Allyn56

I too was having issues with Edge and GC.com. I couldn't create a new notification, pocket query, or edit a log. I wound up downloading the current edition of Edge from Microsoft (I did have the current version on my machine) and reinstalled it on my machine. All of the broken features from GC.com now work fine again.

I had two dropped and while I wished they weren't who really cares. People are going to do what they want and if they want to turn a puzzle into a traditional well while I don't agree I guess there really isn't much I can do. The fact that this person gave the locution online doesn't stop all the others from finding their wn shortcuts. I would prefer my puzzles not be spoiled but hey what can you do. I could solve a puzzle and email everyone I want. Same thing. Too each their wn!

I agree. The Needs Archive s really a flag more to the reviewer than the CO since the CO should have gotten many other messages to fix by then. Our reviewer has even asked we post a Needs Archive to point these types out as they would not ther wise get this notice. Not a fan of automatic account closure.

I had a cache that had the log book inside one of the eight plastic eggs in the container. The others had a note that said keep looking. My pet peeve was reading logs about people liking the egg swag and that I needed to replace them as there was not enough left! Oh well.

I can appreciate the fact that everyone has their way to enjoy geocaching. Some enjoy the FTF hunt and others do not. That's understandable and acceptable. I enjoy finding a cache that has not been found before, keep statistics of my FTF's (along with many others through GSAK) and give credit to those who got FTF on my caches. I don't go after every single new cache for a FTF but if one is close by I will sometimes go after it, other times I will stay home or wherever I am to relax. My earlier comments about timely posting were meant to acknowledge that while you may not play the game a certain way, that doesn't mean you can't help others play it their way. There are no rules on the time to log a find after actually finding it so you are under no obligation to log it in a timely manner or even at all. I do try and log a FTf sooner than later to allow others to know that it has been found if they are in the FTF hunt. Kind of like if I come across a cache where the log sheet is full I will replace with one that I carry around as a favor or courtesy to the cache owner. Their is no requirement for me to do so and in fact the cache owner is obligated to maintain their cache. But what is the big deal if I help out? So if you say that you are under no obligation to post a FTF in a timely manner because you don't play that part of the game, that's fine but you could be helping out those who like to play that part of the game by doing so. Just a matter of courtesy not rules.

True and point well taken. I agree there are no rules on when or if you post your log. I was just trying to say that if someone wanted to be considerate of those who enjoy that aspect of the game, it would be appropriate to post your find in a timely manner. Doesnt have to be right away or in between caches just a year and a half seemed longer than expected. I will continue to do it to be courteous to the next person. You can do what seems right to you.

Why? There are many of us who don't get around to logging finds for weeks, months or even years. I personally fall into the weeks and sometimes months category. If there is one in there that I happened upon a blank log, this means it will most likely be a couple weeks before I get around to logging it. This is somehow wrong? On occasion, I find/realize I forgot to log a find from a year or two ago and log it. Did I miss something somewhere that said you had to log your finds within X time-frame? Recognizing that there are geocachers who seek FTF's and that a cache has no logs would imply that the cache is eligible for a FTF. Failure to post your log for a year and and half and then posting 10 minutes after the next find seems inappropriate to me. It is not inappropriate to post delayed logs, but on ones that have no logs, failure to post timely gives a false impression to those who like the FTF hunt.

Why do want to know who is trying to solve your puzzle for caches that are not new any longer? Trying to solve a puzzle cache is by the way only one of the reasons to look at a cache page. There are some cache pages I look at regularly to see whether there are new interesting logs. There are phases where I enjoy reading logs more than going out myself and finding caches I'm not that interested into. I definitely do not want to be contacted, however, because I visit a cache page say e.g. once every two days. I also do not want to become a suspect if a cache got vandalized and I have not visited it, but looked many times at the cache page. Cezanne It's nice when the cache is new to see who is trying to solve among my local geocaching friends. I also get a lot of people coming to town trying to solve my puzzles and they ask for hints. It's nice to see how they are coming along on the hints they get. That's the extent of why I look at the audit page.

I personally like being a FTF on a cache. I also don't mind acknowledging those who find it first on my caches. It's not a race or game for me, just like being the first to find sometimes. To add to the original question, I don't think giving people a heads up on the cache location so they can claim a FTF is appropriate. I also think the year and half delayed log that Fizzymagic posted about is not appropriate as well.

I agree. I usually make my puzzle caches PMC's so I can see the audit log and see who is trying to solve it. I can then cross check the time against the checker to see if people are getting close to solving. Other than that I set my other caches as non-PMC's.

So if the three of us help a friend put out a power trail, each hiding every fourth find, and then come back and claim 3/4's of the trail as beta finds, would that be beta rolling? I don't see an issue with beta finds. You don't own the cache and even if you helped place the cache I don't care. Happens around here a lot and I don't see many people getting upset about it.

Caches can be hidden anywhere, from cemeteries, beneath lampposts and underwater to along dirt roads, in mountainous parks or dangling from a tree. Hmmm. Never would have thought of that!

You make some good points here. When you are golfing or caching alone you tend to stick by the "rules" more closely than if you are in a group prone to bending the rules. Hadnt thought of that point before.

