smillersmiller
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Posts posted by smillersmiller
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I don't want to stir things up worse than they may be, but I think I have something to contribute. At first glance, I was in favor of this cache, but the $6.00 makes me say thumbs down and here's why...
Let's say I own a movie theatre, and I wanted to make it a virtual. After every movie I show, I'll spool a special 60 second reel of really neato footage from the first moon landing. To log the cache, you need to email me the answer to some question about the special film reel. This is a great way for me to sell a lot more tickets - Woo hoo!
I think we can all agree this is not the kind of cache we want, and I'll proceed under that assumption....The exact same arguments that I've heard to defend the Buddha cache and a couple of other caches could be used to defend my virtual movie theatre cache. For example:
1. It's up to you as to whether you find this cache... No one is forcing you to pay $6.00 for a movie ticket.
2. Lots and lots of people normally go to my theatre at least once a month anyway, and it won't cost them any extra to log it. All they have to do is sit through the credits at the end and watch the special reel on their next visit.
3. Other commercial caches are out there. If you don't approve my movie theatre cache, this is an inconsistent ruling.
4. $6.00 is a bargain to escape the stress of your every-day life and live out your dreams while sharing your experience with your closest friends in my plushly appointed movie theatre.There may be other reasons, but I think I got the highlights. So...... why aren't these reasons good enough?
1. Of course you're not forced to find any cache, but that doesn't mean there can't be some guidelines and standards for approving caches.
2. Well that's fine for those cachers, but what about the rest of the cachers?
3. This reason is beaten to death with the infamous Yellow Jeep locationless. It's been posted elsewhere that some caches were approved before certain rules were made and thus they're grandfathered. In other cases, it's been admitted that the approvers are a limited resource and some caches simply slip through - that doesn't mean it was OK, just that a mistake was made. You can't simply discard the guidelines just because the system is imperfect.
4. It may be a bargain, but it's still commercial.I guess the bottom line is if the rules regarding commercial caches are disregarded, what is to stop every creative business (like my movie theatre) from flooding Geocaching.com with thousands of new virtual caches every day. Perhaps my 60 second movie reel isn't quite "coffee table book" enough, but I'm sure I could come up with a piece of unique movie memorabilia in a display case or some such thing. Don't get me wrong, I really really like the Buddha idea, but how can you draw the line between that and my slimey movie theatre?
Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by Darkmoon:and I am cracking up over this image in my head of some poor cacher looking down the barrel of a big cannon!
Just how is it that we end up with all thse empty ammo cans. Do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?
(fortunately I'm not as fierce as my avatar.
)ICQ: 5563417
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I've thought about this issue a bit myself.
I understand that eventually, a Bug's owner may decide that Bug is lost and want to attach the number to a new trinket. I figure eventually I'll have to deal with that myself. I could even see an argument for resetting the milage to zero. But I hope you would want to keep the logs of the people that have logged the bug.
ICQ: 5563417
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You guys are hilarious. Do I have to be a Southerner to play along?
- Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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It's also cool to get your pics in their database:
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/get_image.prl?PROCESSING=list&PID=NK0102
By the way, is there officially recognized a "GEOCACHING" organization (like the US Power Squadron) in their database, or should we still log stuff as "INDIV"?
ICQ: 5563417
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I noticed a local Wal-Mart had the SportTrak Pro discounted to $200. No idea if this is nationwide, or just that particular store. Subtract another $50 for the rebate that's currently available... Sell your old GPS for whatever you can get on eBay (a 300 can't be worth much, but I still use and love my Mag 315)...
That seems like a better "trade up" program IMO.
-- Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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In addition to Benchmarking 101 on March 15, 2003...
Jeremy Irish has suggested that Geocachers do a Cache In Trash Out clean up on April 26 to commemorate Earth Day (April 22, 2003). I think this is a fantastic idea, and I've even got a candidate site that needs cleaned up.
Is there any interest in doing this type of event? Any suggestions of sites to be cleaned up?
A state park would be a good candidate. The Cedar Rapids area Geocachers might contact the State park Welch is having so much fun with and offer to clean up for Earth Day.
Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by Team Bohica:Close but no cigar.
Actually, I think you owe Dekaner of Team KKF2A that cigar. Look at "a)" - Dekaner has it right.
ICQ: 5563417
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I've got Benchmarking 101 scheduled for March 15, 2003 at the South Side Branch of the Public Library of Des Moines.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=56267
Be there or be square.
ICQ: 5563417
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I can confirm that spinwebby was referring to me.
I wasn't setting out to formally start a group, but at the same time, I would like to see more events in the area and meet with more Geocachers. I think group hunts are a blast. I think having a Geocaching 101 or similar event every few months to help the beginners on the right track is a good idea. I also think picnics and pizza parties sound like fun. I agree with Spinwebby's comments about how it's nice to have local groups. Does it sound like I'm talking myself into it?
- Scott (smillersmiller)
ICQ: 5563417
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Dave,
I hadn't heard about the wilderness protocol either. From a technical stand point, there isn't much wilderness around here, but the point is well taken. I wish I had a smaller and lighter HT - my HTX-404 is a bit much to hike with.
