Best Excuse For The Question: "what Are You Doing?"

[+CrystalFairy]

We had a bit of a close shave with a VERY questionable individual recently when we went out looking for a cache in a local park. I noticed him approaching and nudged my other half to stop looking for it, but much to my dismay, when asked by the individual what we were doing, he went into an elaborate explaination that I had lost something the day before and that we would appreciate his help in finding it.

 

Cringing inside as he promptly joined in the search, I had the forboding that this was not going to be an "easy" find. We subsequently found it and were walking off to the car to log the find "in private", when he decided to ask us for money to buy some smokes. We both declined and this seemed to anger him. He started harassing us to give him money or he was going to report us for drug traffic-ing. He swore at us and got particularly verbally abusive. We tried to tell him in no uncertain terms that the container did not contain drugs, but he wouldn't believe us. We eventually had to open it in front of him to prove that it was no more then a bunch of kiddies toys, to which his response was, a jaw dropping disbelief of epic proportions(probably the only amusing part of the situation at the time).

 

We then had to climb into the car with the cache and drove off. We later returned to replace it, but were fairly shook up by the harassment that we had endured. I have come to the conclusion that you have to be more discerning about what you tell and to whom you say it. Choose to tell them the truth and reveal the cache to the possible detriment thereof or abandon the cache to be found at a later stage when you don't have to endure the "prying eyes".

 

Either way, ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!

[+jamrasc]

I can't recall ever having anyone ask us what we are doing.

 

Then again with 3 kids, most folks run the opposite direction from us!

 

The kids have decided though to tell people they are looking for bugs, lizards and snakes....which in most cases they really are!

[Mr Crisp]

"Verifying that the radiation levels are still ok since THE ACCIDENT"

[Mr Crisp]

Or ~

 

What are you doing?

 

Geocahing.

 

What’s that?

 

Simply stated we’re weighing ticks.

 

Why?

 

Tick size is relative to lyme disease. This unit (quickly flashing my GPS) calculates the average weight of a group of ticks and formulates a mathematical ratio of probability. Based on this ratio we can quickly determine whether to alert a health bulletin.

 

Is this area safe?

 

That information has to remain classified until all the reports have been filed.

 

Then if they still hang around, I usually get out my notepad scribble some notes, then get out my cell phone and loudly say “call CDC” into it. Then I polietly ask them to excuse me while I file the report.

[+scavok]

"Uh yea.. uh, well see I saw this thing on the in-ter-net where it talks about this club with millions of followers with special connections to the military who hide presents in tupperware and fake birds and then cant keep the secret so they put that on the in-ter-net too. I swear it, man! These things! Theres one here too! Watch out! These are hiding everywhere, I swear the in-ter-net told me! They are calling for me! I have to find them! Help me!"

[Geopuckz]

Either tell them about Geocaching and say "I'm looking for a geocache or cache" or just say "I'm inspecting the place"

[+ravens3]

Living in a rural area (the county has less than 10 people per square mile) we don't usually have this problem - most people we run into while caching are more concerned about us seeing them than vice versa.

When we ARE asked, though, my overly-honest child just launches into a rambling, 11 year old's explanation of geocaching, which usually sends folks quickly on their way.

[Hillbilly-Rockstar]

I just had a neighbor spot me out caching once (I'm 13) with a friend, she pulls up and goes "are you two starting trouble". I said "No I lost something".

 

She went off like she didn't care. Works all the time. Works the best in populated areas, if a muggle goes by I ask my friend "did you find them yet"? So the muggle thinks were looking for lost stuff.

 

-Eric

[TheAngryTomato]

If you are still in the process of finding it:

 

"What are you doing?"

"Looking..."

"Look for what?"

(stare at them with huge eyes) "IT."

-If they dont leave you alone from there...-

"Whats it?"

"I cant tell you."

"Why noy?"

"Because THEY will destroy me..."

They will probably leave you alone.

 

If you are opening the cache up then (esp. an ammo box):

 

"What are you doing?"

"I suggest you stand back."

"What? Why?"

"I cant remember if its the blue wire or the red wire you are supposed to cut..."

Edited June 17, 2006 by TheAngryTomato

[Hillbilly-Rockstar]

"What? Why?"

"I cant remember if its the blue wire or the red wire you are supposed to cut..."

 

Not only would it send them running, it would have the bomb squad pulling up.

 

-Eric

[+Velvet]

I can't recall ever having anyone ask us what we are doing.

 

Then again with 3 kids, most folks run the opposite direction from us!

 

The kids have decided though to tell people they are looking for bugs, lizards and snakes....which in most cases they really are!

 

Hehehe, mine does the "gotta pee" dance on command when we get to the point where we should leave the trail and start bushwacking. Kids in general are their own answer to "What are you doing?"

[Floridageocacher]

I would say "My preciouse im looking for my preciouse MY preciouse go away!"while bending by back like golem does and making my eyes as big as possible.