I would just as soon leave my favorite point as the reason I awarded it doesn't change since it got archived. I understand the point of letting others know of best caches in the area. Just my preference.

So I wonder how many rules golf started out with way back when? The basic rule I think we all will/would follow in geocaching is: Find the physical cache Sign or stamp the log Log it on GC.com So what about: You and I find the cache and you sign the log and then out of courtesy sign the log in my name with me standing there. Rule infraction? I find the cache while you walk up and I hand you the cache to sign/stamp. Rule infraction? I find the cache, sign the log and when replacing, hide it better since in my opinion it was not hidden correctly by the last player. Rule infraction? I can't find the cache so call a friend who gives me a hint on where to find and I find based on hint. Rule infraction? We are teamed up on a power trail and buy a stamp for our team that includes four of us GC.com members and stamp that and we all claim? Rule infraction? Our "team" takes turn grabbing the caches on a trail to spell each other (I grab 25, you grab 25, etc.) and the finder stamps the cache and replaces exactly as found and we all claim the find. Rule infraction? These are just many examples where they could be construed as technical violations but maybe not or maybe we don't care. Same as golf. I am hitting my ball and putting it into the hole or maybe taking the 4 foot gimme and recording the score. Not in a competition. Should I get flamed by fellow golfers for rule infractions? Just some thoughts on how I think at times golf and geocaching could be the same.

Well said and nice analogy!

When I play golf I usually play by normal house rules and will tend to stick to the basic rules and not worry too much about the more specific rules. If my ball moves while I am trying to move some debris, so what, unless I am in a tournament which now make this hobby a competition. So golf for me is played by a certain set of basic rules and the rest I am out to just have fun. Geocaching is kind of the same thing. I follow the basic rules but don't worry about some of the more specifics. I read some of the threads here about log rolling, throwdowns, proper placement, what kind of caches are okay and which ones are a waste of time and effort, etc. and wonder if maybe some of us put too much effort into this hobby that ultimately takes away some fun. Now I am against arm chair caching, you need to go find the dang thing and sign or stamp the log. But if I want to log roll on a power trail that a CO says is okay, so what. If I replace a cache trying to help another cacher then what is the harm? Do we make the CO come out and replace their cache exactly the way it is? My brother who introduced me to geocaching and we have played a bit of golf together. We find the two similar in how you choose to play the game. Play by some basic house rules and who cares how somebody else plays, that's their choice. It would be interesting if their was a tournament of sorts where you had to play by specific rules. And we could have marshal's out their with rule books giving judgment on how a cache lies. Two find penalty for not placing the cache back exactly as it was found. Stroke and distance for the same?

Mine was a magnetic key holder under a doggy doo trash can in a park that is now archived. Las Vegas in summer does not make a good spot for these. No wonder I didn't get another for a year!

Actually I meant it On Topic in that sometimes we feel rules should always be followed no matter what even with how specific they are. Like playing golf with mulligans, kicks, etc. it is still golf just not strictly by the rules golf. If you are not in a tournament who cares if you are out having fun. Just remember you didn't follow all the rules. For geocaching I believe there are specific rules we should all follow like sign or stamp the log after you found the cache. But who is to say if you replace a known muggled cache that is wrong or just helping the cache owner. I usually post or email so the CO can say I got the wrong one if I did. How about the long hike to the cache where you forgot to bring something to sign the log and used blood to mark the log? I actually had a friend do that and I got a good laugh from it. Should only the CO replace the log or can others help out. I think geocaching would lose some fun if we had Marshall's standing over a cache in the field giving a ruling like you see in golf. As for golfing and caching that sounds fun. As long as I wasn't holding up the course then I would log.

A long time ago I picked up a hobby where I wanted to get out of the house, get some fresh air, some exercise, socialize with people with common interests, and enjoy places I have never seen before. But then people kept trying to explain the rules to me. Took the fun right out of it! "Basically there are 34 rules of Golf. However, there are approximately more than 100 sections and subsections. Moreover there are over 2000 explanatory decisions, probably giving golf the most complicated rules of any sport." I need to find a new hobby.

Is there a way to search by username and location, and ideally username with wildcards? I am working on a fizzy challenge and need caches placed by username (need the 5, 8 and 9) and would like to find nearby caches from usernames starting with these numbers. Thanks Allyn56

I think it has something to do with the site as every cache page I look at has the same error message including the recent posts

I would agree. Build cartridges that you can solve on your computer that require you to still go and physically log and you will get people interested in the concept. You can still have ones that you can't solve without an enabled devices if you want but this way you open it up to a range of people who otherwise would not be exposed to it. Kind of like a premium member cache versus one open to the general public.

Sorry if this has been asked before and I did do a search but only came up with questions on unlocking codes. I went through the Tutorial and maybe I missed it but is there a requirement to place a script command in the cartridge to specify the end of the cartridge or game? Is that what then allows the player to get the unlock code? I have a cartridge I built and it plays fine (a little rough maybe for my first one) but I wasn't sure if there has to be a pointer or script command to show where the end is. Thanks for any help