I did find the manual on the ARRL site. Go to the ARRL Amateur Radio Public Service web page, and scroll down to ARES Field Resources Manual.
-- Scott (smillersmiller)
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by Prime Suspect:I don't really see the point of setting up phony accounts. If the actual coordinates aren't listed on the cache page, then who cares if someone can look it up using your profile?
Of course, you may have a bit of trouble getting the cache approved in the first place, if it has bogus coordinates.
I agree - I see no reason to not have it on your profile.
Also, I personally wouldn't choose coordinates that are so totally bogus. The clue card cache seems like a great idea and I'm thinking I might have to build and hide one like that.
I would choose some bogus coordinates that are in the area (within 20 miles of the cache hiding spot). An interesting choice would be a confluence, where the minutes and seconds are equal to zero (example: 93* 00' 00", 42* 00' 00"). Then in a large bold font declare at the top of the cache page "there is no cache at these coordinates" and explain that the finder needs to collect the information on the cards (hidden in nearby caches) to determine the actual coordinates.As an added twist for more fun, I'm thinking it would be neat to allow people to "trade" clues - one clue swap per person or team. (A can trade one clue with B and trade one clue with C, but A can't trade two clues with
. "Advertising" for clues would be prohibited
- No posting in a forum.
- No posting a note on the cache page saying "Anyone have any clues to trade?".
Allowed:
+ Asking your friends directly to swap clues via phone, email, out on a group hunt, etc.
+ If someone posts in their find note for a cache they found a clue, you would be allowed to contact that person and offer a trade.
+ Going to an event cache and swapping clues would not only be allowed but encouraged.
What do you think??? Could be a lot fun and a great way to meet other cachers.
-- Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by Ltljon:My bust...must not have been paying attention. Although most of us do it, "Unauthorized Duplication" is illegal.
Making your own "mix" tapes or CDs composed of tunes you've copied from other recordings you've legally purchased is considered "fair use" in the United States (as long as you are not distributing the mix tapes or CDs - not legal for use as trade item).
ICQ: 5563417
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I've noticed that the number of finds behind my name on a find log gets updated whenever a log is added to the cache. So if ABC Cache was my 10th cache, and I then find 5 more caches, ABC Cache will still say smillersmiller (10) until someone else comes along and logs a find. The my log gets updated to smillersmiller (15).
ICQ: 5563417
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Wow, I'm absolutely amazed at the figures represented here.
I see 168 within 100 miles of 50265 (West Des Moines, IA), but I see 25 caches within 10 miles. I could hit the road on my bike and visit 10 caches in an afternoon.
A search from a more "remote" part of Iowa (from a Geocaching point of view at least) - Cumberland, IA 50843 - produces 243 caches within 100 miles, but zero within 10 miles and only one within 25 miles.
(I'm assuming everyone is including the disabled caches that show up in the searches.)
ICQ: 5563417
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I'm aware and conscientious of the problem with "useless" logs pushing useful logs off, but really how often does that happen compared with the number of times someone fails to post a log when they should have?
For example, say you visit the site, notice that the only road into the park is washed out with barricades in place and can't safely make it to the cache by hiking around. As I understand the guidelines of some of the users in this thread, they wouldn't log this on the cache page???? Or would they choose to post a Note rather than a DNF?
In my opinion, if you chose to post a Note instead of a DNF, I think that's perfectly fine, but I think it should be logged somehow or another. Odds are it will just push off the typical "Thanks for the cache, TNLN." anyway.
ICQ: 5563417
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Geocaching 101 last weekend went very well (and the weather the last 24 hours proves just how fortunate we were). 23 Geocachers braved the snow and chilly weather for an afternoon of fun.
We had so much to talk about and so much cache hunting to do at Geocaching 101 that we didn't even bring up Benchmarking at all.
It's been suggested I lead a Benchmarking Trek in March, and I'm working out the details now. March 8th or March 15th seem likely candidates.I've also thought it might be fun to do a Meet & Greet at a pizza restaurant. A lot of Geocaching groups do these once a month or so to share ideas and stories.
Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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Argh, ignore this. (Doh!)
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I'm trying to figure out why?
One reason for alternate paths is in the event an early stage for a multi goes missing. I've been thinking about hiding a multi-stage, and this is a feature I will likely add. (Sure, I'll go back and replace the missing stage, but in the meantime cache hunters can continue.) In that case, the abililty to switch paths is a desired feature.
If it's a puzzle cache where the person must go to a location and answer a question that could only be answered by visiting the location, "Answer A Go to such and such coords, Answer B go to ....", then going to A and finding a micro that says "Wrong answer, try again.", until you make the lucky guess seems sufficient incentive to make an honest attempt to answer the question.
If you're trying to prevent people from bushwhacking between choices, that is tougher. One idea is to line your micros up along the same trail (---A-B---C--D--). The micros could be as close to each other as say 60 feet. If I ignore the question, and just start hunting for micros, I'd have a lot of searching to do.