[+thomasl714]

you can avoid this question all together if you get a hazmat suit and act like your GPSr is a radiation counter

[+GS&Dogs]

On a mission to find a multi/micro placed on a jungle gym, a lady from a nearby house inquired as to what I was doing crawling around on a structure clearly designed for children. I immediately responded by saying that this really is a lovely jungle gym and that I was interested in constructing something similar in a nearby suburb. Well an hour later I managed to pry myself away from the conversation which covered all aspects of living in our current day and age and the importance of physical exercise for children. Needless to say sometimes the untruth hurts more.

[+ZSandmann]

I just use my standard MiB mind wiper to clear the crowd.

If that doesn't work, an orange prison jumpsuit usually works well.

 

[ElevenBravo]

I havent run into but 1 yet, it was a hiking trail, and I was in my hiking garb, no words were exchanged... He didnt have a GPS that I could see, but I wondered if he was GCing.

 

Anyway...

"Ive received orders to scout out the next landing spot for the mother ship"

 

There are several others here that are very good!

 

11B out...

[+parker313]

I've only done some urban caches so far and my prepared answer was that I was looking for a matchbox car my son had lost when we were there the day before.

 

I like the scavenger hunt reason too...

[+Thrak]

I didn't realize I had forgotten to bring along toilet paper so now I'm looking for some nice, soft leaves.........

[+vortexecho]

"I'm using billion dollar sattelites to hunt tupperware."

 

Straight off the T-shirt, and normally people will lkeave you alone after saying it.

 

i love that one

[+vortexecho]

Whenever you are out geocaching and you run into another person(s), what do you say when they ask you what your looking for or what you're doing? Anyone know some good answers?

 

I'M CALCULATING HOW MANY 40gal TRASH BAGS I'LL NEED TO CLEAN THIS PLACE UP.......what are you doing???

[+cave-rat]

well I have to say...who I'm talking to- a scary looking kid or a nice granny or a cop. If it is a law enforcement, I alway tell the truth- in most case, they just say ok and drives on but other time they ask for my driver licease and they run it on their computer and just hand it back to me with a ok. But if it is a kid of any kind, I caches alone a lot so often I runs into kids in lonely area so it is best for me to walk away if I see kids since being alone with a gps and pocket pc- I can get muggled. But other times when people asks, I usually gives excuses like,

 

- I'm just walking- what are you doing

- what do you care

- minding my own business

- waiting for a friend

- answering your stupid question

- say "what" (they ask the same question) "I say "what" again ---usually after the second or third "what" they say "never mind" and walk away fast (it works best for me since I'm deaf and they can see my hearing aid)

- I'm collecting (whatever is common in the area like rocks or leaf) for my school project

 

if it is a kid, I just give him a cold serious stare, and say "do you REAAALLLY" want to know?"

 

The BEST excuse for me is get on my cell and pretend to be talking to somebody while walking away

[+BoredKitty]

Depends on the muggle. If they ask about my GPSr, I tell them about the game. I NEVER show them where the cache is.

 

Once I held my GPSr up to my ear and pretended it was my cell phone. Once I told someone that I dropped a quarter. Once I told someone I was looking for a buried Altoid tin cos I ate too much garlic and needed a mint. -BK

[+Cooties!]

"I'm using billion dollar sattelites to hunt tupperware."

 

Straight off the T-shirt, and normally people will lkeave you alone after saying it.

 

Sorry, it's OT, but do you remember who sells these shirts?

[+Keruso]

I would say "My preciouse im looking for my preciouse MY preciouse go away!"while bending by back like golem does and making my eyes as big as possible.

 

that's called a giger counter, i think

[+Keruso]

you can avoid this question all together if you get a hazmat suit and act like your GPSr is a radiation counter

 

i did the wrong quote, that's called a giger counter, or something near that

[+Keruso]

also, you can tell them that you lost your money (or your marbles, whichever) in this area and are looking for it

[+zeobandit]

Just say that you are surveying for a new road that is going to go through there. Or, if a road is already present, then it is going to be widened.

[+Keruso]

or you can say that your looking for a new place to live!!!!

[+slumbersix]

also, you can tell them that you lost your money (or your marbles, whichever) in this area and are looking for it

 

Then watch them offer to help you find the item you lost.

[+Keruso]

if it's the money option, then they would, unless you go with the marbles......

[+slumbersix]

if it's the money option, then they would, unless you go with the marbles......

 

You never know... People can be shocking sometimes and be more willing to help than we give them credit for. I know I'd offer help to someone who was looking for something, regardless of what the item was.

[Bjornian]

if it is someone of position (a cop, mayor, ect) I would tell the truth.

 

If it is anyone else they typically tell me I am either a pedophile or a drug addict. they never ask me what i am doing.

[+Keruso]

you could also say you lost your way to your house of course that may not work

[Fliper]

If someone asks you, just say to them

 

I'm trying to find a to bury this bomb 50 yards in the woods

[mejaka]

Happened to us for the first time yesterday. I'm in the "kids are their own excuse" camp, and the bunch of us out with our GPS just look like we're earning a Boy Scout merit badge (three sons, one little girl).

