XRayPenguin

This is already true for me. I've learned how to use the filters to seek out the harder hides, multi caches, and mysteries. I wanna save the easier ones for when I need them, when things like MAtM happen, or there's a certain challenge to fulfill. This hobby is really fun for me, and I wouldn't let anyone's negativity ruin that. I've been perusing used GPSr's and am hoping to have one soon. I do a lot of backcountry trips as is, so I'm excited to learn more about it for more than just geocaching. Thanks for your kind words.

My whole point was to say that there is "angst" in being new to the hobby and feeling like you have to prove that you are a "real cacher" somehow... whether that be by years of membership, amount of finds, difficulty of finds, or the topic I brought up earlier about a CO taunting seekers as not being real cachers because they can't all find his 5D hide. I was originally trying to add my 2 cents to the angst tree ?

So this is what I was talking about earlier... being taunted by people saying there are only a minority of "real" geocachers. Makes me not want to immerse myself in the community.

I also wanted to add that I get some angst from the knowledge that I should have started geocaching years ago, but I wasn't enlightened then, and now I have the shame of being a noob... I wanna be like you guys and have all the years under my belt so I can complain about noobs like me and LPC's ?

I've logged 2 of them, wrote notes the other times... begged the CO for hints with no luck, haha

I don't want to offend anyone, but can you please change "effect" to "affect"? I also want to say that I've enjoyed reading through this thread, and appreciate the insight into other cacher's mindsets and angst. I'm new to geocaching... I really enjoy it a lot. While it is fun to rack up numbers, I really enjoy the more challenging hides. I haven't seen a whole lot of angst, but it's definitely out there. I'm guessing I'll see it more often as I go. I have seen a few CO's who complain about finders not being "real cachers" b/c they can't find level 5 caches... Personally, I don't really like being insulted this early on... but, I thoroughly enjoy the cache that is challenging and may take more than 1 attempt... in fact, there's one I've been to 4-5 times now and still haven't found, but, in my mind, it's already in my top 3 favorites. I have friends who are happy to try once and never again, and I'm fine with that, live and let cache. I also really appreciate hides that take me to interesting, or especially geographically beautiful locales. If the scenery is amazing, who cares if it's a LPC or a level 3-5. I've hidden caches aimed at kids. I've also hidden more challenging ones, and a few for the scenery or history. No LPC's, but a few micro's that are at typical locations with atypical hides (for my area). I hope I never grow sour and let the fun seep out of this hobby.