seneca

I don't think it has to be futile. On one cache, I stated on the page that people did not have to trade equally in terms of monetary value. What is nice about that cache is that a decent number of people have left some really neat items in trade..... Carleenp, this is exactly what I am getting at. You decided to change the normal rules for this cache - to something along the lines that I suggested - and, like I would expect, it actually improved the cache! People are more inclined to leave something nice if they are given the opportunity to be generous. I would like to see your special rules adopted as the general rule for all cache trading. Should we start a lobby for this on another thread?

Carleenp, this is an entirely different concept, than the current "trade even or trade up" concept we are currently supposed to follow. But I like it, and have often thought it is a better way to go. I think Geocaching would be much improved if this concept were adopted. Currently it is futile to try to be generous by leaving something especially nice in a cache (maybe on a milestone find or something) because the only ones who will take it are the few that happen to have brought something equally as nice, or cheaters. I would like to see a new etiquette adopted: Take anything regardless of value, and leave something decent regardless of value. If this etiquette were adopted then it would be a little more like a "Treasure Hunt", and players would occasionally have the ability to be generous to the surprise and delight of subsequent finders, who could comfortably leave a nice dollar store item in exchange for a special $10.00 item. (I am aware that this opens up a whole other topic - perhaps best for another thread)

I am glad to see I am in such great company: Everyone is born right-handed, but only the greatest overcome it. -Slogan: Left Handers' Club of Ireland (I also happen to be part Irish) Lefty and proud of it!

Each cache I seek is a quest. A quest to find a cache. As with any quest, there are often obstacles that get in the way of success. Plundering is one of them. If the cache is gone, the quest has not been achieved. How can anyone with honour, log this as a find? I once drove 25 miles to look for a cache, and then hiked a mile in pouring rain. After getting drenched, all I finally found was the lid of a plundered cache (with the cache co-ordinates written on it). I initially logged it as a find, and then, after some reflection, and thinking about what that "found it" icon really means, I changed the log to a DNF. I felt better.

I doubt it. Thankfully, government and people create enough work for lawyers without us having to go an fabricating any in this manner.

How about the first Geodivorce? Or perhaps that would be for an entirely different topic.

It knew my name, and the only comment of significance was that I am "only slightly affected". That's nice to know.

2 out of 106 finds (and I'm not going to tell you the number of DNF's)

If the starter of this thread is serious (I have a little trouble accepting that) then he is addressing a problem that I do not believe exists. There is nothing intrinsically environmentally unfriendly about Geocaching. The vast majority of the caches that I have found are hidden in thick wooded areas, and I have yet to cause any environmental damage. There is never any need to cause environmental damage while Geocaching. For those few idiots who do --- well that's got nothing to do with Geocaching and everything to do with being an idiot. Those same idiots can cause as much damage Geocaching, as they can cause letterboxing, or by simply taking a walk in the woods. They usually prefer to choose a more destructive pastime. Respect for our environment is what is needed - Geocachers as a whole seem to have, and encourage a lot of respect in that regard.

Praising or bashing an automotive/hardware store is probably not an appropriate subject for Geocaching forums - but since it is started, here are my two bits: I live in British Columbia. I absolutely abhor Canadian Tire, and will shop there only when necessary (there is one very close to where I live, but I will usually drive an extra few miles to avoid it). They are the worst offenders for loss leader advertising. You must carefully read the fine print of all their advertising. Overall their prices are very high. They have a habit of conveniently leaving the marked price off a lot of their merchandize, and you can virtually guarantee that when you take such an article to the check-out, that the price will be 20 - 30 percent higher than their competition (they hope that once you brought it to the check-out without caring about the price, you will buy it anyways). Their store service is terrible, and their automotive service department is a rip-off. I simply do not trust that store, and never feel comfortable when I am in one.

There is something neat about finding a little “secret” tiny physical cache placed out in this great big world. When I am out in the middle of nowhere, and uncover the little hidden tupperware box, that I came with a quest to find, there is a feeling of childish joy that erupts within me. I don't care much about trading, but I do like to look at the contents - to pick them up and think about those who have put them there and why they chose to put them there. I really enjoy looking through the physical logbook - knowing that I have something in common with those who came before me, and like me, enjoy this silly little activity. For some reason, I believe that it is only human to be intrigued by the physical evidence left by those who came before us. Of course I love this game because of where it takes me, but finding the physical cache really is a little joy. Although I am not against virtual caches, or locationless caches (I think that both of those concepts have their qualities) I believe that it is the presence of the physical cache that ultimately gives this game its allure.

