Non-adult Caching

[+IGJoe]

There was a recently revivied thread about 'Adult Geocahcing' but it contained 1.5 pages of posts from 4 years ago, 1.5 pages of thread hijacking and 1 page of 'thread revived with an agenda'

 

Before ANY discussion gets re-started (because I thought it could be an interesting topic to explore) lets lay down a few ground rules. We are NOT talking about:

• Placing adult items in a 'family friendly' cache
  
• 'traditional adult' material such as porn. Not excluding it, just saying its not the focus/intent
  
• suggesting this type of caching would displace or replace family caching
  
• suggesting these types of caches could or would get listed by in any way
  

Personally I think it would be interesting to hunt some caches that I know would have really unique 'non-child' oriented trade items and/or would not be filled with Mcswag. The last thread had a challenge to come up with some ideas/example to prove the point that porn was the only reason someone would do this. One of the reasons I think ideas may be lacking is because it hasn't really been given a chance to be explored. Not all of these ideas are strictly adult & they don't necessarily have to be. The idea here is cache content that is beyond the interest or means of kids. Here are some obvious exchange suggestions/themes:

• zippos
  
• DVDs that includes (but not limited to) ratings of PG13 & up
  
• Cigar or pipe
  
• knifes
  
• scratch off lotto
  
• wine or obscure beer
  
• International currency
  

Why did I name this thread 'Non-Adult'? The last thread had a clever quote that most things that are 'adult' are not very 'mature'. I took that and added a print media spin where if 'adult' = 'non-mature' then 'non-adult' = 'non-non-mature' = 'mature'. Sort of in the same vein that 'fiction' = 'not true' thus 'non-fiction' = 'non not true' ............. well, okay, sorry about the thread title and the way my brain works when it thinks its being clever.

[+RichardMoore]

From the guidelines:

Cache Contents

 

Use your common sense in most cases. Explosives, fireworks, ammo, lighters, knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), drugs, alcohol or other illicit material shouldn't be placed in a cache. As always respect the local laws. Geocaching is a family activity and cache contents should be suitable for all ages.

 

Perhaps you should be thinking more along the lines of batteries, small first aid kits, books, etc.

[+thedeadpirate]

Here are some obvious exchange suggestions/themes:

• zippos
  
• DVDs that includes (but not limited to) ratings of PG13 & up
  
• Cigar or pipe
  
• knifes
  
• scratch off lotto
  
• wine or obscure beer
  
• International currency
  

 

I like the idea of having a few caches that are themed with items geared more to adults and not kids. However, zippos, knives, wine and beer are going to be a no-go because they are prohibited in the guidelines. Mostly because of land mangagment concerns. I wouldn't trade consumables (food and liquid) because of the possibility of contamination either intentionally or not.

 

Now I like the idea of DVDs, foreign currency, tools, electronics, etc.

 

In fact, I am working on a cache at the moment that will offer working computers for trade. It's a project that the computer club at our local college came up with as a way recycle older computers and offer some really nice swag. This will definitely be an "adult" cache. Because of the contents, this will be a puzzle cache so that some work needs to be done in order to find it.

 

Of course, I have several caches that are themed as kids only in which I have packed full of cool toys. They are designed so that parents can point the kids in the direction they need to go and let them find the cache.

 

I definitely think us older folks should be able to trade for stuff we find interesting. Personally I think we should be able to trade for knives as they really come in handy outdoors. But I'd rather not trade them than to have land owners say no to caching.

[+IGJoe]

From the guidelines:

Cache Contents

 

Use your common sense in most cases. Explosives, fireworks, ammo, lighters, knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), drugs, alcohol or other illicit material shouldn't be placed in a cache. As always respect the local laws. Geocaching is a family activity and cache contents should be suitable for all ages.

 

The following remark in the OP:

 

We are NOT talking about: ... suggesting these types of caches could or would get listed by in any way

 

was specifically put there because I'm well aware of this site's guidlines for cache content.

