Skylerdragon

I will gladly recieve it! I will PM with details.

I love your cache. Great paint job, nice lettering, and it looks like you have included some quality contents. I've been reluctant to do the ammo can thing though because I have mixed feelings about them. Ammo cans are good, secure containers. But they come from a military background. To me, having those in family friendly parks is a little off-putting. I guess since I am associating it with ammunnitions, I am thinking its inappropriate. It may very well be quite appropriate. I will say that I have used some crummy cache containers too though so the ammo can is better. I am kinda wondering if there are many cachers out there like me who are reluctant to place ammo cans out? I love finding ammo cans though, buecause they are so big! I get excited about finding so much and being able to place a lot too.

Oh! I haven't run across this but yeah, that would annoy me! Thanks for pointing out a possible problem.

I feel so...inexperienced! I have been caching since March. I'm not an avid cacher, but I do seek several out each month. I love the hunt and find experience. I usually cache alone though. I would be much better in a group. I get creeped out, confused and discoraged too easily on my own. I have not had the good fortune to find other cachers on the trail. I would love that! Several times I have seen other people in the area, but they are obviously not cachers. One tell-tale sign you have a cacher on your hands should be that GPSr or Hand Held Computer. That will all change of course when wristwatch recievers match in technology with affordability. I certainly hope to join some group caches some day. I still haven't done any! I have been to 2 events. Those events usually include group caches. I started a multicache with a small croup at the last event I attended, but didn't finish because I had to leave in a hurry. Heres to hoping I meet some of this forums participants on the trail! You are all a fun group of people!

I think that's a great idea! The only concern I would have would be if you used Groundspeak's graphics or logo. I bet they even have the name protected. Probably ougth to look into permissions for using those things. I bet there aren't real problems with that, but I would still look into it. Our area has a good geocaching organization. They do stuff like this all the time.

I am a newbie so please forgive me if my answer sounds ignorant. I don't think he should criticize you. I also don't think you should let it ruin your fun. Criticism is a two edged sword. There isn't any reason why you couldn''t criticize his caches if it makes you feel better. (Usually it doesn't, but I thought Id suggest it.) Now I gotta say I have been critical. I am new though and my criticisms come from the way I interpreted the rules of the game. My criticisms were posted because I thought I was doing the right thing by posting my feelings. I was kind of policing caches. This all comes from being a newbie. I realize now that cache owners are easily offended by criticism. They shouldn't be, but I was. I only hid one cache. Now I respond to criticism pretty well I think, but I am still critical of caches I seek. So think of it this way. I am not defending him, but maybe explaining him. Understanding that might help you do what you suggested in the first place. Just ignore him. If he keeps leaving negative messages in cache logs, then its harassment and there are rules here about that! If he already criticised your 3 caches, he shouldn't be commenting on them anymore. If he continues to do so...report him. That's my opinion.

Oooh I like this topic. But before I answer I should warn you...I haven't read others' responses. I would like to post my opinion before I do. I am new to the game. I bought 5 Travel Bugs and activated 4 so far. I feel these travel bugs are technically my contributions to the sport, and as such they should be subject to the goals I place for them. However, I read the geocaching guidelines. The tracking of the travelbugs, no matter how nice the hitchiker is that I put on it, is the right and property of geocaching. (woah!) Likewise, geocaches, and travelbug hotels are paid for by the placer. Geocaching though, posts the coordinates on the site for other members. Therefore the right and property of actually finding that TB Hotel again belongs to Groundspeak. (GASP!) I metion this, because as the users contribute to the sport, it evolves. Each member brings their own experiences and philosophies to the table. Of course we are going to disagree. Of course we hope other membrs are responsible, however we know, that not all members share our view points. I like your conviction of NOT PLACING BUGS IN THE CACHE. Unless the bug likes to hang out in a cache with restrictions on it, I wouldn't place one here either. However I don't think I agree with your suggestion of violating the rules of the cache. By reading the cache page and realizing the rules in the first place, your act of seeking that cache suggests compliance with the placers wishes. If you didn't comply, then your actions are malicious, and since this is supposed to be a family friendly sport, I am sure Groundspeak would frown on malicious activity of any kind. I'd also like to add, people who release TBs shouldn't have very lofty expectations of that travel bug staying within any particular set of guidelines. There are too many inexpereinced cachers out there. For that matter, cache owners have to assume some risks too. Muggles are used all the time to explain bad things that have happened to our caches and travel bugs. So neither party should have enormous expectations. The only expectations we have are those established by geocaching. Follow grounspeak's guidelines to placing caches and to using travel bugs. Outside those guidelines what happens, happens. Whether it be fate, muggles or brownies that violated your expectations there isn't much we can do about it. Now I'm going back to read what everybody else said. After all...I am still a newbie.

