What if someone did a secret field study of a few caches?

[+Snoogans]

The pitch. (I bet there's grant money in this.)

 

A video/investigative study into human nature dealing with the secretive public activity of geocaching. All aspects of the sport/activity including the social aspect, but mainly focusing on candid footage in the field.

 

So, picture this.....

 

Once and for all getting to the bottom of cache content degredation, hide degredation/improvement, coin/tb thievery, false logs, environmental impact, cache destruction/disappearance and a host of other things people wonder about endlessly with regard to caching.......

 

There would need to be dozens of different hides of different types and in different regions over the period of the study. All wired for sound and video the way naturalists study wild animals.

 

Wouldn't it be a hoot to watch a documentary series where geocachers are the unwitting "animal" subjects? I think it would be a riot. Think of all the peanut gallery theories that could be put to rest if it was done professionally.....

 

The surveillance technology exists to pull it off. Now all we need is a sociology nerd Phd. student to take on the project.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

What if you were an unwitting participant in some actual future study?

 

What if you stumbled upon some surveillance equipment while looking for a cache?

 

Have fun with this..... Personally, I'd find it fascinating.

[+Kryten]

Think of all the invasion of privacy lawsuits. Covert filming is illegal in some countries.

[+Snoogans]

Think of all the invasion of privacy lawsuits. Covert filming is illegal in some countries.

 

Well, there'd hafta be some kind of release or other legal mumbo-jumbo for willing participants and they could just pixelate the faces and other identifying features of the unwitting participants..... I think it's doable.

 

But just for the sake of argument, lets not waste too much time on the legalities. This is just for fun.

[+Kiwi Nomad]

Think of all the invasion of privacy lawsuits. Covert filming is illegal in some countries.

 

Well, there'd hafta be some kind of release or other legal mumbo-jumbo for willing participants and they could just pixelate the faces and other identifying features of the unwitting participants..... I think it's doable.

 

But just for the sake of argument, lets not waste too much time on the legalities. This is just for fun.

 

There must be a way around it, they used to have a programe secreatly filming people in the back of taxi cabs. I think it would be embrassing/emusing to watch myself or anyone else for that mater trying to be secreative finding a cache.

Taking reality shows to a new level.

 

We have hidden a small magnetic container under the bench just over there. The animal we are trying to attract is geocachers, we know they will come. But the question is how many. Its a rather urban area so it shouldn't be too long a wait. Once the geocacher appears we are going to send someone out to sit on the bench opposite and read a paper. We want to see how the geocacher reacts to having someone else in their hunting area. Here we go the first one is coming now, you can recognise them because they are carring a cellphone like object that is actualy a gpsr and look around to see if anyone else is around....

[+Snoogans]

Think of all the invasion of privacy lawsuits. Covert filming is illegal in some countries.

 

Well, there'd hafta be some kind of release or other legal mumbo-jumbo for willing participants and they could just pixelate the faces and other identifying features of the unwitting participants..... I think it's doable.

 

But just for the sake of argument, lets not waste too much time on the legalities. This is just for fun.

 

There must be a way around it, they used to have a programe secreatly filming people in the back of taxi cabs. I think it would be embrassing/emusing to watch myself or anyone else for that mater trying to be secreative finding a cache.

Taking reality shows to a new level.

 

We have hidden a small magnetic container under the bench just over there. The animal we are trying to attract is geocachers, we know they will come. But the question is how many. Its a rather urban area so it shouldn't be too long a wait. Once the geocacher appears we are going to send someone out to sit on the bench opposite and read a paper. We want to see how the geocacher reacts to having someone else in their hunting area. Here we go the first one is coming now, you can recognise them because they are carring a cellphone like object that is actualy a gpsr and look around to see if anyone else is around....

 

FUNNY I actually heard David Attenborough's voice as I read that!

 

[+joranda]

I have thought about placing my hunting cameras around caches but just worried that they would get muggled too.

[+va griz]

Predicted results:

 

1. some people are better finders than others

2. some people are thieves, most aren't

3. most people are having fun and look goofy while geocaching

4. kids like toys

 

I hope we don't use tax dollars to find this out.

