Did I Go Too Far

[+nfa]

I visited this log-only-film-canister-cache with my wife and 3 year-old son with pretty low expectations...they were pie-in-the-sky compared to the reality of the cache.

 

Did my log go too far?

 

jamie

[+The Jester]

Why did you add "TFTC"???

[+Mopar]

I visited this log-only-film-canister-cache with my wife and 3 year-old son with pretty low expectations...they were pie-in-the-sky compared to the reality of the cache.

 

Did my log go too far?

 

jamie

Sounds like you were spot on with letting future cache seekers know what to expect. I for one thank you for writing an honest log.

[+nfa]

Why did you add "TFTC"???

 

I looked at the profile of the placers of the cache, and they have lots of finds, and 20 hides...this one may have just been a mistake on their part...even though I hated that particular cache, I'm grateful to people who place caches...but after thinking about it, I'm going to take it off...it seems a little mixed message-y

 

jamie

Edited November 12, 2005 by NFA

[+Wander Lost]

I applaud you for that log!

 

The whole 'PC if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all' way of thinking doesn't apply in a case like this. Many people like you and I cache with small children. If this cache was on my weekend schedule and I saw your log, I'd likely cross it off and send you a note thanking you for the warning.

[+ibycus]

I think its reasonable. Not having been through the area, I wonder if the cache placer might just have had their blinders on. I think its important that things like this end up on the cache page to inform future seekers that there might be 'issues'.

[+ibycus]

Perhaps a private e-mail to the cache owner, suggesting they set the 'not kid friendly' attribute of the cache, along with some description as to why its set. Personally after an issue like that, I'd be down there first thing to remove the cache...

[+Team Perks]

I would hope more people would post accurate logs like that. Being polite and just saying something like "The cache was certainly hidden in an, um, interesting area" sure won't help me if I'm thinking of finding it next week.

 

I don't think there's anything offensive about what you wrote. If the cache owner takes issue with what you wrote, the problem is with them, not you.

[+WildGooseChase]

Good for you. We've written logs like that when we get to a trashed out cache area. There were several caches we went to and left without looking due to all the trash. More logs like that will keep people from hiding caches in horrid locations.

[+nfa]

Perhaps a private e-mail to the cache owner, suggesting they set the 'not kid friendly' attribute of the cache, along with some description as to why its set. Personally after an issue like that, I'd be down there first thing to remove the cache...

sent...thanks for the advice

[+Team Canuck]

I think you did the right thing. If I was going there I would be very happy to know the true situation especially if I was bringing my young family. Better to know now than when it naturally corrects itself through emails etc....

 

Jeff

[+briansnat]

I wish I had the onions to write a log like that. If its the way you described it, and I'm sure it is, the log was well deserved.

[+Snoogans]

I visited this log-only-film-canister-cache with my wife and 3 year-old son with pretty low expectations...they  were pie-in-the-sky compared to the reality of the cache.

 

Did my log go too far?

 

jamie

Jamie,

 

I know you (from your posting, email and TC.com caches I've approved) as a thoughtful person and you would have to be provoked to write a log like that. I don't think you went too far. That would keep me from away there. NO ONE could fault you for it.

 

I personally would have just reported the facts, but that's just me. However, in your context, with a wife and child along it's also understandable to ask "WHY?"

 

There could be many reasons that the hider hid a cache there.

 

For example:

 

Maybe they lost their virginity, or did their first drug deal there.

Edited November 12, 2005 by Snoogans

[+TMAACA]

I would hope more people would post accurate logs like that. Being polite and just saying something like "The cache was certainly hidden in an, um, interesting area" sure won't help me if I'm thinking of finding it next week.

 

People in my area have no problem writing honest logs like the feedback on this One we just placed...

[+Yamahammer]

For the most part, the log is fine. The only part in question is where you ask, "Why this and why that." Could be considered challanging and confrontational. I said, "could be", did not say it 'would be'. ... But this type of log response it fine by me. After reading it, I wouldn't visit it either.

 

There is one local to us that had the same sort of complications. Most of the graffiti came after the cache was placed but once the cache owner was made aware the conditions, he immediately disabled the cache.

 

[+denali7]

considering your description, i'd say you used quite a bit of restraint.

Edited November 13, 2005 by denali7

[+badlands]

The way it was written seemed very objective and descriptive. Nothing wrong with that.

[bogleman]

Too bad I cant read French, but I would gather that this cache was placed here on purpose and the hider knew very well what the area was like. With 20+ hides and 500+ finds I am sure they know better. May have been looking for the very reaction that you provided. “Lets hide one here and see if anyone really goes for it.” At least there was a SBA log on the page and only 6 finds.

[+CraigInCT]

Umm could I have the coordinates for the drug deal. I guess you can score cr. meth even in the adirondacks. By the way, was there a rainbow gathering happening there?

 

Seriously, you didn't swear or call the hider names - you are WELL within the safe side of a posting. A disgusting, unsafe area is not a place for a cache.

[Tahosa and Sons]

You should be lauded for a truthful log. It has told me how much the times have changed, I grew up in Upstate NY and have been all over the North Country and incidents like that just make me sick. And you are more of a gentleman than I would of been. The cache owner would of received a note from me that his cache has been pulled and I would let him know where he could find it.

[+fizzymagic]

I had a similar experience recently. I did a cache in such a gross, disgusting place that I almost just left without searching. I couldn't understand why on earth anyone would place a cache where you have to climb over garbage to get to it.

 

In my log, I went for sarcasm. I don't know if it worked, but nobody else has looked for it since!

[+CompuCash]

if what you describe is true - you didn't go far enough -

 

you should also have put a needs archived on it -

 

zzsheeessss!