 

That guideline gets violated with rather frequently, I think we've all seen some of those items in caches before. Frankly my favorite trade item I've ever gotten was a folding pocket knife shaped like a motorcycle. If I ever found bottlerockets in a cache it would be a close second. Since the rule does get broken somewhat often I thought there might be some avenue it could be better pursued (again, not necessarily via www.geocaching.com). 111 views and 2 replies lets me know I'm in a distinct minority so I'll let the idea fade away.............

[+gof1]

As for me , I will always keep it in my mind that just because I place a cache for adults to find doesn't mean the kids won't. Puzzles and hard terrain will not stop the younger ones from finding a cache, wether on purpose or by accident. This being the case I will not put trade items in a cache that kids should not have. Also, geocaching brings out the kid in allot of us. I don't generally trade, but I have seen things in caches that made me say "Hey! I remember those from when I was a kid!"

I have included many toys in my caches, I have also put in things like calculators, flashlights, tools, and other things that the big kids may be able to use.

[+Team Torque]

There are ways around the no adult material guideline. One multi cache that is very well done that I am currently working on offered a beer or age appropriate beverage to the first to find. The cache owner would hook up and buy you one in his area. No it is not the same as opening a cache and finding something cool but you could put pictures of the swag in the cache and make traders put pictures of the items they want to trade in the cache. Then they bring the picture of the item they want and the trade item that matches the picture they left to you in person. That has the added bonus of forcing fair trade. It has the down side of you having to meet everyone who wants a trade. Though I don't know that I would want to meet you to pick up the XXX DVD I wanted. Unless you are a 25 year old female swim suite model.

[+Bill & Tammy]

There should never be an "adult" themed geocache containing items presently prohibited. Why? Simply because such a cache found by the wrong person could cause irreperable harm to the hobby. The media being what it is would be more than happy to jump on news of the "discovery" with headers about how we secretly hide contraband, knives, booze and such. The public will mistakenly assume all geocaches are like that of course and that may cause an outcry to ban it altogether. Why even go there?

Edited July 10, 2006 by Bill & Tammy

[+welch]

We are NOT talking about: ... suggesting these types of caches could or would get listed by in any way

 

was specifically put there because I'm well aware of this site's guidlines for cache content.

 

That guideline gets violated with rather frequently, I think we've all seen some of those items in caches before. Frankly my favorite trade item I've ever gotten was a folding pocket knife shaped like a motorcycle. If I ever found bottlerockets in a cache it would be a close second. Since the rule does get broken somewhat often I thought there might be some avenue it could be better pursued (again, not necessarily via www.geocaching.com). 111 views and 2 replies lets me know I'm in a distinct minority so I'll let the idea fade away.............

Somedays I think it might be cool to find a cache with guns, ammo, knives. (Still haven't figured out if I would trust ammo I found in the woods, but getting off track.) There are several problems with getting a cache like that listed.

As you know, gc.com would likely never willing list such a cache. Then you might get problems from any land manager the cache is placed one. I think quite a few park systems that have formal policies endorse or even require cache hiders to follow general gc.com rules. It would seem unlikely they'd go for a cache with the suggested items. Finally, you have to hope that other cachers would... live and let leave? Considering the amount of complaining and moaning in these forums about things like people fake logging caches at GW4, I wonder what would happen if you placed a cache of that that can be great fun, and could also be a great problem. (and would police find and destroy such a stash if it was called in??)

[+Zilvervloot]

For me, it would be a relieve to find an adult cache. I am a bit fed up with the forced “you have to educate our children” regulations. To me, it is strange everyone has to obey the regulations set by some parents.

 

Sometimes I feel I have to filter my log as well in the logbook as on the cache page, to make it suitable for children. I am a big boy, do not patronize me. I like life in all its niches, live and let live, I will not be offended easily.

