angry posts and replies I've seen on here is daunting. My thought is this - These forums exist for communication about geocaching. There is no 'age' requirement here (and by that, I mean how long someone has been playing this game), so we have lots of newbies who have tons of interest and enthusiasm but perhaps not as much experience as some of our 'older' cachemates (is that a new word or did I just pick it up somewhere on the forums and forgot? Anyway, it's a good term and I'm borrowing it!). The newbies like myself may look at the Geocaching.com site and see the rules and guidelines for playing and (perhaps naiively) believe that most geocachers follow them. And so when we see things that do not look like they conform to these situations, we try to do our best to follow the suggestions of the site and report them or whatever. Then we get hit by the Mega Hammer Of Overly Defensive-ness. And that sucks. Mostly I don't think we're trying to rag on anyone in particular. Mostly I don't think we're mad at anyone. Mostly it's not personal. But we like the game and we're exited to play, and we know that things happen, but we want to help stuff get fixed or get communication going or whatever the issue is. Honestly most of us are not attacking you (or the CO, or the game in general, or whatever). If your first reaction to a post or comment is "OMG he's attacking (whoever)!!!1!ONE!", then I respectfully suggest taking a moment to breathe and remember how it maybe was when you first started caching, and try to be patient, understanding, and perhaps a little enthusiastic when you respond as well. New cachers often mean new ideas, new TIs and SIs, and fun new caches down the road. Dont scare us away, please! On the other hand, I've seen some Original Posters who need to chill a little too. Understand that things do take time, sometimes. While I believe it should take less than 2 weeks, for example, for someone to get back to me via email with at least a 'hey, thanks for the comment, I'll look into this', not everyone answers every email they get (i'm guilty of this) and if they don't get around to fixing something or have disappeared off the face of the website, then eventually the cache will be archived, or whatever problem will be fixed. Also, yes, caching is a community effort. There are resources on the geocaching site that you can use to print logs and such to carry with you, in case you see something that needs a quick fix. Yes, COs are supposed to maintain their caches, but unless something is SERIOUSLY wrong (such as a confirmed muggled container or something equally catastrophic), how would you feel about having to take an hour or more drive to put a new piece of paper in a tin can on the side of the road, and then drive all the way home? Give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that COs are employed people, perhaps, with full time jobs, full time kids, full time significant others, other hobbies and vacation travel. Help them out a bit, ok? What I'm really trying to say here comes down to this: We are a community. Our game is a balance of give (placing a cache) and take (finding a cache). Sometimes the givers have to be takers and the takers have to be givers. There is no real need to be angry about minor things on either side of the fence. Can't we all just get along?

Oooh, this is a good topic! I have neglected getting back to work on time from lunchbreaks because I went out to find a cache have purchased caching supplies and stuff online instead of actually working have created and organized my caching binder instead of working I have stayed up late on the Groundspeak forums instead of sleeping I have wandered away from roleplaying games to find a nearby cache I have gotten to dinner dates with friends late because of caching I have arrived home late by over an hour at times due to caching or caching related shopping trips... Hmm.... Oh! I have neglected putting money in my vacation fund because I spent all my money on caching I have accidentally not been able to pay small bills, like my spare cell phone, because I spent money on caching.. I think that's it, for now...

Hah! Great, I'll be in FL in late Summer, please try to time it right! J/K!

Anyone else have creative ways to display their collections? Pictures would be great!

there.

I can help you with the pic problem. The easiest way to insert a picture you have posted somewhere else is to copy the url of the pic and then hit the little picture icon above the text box where you're typing your message. It looks like a little box with a tree in it. Then paste your picture url in there. It will format it for you. If you want to do it manually, then you'll want to put |img|http://blahblahblah.com/picture.jpg|/img| except that the | should be the straight brackets (as opposed to the 'angle brackets' (aka greater and less than signs), or the 'curly brackets' which are on the same keys) instead. Cant put it here or it will try to show a picture that doesn't exist and you wont be able to see the code. Hope that makes sense?

Thanks! I put alot of work into it. Soon it will be covered in geocache stickers, but I have to wait for them to be delivered This is a fun game!

