mjb716
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Posts posted by mjb716
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I almost always post some kind of story in my logs. And, I've noticed from the cache that I've placed, most people seem to write a story for me as well. I think it just depends on the cachers in the area. Buffalo/Niagara has a pretty great caching community. ^^
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It's the rare holy ghost icon and the numerical value that makes virtuals sought after. I can imagine what would occur if Groundspeak decided to team up with Waste Management Systems to create a very special limited dumpster icon to be used only for hides on garbage disposal containers. The forum would be filled with people wanting to know the requirements to obtain and list one of the limited amount of caches to obtain the icon. People who normally would stay away from those hides would be compelled to visit, if only once, to obtain the icon, especially if it was announced that the listings would eventually be locked.
This is what I think. I'm skeptical of people who want the virtual to come back because I see it as just another number.
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Listed are some of the “issues” I have seen in the past and a way to counter those issues with virtual caches:
1) “Virtual caches can be real caches, just place a micro on them or near them” – Well this is more of a counter issue – many of the virtuals, such as places in DC or pretty much most national historical park type places would not allow a cache to be placed there. So it is not as simple as putting a film can in a crevice.
I definitely agree with this point. There are also times when there would be nowhere to put a cache anyway. So I think this is your strongest argument.
2) “Virtuals locations can be part of a puzzle cache or multi” – Why? In all honesty and bluntness, this is a silly idea simply because a cache like that can get lost in the mix of the other icons. I almost passed up “cacher at the bat” in downtown Louisville (which was a multi that made you read information outside of the Louisville bat factory and museum and took you a block or so away to the final) simply because I didn’t want to take too much time with a multi. I did it regardless. Virtuals seem to stand out more, and we know exactly what they are about. Answer – Bring back the virtual icon holding a green container to let people know it is a virtual that has a final somewhere if we MUST have a physical cache near it”
I disagree with this absolutely. The best Geocaches in my book are ones that take you to a place and teach you about it. Regular caches are boring, but something like your example in Louisville really interests me. Just because you make the mistake of passing up these awesome caches does not mean that you argument is any more valid. Virtuals definitely do not stand out more than a well-thought out multi/puzzle. They only stand out more on the map because of the ghost icon. Also, your idea about the ghost holding a cache is rather stupid. But I guess the icon would be kind of cute.
3) “But it is easy to log a virtual without doing anything if the CO doesn’t log on to verify your answers” – Answer - Fine, have a mechanism in place that for all NEW virtuals, a CO must log in at least every 30 days to GC or else his/her virtual gets disabled.
4) (Here is my favorite) but this is what Waymarking/challenges are about – To paraphrase the general consensus bluntly – challenges are stupid. In fact, they go against just about everything Groundspeak has spoken out about virtuals. There is no real logging ability, no stories to tell, and they simply serve no purpose. Waymarking, again as stated above, just gets overloaded with garbage (and doesn’t apply to our numbers) nor does anyone really do it.
Okay, so I agree that Waymarking is a bad idea, and that challenges are poorly executed. However, I actually do enjoy challenges. From my (admittedly short) experience caching, I feel like the better challenges represent what virtuals were. If anything, we should get a revamped challenges page that places them on a map much like the geocaches. The entire page should be reworked. As far as your logging ability, it all depends on the cacher. I always post a story with my logs, but most people grab the number and go. Unless you are talking about adding the number to your overall total ... in which case, I think you have completely missed the point of geocaching. It's not about a number; it's about the experiences you gain from the world around you.
I think this would work well with revamping the Challenges section. I would only add that the reviewer should actually visit the location. I understand that would be a big requirement though, and I'm not sure what the area is that reviewers have to cover. ^^5) “But virtuals can be anything anyone wishes to make, so they can be equally as silly” – Answer – Have more restrictive listing requirements. A reviewer has the power to accept or deny caches based on rules right? Worried that virtual listing can be subjective? Well everything is subjective. I think we trust our reviewers enough that they have been caching a long time and can use subjectivity to make sure a virtual being listed is worthy of such an icon. Have the requirements for listing a virtual take you someplace with significance or truly unique. Make the virtual listing require photos and answer “why is this cache worth posting” – again, we trust our reviewers to use their experience.
Like I said above, I'm not a veteran cacher ... but I am an active one. I think that Challenges were a great idea, but poorly executed. They need to be more accessible, and we need to be able to search them from the regular cache page. I don't think reviving virtual caches are the answer to your problem, because they won't live up to what you are remembering them as. Sure, there will be a few who honor the idea of them, but not enough to warrant their return.
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I think it's a fine line between advertising and swag. For my first cache, I placed a video game related 50 cal and stuffed it with a lot of different swag items from GameStop. (There was even a couple of shirts from GameStop.) So in a way, they are advertising the video games and the store, but it's not like I put them there for the specific purpose of advertising. It just happens. I think samples from your work are a great idea! If I didn't want them, I wouldn't take them.