 

For example: I would not mind to find: Bottle-openers; Sci-fi books; CD’s from Mozart/the Carpenters; Calculators; Telephone cards; Cocktail recipes; Foreign coins like £¥$; Hammers; Bibles; Bow ties; Unworn panty hoses or Caviar cans.

 

Neither would it bother me to find a cache in a supposed to be non-child friendly areas like, Hanging under a bridge; In a red light district; Next to a highway; On a nudist beach; In a cruising zone; as long as it is stated in the description of the cache page.

 

When parents find it appropriate to cache with their children, then it is their decision. In the real world, only restricted areas are child frendly, the rest is not. They must be aware of that.

 

I see geocaching as an adult game.

 

Zilvervloot.

Edited July 10, 2006 by Zilvervloot

[+2LabCrew]

Being new to the sport, my team is tired of the garbage we are finding in cache's.

 

A "higher" end cache with "qaulity" items is all I'd like. Creative, useful, quality items...that's all. Seems like a lot of people take the good stuff and leave their kids crap....not in the spirit at all.

Edited July 11, 2006 by 2LabCrew

[+Florg]

For me, it would be a relieve to find an adult cache. I am a bit fed up with the forced “you have to educate our children” regulations. To me, it is strange everyone has to obey the regulations set by some parents.

 

Sometimes I feel I have to filter my log as well in the logbook as on the cache page, to make it suitable for children. I am a big boy, do not patronize me. I like life in all its niches, live and let live, I will not be offended easily.

 

For example: I would not mind to find: Bottle-openers; Sci-fi books; CD’s from Mozart/the Carpenters; Calculators; Telephone cards; Cocktail recipes; Foreign coins like £¥$; Hammers; Bibles; Bow ties; Unworn panty hoses or Caviar cans.

 

Neither would it bother me to find a cache in a supposed to be non-child friendly areas like, Hanging under a bridge; In a red light district; Next to a highway; On a nudist beach; In a cruising zone; as long as it is stated in the description of the cache page.

 

When parents find it appropriate to cache with their children, then it is their decision. In the real world, only restricted areas are child frendly, the rest is not. They must be aware of that.

 

I see geocaching as an adult game.

 

Zilvervloot.

 

You make some good points, thanks for your contribution to this thread.

[ImpalaBob]

I LIKE the way Zilvervloot thinks ..... being from Amsterdam .... where adults can do adult things without being persecuted! You are Sooooooo lucky to live there! ImpalaBob

[+doveroftke]

Whay can't foreign money be in a regular cache? Seems to me that it would be a cool things for kids to

find. I agree whole-heartedly, by the way, that parents are sheltering their kids way too much. What's wrong with a cocktail recipie card? In fact, I think that'd be a cool idea for a series of caches.

Edited July 11, 2006 by doveroftke

[+Team RoKKK'M]

I cache with my kids as well as just with my husband or parents. I agree that there is a lot of trash in caches and if anything, we will leave more than what we take. With three kids, they often each want to trade something, so I've gotten them to choose a "theme" - my son collects key chains and my daughter collects buttons/pins - things that are plentiful in most caches - my four year old will take the trash and is happy with it!

I do like finding nicer things when I'm out caching with my husband or parents though. The only problem I have with this is it gets expensive. My mom and I found 12 caches in one day while I was on a business trip recently and if we were trading items costing even $3-5, that would add up fast. Being from Wyoming, I have seen some caches along the interstate to trade book's/dvd's/cd' etc. - so there are some out there.

I think having a cache with nicer things would start out good, but even if there are only adults trading, I think you'd end up with cheap items fairly quickly as most people (including adults) don't trade quality items to begin with and don't trade equally (they think of it as one-item-for-one-item not value-for-value). I also don't think that the guidelines were put in place to "protect kids" as much as to protect all of us from stupid people! I recently found a cache in a fairly well visited scenic view spot that was in a large glass jar and there was a live rifle bullet in it. Of course all I could think of was someone dropping the jar and a piece of glass firing off the bullet and killing someone (like me (both the dropping and dieing - since I can be a little clumsy!). Not always a lot of "common sense" out there! Or as I like to say, un-common sense because if it was so common, more people would have it!