[+Kiwi Nomad]

Predicted results:

 

1. some people are better finders than others

2. some people are thieves, most aren't

3. most people are having fun and look goofy while geocaching

4. kids like toys

 

I hope we don't use tax dollars to find this out.

 

No not tax payers money!! There would be too many rules as to where the filmed cache could be hidden!

 

It could either be done as a spoof of an actual nature programme or just one of those hidden camera programmes. You know when they glue a coin to the ground and see what peoples reactions are when they try and pick it up.

 

Remember geocaching is for having fun

[+Stargazer22]

I guess this means that I should be careful during my 'outdoor lavatory' visit the next time I'm caching!! I'd hate for someone to jump out of the bushes with a camera and tell me I've been punked.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Predicted results:

 

1. some people are better finders than others

2. some people are thieves, most aren't

3. most people are having fun and look goofy while geocaching

4. kids like toys

 

I hope we don't use tax dollars to find this out.

There ya go! Saved another expensive study to tell us what we already know!

 

Reminds me of the study, expected to cost a half-million dollars, that Alabama is currently funding to determine if seat belts improve safety on our school buses! DOH!

Edited April 24, 2008 by TheAlabamaRambler

[+ZSandmann]

Look at the elusive Cacher, more stealthy than the others of its species. See how it roots around for substanence, ..

 

Oh look it has uncovered a tupperware. Glorious day. Now I am going to very slowly make my way into its line of sight. Yes, its seen me and has concealed its treasure. Look how it pretends to blend in with its surroundings, it doesn't want me here that's for sure.

 

Now what I'm going to do is circle around behind it and stick my finger up its bum. :X

[+XopherN71]

Might just catch the 'Phantom Pooper' brown handed... err, red handed.

Edited April 24, 2008 by XopherN71

[+Totem Clan]

Here we see a splendid example of the Cacherus micro-venatorus. This species show remarkable adaptations that allow them to hunt their preferred prey. The often elusive micro cache.

You can notice the personal digital assistant in its left appendage. This is one of the identifying feature that allows field identification of the species. Now while many other members of the Genus have this same feature, this coupled with the overall appearance of the creature quickly aids in recognition.

Note the lack of thick soled, heavy foot coverings, and the large amount of relative soft exposed skin on the lower portion of the leg. These are of the features that separates them from their forest-loving cousins Cacherus ammocanus.

[+Totem Clan]

Look at the elusive Cacher, more stealthy than the others of its species. See how it roots around for substanence, ..

 

Oh look it has uncovered a tupperware. Glorious day. Now I am going to very slowly make my way into its line of sight. Yes, its seen me and has concealed its treasure. Look how it pretends to blend in with its surroundings, it doesn't want me here that's for sure.

 

Now what I'm going to do is circle around behind it and stick my finger up its bum. :X

 

Crikey!! He almost took my hand off. Isn't he a real beauty.

Edited April 24, 2008 by Totem Clan

[+meralgia]

I'd love to see a time-lapse video of an area of vegetation getting trampled as folks walk in circles looking for it. Maybe publish the coords but don't put out a cache and watch people go nuts! I did that the other day with my son--walking around in circles for an FTF in a "new" field only to find that when I returned home to log the DNF the newbie hider had to update the coords over 100' away!

[+Renegade Knight]

The pitch. (I bet there's grant money in this.)...

 

There probably is. The FBA TSA and DOHS are all now aware of caching and the fact that caches and cachers can be called in as suspicious. I'll bet there is grant money to teach these folks the difference between caching behavior and the behaviors they are more intrested in.

 

We would also find out who stops to take a leak near (or on) the cache site plus get the great experience of watching ZSandmann dash up at a critical time and stick his finger up their bum while the unsuspecting cachers pants are loose.

Edited April 24, 2008 by Renegade Knight

[+Big Bear TC]

Thanks for the idea. I could have fun filming this and seeing what reactions I would get. It would be even funnier to have someone run around in a Bigfoot costume scare the cachers or carrying a GPSr looking for a cache.

[+PyrateWench]

Might just catch the 'Phantom Pooper' brown handed... err, red handed.

