Kel On Wheels

Or maybe, instead of taking your marbles and running home, you could actually help with next year. Maybe it's just me but his comes across as "if you think you can do any better why don't *you* try hosting an event" rather than reading what the OP wrote in the log and accepting it as constructive criticism. OK, fair enough. My apologies for my tone, as that isn't what I was suggesting. I was, however, suggesting that, if a person is so "disappointed" by an event that perhaps he or she should volunteer to help planning the next one instead of simply complaining in a log. Because, quite frankly, saying, "I was disappointed" is not constructive. Constructive would be, "I noticed that the volunteers had to yell to be heard over the conversations and the laughter. Perhaps next time, we could try..." The OP's log equated to someone attending a party and then posting, "Man, that party sucked" on Facebook and not expecting the other attendees, nearly all of whom had a blast, to be surprised and supportive of the people who busted their collective tails to make the party happen.

Or maybe, instead of taking your marbles and running home, you could actually help with next year. The fact that you posted that you were "disappointed" with the event, and said NOTHING positive AT ALL about the event absolutely will make people feel like you were trashing it and their efforts. I fail to comprehend how you would think otherwise.

WeeLurk - Here's the thing. This has nothing to do with honesty and whether it's allowed in your personal log files. It absolutely is. But I feel like there are a few things that you're missing: 1. This event, like most state-wide events, is huge. It takes months of planning, dozens of volunteers who give time, money, objects (for raffles and auctions), and a frenzy of work. For you to pop in as a self-proclaimed event-newbie and post ONLY negative comments, that is absolutely taken personally. I was one who responded to briefly referenced the two negative logs. I was polite and respectful, but I absolutely stand by my words. If you feel that the organizers didn't do a good job, then maybe you should step up and help out. Did you offer to help in any way? I sincerely doubt it. And honestly, your superlative comment in here about "well, I paid to be there" and how it would be different if it were a free event? Even more disrespectful. You paid for what, a meal ticket? Other people supported NCGO by their donations and purchases. So if paying for a meal ticket gave you the right to snark about the event, then the people who actually gave more had every right to snark back. 2. One of your complaints was the "people were yelling". That building had weird acoustics, and there were dozens of people laughing and talking and greeting each other. If an announcement had to be made, it had to be made loudly or people would not be able to hear it. At that point, then we have complaints that "I didn't hear the announcement! You should've been louder!" That was a no win situation. 3. Weekend long events have schedules for most of the time, but there is nearly always a period of time in the middle of it in which people can chill out and chat, go take a nap, hunt some local caches, offer to help out in the kitchen, or whatever else they want to do. Many of our cachers are not from the local area, and this allows them to go hit some of the caches with high favorite points, or even take a dare on climbing a tree! 4. If you come into an event without knowing other people, there is a modicum of responsibility that lies with you. Just inside the front door on the left was the auction/raffle area. I know for a fact that Nicole and Ashley, two of the friendliest cachers around, never left that area except for a bathroom break, in which time they were covered. All you had to do was say hi. They could've explained the volume, pointed you towards the registration desk. Your packet contained a Bingo game card to get you started meeting people; if you are unaware of how the game works, Karen and Victoria were working the Registration Desk, and both of them would've been delighted to assist you. New cachers are always welcomed with open arms and a huge smile at NCGO. There was no reason for you not to have had a great time this weekend, as nearly every attendee did. But the responsibility to handhold and guide you through the event does not lie with the organizers. They did their side of things by providing schedules, information, and the Bingo card. You need to do at least a little bit of work too by approaching people and asking questions. People will comment back and forth occasionally in logs; it really isn't that uncommon. But when you trash an event that people worked so hard on for so long, when you did nothing at all to help or even better your situation, what else did you expect? I'm not trying to trash you, and while you may not think so, I actually hope you try again next year when Fall Fling is flung again. But you asked why people felt the need to speak against your negative comments, so I felt the need to answer. Cheers! Kel On Wheels.