Ben0w

Am I the only one who still is fascinated by the fact, that nowadays carrying a simple pen is worth to be discussed while having a digital camera always on-site just is a matter of course? Feelin' old.

Geografisch gehört das EU-Land auch dort hin. Neinnn? Doch!!! Ohhhhhh! Selbstverständlich. Danke, danke für die ergänzende Information...

Yes. But it would add a false distance/location to the trackable. The kind help by keystone surely is the best way.

Und das liegt nicht in EUropa, sondern gibt einen Asien-Punkt.

Quote from that article: "Geocaching ... is essentially the same thing as “Pokemon Go.” What? Just because both are played outside using GPS technology? Where the use of GPS is totally different... No. PokemonGo isn't (essentially) the same thing as Geocaching and vice versa. It's a total other game concept.

A plan is the thing what get's instantly crushed when reality kicks it. Get well soon!

Is that a problem for you? Why?

Having multiple geocache listing sites each with unique listings is technically possible, but in reality very inefficient. For me, geocaching is just a relaxing game. No need to be efficient. I don't consider this a problem. They are there and surely have an impact on Groundspeak's decisions, because in case Groundspeak becomes community unfriendly then the users would have easy access to existing alternatives. The alternative sites just need to reach a certain critical mass of users (some already have, at least locally). I'm not promoting to dismiss Groundspeak, I'm a happy customer there and more or less I think they work well with the community. I'm even aware that beeing "other" doesn't mean beeing "better". But occasionally I use other cache sites as well (saturation of OC.org is OK here). After all I enjoy the game of geocaching as a whole, which isn't restricted to one single database.

Yes they could. And they are. Here near me a OC-cache with an easy hide often is found when the GS-cache with a slightly more difficult find just 10m away was not. Yet, cachers log the GS-cache, even if their signature is in the other's logbook. BTW: the hint of the GS-cache would identify it's hiding spot for sure. But hint reading is not required. On the hiders side: a clear identification on the cache box, with what site it is listed and what's the ID (GC-number, OC-number, ...). Plus, correct size definition and maybe an unique description of the box in the listing. On the searchers side: a clear understanding that there is more than just one "official" listing service and acceptance of the need to clearly identify the cache box (by ID and/or listing description) before signing the logbook. Nothing more. This would work with other things in life as well if there wouldn't always be some people trying to find a way around common sense just for their advantage. Example: just using another database because it doesn't check on allowance for placing caches on private property. Then maybe some authority will step in to regulate all geocaching in their jurisdiction. This already happened.

Maybe not a bad thing for the game. At least the users of alternate listing services may have a more relaxed geocaching experience, then...

Actually, in the early times of opencaching.de about 1/3 of the caches in my area were offered also at opencaching.de. Later when some things changed at opencaching but when at the same time the caching scene changed considerably and mass phenomena took over, this changed considerably. There are several aspects in which opencaching.de is meanwhile even superior to geocaching.com but still most cachers would not want to use it and the main reason apart from the available cache offer is that they wish to get credit for their finds on gc.com and that seems to dominate every other reason and is also one of the main reasons why Waymarking, Groundspeak challenges and other activities of this type also never had a real chance. Geocaching.com can make a whole lot of things wrong and the majority will still stick with them to keep their scores. So, from a business viewpoint, Groundspeak did some key things right, obviously. Again, it's the user base (community) which can change things, if they want. Over here (South Bavaria/Germany) cache density is not bad around me on opencaching.org, not compareable to gc.com, but enough for several cache tours. Most are listed on both services, though (but not all). "Cache quality" seems the same, there are good ones and bad ones. I agree, that most cachers pay attention to their smiley count* on gc.com and "have no time" to interfere with other sites, but if GS may cross a certain line in customer relationship and/or pricing, the working alternative is already there. Most probably they know this... *Note on smiley count: you can do counts and statistics on oc.org as well. Including all side effects.

This can't be determined from the thread openers description for sure. Probably, yes, but maybe some "moving cache" (which are grandfathered on geocaching.com but may be still in the wild, plus they do legally exist on other sites). Would be a question for an own thread. My answer there would be: with another system you can do this. For example Geokrety(.org) let you log mileage of the trackable with GC codes, OC codes (opencaching), maybe some other listing sites' codes and even free coordinates. It's a non-profit system, you can make your own trackable code there for free. However, it's not implemented in Groundspeaks system, so you have to log your visits seperately. IIRC, some (Groundspeak partner) apps offer automatic logging together with Groundspeaks services, though. HTH

As already stated, opencaching.org is up and running totally non-profit. Until now, their (and other listing services) cache number isn't comparable to geocaching.com (Groundspeak). This tells us at least two things: • customers are happy enough with Groundspeak's game management and pricing to support them. Which isn't a bad thing. • there are alternatives, if Groundspeak's customers may get unhappy or if you don't want to support a private business (for whatever reason). Not enough caches on the non-profit site(s)? Start placing them and listing (only) there! There is room for more than one geocaching database, and they already exist. Just my 0.02€

Things to learn from this discussion: • Don't do throwdowns. Log DNFs instead. Smileys are not important. • Clearly mark your caches at least with the GC code.. • As a searcher: check for the GC code. Contact the owner if in doubt. • Maintain your caches. • Stay cool. Thank you very much.

But don't post it in the forum, unless the code starts with "GC". "GC" would indicate a geocache, all other codes most probably a trackable - trackable codes are not to publish on the internet. Thanks!

