+Sanpitch Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 I recently came to the forum for help with finding a cache. I bold help because I love the thrill of figuring the mystery cache as much as the next guy, but sometimes it is nice to get a little nudge in the right direction. I don't expect and I don't want anyone to solve the cache for me, just help steer me in the right direction. I was told that coming to the forum for help was "Bad Form." I thought that coming to the forum for help would be the ideal and a good place to come, you have fellow cachers that have experienced the frustration of trying to solve a riddle or cipher and would appreciate some type of help. My favorite caches are the mystery caches and solving a mystery to find it. I think asking for help doesn't take away from the thrill of "YOU" finding the cache. Maybe I am wrong but that is my feelings on that. What are yours? I know it will be brought up to ask the owner for help. Well, what if the owner doesn't respond back with any help. Can you go to a forum then? I just want to hear some peoples thoughts on this topic. Quote
+Team Dubbin Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 I see nothing wrong with asking for a little help just as long as you don't ask for the whole answer. Quote
+fox-and-the-hound Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 We'll often see one cacher looking into the old posts and asking for advice from previous finders if the cache setter doesn't respond quickly. If you ask for "help" and not the "solution" you'll find people are often very happy to steer you down the path. They'll often enjoy reading your posts later as well. I know our local cachers rely heavily on each from time to time and eventually you'll probably have your locals in your cell phone or on speed dial at the ranch. Quote
+StarBrand Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 General help with puzzle caches as a whole or in a category - no problem. Specific help with an individual listing - bad form. Quote
The Vargman Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 General help with puzzle caches as a whole or in a category - no problem. Specific help with an individual listing - bad form. This makes sense to me. Quote
+sbell111 Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 The problem with getting help on a specific cache in the forums is that the help becomes a spoiler that is posted forever. This is much different than discussing a cache in person or through email (or PMs). As a cache owner, I would hate to see the solution posted for all to see, forever. Quote
+Tahoein' Bunch Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 The problem with getting help on a specific cache in the forums is that the help becomes a spoiler that is posted forever. This is much different than discussing a cache in person or through email (or PMs). As a cache owner, I would hate to see the solution posted for all to see, forever. It does not sound like he asked for a soulution, maybe just where the heck do i start There are some peeps that rock at puzzle caches and others like me that just DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS....Man even the easy ones stump me but if there is an idea of what to look for i can GooGle for it and maybe get an answer. Greg Quote
+sbell111 Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 The problem with getting help on a specific cache in the forums is that the help becomes a spoiler that is posted forever. This is much different than discussing a cache in person or through email (or PMs). As a cache owner, I would hate to see the solution posted for all to see, forever. It does not sound like he asked for a soulution, maybe just where the heck do i start There are some peeps that rock at puzzle caches and others like me that just DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS....Man even the easy ones stump me but if there is an idea of what to look for i can GooGle for it and maybe get an answer. Greg You are correct, of course. However, some cache owners wouldn't want a hint posted regarding their specific cache. As a courtesy to those owners, forum residents generally shy away from posting hints. Quote
+Lord Stirling Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Coming here for a nudge in the right direction is fine. Coming here expecting someone to give you the answer is not, Quote
+hydnsek Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Agreeance with all the above. It's OK to ask for help on a particular cache, but these forums are the wrong, um, forum for that. When I'm having trouble with a puzzle cache, I often email a previous solver/finder to ask for a nudge in the right direction. That usually does the trick. Quote
+Arndtwe Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 I recently came to the forum for help with finding a cache. I bold help because I love the thrill of figuring the mystery cache as much as the next guy, but sometimes it is nice to get a little nudge in the right direction. I don't expect and I don't want anyone to solve the cache for me, just help steer me in the right direction. I was told that coming to the forum for help was "Bad Form." I thought that coming to the forum for help would be the ideal and a good place to come, you have fellow cachers that have experienced the frustration of trying to solve a riddle or cipher and would appreciate some type of help. My favorite caches are the mystery caches and solving a mystery to find it. I think asking for help doesn't take away from the thrill of "YOU" finding the cache. Maybe I am wrong but that is my feelings on that. What are yours? I know it will be brought up to ask the owner for help. Well, what if the owner doesn't respond back with any help. Can you go to a forum then? I just want to hear some peoples thoughts on this topic. no. it's not bad form, at least in my op. Quote
