narcissa

I don't like being nagged with automated emails, and I don't want to trigger them for anybody else either. Until they fix this "algorithm" to be less ridiculous, I don't think it's safe to use the DNF feature. It works well in my area. I have not seen any DNF-created auto-message where it was not truly needed, basically being an "NA" on its way to the overdue Archive. Maybe a couple of them were triggered by my DNF (which surprised me), but they deserved it. The CO deserved to be nagged. Which he didn't notice due to not being a cacher in years. I've seen too many instances in the forum where people are getting nag emails over inconsequential DNFs. Anyway, this feature would have been great five years ago but it just makes no sense if they're discouraging people from using DNFs now.

I don't like being nagged with automated emails, and I don't want to trigger them for anybody else either. Until they fix this "algorithm" to be less ridiculous, I don't think it's safe to use the DNF feature.

It is weird that they've added this now. People have been asking for this for years, but Groundspeak also just radically changed the meaning and purpose of DNFs so this change is effectively useless at this point.

We don't participate in the swag trading side game and we do not use swag as a motivator for children when caching. No swag is ever good enough for swag people, so there is no point in trying to appease them.

That would be totally fine.

The specific discussion that inspired me to start this thread involved a CO who would remove any logs from his cache that gave away anything whatsoever about the experience. The person telling the story agreed with this approach totally. I think of it this way. Say it takes you a four-hour trek into the woods to complete the first bunch of stages and then you're physically unable to complete the last stage, which by itself would take you 20 minutes. Now you have to carve out another entire day to make the long trek again just to finish a 20 minute puzzle. That's the part that would frustrate me -- to be so close to the end and have to spend a whole entire day just to finish. From a "time invested" standpoint, it would be like getting through 80% of a Sudoku puzzle and then having someone erase it. This is why I mostly stick to traditionals! To me this sounds like an excellent and worthwhile cache.

"Not all caches are for all people."

I write DNFs primarily for myself, so if I cancel a search because of a muggle nearby, I write a DNF so I can track it and look for the cache later. I always figured that it was useful for others to know that muggles might be an issue. With the way the site has changed, I am considering an offline method of recording these things, since DNFs are now equivalent to NAs and I don't want to cause trouble for cache owners.

A spoiler is unsolicited information that you didn't want to hear. If you ask for information, it isn't a spoiler.

It isn't about being a purist, it's about being honest and giving fellow geocachers accurate information, not just so they can find the cache, but so they can decide if it's a cache they would like to find. Traditional caches are supposed to be at the posted coordinates. There are numerous other ways to make a cache a surprise for people who want a surprise. Incorrect cache information isn't clever or fun. It's inconsiderate.

There are some multi-caches here that have a "missing link." You're looking for tags that direct you to the next waypoint, and eventually there's one that isn't there. When you get to the missing one, there's a projection you do to get to the final. But you're never certain if the tag is missing, or you just haven't found it.

The CO would have to archive and republish, but yes, a CO who wishes to obscure or obfuscate the coordinates should select another cache type. When these COs get caught breaking the rules, they often whine that they did it because other cache types get less traffic.

There are ticks everywhere here. Should we move geocaching inside malls or something?

To the OP: I am sorry that my sincere comment about the survey appears to have triggered a burst of low-quality comments. I design and analyze market research projects for a living and I meant what I said. I hope your project goes well.

Interesting survey. It would be nice if you could return and maybe post a summary of your findings when you're finished!

Generally speaking, if you don't have a solid, workable idea of your own, you're not ready to place a cache. Looking at the three vague ideas you've suggested, I think your first step should be a careful reading of the cache placement guidelines. Your second step should be a good conversation with a reviewer about the feasibility of an airplane cache being published. It's my understanding that drone caches cannot be published, and it seems likely that an airplane cache would attract drone attempts at the very least. That may be an issue of concern.

Usually, when someone is angry about a difficult cache, the problem is a poorly behaved cacher with impulse control issues. Caches don't need to be designed to please the lowest common denominator. I see your point. It's actually hard to comment properly without knowing what anger-management-style comments were being posted on which caches. "GAM" for one cache might be justified, and for another may be uncalled for. I don't recall any flip-out angry logs from people. Grumpy occasionally. Sometimes the NMs/NAs can come across a little exasperated and grumpy. The GAM stuff usually comes in public logs from owners when their cache gets an NA. Ooooo, the hissy fits that some COs publicly log in response for all to see. Yes, I have seen some doozies. Cache owners like that usually burn themselves out and leave the game in spectacular fashion. They're simply beneath regard.

If it isn't conveniently available and doesn't come free most won't use it. If it a food label were made out of waterproof paper and could be re-used as a logsheet, then that might convince most COs to use the stuff. It's possible COs might buy a sheet if one sheet were available for purchase at the dollar store. Logs written in certain types of ink just wipe off that material. Not great.

Usually, when someone is angry about a difficult cache, the problem is a poorly behaved cacher with impulse control issues. Caches don't need to be designed to please the lowest common denominator.

My husband enjoys creating difficult geocaches that require time and patience to find. There's some degree of whining from time to time from people who mistakenly believe they are entitled to find every cache with minimal effort. Not all caches are for all people and most of us have the good sense to skip over a cache that doesn't appeal. People who lash out because a cache is tricky are simply beneath regard.

It's annoying when people assume the absolute worst of others at all times. When we find a swag-sized cache, we often sit on the ground and look through the cache. We don't trade swag but we enjoy looking at the logbook and seeing personal items. We also sometimes spread things out to let them dry if we're staying at the GZ for a while. I am certain that we're responsible for acorns, stones, sticks, pine needles, and other natural debris inadvertently ending up inside caches because those things get picked up along with the cache contents when we pack them back up. But by all means, go ahead and assume that your fellow geocachers are bad people out to steal dollar store keychains by trading them for acorns.

This bears no resemblance to this particular user's well-established views on the issue.

There are cachers who complain about toys and other kid-friendly items in caches because swag should be for adults. The actual problem is that even setting aside obvious garbage and well-intentioned blunders, there is a lot of really mean-spirited complaining about swag.

You say this like it's a good thing, or at least a good reason. I think children should not be geocaching, even hiding geocaches, without parental supervision/participation. To be fair, that user wasn't implying it's a good thing. The implication is that all geocachers should be treated like children because some geocachers are under 18.

That's what I do as well. You don't have to do that. Just take the downloaded .GPX file and put it in the "Geocaches" folder (or something like that - it'll be obviously) on the GC, and if there's a .WPT file (with accompanying waypoints), place it in the "Waypoints" folder. No need for GSAK. Like I said, I don't know about newer models. The last Magellan I owned was an eXplorist 500. I left it on the roof of my car somewhere in North Carolina in 2009.