 

Not a terrible idea though - I guess the question is - are you caching for swag of for the "journey"? OK, didn't mean to sound to idealistic there - I like getting the "cool" swag too!!!

 

The "R" of Team RoKKK'M

[+BlueDeuce]

I don't cache to find trinkets.

[+AtoZ]

zippos

DVDs that includes (but not limited to) ratings of PG13 & up

Cigar or pipe

knifes

scratch off lotto

wine or obscure beer

International currency

 

Why international currency??? My son, 7, has a 1,000,000 Turkish bill he thinks is really cool. All the rest are not just for child safety but have verious other reason.

Why do people want to make life difficult?????

cheers

[Luckless]

It seems to me it might take a bit of searching but with a little thought you could find some neat adult items that are family friendly. Maybe don't search in the usual places (dollar stores). Try flea markets for antiques and collectibles. Look in souvenier shops and cooking gadget stores...etc.

You can only control what you put in , not what you find although sometimes that might inspire others to do the same because they think it's cool.

Edited July 12, 2006 by Luckless

[+IGJoe]

Why do people want to make life difficult?????

 

I see people expressing interest in something that would 'enhance' the hobby for them. How is that making life more difficult? If you have no interest in 'adult' caching then continue doing what you're doing. The idea that 'adult' caching would displace 'family' caching is one of the things that undermined the last conversation and I tried to be clear in the OP that I wasn't interested in doing that.

 

Why international currency??? My son, 7, has a 1,000,000 Turkish bill he thinks is really cool.

 

Again, I'll defer to the OP.

 

Not all of these ideas are strictly adult & they don't necessarily have to be. The idea here is cache content that is beyond the interest or means of kids.

 

I think we can agree MOST children do not have access to international currency unless it is given to them by ...... an adult. It was also meant to drive home the point that there are other reasons/uses for 'adult caching' than the exchange of 'traditional adult' material.

 

This thread only has 2 - 3 relies for every 100 views. Surely that is the best insurance that we are NOT talking about changing the way caching is done today.

 

 

That said, cache security would be paramount if this could/was to happen. How could one 'best' garauntee that the cache seekers are 'adults'. I thought about having the cache at a place where it can be monitored but then that would take the 'hunt' out of the picture. To me that's not an option. I also thought about locking the cache container (with a serious lock, not one of those cheesy suitcase numbers) and the seeker would have to get a key from me or another designated person who could verify thier age before turning the key over.

 

Any other ideas?

[+Florg]

I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of replies is due in large part because they don't want to be scorned by others on here.

[+IGJoe]

I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of replies is due in large part because they don't want to be scorned by others on here.

 

I've always considered myself far too boring to be controversial.

[+thedeadpirate]

I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of replies is due in large part because they don't want to be scorned by others on here.

 

I wouldn't be concerned about being scorned. The way I read the OP, this "non-adult" cache idea is quite different from the other "adult" cache idea.

 

I think all the OP is saying is let's put some grown up stuff in some caches geared for adults, not illicit or pornographic.

 

ie. radios instead of marbles; collectible currency instead Barbie dolls; etc.

 

At least that's the way I understand it.

[+Zilvervloot]

Either the lack of response is due to the controversial idea that geocaching is not only for children, or this tread might be not so interesting by the majority of the geocaching community.

 

Anyhow, to my opinion, to prevent unwanted attention by minors, there are several ways to make an adult cache. Just pondering, as far as I can see, to exclude minors, can either be done by placing it at a special location, or by making special age/maturity verification questions/answers.

 

You could put the cache on a place restricted to adults, on a place out of reach of children (Amsterdam Urban 2 - Under the bridge) or put the cache in a childproof canister (like a childproof bottle).

