The Hornet
-
Posts
1155 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by The Hornet
-
-
I take it I can't rely on your vote then?Hopefully hell will freeze over firstJust to clarify, you don't volunteer, you get asked.
-
When the rule makers (courts, police or a legitimate company) tell you that you need to do something in a certain way, just accept it. Work with the rules, work with the people who are enforcing the rules, and it will all come together.
and in a healthy society if you think the rules are wrong you debate them, you propose alternatives and after discussions the majority view is often accepted. Only in certain systems are you expected to blindly accept what you are told is best for you.
That's one of the purposes of this forum. When I was moderating it I did not always agree with what was being said but I hope I let everyone have their say. I hope and trust this approach can continue.
-
Lacto and Ecky have gone. Much as we regret their departure, they are gone and will not be returning.
Live with it, move on.
Yup, gone for good. Things change as you say.
We are where we are and I hope the local team get the support of everyone, the local caching community, Groundspeak and their colleagues from all corners of the world. I know what a difficult task they have so all power to their collective elbows.
-
Someone has been much less tactful on October 13!
That, and the previous logs say it all really. And I notice the owner, who has found just one cache and placed only this one, joined the day before he placed this "cache" and last logged into the site on May 23rd (10 days later).
I wonder whether a SBA is in order?
-
It's a thankless task being a mod.
<snip>
They are under a lot of pressure from above and no doubt have their moments with the powers that be behind closed doors..<snip>
And therein lies the problem. With this company, Moderators volunteer their time and experience to deal with "local" situations in what they perceive to be an appropriate way but when push comes to shove there are those who profess to "know better" and their views inevitably hold sway.
It has been made abundantly clear that this is NOT a "local" forum, rather it is part of a corporate entity and everyone who contributes must abide by the customs and standards of those who own the company.
There is little or no room for discretion for the poor saps who try their damnedest to be fair to contributors here. My sympathy goes out to them.
-
I have an opinion on this subject, but am fearful of expressing it. I'll leave it to others to decide what that might say about Groundspeak's forum moderation.
Surely you can express an opinion, however reactionary, as long as you abide by the published guidelines. This is a DISCUSSION forum after all, all opinions should be accepted.
-
Said it once say it again.. The Book is for the guidance of the wise and the obediance of fools..
Hear hear. I think certain people around 5000 miles west of here would do well to remember that.
In my experience, being a forum moderator is often a thankless task and you often only hear from people when things go wrong. Everyone has their own style of moderating and I would hesitate to criticise someone who was trying their damnedest to do what they believe is right for the people they serve i.e. the general geocaching public.
In the six months since my abrupt "change in circumstances" I have certainly seen things done differently here. But as one of the reasons I had to leave was a disagreement with the company that owns this forum over my style of moderating I guess I'm in no position to give an unbiased opinion. Maybe I was too far from the Groundspeak ethos and in any case the world has moved on.
There are lots of people, many of them new, enjoying the forum as it now is so "carry on moderating"
Edited to say: It's all yours now, I'll leave you to it.
-
I've had a quick look and can't yet find anything new. Judging by the responses I'm guessing the IP lookup function has been removed temporarily.
I think it's up and working. Although it's showing somewhere about 100 miles from where I'm sitting, it's spot on for the datacentre through which my employer contacts the internet.
Where is it? I've had a look on some cache pages and on the search page and I can't see it.
(Must be old age is getting to me 
) -
I've had a quick look and can't yet find anything new. Judging by the responses I'm guessing the IP lookup function has been removed temporarily.
However, and this is a serious question, can we assume a softening of the "commercial" guidelines now? I see this is now being implemented:
The following features have been added in today's update:<snip>
* Hotels - Every cache page (US and Canada for now) now contains a link to nearby hotels, allowing you to browse rates and availability for specific locations
The implication is that it will be rolled out around the world once the US and Canada listings have been debugged. It would seem that linking to various commercial organisations could now be permitted on cache listings. If this provides useful background information for Geocachers then I'm all for it.
-
While I was here I had a quick look round and I see you've set up a replacement site for the one my old mate Lactodorum provided way back when
.It looks a distinct improvement Chris so very well done. I hope people use it.
Peter
-
You may have noticed that I rarely visit this forum these days, however I became aware of this "incident" so I've had a look to see what's been going on.
Whatever the rights and wrongs and who said what to whom, I trust Deceangi to do what he thinks is best for the UK Geocaching community who use this forum. Keep up the good work Dave, I know better than most what a difficult and thankless task it is being a forum mod!
As for the suggestions being made here, I'll leave it to the forum regulars to comment.
-
For a few glorious months some years ago I was a man on a mission - to overtake Alex (Slytherin) as the person with most finds in the UK. I can't remember the number of find when I finally achieved it but it was several hundred. For a few weeks I was "top of the tree" but of course the sapling grew and I was left far behind by subsequent climbers.
Back then I knew personally a good proportion of the active cachers and most of the rest by name and reputation. There was also a thrill whenever a new cache sprung up locally, usually placed by a friend. There was even a time when I spent 2 days clearing EVERY cache in London!! That lasted for about 2 days until some more started appearing and I doubt it could be achieved now (unless the police get their way!).