I'm still working on mine, but until my snazzy new map bag arrives from the online store where I purchased it, I have this. Also, I have a list of items which I'm still shopping/scrounging for, and they'll be added in the near future. But until then: My insuperior shoulder bag currently used for caching. It is not big enough to hold my snazzy binder (which I'm very proud of), which is one of it's big downfalls, and also, it's bright red. Nothing conspicuous about that... *sigh* Here is the inside of my binder, which I put together this week. In the pockets there are several kinds of extra logs for caches that have log issues, and the micro version of the what is geocaching thing to go in caches. Also, I have an extra blank logbook (bottom left), a paper version of a 1 ft ruler, cause why not, and my collection of small writing utensils. 2 tiny pencils and my less-than-4-inch-long space pen. The tabs are labeled: Not Found (yet), My Caches, Notes, Extras, and Found Caches. The My Caches section is currently empty. Notes contains blank paper for notes on caches so i can update my online journal when i get home, make note of anything to put in the online log, or if something needs repair or whatever so I can tell the CO. Extras is currently filled with pages I printed off the FAQs in Geocaching.com. Some of these pages explain the sport in detail, and some are the guidelines for finding and placing caches. The latter I figure it's good to have along if I plan to place caches. The former is for the muggle who ends up with my notebook if i happen to lose it. Which I'm not planning on, specifically, but if they're interested - hey! premade notebook to start with. This is the back pocket of my awesome binder. The back pockets contain 2 copies of the Geocaching brochure found on Geocaching.com for interested muggles we may encounter. There are also full size copies of the explaination of geocaching sheet people put in caches in case muggles find them. Finally, I have some polaroids I've taken at or near cache sites, because I love polaroid and I think instant pictures are a great way to capture our game. finally the contents of the ugly red bag: * Polaroid camera * Ready-to-go cache container, with swag, log, and please read notice. Needs pencil and plastic baggy for log. * Basic 1st aid kit - we live and mainly cache in a large urban area. * Card game for swag. * Superglue for quick repairs. * bookplates for swag * pens and pencils for signing logs * carved wooden pencil with explanation for swag * 10 extra log books * asst sharpies on a carabiner, with basic compass on strap. * Bag of seashells - swag * Bag with necklace - swag * bag with shell pendant - swag * bag with dice - swag * bag with skull ring - swag * bag with small knitted raven toy - swag * Slab of pretty rock for swag (oops forgot to mention that originally) For being an active cacher for only about 2 weeks or so, I think I'm doing ok

Whee I am FTW (First To Win) do I get a prize LOL!

I wasn't addressing my comments to TwoCrow, just anyone who liked the idea of tying fiction and caching together like that...

Slightly off-topic but tangentially related: I had a (slightly unrealistic) idea once of making a thematically appropriate mystery/horror adventure attraction in one or some of the towns in which Dean Koontz novels are set along the Californian coast, or wherever. It would be fun to travel to those places and have an interactive murder mystery with clues or scenes from the books played out during the adventure... but alas I am much too poor to actually start up such a business, plus I'm not too sure Koontz would like such a venture, I never have gone anywhere with it. I am now thinking perhaps Dean Koontz themed caches in these locations would be most excellent. Especially in a culture rich place like, say, Solvang, CA, where Cold Fire was set. This type of thing could work for any author and/or any book that has a real-world setting... Hmmm... Thanks for provoking my ideas

Or, considering that they are listed as in germany, perhaps they are planning on coming to your area and will do caching while they're there? Their friend (who is the one leaving the remarks) are being playfully ominous to let people know of their immanent arrival?

thechubbchubbs is a user/player on Geocaching.com. Perhaps it's their signature on your cache? More playful than just "username" "date", no?

IMO- Handing someone the cache ahead of others is not a guarantee they will be FTF. First to try, sure, but a clever hide can still stump someone. Give them a time limit. give them a one-day advantage or something. They might find it first try, or it might go to someone else when it gets published on the site.... Also, I really like the idea of a raffle prize being a headstart on a new cache. Again, not a guarantee they'll find it first, but the opportunity is great. All that being said, i'm not after FTFs myself though I would be excited to get one. If it happens it happens, if not there are plenty of fun caches that have had many of other people there before me. FTF's main draw is sometimes they have unique or valuable items in, but that can happen for anyone if the previous finder was generous with their swag... Do what you like, if you think they'd think it was cool.

