PuzzleBug

I agree with Goat, if you find a bug and know you can't help move it where it wants to go, I don't think there's anything wrong with leaving it in the cache, write down the code number, and log it as a find, but then put it back into the same cache. I plan on doing that if it happens to me. If I find a bug in a cache where I wasn't expecting it, and I pick it up (not knowing its goal) then I would check the goal that same day and if I can't help it out, I would either replace it into the same cache or another nearby cache as quickly as I could (same day or next day). But, that's just me.

Two people have logged that cache since the bug was placed, and my bet would be that it's not likely it's there anymore. I would also bet that neither of the two who made a log are ones that picked up your bug. Someone probably picked it up on the 4th or 5th just after it was placed and they haven't logged it yet. That's one of the most frustrating thing about bugs is when they're gone but haven't been logged. Someone already said that patience is a virtue with bugs, and they're definitely right! Good luck.

Ah -- A fellow NASA Science News member! I received the email this morning about the Moon Trees and was thinking the same thing. I thought that if the GPS coords were listed for some of those trees, I might try and visit one. How do we get the coords of the known trees?

The logs are good, but I think a 5-star rating would be good too. Logs are not anonymous, and the rating you give a cache could be made anonymous. I also think that mrcpu hit on a good idea (in the other thread where this same idea is being discussed) where the rating could be weighted based on how many caches you've visited. Someone who says "5-stars" to a cache and they've visited over 300 means more than someone who says "5-stars" and they've only visited 10. Then again -- that's what the logs are for. People are too nice though (which might be good?) When you see a log that says "Easy find, went right to it, thanks" that may actually mean, "Lame cache, just like so many others, thanks for wasting my time". There are tons of caches now, and I'm just getting into it. I'd like a rating system to know which 100 caches of the 800+ in Utah I should visit first. If I visit California and only have time for 10 caches -- I want to visit the 5-star caches. Yada, yada. Dougc

quote:Originally posted by mrplug:I think we have a difference of opinion here. Yes, I think you do. And yes, I think we can all get along. What you do with your cache is your business, of course, as long as it's legal. I happen to agree with Skydiver, mostly because he cares more about the bugs than he does about his cache. He created a cache that will help the bugs, and I don't think he believes that bugs were created to help his cache. It's just a matter of perspective. I'm still a newbie (but not a rookie...) but if one of my bugs were to get trapped in a bug prison because people didn't have a bug to trade, then I would be sad for my poor bug. However, you also state that the bugs move quickly through your cache despite the trade rule. If that is true, then I don't really see a problem. Dougc

quote:Originally posted by mrplug:The biggest problem I've had is cachers taking a bug without leaving one. If this keeps up, the cache will be empty before long. In my opinion a "bug hotel" becomes a "bug prison" is if there is a requirement for people to only take a bug if they're trading a bug. I don't think the bug population is big enough to justify it. Maybe someday it will be, maybe not. I agree that a bug hotel will be empty more often if that isn't a requirement, but that just makes you wonder which is more important -- the bugs' goals, or the hotel being full? Personally, I don't want my bugs visiting a hotel if they get "stuck" there. Otherwise, I think hotels are awesome. Dougc [This message was edited by dougc on August 04, 2002 at 11:22 PM.]

The main point is -- always email the owner. Personally, I feel that if the owner doesn't mind you keeping it 6-7 weeks, then go ahead. However, Markwell makes a good point in that the bug has a "goal" but I would also think that the owner's goal is to see the bug move a lot, see a lot of posts, see a lot of pictures, etc. Moving is only a part of the bug's experience. Edited to add: I know this was a poll question, but my answer wasn't listed as an option. My specific answer is: email the owner and ask what they prefer.

Yep. The "top 10" bugs list became mostly useless except perhaps a game between those few at the top. I'm not sure what the solution should be, though. You'd have to have a disqualification flag for a bug, and perhaps having the same person move a bug more than 20% of the time would disqualify a bug from the top ten list. Hmm.. maybe not a bad idea. Dougc

Yep. The "top 10" bugs list became mostly useless except perhaps a game between those few at the top. I'm not sure what the solution should be, though. You'd have to have a disqualification flag for a bug, and perhaps having the same person move a bug more than 20% of the time would disqualify a bug from the top ten list. Hmm.. maybe not a bad idea. Dougc