I've heard of people "finding" multis where they skipped steps. I could be wrong, but I think most people would try to play the game the way the hider intended as long as the game is clear enough to be understood and the game offers incentive for not skipping the steps. Personally I'd consider skipping steps a form of cheating, but I could see how some people would say that the game allows creative thinkers an "alternative". If step 9 says "if answer A go to these coords, if B, if C, if D" at that point skipping the first 9 steps and just hunting down 4 different coordinates is probably a lot easier than doing the 10 steps the way you're supposed to.
If keeping people from skipping steps is a problem, then compose the coordinates for the FINAL location from information that can only be obtained by visiting all (or most) of the steps. That would keep people on track.
ICQ: 5563417
[This message was edited by smillersmiller on February 07, 2003 at 06:57 PM.]
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It's not too late to sign up. Get the group discounted admission to the Science Center (the class itself is free). See the Eyes on Earth exhibit. Learn about your GPS and Geocaching. Win a Million Dollars.*
Scott
* if you buy a lottery ticket on the way and happen to pick the right numbers
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by Hologram21:It is more likely that TBs coming and going from my hotel will be logged correctly since the cacher already has one in his possession. This keeps newbs from grabbing one and never logging it and the TB turning up MIA.
I think this is a good theory, but what are the odds that someone who can't be bothered to figure out how a travel bug works will actually bother to read the cache rules.
The last time I went on a trip, I tried to grab a Travel Bug heading East before leaving. As chance and timing would have it, I ended up with no bugs in my possession when it came time to make the trip. It would've been a shame had I stopped by this cache and found a bug heading my way (either to my final destination or on my way home), but I'd have to leave it behind because I didn't have a bug with me.
I think a good alternative would be to include in the description for a bug hotel a brief (4 to 8 sentence) description of how a Travel Bug is different from a normal trade item and that it should be logged and then put into a new cache - something similar to the instruction cards some people are attaching to their bugs.
Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by GRANDMASTER CACHE:...certainly you do have those cheapskates who'd rather pay $3 a month to have "unlimited finds" yet who spend far less a month _hiding_ caches than non-charter members do.
If you want to point out that being a Charter Member doesn't nullify the obligation to hide and maintain caches (etc), then you have a point worth making.
I recently found a cache with my brother and his nephews - the cache was full of Geojunk. I consulted the logs and discovered the second previous visitor left a free 6 inch sub sandwich coupon in exchange for some trinket. The next visitor took the sandwich coupon and left some worthless trinket. Some people don't get it.
Several Charter Members have said that their $30 divided by ## caches meant they paid only ## cents per cache. I don't think they were saying that to mean that their $30 entitled them to be a "cache freeloader" - poaching all the best prizes from the caches and leaving junk in exchange, and not hiding any caches.
I don't think you will find many Charter Members with that attitude. I suspect that the majority of Charter Members with over 30 finds have hidden at least one cache.
Sure, I use the Pocket Queries, but that honestly didn't factor into my decision. Neither did members only caches (there aren't any around here). I wouldn't pay $30 a year for Pocket Queries.
If you're feeling rejected, come to Iowa. There are 169 caches within a 100 mile radius of my home, and not a single one is members only.
Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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quote:
Originally posted by BassoonPilot:quote:
Originally posted by GRANDMASTER CACHE:If you feel so "member exclusive" then it's ironic that you continue to log "non member" caches.
Those who become members receive extra features and benefits because they help support the site financially ... members are entitled to take advantage of _all_ the features the site has to offer. By definition that includes those features available free to the general public.
I think an important point has been missed by GRANDMASTER.
Based on the discussions in this very thread, I can make a couple generalizations.
1. The Charter Members consider 98% of the value of Geocaching.com is available free to all. The remaining 2% are the features we could live without, but without the core 98%, this hobby would be nowhere near as enjoyable as it is.
2. There are relatively few members only caches. (This answers the original question.) I checked and found that I would need to travel over 120 miles from my home to get to the nearest members only cache.
3. No one (or almost no one) decided to be a charter member mainly for the value of the extras offered. They chose to be a charter member as a show of support.
4. Charter members don't hold anything against those that choose not to be charter members. For those of you with a thin skin - making a cache members only is NOT a form of disrespect.
-- Scott
ICQ: 5563417
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GRANDMASTER CACHE,
I may have missed something, but I don't see any messages in this thread dissing non-charter members.
All Geocachers should be grateful to those that hide caches. I've hidden a couple, adopted a couple, made improvements to a several, and in one case a complete replacement of someone else's cache. But no amount of cache hiding will pay for the hardware, the packaged software, the Internet bandwidth, and the labor to write the custom software and maintain the site.
ICQ: 5563417
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Not as good as playing with satellites.
in General geocaching topics
Posted
1999 First it was going around and taking pop art photos of payphones..... (www.sorabji.com)
2000 Then it was entering currency serial numbers into a database..... (www.WheresGeorge.com)
2002 Finding boxes hidden in the woods full of McToys..... (www.geocaching.com)
2002 Searching for lost US government land surveying markers..... (www.geocaching.com/mark)
Now, 2003, and it's taking pop art photos of "the time of day". My friends will all think I've finally completely lost my marbles.
ICQ: 5563417