BTW: Using a smartphone is no excuse for writing short logs. I wrote most of my logs (most = 100% since I have a smartphone, 0% before) with that thing and my average log word count is 87 (source: project-gc). Some logs didn't fit in one due to restriction on number of characters in the input field, I had to use additional write logs. My forum entries mostly are written on a smartphone as well. Just to demonstrate, that smartphones aren't the cause for short logs. Still, lazy people are the cause...(and maybe the lack of understanding the concept of Groundspeak's "Field Notes" and/or "Offline Logging", some apps provide). Log length isn't a sign for cache quality either, I wrote some very long logs for really crappy caches.

In any case, if there are issues with the logbook (missing, wet mess, full, ...), write a Needs Maintenance. Even if you added a new log paper. Thank you.

Just for the records: there is one "official" app issued by Groundspeak but there are several "official partner" apps from other programmers, which can be used legally with your geocaching account. Then there are some apps with no "official" Groundspeak approval, whose usage may violate your end user agreement with Groundspeak. There is more or less no advantage in cache quality. And you are allowed to log (offline + online) every cache you qualify for a find, as long as it's not deactivated or archived. Even when there is no direct "log the visit" button on the cache listing, PM caches technically can be logged by basic members rather easy, how that works depends on your app or web access method. Don't hesitate, you're allowed to!

Yes you could. But if or if not you're in possible legal trouble depends on the jurisdiction you're in. I'd suggest to check the local laws before doing that. Excusing by other law breaking as stealing a tupperware won't help. (just for the records: over here in Germany it is mostly illegal to publically photograph people who don't want to or are not aware of beeing photographed - this includes cameras in the forests and car dash cameras. The law is more complicated to be discussed in this forum, but generally each person owns the right on his/hers picture, especially when publication of any kind is involved).

Leider nein. Groundspeak kann nur reagieren, wenn ein Verstoß gegen die Vertragsbedingungen vorliegt. Da steht nichts von TBs drin. Möglichkeiten: • wenn kein Kontakt zustande kommt: mögliche Mitcacher ausfindig machen und (höflich!) um Hilfe bitten • wenn er schon reagiert: weiter hartnäckig Anschreiben, auch dabei möglichst höflich bleiben. Das An-den-Pranger-stellen im Forum ist eher nicht hilfreich... • darauf hinweisen, dass der TB auch in bereits gefundene Caches abgelegt werden darf, hauptsache er ist wieder im Spiel • Hilfe anbieten, z.B. vorfrankierter Rückumschlag • letztendlich: (Antwort akzeptieren und) den TB aufgeben - sich darauf freuen, dass er trotzdem irgendwann wieder auftauchen könnte. Man kann natürlich auch Anzeige erstatten, aber das wird dann ein ganz anderes Kaliber (und hilft vermutlich genauso wenig).

Assuming that the tool is required for something terrain-related, of course, as is the case with climbing gear or a ladder. Yes, I agree, thank you for clarifying this. Yes. For such cases, there is a "tools required" attribute, if I remember correctly. And if it's really needed on site to get the cache to the cacher (and back), then it should be provided on-site OR beeing described in the cache description. Someone relatively small may bring a grabbing tool with him/her all the time anyway (or coping with the fact they can't reach average heights). Sure, there there is a grey zone. However, I'd love to see cache owners stating very clear on listings, what to expect on-site if doubtfully reachable by people of different sizes. Cache owners who don't respect this tend to loose their boxes: even if a cacher somehow can get the box out of the hide, often it is a task more difficult to get ot back. Not that I want to encourage this kind of serial thinking... (This said, I'm 1.80m and reach most caches here, plus still can take my son on the shoulders to reach things further up - but surely I like the caches more that clearly tell me to bring my 5m foldable ladder or a 2m stick with a hook attached before I just can watch the box from below and planning my next trip to this location...BTDT)

Contrary to the music industry analogy, a cache owner is free to publish itself, just bound to the guidelines. A lot COs even are proud of their difficult to find caches, whereas almost no musician would be proud of having his music rarely heard. The reason that easy caches are the majority of finds is that they're easy to find and easy to hide. Not much more than that... A 1.5/1.5 hide can be awesome as well. It's not necessarily a power trail thing, and by no means an indicator that geocachers "love powertrails". BTW, other statistics indicate, that a lot of people start caching and leave after ~10-50 caches found. Most probably they start with easy caches, so those numbers rise up. Yes, statistics are weird, generally.

Einfache Antwort: weil sie noch keiner gemacht und einprogrammiert hat. Groundspeak füllt die Länder-Souvenir-Liste nur langsam auf, das hat wohl einfach keine Priorität. GS verdient Geld mit Sonderaktionen, diese werden demnach betriebswirtschaftlich sinnvoll eher mit Souvenirs bedient... Trost: sobald ein neues Souvenir für das Land eingeführt wird, in dem Du schon geloggt hast, erhältst Du es automatisch nachträglich in Deinem Profil. Die Liste der bisher verfügbaren Souvenirs wurde ja schon verlinkt. Nebenbei, das hier ist das internationale und damit englischsprachige Forum, das deutschsprachige Unterforum gibt's hier: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=148 ENGLISH Summary Thread opener asked about why there is no souvenir for several (small) countries. My answer in german above stated, that country souvenir designing just isn't the priority of Groundspeak and that he will get the thing if it's made public when he has a cache logged in that country, even before. Additionally, I pointed him to the german section of this forum.

I still think it is - plus beeing overly stupid. Who will pay for a "service" like that?

Replacing the nanos with at least PET preforms just before placing is the only acceptable form of nano usage.