I have to admit I think along these lines too. I get very frustrated by caches that are too difficult. Especially if they are difficult and still rated a 1 or a 2. In my opinion, if it's rated a 1 or a 2 then you shouldn't be having difficulty finding it. If you are having difficulty finding it, then the (depending on the situation) hints should be available. Some difficulty can be attributed to the hunter though. For example if they arent using ther GPSr correctly ( ME!), or they aren't using environmental clues. I recently contacted a cache owner because I couldn't find his cache. His shallow answer did nothing to help me and only made me angry. I've decided not to find his caches. Since I am generous about leaving things in a cache, I figure its his loss. He ranked this multi-stage cache as a 2, but I wasn't the only one who couldn't find it. He thrives on arrogance. Anyway...I agree with you. I also agree with other posters though. DNF journalers should contact cache owners first. If the cache owner isn't helpful then, then I think it would be okay to contact other cachers who have found the cache. If the cache owner doesn't want people to help a newbie, novice or unskilled hunter, then maybe the cache page should indicate that. Then again...if you are only wanting expert hunters to find your cache...shouldn't you state that in your cache page too? Nice topic by the way. Being a newbie, this really aggravates me. I know I shouldn't be annoyed by it. I just am.

Just be careful how intimate you get near a cache. LOL!

Oh i completely agree with you! I am a beginning cacher and still annoyed by these experienced cachers. The problem is that they are experienced and I am not. Its like being a new teacher or a new student. You can complain all you want about the way things are done, but the locals will just ignore you because they have been doing it that way or they are so experienced that they don't have the same problems newbies do. The only way to alleviate this is to have a cacher who can mento the newbies. That cacher would have to be one who has done most or all in a particular area. They can steer newbies away from pesky worthless caches, and annoying puzzlers. That's the only way to fight it, because all the experienced cachers will gang together and say we are just newbies who don't get it. I hate DNFs but cachers all over the place tell me thats part of the game. I agree completely with you though and have been burned by my complaints and negative journal entries. I still will post my negative journal entries because that's my perogative, just like their annoying hide or unhelpful hosting is their perrogative.

This is an awesome discussion! It should be brought up in local group meetings I think. Maybe even an attorney can explain liabilities to a group of geocachers at a meeting.

I don't own a gun. The only time I handled a gun was in the military when I carried an M16. I don't think I would do that now. I have thought about carrying pepper spray though. I don't know if I would carry a shocker or anything like that. I do like the idea of carrying more protection than my walking stick and bug spray though. I also carry a shreiker distress whistle. That won't do me much good in the right kind of circumstances though. If I carried a gun, I'd shoot my big toe off. I'm sort of a Barney Fife. Not to desterous. Probably would shoot the wrong thing.

I particularly would like more people to help me out when I post a DNF. Now I understand better why I haven't gotten it. If most cachers feel the way you do, DNFs are part of the enjoyment of the sport. I must admit, most of my DNFs were still positive experiences. Even the one that to this day haunts me as a totally malicious negligence on the part of the cache owner, was a positive experience. Still, being fairly new to geocaching, and still only 50% successful, I believe I would prefer to get more help when I post a DNF. In response to your question...yeah I think you little message is perfect. If people in your area are automatically feeding you spoilers that you don't want post that. Around here(MO) I have to ask twice for help most of the time. I consider it my responsibility. I get frustrated when I don't get help that I am looking for, but I guess that's part of the game too. Cache owners have the right to be as reserved as they want to be about helping novices like myself out. I also agree with you that the people sending spoilers are just trying to be helpful. I think I am going to borrow your idea and post a note on my DNFs requesting more assistance and inviting spoilers. Maybe after I have uncovered a hundred caches I will feel differently about this extra help but for now, I really appreciate it.

I HAVE AN ETIQUETTE QUESTION! PLEASE HELP! Someone just posted the tracking code in a journal for a cache I was just watching. I thought tracking numbers weren't supposed to be posted in journal entries. I made a note on the travel bug and the geocoin this person did that to. I also see that the cacher has "dropped off" both the geocoin and the travel bug in another cache...but the old log where he found it is still posted...so anyone perusing the logs (like me) can take that tracking number, log it and release it in a cache without ever having found the travel bug. Then the travel bug would be lost! Or at least not in the place it says it should be! How do we deal with this problem?