Deleted for double post. Website's been acting up for anyone else lately?

Unfortunately, no, it's not like that in this cache. It is a very urban area in an office park. The coordinates point to a spot directly across a driveway from the business's entrance. I checked on google maps just to make sure I wasn't getting a funny reading because of the buildings around the area.

My idea would not necessarily eliminate that, people could take pictures of themselves, the cache, the view, other interesting things. I didn't say they had to take a pic of the cache itself.... Anyway, Polaroid has stopped making instant films. The cameras are available online. Fujifilm makes some films that are compatible with some polaroid cameras, but they also make their own instant cameras and films for them, and to my knowledge they aren't planning on quitting. Good news is that the polaroid plant in Sweden was recently purchased by former employees and they have said they plan to resume production of integral films (the type we're most familiar with, the one with the thicker white boarder at the bottom of the picture) sometime next year. Intrepid polaroid enthusiasts still have some ways of getting films, including online outlets (limited supply), and some local stores still have the last of their stock (i just found 3 packs of 600 film at a CVS pharmacy 2 days ago here in california). Plus they could take pictures with the fujifilm solutions I've mentioned above. Fuji has the advantage of being cheaper, too. Anyway, like i said this would limit the people who would be able to fully participate. The disposable camera in the box would allow others to participate too. I'd be willing to run the risk of theft (i'd mark it to make sure people understood it wasn't meant to be swag!), but I think I will try to set up a cache like this somewhere in my area. I might point my polaroid enthusiasts groups towards the cache page too, to get some good responses. In addition, perhaps I could allow for pre-existing polaroids instead of people taking one at the site... Many people have old polaroids in their family pics - some wouldn't mind passing them on. Also, places like the Fairfax Swapmeet in L.A. have vendors that sell old pics cheaply (50 cents a picture, many of them polaroids or instant pictures). Lots of ideas, lots of room for involvement. Worst that happens is that it doesn't work out well and end up archiving it. Would be fun to try.

I dont think Maintenance logs flag reviewers but i know SBA ones do. But I'm new here so I don't really about maintenance logs. I also am having trouble with feeling bad for writing about archiving. One was behind a new looking Private Property No Trespassing sign and so far to my knowledge the Reviewer has responded but not the Owner. It's only been a few days so I'm sure he/she will respond. The other is with security at a property for an urban cache telling my husband and I to leave and that we were on private property. Since I've only found 7 caches and now 2 others are possible SBA's, I feel horrible. I'm not trying to be the cache police but I feel that reporting what I find is important for bettering the community. I thought people would understand that, but seeing some of the notes in various threads on this board has me wondering otherwise. Anyway, I'm trying not to be an a**. Instead of posting SBA on the 2nd one, I emailed the owner directly to see if he can work it out with the property owners. Still feel awful though.

I had a fun idea for a cache, but these days the people who could participate fully might be limited. Have people take polaroid/instant pictures of themselves (bring your own camera!) at the cache site and leave them in the container for people to look at. Every so often the owner (ie, me) would come by and collect them and scan/upload them to the gallery for that cache. What do you guys think?

Great idea! Gah, though it doesn't *have* to be, GC can be a very expensive hobby!

According to her profile she's in So Florida Anyway, these are great! Gonna be in FL later this year for a vacation with lots of free time. Perhaps we'll bring the GPS for some long distance finds!

Thanks for posting your ideas and pictures. I'm excited to try to find some SigItems now Also, to the poster who said he collects dust... seriously? do you keep it in little bottles? on pieces of clear tape?

Cool! What do you do with it when it isnt posing for pictures?

In the various threads discussing whether sigitems should be considered on the same level as signing the log book, several people have mentioned that they collect signature items. That sounds cool! But I have limited space. I was wondering how people manage, organize, display, or keep their collections. Trying to find ideas here, so even if you don't collect sigitems but have other collections, feel free to suggest something. Thanks!