TRADITION! (Tevye)

I can't believe that such a stupid, arrogant, policy has been in place for so long and nobody has challenged it. What type of country do you people live in?? What a bunch of wimps. If people involved in any activity do not respect the parks that they visit, then of course, they ought to be dealt with, but to regulate the hell out of law abiding citizens partaking in a healthy, harmless, innocuous activity such as geocaching is simply ridiculous. Activities that are inherently detrimental to parks should be regulated (or banned) but there is no way that Geocaching fits into such a category. If such policies are allowed to remain unchallenged, then Geocaching is in serious trouble. By the way, how much do they charge for a frisbee throwing permit??

I don't think skipping steps in a multi is cheating (except perhaps cheating yourself of some interesting stages). As far as the game is concerned, I always consider that in a multi-cache, the final cache is the goal, and the steps along the way are simply clues that assist you in getting there. If someone can figure out another way to get to the final cache without going through all of the steps, then it simply means that they were clever enough not to need the additional clues. We had a cacher in our area that used to try very hard to find a multi-cache without having to go through all the steps - and he was very good at it. He was proud of it, and would let everyone know what he achieved. It just made cachers around here all the more careful (and devious)in designing multi-caches.

I figured out how I got on their mailing list. It was through a Yahoo user group called "Geographing" which I now recall I registered on months ago. I'm glad they didn't get it from here!

Did anyone else get spam on a Geocaching Cruise to the Carribean?? After trying to interest me in a cruise it directed me to a website (I won't post the site here) , which said , in part: GEOCACHING IN THE CARIBBEAN GEOCACHING with ROGER in the WESTERN CARIBBEAN ! Wonderful 7 Day Cruise to the Western Caribbean aboard Carnival Cruise Line's beautiful INSPIRATION. We will set sail from Tampa, Florida August 29, 2004 (Return to Tampa 9/4/2003) Four Great Ports of Call: Grand Cayman - Approximately 12 Cache Sites Costa Maya - Does not Appear to be a Site but ---- We can correct that! We'll still have some beach time or - - - "whatever" Cozumel - Approximately 20 Cache Sites Belize - Approximately 9 Cache Sites 41 DIFFERENT CACHE SITES! AND we can > "MAKE OUR MARK IN COSTA MAYA" Etc. etc..... I wonder where they got my e-mail address?? Would this type of thing interest anyone?? ADDED IN EDIT: I figured out how I got on their mailing list. It was through a Yahoo user group called "Geographing" which I now recall I registered on months ago. I'm glad they didn't get it from here!

And I’m still a stubborn middle-ager. We could get along, wildearth2001 !

Could I answer your questions? I am forty-seven, but my mental age is much younger, and I have a low I.Q. - you know, that kind of stuff. And by the way, I don’t find your questions dumb. Olldor parsons will find them kinda cool thought.

If people are simply whiners, then why don't we see them whining about traditional caches not being approved?

The problem is that the answer is not in the guidelines. Has anyone stopped to wonder why just over 5% of caches are virtuals, yet complaints regarding dissaproval of virtual caches on these forums seem to outnumber complaints for traditional caches by a factor of at least 10 to 1. In my opinion this is entirely due to the subjective nature of the approval. Nobody likes to hear "we don't like your idea". I think it is also extremely unfair for the approvers to have to be put in this position. Approvers are clearly under direction to keep approval of virtual caches to a minimum, and they have been given arbitrary subjective powers of judgment to do achieve that. Nobody likes being subjected to that. Until a change is made, these threads will continue even if every person who proposes a virtual cache is intelligent and reads the guidelines 10 times over.

PM abuse of the type mentioned should be dealt with swiftly and firmly. If I was the admin, I don't think I would even give a warning. I would simply bounce the offender off the site.

You have to understand that the only real guideline for the approval of virtual caches is that it must please the approver. Unfortunately, displaying a displeasing attitude will definitely work against you. If you want a virtual to succeed, you have to suck up, not blow down. That's just the way it is.

A while back I started a thread that poked some friendly fun at my US neighbours, and the mistake made by a salvage company that accidently sank a derelict ship in Canadian waters because of a co-ordinate error. Well now it my time to rib my British ancestors - and this story is a little closer to geocaching. Seems that a famous UK Hiking magazine published a trail route (designed to get you off an mountain in an emergency when the weather turned bad ) - the only problem was, two of the bearings were wrong and the route would take over the edge of a 4,406 foot cliff! Oooops. The whole story is here.

So let me get this straight, if child pornography was legal, you wouldn't have a problem with it?? Hmmm.

I give a lot of thought to what I type. I rarely take pleasure in crapping on anyone's beliefs, but there are some beliefs that I find to be so repugnant (child pornography comes to mind) that I will not hesitate for a moment to crap on them, and then crap on them again. Geocaching is a pleasant, uplifting, family oriented pastime that is good for the soul. Sorry, when I hear people posting over and over again that they can't do it without first equipping themselves to kill, then quite honestly, I just feel like taking a crap. That's just the way it is.