Perfectly acceptable. Travel bugs are meant to travel and if you can assist it towards its goal, do it. The Discover option? Not sure why you would want to make a special trip out to your cache just to get a stat count for a bug you didn't help move along. Move them bugs! Back in March when I first joined Geocaching I was invited to an event. At the event, there was a TB discovery table. We were given a TB code sheet with all the codes for TBs at the table. There was also a pool of TBs to exchange from. I left a Diabetes TB and exchanged it for Island Hopper. I put some fantastic mileage on Island Hopper and even took it closer to its goal...but then the next cacher took it twice as far away so.... Anyway..I have a question for you Blue Deuce. I like your entries...they are full of wisdom that comes from experience. Do you discover geocoins? I bought 2 copies each of 2 geocoins. I released one copy into a coin bank cache, but the other I kept. Now that I hear your opinion about discovering TBs I am curious about how you feel about coins that don't have a mission. Or what about TBs that don't go without their owner (like Tbs on dog collars or on car license plates)? I have one TB that stays with me. The others are free to go from cache to cache. But I'd still like to hear your opinion.

Cool!

Thanks for posting this question. The longer I visit the forums, the more I discover! Anyway I, like you think the parasite tags sound like a good idea at first. But after reading other's responses to your question I realize parasite tags just arent nice without the owner's permission. I would like to design my own parasite tag and start asking owners for permission to attach them. I relaly like the idea of collecting those things so I will also attach a note to each of my TBs encouraging other cachers to add a parasite tag or a hitchiker card. It also makes me rethink my pracitces. Whenever I come across a travel bug that contains no mission card, passport or profile info I have been adding that information so the TB can get there, but I never thought about the fact that TB owners might not want that on there. I just assumed that info became separated or the owner couldnt afford the time or supplies to add that info. Now I feel enlightened. I guess I will always contact the owner and inquire from now on. If the owner is inactive...well I guess that's an entirely different problem.

Someone just posted the tracking code in a journal for a cache I was just watching. I thought tracking numbers weren't supposed to be posted in journal entries. I made a note on the travel bug and the geocoin this person did that to. I also see that the cacher has "dropped off" both the geocoin and the travel bug in another cache...but the old log where he found it is still posted...so anyone perusing the logs (like me) can take that tracking number, log it and release it in a cache without ever having found the travel bug. Then the travel bug would be lost! Or at least not in the place it says it should be! How do we deal with this problem?

Oh good point! Many of the TBs I have foud have had the note or pasport or profile attached. But some havent. If you aren't going to include it then what happens happens. Suppose you do include it and it gets separated from the bug because of negligence or whatever. I guess we have to rely on the good will and ethical practices of other cachers to restore the materials. I just released Its a Small World TB, which really has som3e heavy mileage, but doesnt have any papers with it. I printed out the TB passport, and enclosed both the passport and TB in a zip-loc baggie before I released them. I hope it helps.

Well I have seen people revisit caches, but its not a "find the second time is it? In subsequent visits, I think cachers are just supposed to write a note. I may be wrong though. I have only been caching a short time. As far as the sharing TB Tracking Codes, I agree with you...its frowned upon. I personally don't mind it if they just come to the cache and discover the TB. I did that a few times. But I post my log right away. If he really is hoarding TBs then shame on him. If he likes chasing them down though and rereleasing them, there really isn't much any of us can do about that. This is all m personaly POV since I am a beginner.

Someone just posted the tracking code in a journal for a cache I was just watching. I thought tracking numbers weren't supposed to be posted in journal entries. I made a note on the travel bug and the geocoin this person did that to. I also see that the cacher has "dropped off" both the geocoin and the travel bug in another cache...but the old log where he found it is still posted...so anyone perusing the logs (like me) can take that tracking number, log it and release it in a cache without ever having found the travel bug. Then the travel bug would be lost! Or at least not in the place it says it should be! How do we deal with this problem?

Me too! Woohoo!

If you dont have anything DECENT to say, dont bother saying anything. I'm adding comments to this thread because its a good discussion. Since I am a newbie, I have not participated yet. I am bumpin it to participate with it. Good discussions are like that...they keep going. I believe aristotle started a few discussions that we are still having...anybody care to expalin that one! LOL! I think discussions are how we learn, and share great ideas. THANKS FOR THIS TOPIC! It's great.

I am a newbie. I have very few finds and only 1 hide. When I joined I read the fine print about placing caches and one of the guidelines to placing a cache is to maintain it. To me that means making regular visits to the cache, checking it after bad weather conditions, and keeping it stocked. I don't see how some cachers can claim 100+ cache hides without neglecting some of their caches, unless they are micros. Micros are another thing entirely. They require much the same maintenance as a regular cache, except the restocking. I think it would be ridiculous to impose an obligation on cachers for placing caches. I have one, I maintain it well and visit it regularly. It's not a particularly difficult cache, but it is in a nice park. To me, maintaining that cache is enough. Maybe after it's been there a while I will disable it and place a new cache. In this way I might make 100 hides by the time I am 100, but I doubt it. I haven't been around long enough to know better, but there should be awards for placing and maintaining caches...not just the quantity of caches placed. If you want quantity...help us place waymarks. They require little maintenance and they are all over the place!

Oooh! I totally agree!