I also remember when the whole Geocaching scene in the UK seemed somehow special. It had a uniquely British feel about it and this was very apparent when I had some caching expeditions to America. Somehow it was subtly different, whether it was location, style of cache or people's attitudes I don't know, but it was different. Don't get me wrong, it was still enjoyable and the cachers I met were all very friendly and welcoming. It was just - different.
As someone else in this thread has suggested, the whole game is becoming more homogeneous and to use a shopping metaphor we seem to be moving from the "Open all hours" corner shop to the global supermarket. Yes, supermarkets have a vast choice and make the experience very much more convenient and cheap, but I do miss the fun of exploring those individual little shops with their own ways of providing the service and goods which made shopping something to be experienced rather than endured.
To continue the supermarket allusion, have you noticed how every town has the same Tesco (or whatever), all selling the same merchandise in the same way and all local "flavour" seems to be disappearing? Sounds familiar eh? I fear we are now entering the age of "Wallmart Geocaching".
-
I was checking my joining date and my profile shows I joined in February 2001. However I am now certain it was actually 2002. Has anyone else seen a similar discrepancy and is there an explanation?
-
As most people will know, I have been central to much of the recent problems that are being alluded to here. I feel particularly well qualified to give an opinion.
If you check out my profile you will notice that NONE of my caches have been archived on Geocaching.com You will also note that I have been actively caching throughout. While I can very well understand and sympathise with people who have decided, on principle, to disassociate themselves from Groundspeak, I have decided to continue.
I got into this game in 2001 and a few years later became a volunteer. I have stayed in the game because I enjoy it. I enjoy seeing parts of town and countryside I wouldn't otherwise visit and I enjoy the challenge that Geocaching provides. Yes I disagree with aspects of how Groundspeak run their business, especially here in this forum and I will continue to criticise what I think is wrong but it won't prevent me from continuing to "hunt plastic".
This does not mean I think those who have left are wrong. No, they are doing what they think is right and all power to them. It's just that my approach is different.
-
Mandy, from my perspective, once the link had been removed your original thread was thanking people for a caching related activity/item. IMHO you had complied with the spirit of the guidelines.
If TPTB object to this then the (Geocaching) World has truly gone mad. Well done for your efforts but don't bother trying to help others here again. Stick to the other local forums where you're appreciated.
Peter.
-
The maps and GE Overlay are correct and can be found at UK & Ireland Geocaching Regions this is hosted by Croaghan the Ireland Reviewer on behalf of the UK/Ireland Reviewers.
Just an aside, I think the list of Reviewers is in urgent need of updating!
-
As the archiving was done directly by Groundspeak (Miss Jenn) and not referred to the local reviewers we have to assume that the "request" from the authorities required immediate action. I don't know what time it was done but I suspect it was yesterday evening sometime and it's unreasonable to expect the local team to be on duty at all hours
. I'm sure when they're up and about we'll get some more information. As HH says, if there's a wider issue people need to know so as to take any proactive measures. -
Moderators are a different situation.
Groundspeak identifies a need for a new moderator, and identifies a suitable candidate. They then canvas the opinion off other moderators. Before asking the person to become a moderator.
Even now I live and learn
I never knew that. During my time forum moderators came from the local reviewing community. I admit to not following the process since we lumberedasked you to join us so maybe things have changed.On that topic, are there any suggestions that we might get another UK moderator to help mandarin?
-
So how does a Go Ape cache bash with optional opportunity to Go Ape differ from an On the Piste event which has an optional toboggan run?
I don't suppose it's because Paul has got "form"?
-
Any one know where i maybe able to get a free copy of a lancashire map ? There's no such thing as a FREE OS map for Memory Map. If anyone offers you one here they will be breaking forum guidelines.
-
From an "old one" to a "new one" - Congratulations Albi
-
Any news yet on the official complaint.... seems to be taking a while.... for a black and white case like this???
Yep, see here.
-
Speak up Grackie
I'll quickly get me coat!!
-
No news on that appeal yet then Peter? So much for 48 hours...
I don't want this thread to drift off topic so I'll address the answer to that question over in the GAGB forum.
(Must be old age is getting to me 
)
.
I never knew that. During my time forum moderators came from the local reviewing community. I admit to not following the process since we 
Any one know where i maybe able to get a free copy of a lancashire map ? 
Any cachers doing anything?
in United Kingdom and Ireland
Posted
I was chatting to Alex (Slytherin) a short while ago and he mentioned he was flying over from the states to attend this event. Many of the old timers, like me, will remember Mark "The Cat" with affection and the work he used to do to combine geocaching with good causes (see, I'm being good and not mentioning any naughty words). Given the date on Friday and what a national televesion company were scheduling, the fact that Alex is flying in from Austin, TX and the memory of Mark it would be great if the event was well supported. If nothing else the pies and peas sound lovely and I'm sure even the Northern beer will not be too bad
Maybe the person who started this thread might change their mind about local cachers' attitudes if he/she/they were to attend. It would seem somewhat appropriate to me.