LABBOO

I have to agree with the group idea. Takes care of the "BUS THEORY" and also gives it another mini-vote... I really don't see where you could have categories without them being managed somehow. I shudder at the thought of what a mess it would be without that (almost like this topic where we have suggestions of new categories, some posts about the process for creating new ones and others about different things all together). As for voting, I guess if there are users who really want it, it would work. Though I see it more of only getting the response of the extremes - those who really want it and those who passionately don't. I guess the biggest worry here is that if enough categories aren't provided by the time the beta testing ends, there will be lots of these requests and how many users are really going to be interested in spending so much time voting on things rather than going to find them?

It might be nice to have all our stats in one place. OR at least to be able to access the various stats from one location with a summary page and then drill down to details. I really like that Waymarking is using the same login as GC.com. I already have way too many username/passwords to remember. Perhaps, having a summary page but the profile for a user from each area (GC vs. WM) would only have the summary for that area (and of course you could link back to the other) - hope I'm not being confusing.

Will we be able to filter overall using the Advanced Search? If I'm traveling somewhere right now I can also search after I get into a category, what if I want to see everything by the area I'm traveling too - say see all Waymarks for Ohio or another state. Is this is the works? All I see right now is a filter that uses a 10 mile radius (not really realistic given that I know that when we take caching trips it's not uncommon for us to cover more of a 30-50 mile radius from our point of origin).

Almost seems like most of the GAMES you mention would fit into one of the categories of Places or Things. The only thing I still see adding is maybe Events...(but then again that could technically go under either People or Places). Nope, looks like all the based are covered with those three categories.

Might be better to do it under the title "Historically Significant Crime Sites" - but I think it's a lot more palatable than strip clubs. (though it's only fair if there are equal opportunity strip clubs...)

I can clearly see how it replaces the locationless. And I also see how this can be a better way to handle that. Especially if you're more interested in actually visiting the places (but obviously weren't the first one there). But I have to agree with 4agers about virtuals. Geocaching isn't just about finding a box or a container out there. Part of it is the journey and there are other rewards at the end of that journey - sometimes a view or some kind of information that you can't learn anywhere else. Yet, Jeremy, your point about virtuals becoming just "come see this really quick" type searches makes the strict guidelines for them necessary. Like the armchair caches (lots of them in Germany), things like that really need to be a different "game" rather than a geocache. As long as there are truly meaningful places to search where a container cannot be placed (National Parks, WashingtonDC top my thoughts right now), I hate to see the possiblity of new virtuals on GC.com disappear all together. The new earthcaches are a great example of where this can be done well. I also know that many cachers view a virtual as a good "starting place" to create a cache. Perhaps there are more things that local cachers could do to help newbies feel comfortable placing caches with containers. Just my 2cents.

Berea, not too far from Hopkins Airport.