The special questions/answers to verify if a potential cacher is of legal age, could be made into a puzzle-cache, where each correct answer gives a part of the coordinate. I can think of historical, mathematical, common knowledge, questions.

 

You might even think of something like a blunt adult verification statement:

“I hereby declare I am of legal age.”

Yes; A = 1

No; A = 2

Where A is an essential digit in the ultimate calculation for the end coordinate. This ensures you the cachers have read the statement and filled it in and were fully aware of the consequences.

 

Perhaps making a proper adult cache will be a statement in the caching community. It might even become famous and lure foreign geocachers. I would be most pleased if I came to visit one. But, please be aware of cultural differences, as a foreigner some obvious verification questions can be impossible to answer.

 

Zilvervloot.

Edited July 13, 2006 by Zilvervloot

[+IGJoe]

You might even think of something like a blunt adult verification statement:

“I hereby declare I am of legal age.”

Yes; A = 1

No; A = 2

Where A is an essential digit in the ultimate calculation for the end coordinate. This ensures you the cachers have read the statement and filled it in and were fully aware of the consequences.

I sorta like this idea. Puts the responsibility on the seeker. A novel concept though not one we're accustomed to here in the US.

 

Better yet, maybe you could put a cache at Both locations regardless of which way the question is answered. A traditional family cache at the location result for 'No' and an adault cache at the location result for 'yes'.

Edited July 13, 2006 by IGJoe

[+Mastifflover]

So what's wrong with a new unfilled Zippo in a cache? Untill you fill them they are harmless. I've left them as FTF prizes in my caches and they have gone over very well.

[+thedeadpirate]

You might even think of something like a blunt adult verification statement:

“I hereby declare I am of legal age.”

Yes; A = 1

No; A = 2

Where A is an essential digit in the ultimate calculation for the end coordinate. This ensures you the cachers have read the statement and filled it in and were fully aware of the consequences.

I sorta like this idea. Puts the responsibility on the seeker. A novel concept though not one we're accustomed to here in the US.

 

Better yet, maybe you could put a cache at Both locations regardless of which way the question is answered. A traditional family cache at the location result for 'No' and an adault cache at the location result for 'yes'.

 

I like that idea. Multiple ending depending on how you answere. cool.

 

So what's wrong with a new unfilled Zippo in a cache? Untill you fill them they are harmless. I've left them as FTF prizes in my caches and they have gone over very well.

 

I gotta believe there is nothing wrong with a brand new unfilled zippo. You can't burn anything down with that. Maybe some flint refills or a clip on holster. (my uncle loved the one we got him)

 

Maybe for the hunters out there, a gun lock for a FTF prize. Anything cool that you would like to find. (other than porn or illicit material or items expressly banned by the guidelines)

[+BlueDeuce]

So what's wrong with a new unfilled Zippo in a cache? Untill you fill them they are harmless. I've left them as FTF prizes in my caches and they have gone over very well.

 

Hmmm, I don't go out of my way to trade but that would be a tempting item.

[Tytow]

"International currency"...

 

Umm... I'm new to geocaching, but I have a bunch of cool coins from Taiwan. I put one in a cache the other day. I thought it would be a great item for someone to find. It's about the size and color of a 50 cent piece but in the center, about the size of a dime, it's gold. The chinese markings on it make it cool looking. I think this would be something a kid might think is kind of cool too. So, is it frowned upon by the GC community to place international currency in caches? If so, why?

[+BlueDeuce]

So, is it frowned upon by the GC community to place international currency in caches? If so, why?

 

Nope. Most think it's pretty cool trade.

[Jeremy]

I support all forms of currency in caches. If you like, feel to write a note in the logbook when you drop off $100 and suggest what inappropriate material you'd like the next person to buy (alcohol, cigarettes, food etc.). I don't mean writing something explicit though.

 

Problem solved.

Edited July 13, 2006 by Jeremy