 

But I was trying to get my bearings on a suburban cache starting point when I had a slightly disturbing experience. We had been wandering around a vacant wooded lot a bit when I suddenly remembered that the description specifically said "bring your scooters, bikes, blades"--obviously we should be looking from the paved road. Called to the buggers and was standing on the shoulder waiting when I heard "Hi" *directly* behind me and turned to see an older man on a bike--not a grandfatherly type, though. Sort of intense-looking. He asked what we were doing. I was calling to the buggers--"Guys, we need to be out here," etc--hoping we weren't trespassing on this guy's property, but thinking that it wasn't likely as he didn't seem ticked off...nor quite curious either. He asked if we were checking out the property. I said, "No, just playing a game," called to the kids again, and stepped away from him a bit as he was seriously crowding my comfort zone. Next thing I knew the buggers were finally responding and they guy was halfway down the block. I felt kind of bad because I was a bit abrupt, but he appeared VERY suddenly, stood VERY close, and didn't call out "on your right" and pass by as he ought to have done. (Around here, even if you're going to stop and talk to someone, you call a warning and pass them first so that you don't startle them any more than necessary...)

 

So my standard answers for those times when the whole truth doesn't seem appropriate will be basic stuff like--

"Playing a game."

"Practicing with our GPS."

"Teaching the kids a little about orienteering."

"Boy Scout treasure hunt."

 

Most times I feel okay just explaining geocaching, though.

[+Keruso]

just so you know Mejaka, there is an orienteering merit badge in the Boy Scouts

[+*Butterfly*]

Priceless! Really!

 

I was going to respond to one post that I thought was hilarious, but then I read onward, and I would be quoting far too many of them!

 

"Weighing ticks!" muahahahahaha!

 

You could say (if you're female) that you are plotting a spot for your ex husband (or what remains of him anyway!)!

 

That response is liable to land me in jail! The orange suit would come in handy!

 

Thanks for the laughs folks!

Edited August 10, 2006 by *Butterfly*

[+E = Mc2]

Usually, I just tell them I'm Geocaching. It's not like I'm doing anything wrong.

 

<aside> I ran into a fairly well known caching couple one day at a trailhead. I had just placed a new cache and needed to fix something in order for it to be found. I noticed their GPSr's and asked "Are you Geocaching?". Their immediate response was 'Nope!'.

 

My reply?

 

"Darn, that's too bad, because I have the coordinates to a new cache and ya'll could have been FTF."

 

They ended up being 2TF.

[+sayter liften]

i don't have to worry about comming up with an excuse, last year iwas at a savers discount store and i found a t-shirt that was from the local marshals office that fit. so when i'm out geo-caching i wear it and now body bothers me, works great,(but if they ever do i just tell them i'm looking for evedence and they're on a crime scene..so bye bye).

 

Impersonating a police officer. Let us know how that goes for you. When you get out of jail...

 

it helps when your father happens to be a retired cop

[+NatureGuy360]

Muggle: What are you doing?

Geocacher: What are YOU doing?

[+emurock]

also, you can tell them that you lost your money (or your marbles, whichever) in this area and are looking for it

good one

[+emurock]

"I'm using billion dollar sattelites to hunt tupperware."

 

Straight off the T-shirt, and normally people will lkeave you alone after saying it.

 

i love that one

That is a great one. Do you how to get one of those T-shirts?

[thehelmz]

Most of these dips have never even seen a GPS before. So I like to tell em its a radiation detector and that the area that we are in is off the charts for unstable uranium-235i and that they better move out of the area

[+Bundyrumandcoke]

"I'm using billion dollar sattelites to hunt tupperware."

 

Straight off the T-shirt, and normally people will lkeave you alone after saying it.

 

I liked that one so much, I had it made into a sticker for the back of my 4wd.

[+Nero]

...minding my own business.

 

Exactly.

 

Minding My Own Business, Why Don't You Do The Same.

[+joefrog]

"Checking suburban radiation levels. We've had some reports. You may want to consider leaving the area, sir."

[+TeamTettamanti]

"Looking for my contact"

 

HAHAHAHA! This is the ones that my kids and I use!!! "We're helping my dad find his contact!"

 

TeamTettamanti

[+Dgwphotos]

also, you can tell them that you lost your money (or your marbles, whichever) in this area and are looking for it

 

Then watch them offer to help you find the item you lost.

 

You could drop something while they are looking away and then tell them that you found it, then thank them for the help. They will probably move on when they see that you "found it."

[+srt4guy]

"Looking for my contact"

 

I nearly fell out of my chair, i have to use this one!

Tim

[+srt4guy]

What year is this?! What year is this?!

 

(If they tell you say)

 

Thank God, then we still have time! I need your help I'm looking for a container, a box, that was hidden in this time period.

 

etc, etc.

 

I ment to use this one and clicked the wrong tab, sorry

Tim