CoyoteRed Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 The problem with getting help on a specific cache in the forums is that the help becomes a spoiler that is posted forever. This is much different than discussing a cache in person or through email (or PMs). As a cache owner, I would hate to see the solution posted for all to see, forever. Ditto and right on. Same with Starbrand's response. IMHO, you should always go to the owner for help first. It is his cache. ...and fer Heaven's Sake don't wait a couple of hours and claim "no response." It could be days before you get an answer. If he doesn't respond, it might be that he doesn't want you to have a hint--especially before the FTF. I, and a lot of folks I know, think fishing for hints (nudges, tickles, pushes, directions, spoilers, whatever) in a public forum is bad form. Quote
CoyoteRed Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Of those that have responded so far I noticed most of those answering in the affirmative have been around longer than those who haven't. (To the question, "Is it bad form.") Curious. Quote
CoyoteRed Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 (edited) Double post due to forum timing out. Edited February 8, 2007 by CoyoteRed Quote
+traildad Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 The problem with getting help on a specific cache in the forums is that the help becomes a spoiler that is posted forever. This is much different than discussing a cache in person or through email (or PMs). As a cache owner, I would hate to see the solution posted for all to see, forever. Couldn't the person providing the help simply send it to the OP via PM. I don't think there is a requirement for the help to be posted to the forum. Quote
+GRANPA ALEX Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 It is, of course, the cache owners perogative to provide hints or 'nudges' . . . I feel it should be done, especially when the seeker HAS made a diligent effort to solve the matter, sans outside help. Honestly, I do get a little frustrated, since I am liberal in helping others on my caches, to see my own caches given away by previous finders . . . it would be positively rude to see it done in the forums. But, realistically, who goes to he forums to find previously-published help on a particular cache . . . it simply does not happen - so, publishing info here is not a genuine concern. Going to the cache owner and finding that one receptive and willing is the answer to maintaining the fun & challenge for the seeker & hider . . . it keeps the game enticing and adds to the fun! Quote
+canuck thistles Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 seems to me this IS part of our community ... and if you can't ask your neighbours for help ... who can you ask? bad form to ask for help?no bad form to ask for answers? yes Quote
+jasond Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 I think asking for help doesn't take away from the thrill of "YOU" finding the cache. Maybe I am wrong but that is my feelings on that. What are yours? I know it will be brought up to ask the owner for help. Well, what if the owner doesn't respond back with any help. Can you go to a forum then? As a cacher owner with several hides that are meant to stump people, I would be ticked to see people asking for help in a public place like a forum on one of my caches. If I wanted them to have any sort of clue, I would include that somewhere on the cache page or email them after a DNF. Then again, I'm of the belief that every cache does not have to be findable for every seeker, no matter how diligent they are. If I found out that some aspect of my tricky hides was compromised, I would archive it in a heartbeat. As a cache seeker with a few finds that no one else has found yet, I still don't like giving hints. If I answered some sort of question on the cache itself or the puzzle, everyone might find it. My hints on another cacher's hide could disrupt his difficulty rating, which would be unfair. Can you go to a forum if the owner doesn't respond? Yes. Can you go to a forum if the owner does respond? Yes. Should you? Only you can make that decision for yourself. Everyone plays by their own rules. Good luck. Quote
Clan Riffster Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 Agree on many points. My puzzle caches exist because I want folks to find them. Plain & simple. If someone needs help, I will provide them with all the tools they need to solve my puzzles, up to, and including, providing the final coords, if necessary. In my opinion, if I need help solving someone else's puzzle, I will always beg for help from the owner. This forum is the only place I've ever even heard of puzzle owners who wouldn't provide help. If after a week or so, I get no answer, and I'm still clueless, I might ask for a nudge from a previous finder. Since I've never been refused a request for help, I haven't had to go that route. Quote
CoyoteRed Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 But, realistically, who goes to he forums to find previously-published help on a particular cache . . . it simply does not happen - so, publishing info here is not a genuine concern. It doesn't happen because we try to keep the spoilers off the forums. If every request for help on a puzzle was answered, then the next thing you know folks would be responding with Markwells or "use the search function." Folks can be diligent on an issue to keep it from becoming an issue. Quote
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