 

cc\

[+Yellow Wingers]

I noticed that this cache has been archived. With your log entry and those following it given as the reason.

 

This speaks well for the owner of the cache, and without any other evidence to the contrary, I have to believe his explanation.

[Tahosa and Sons]

The cache has been archived.

[+Renegade Knight]

The cache was fine. The area needed TLC. It's ok to log the truth about an area. Hopefully you took some trash out with you.

 

With enough trash, vandalism, and grafitti any area can be turned to crap. With enough time and work any area can be reclaimed.

[+nfa]

The cache was fine.  The area needed TLC.  It's ok to log the truth about an area.  Hopefully you took some trash out with you.

 

With enough trash, vandalism, and grafitti any area can be turned to crap.  With enough time and work any area can be reclaimed.

I CITO'd some of the crap in the area, but the bigger issue is that it is a scary/raunchy location with ongoing criminal activity, needing police presence more than TLC...I'm glad the cache has been archived.

 

jamie

Edited November 13, 2005 by NFA

[+wiseye]

Come on now don't hold back, tell us how you really feel! Your log was well done, saved others from a negitive experience, and adhered to the level of responsible caching most of us wish to enjoy. Congrats on a job well done.

[+Bandit & Magna]

Not everyone sees danger the way others do. For most of us that would be concidered a dangerous cache location.

 

If we had little kids with us geo caching - I would not want to subject them to that kind of thing. I would also prefer geo caching to spending the rest of the day explaining to them what they saw.

 

I think we owe each other nothing less than honesty when it comes to inappropriate caches. Anyone who puts a cache in a place covered in trash, with someone elses "personal" things and "interesting" gaffiti, should expect this kind of reaction.

 

"If you can't say something nice, dont say anything" pertains to : you didn't like the hot pink color of their cache. No one can get hurt by a pink cache.

 

Letting someone know their cache is potentially dangerous and warning others what to expect - is telling the truth and protecting other geo cachers.

[Zoptrop]

I couldn't help but notice a "feeding frenzy" of "note" posting had started in the logs... I'm glad they archived it.

 

Is it appropriate to "comment" on someone's cache by posting notes if you have not actually looked for the cache?

[+Wander Lost]

Is it appropriate to "comment" on someone's cache by posting notes if you have not actually looked for the cache?

IMHO No it isn't. (exception granted to reviewers acting in their capacity as a reviewer)

[Trinity's Crew]

Asking "why" somebody would place a cache here is confrontational and calls the cache hiders abilities/judgement into question. Throwing in images of rapists and serial killers is sensationalistic.

 

Here is (essentially) the same log edited to remove your opinion of the HIDERS:

 

We found this cache today and we were very disappointed.

 

Almost every tree in the woods surrounding the cache has sexually explicit grafiti and/or sexual propositions written/carved into it.

 

The woods near the cache are strewn with broken glass, rusty cans, and junked tires, among other garbage.

 

There is a raunchy mattress at the entrance to the woods, and ripped women's panties and bras right next to the cache hiding spot.

 

When my wife and son and I were here, we saw (what may have been) a drug deal going on in the parking area.

 

We didn't enjoy this one at all.

 

Same message, same "warning" for future finders, no attack.

 

In addition, I can't believe that people who didn't even see the cache or the area in which it was hidden found it necessary to post nasty notes on the cache page. Worse yet, even after GPS_Gulliver&Dauphinbleu archived the cache AND apologized, people continued to pile on. I also added a note to the cache page, but it wasn't an admonishment. (Of them, anyway.)

 

Edit: Removed unwarranted/unappreciated comments

Edited November 16, 2005 by Trinity's Crew

[+Arrow One]

I think your log was to the point. Why place a cache in a bad area like that?

Children or not, who knows what could be lurking around any tree...

[+olbluesguy]

I have no problem with your log,.In fact I wish more people would express their true feelings about bad hides.

You ask Why?........And so do I. Why Bring It here to the forums?

It seems to me you said your piece well in the log.It was archived, Job well done.

WHY, cant you let it go?

[+CurmudgeonlyGal]

Kudos to you, Jamie for having the balls to post that cache log. Not too many people do these days, and let's face it... some cache locations just suck.

 

They don't even have to be THAT bad to be 'bad'.

 

Hold onto your hat if you're going to keep up all that 'honesty' stuff. Pretty soon they'll be complaining about your logs and deleting everything they can that isn't sugary sweet: even the DNF's* and the 'notes'* and the logs assuring the cache owner that their caches titled "NRV" and really DO have No Redeeming Value.

 

*You might work on cultivating a good relationship with an approver near you... you may need something undeleted in your future.

 

 

My kids and I THANK YOU!

[+sbell111]

OK, the area is trashy and has possible illegal activity going on. Has anyone considered cleaning it up and alerting the law enforcement of the issue or are you content with the location being icky and never being improved? In my opinion, bad locations grow if not tended to.

[+nfa]

Actually, I've been thinking about calling the state troopers, who would oversee this area.

 

I don't want them to associate the negatives involved with geocaching, so I might just call it in as, "I stopped off in the rest area, and was taking a leak in the woods when I noticed..." It's the truth, I did stop at the rest area and did take a leak while there...and just leave out the geocaching part...

 

What do you think? I just don't want the discussion to focus on explaining that particular geocache or geocaching in general as opposed to the nastiness of the parking area.

 

On the clean-up question...there are state employees and prison work-details that are paid to clean up parking areas, I feel that my CITO efforts are better spent on cleaning up the wild areas in the ADKs, which is something I do every time I go caching, or just out for a walk.

 

jamie