In my opinion: Taking a bug from your own cache: yes Taking more than one: no Only trade a bug for a bug: definitely NO! Keeping a bug longer than 1-2 weeks: no Post about the bug as soon as you get it to let the owner know where it is. Post pictures if possible. Some bugs may require that they be kept longer, but if you keep it longer than 2 weeks, take a new picture and post a new log to keep the owner up-to-date. Post intentions as well. I saw someone create 4 new bugs in our area once and every single one was picked up by the same person, in the same day, and from 2 different caches. That was quite a bit of hogging, in my opinion, and I was bummed that I didn't get one. So, go get a bug from your cache! Dougc

In my opinion: Taking a bug from your own cache: yes Taking more than one: no Only trade a bug for a bug: definitely NO! Keeping a bug longer than 1-2 weeks: no Post about the bug as soon as you get it to let the owner know where it is. Post pictures if possible. Some bugs may require that they be kept longer, but if you keep it longer than 2 weeks, take a new picture and post a new log to keep the owner up-to-date. Post intentions as well. I saw someone create 4 new bugs in our area once and every single one was picked up by the same person, in the same day, and from 2 different caches. That was quite a bit of hogging, in my opinion, and I was bummed that I didn't get one. So, go get a bug from your cache! Dougc

quote:Originally posted by The Heavenly Host:Send those bad boys out here, and I'll try to send mine your way. Maybe if we ever get a hold of each others, we can hook up and switch and start over. Sounds good. I had a template for the bug's description, and I sorta forgot to add the part about getting west. I just bought another tavern puzzle on ebay (I already have it in my collection, but I don't want to part with mine) so once I receive it in the mail, I'll create puzzle bug #3 and send him west. What city in particular? I'll add that in. I live about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, so if you change yours to say "Any cache near Lehi, Utah" then I might find it easier, or one of my local buddies might run into it. Lehi isn't that big of a town, but with the nearby towns (within a 10 mile radius) we have a surprizingly high number of caches. I'd say about 30-40. Bilateral and Trilateral look interesting, but I'd really love to get my hands on the quadrilateral. That one looks like a good challenge. Dougc

I just dropped off my Puzzle Bug #2 travel bug. I have Puzzle Bug #3 almost ready to go. I think I'll only do those 3 to start with and see how they fare. These puzzles are about $15 each, and so I'm a little nervous about making them travel bugs -- that's kind of a lot to lose. I think they'd be really cool to find in a cache, though. I suppose that as long as a few people have fun with it, it was worth it. Dougc

I think I'll probably do 2 or 3 more of the puzzle bugs. I have about 20 of these puzzles, but I'm not willing to part with all of them. I'll probably do one with a goal of being solved on the East Coast, and I can do another with a goal being solved on the west coast, maybe that one will show up near you eventually. Dougc

I think I'll probably do 2 or 3 more of the puzzle bugs. I have about 20 of these puzzles, but I'm not willing to part with all of them. I'll probably do one with a goal of being solved on the East Coast, and I can do another with a goal being solved on the west coast, maybe that one will show up near you eventually. Dougc

I had the same idea a few weeks ago, and you put it into play before I did. I just dropped Puzzle Bug #1, and will probably do at least 2 more. I think people should have fun with them. Because you can remove part of the puzzle to solve it, I'm worried that the bug may lose that piece, but I'm only mildly worried. If someone solves it, but can't get the piece back on and puts it into a cache separated, then there could be a problem. Hopefully not. Hope you don't mind if I share your idea doing my own puzzle bugs. Dougc

I received your email, Ramblin Rover, and I thought it was appropriate. Some people get a little touchy about too many emails, or whatever it is, and they like to lash out from behind the safety of an email address. If you only get one like for every 20 polite responses, then you're doing okay, I'd say. If geocaching.com is telling you to stop it, then that's unfortunate. I don't think you were abusing the privelage. Just my thoughts. Dougc

quote:Originally posted by Ramblin Rover: I too want to get as many people to attend as possible, but I think centering the meeting around SLC area cachers has the potential to alienate the rest of the state. We hinterland dwellers have been living this us vs. them situation in many aspects of Utah life for a long time. The geographic center of Utah is near Ephraim, the population center is near Thanksgiving Point. That makes Levan or Nephi or Spanish Fork a pretty good compromise in my mind. (for my first post on this forum...) I agree. Although I work only minutes away from Thanksgiving point, I would easily drive down to Spanish Fork or even Nephi (well... maybe) for a meeting like this. I think it would be great! As for getting the word out -- would it be appropriate to have someone make up a half-sheet flyer and then everyone who knows about it can print out a dozen or more copies and drop them into all the local caches? I bet that in less than a week we could get a copy into more than 50% of the Utah Caches. Dougc