A lot of people have to realize that everything we put into a Geocache is advertising. If I put in a Matchbox car or Lego piece, I'm advertising those companies.
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I definitely like the idea of adding new caches to an area, because it gives us all another reason to visit. But I definitely do not like the idea of archiving older caches simply because they are older caches. I just started diving into Geocaching a few months ago, so if we were to archive older caches, I'd be missing out on some great finds. I say add to the flavor of your local caching scene: create some memorable, fun, and interesting caches that play off of the surrounding area. Surely there are some historical hides that you can do. =)
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Thank you everyone for your help! =)
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I actually like the idea. Most people will just life the skirt really quick and dismiss it with out a good inspection. I would give it a 2.5 on the difficulty. Dont let anyone discourage you from the idea it is a good one. Anything that is a spin on a normal hide will throw people off. I have been tripped up by mag key holders on the top of a skirt just because you usually don't have to give them to through of an inspection and this idea is way better than that.
QFE!
The fun about geocaching is that there are so many ways to do it. Personally, I do not have a cache type that I will not look for. I am a completionist by nature, so I'll hunt down every last one in my area. =P The double-play of LPH and fake bolt will definitely throw people off. It's a great idea. =)
Just make sure you won't be wrecking the lamppost with this. I've seen some demolished skirts in my area when there wasn't even a cache there.
As far as difficulty, I would probably go with a 2 or a 2.5.
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I think I would have fun solving this puzzle, but other posters have already brought up my concerns. Most importantly, I don't see why Google Translate should be such an evil thing. If we're filling out a crossword puzzle, we will have to first know the answer; then translate it into Japanese; and finally, we are going to have to see if the translated word fits into the puzzle or not. I mean, really what's the difference between using a dictionary or using the internet?
Second, the key issue has been talked about. If there is high traffic to the cache in a particular day, the key would be gone. I like the idea of a combo lock instead. =)
And finally, be prepared to provide high maintenance on this one. =P You're probably going to have so many people complain that this is broken, haha.
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I love tree caches! =) Something similar happened to my team. One of us suggested look up, and we bounded to the cache, haha.
I'd have to say the funniest cache that we've had was called No Dumping in Grand Island, NY. (GC20CJQ) Everyone should check that cache out if you want a good laugh. =P
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So I was planning on laying a puzzle cache at a historical site in my town. The listed coordinates would bring you to a small parking lot, and you'd gather info from a nearby informational kiosk to find the final log. The problem is the fact that there are other caches nearby. I know that generally the rule is .1 miles between each cache, but is that from the listed coordinates or from the final location? Because of the nature of my hide, I can't really change the starting location, but I can adjust the hide if need be.
Thank you for your input! =)
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I'll throw my two cents into the "wet logs" complaint. I've dealt with a fake rock or two since I started caching, and each one had a destroyed log inside of it. It's a clever hide, because I honestly didn't think to check the rocks in the area until we accidentally knocked it over. However, the log was so wet that it was nothing more than a wet ball.
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Thank you! I was holding off on a premium membership until I knew that I'd stick with this hobby, but I see more and more reasons to upgrade! =P
I'm definitely going to have to do that soon. =)
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A dry logbook is all I ask. Maybe an interesting sig item. Maybe a traveler. Lots of swag gets in the way of finding the logbook or the travelers.
This is definitely how I feel about caching. I have only swapped swag twice -- one was on my first cache, and the second was to get some carabiners to hide some tree caches at some point. My first hide will have some nice swag with it, but after that I'll only go all out for milestone hides. =)
I like hides that either make me think, or teach me about where I am. I don't need some trinkets to remind me of the place.
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Hey all,
I was wondering if there was any way to search for night caches in particular. I really enjoy the late night find, but it's next to impossible to search for them on the site. (Unless I'm missing something, haha.)
As a side note, has anyone had any fun adventures while night caching?
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As one of the "new" cachers, I have to say that your cache would be amazing!
I like the more traditional caches, and I like urban caching, but there is something about seeing something that so few have seen before that really draws me out. To be able to hike through the mountains and make a day out of it? That's exactly what my team loves doing. The only question that I have is with it being a long multi (at least long compared to where I cache), how easy will it be for you to maintain? I mean, if part of the trail is destroyed, the entire cache is destroyed. That alone would make me think twice before going after your 9-part mega-quest. =)
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I log my DNFs on a case-by-case basis. If I bummed around an area and got bored, I usually just ignore the listing that day (and come back to it another one). But if I put effort into my search, I always log the DNF ... because I might as well get some kind of recognition for that hour of time, right? =P
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My bad. Can a mod lock this thread. =P
An open letter to Groundspeak about Virtuals
in General geocaching topics
Posted
As for the Waymarking, I think that my area is just lame when it comes to that aspect. Most of them are basically "Check this out." One is at a Pizza Hut that hasn't been in business for nearly four or five years. Dx I am sure that I just didn't look into it enough, but honestly part of the problem is leaving geocaching.com to get them, haha.