 

 

I think this would make for a really amusing video. I know on another post people had pictures of cachers bent over trying to reach a cache by a lion statue - those pics are priceless. I could just see a time lapsed video of people appearing, pacing back and forth, scratching their heads in confusing and doing a victory dance once the cache is found.

Edited April 24, 2008 by PyrateWench

[+Jennifer&Dean]

The pitch. (I bet there's grant money in this.)...

 

There probably is. The FBA TSA and DOHS are all now aware of caching and the fact that caches and cachers can be called in as suspicious. I'll bet there is grant money to teach these folks the difference between caching behavior and the behaviors they are more intrested in.

 

We would also find out who stops to take a leak near (or on) the cache site plus get the great experience of watching ZSandmann dash up at a critical time and stick his finger up their bum while the unsuspecting cachers pants are loose.

Note to self... Avoid ZSandmann caches.

 

Cabelas has motion detection photo equipment. Dean and I have discussed the use of said equipment for certain caches of ours. But couldn't justify the cost as the potential for equipment loss is too great.

 

But MAN that would be fun!

-J

[+DavidMac]

Predicted results:

 

1. some people are better finders than others

2. some people are thieves, most aren't

3. most people are having fun and look goofy while geocaching

4. kids like toys

 

I hope we don't use tax dollars to find this out.

 

Actually, I think #4 would be something like this:

 

4. kidsadults like toys

[+Snoogans]

Now what I'm going to do is circle around behind it and stick my finger up its bum. :X

 

Which one do you think he used:

[+Michael]

OK knock off the adult type humor and keep it family friendly. I don't want to close this but will if it keeps up.

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

Think of all the invasion of privacy lawsuits. Covert filming is illegal in some countries.

And, strangely, it is a felony crime even in some states in the USA. In Maryland, where I live, it is a felony crime to record someone's voice or their image without their explicit express permission. (I know that some folks will ask about the ubiquitous surveillance cameras in many stores and parking lots, but use of cameras in those settings is specifically exempted under the law.) In contrast, this is not at all a crime in any of the nearby states, and is considered to be quite benign.

[+ProjectFred325]

I am building a multi now. I might have just go and buy a still shot game camera as a part of the series. Might just put the words "never know who or what might be watching you" in cache descripition." And of course cachers take all risk. I would love to see looks on faces as they open an ammo can to see 50 film cans inside, one with long one with lat, for next stage. Then post on cache page. 8)

[+gof1]

Think of all the invasion of privacy lawsuits. Covert filming is illegal in some countries.

And, strangely, it is a felony crime even in some states in the USA. In Maryland, where I live, it is a felony crime to record someone's voice or their image without their explicit express permission. (I know that some folks will ask about the ubiquitous surveillance cameras in many stores and parking lots, but use of cameras in those settings is specifically exempted under the law.) In contrast, this is not at all a crime in any of the nearby states, and is considered to be quite benign.

 

Seems odd to me. What happens if you are at the local playground taking pictures of your kids? Do you have to get all the people in the area to sign a release before you start? I'm no legal expert but I thought that part of these photo -privacy laws was alway the "expectation of privacy". If you are in the changing room at The GAP you can reasonably expect privacy, so filming is illegal. Standing on a street corner waiting for a bus you have no such expectation. You are aware that others can see you.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

It's a growing problem world-wide, and photograper-geocachers could easily get caught up in it.

 

Some stories from home and afar - http://www.freedomtophotograph.com/

 

On the danger of photography in public places - http://newurbanist.blogspot.com/2005/01/co...blic-space.html

 

How or even if those links might apply to the OP I don't know!!

Edited April 28, 2008 by TheAlabamaRambler

[4wheelin_fool]

The pitch. (I bet there's grant money in this.)

 

A video/investigative study into human nature dealing with the secretive public activity of geocaching. All aspects of the sport/activity including the social aspect, but mainly focusing on candid footage in the field.

 

So, picture this.....

 

Once and for all getting to the bottom of cache content degredation, hide degredation/improvement, coin/tb thievery, false logs, environmental impact, cache destruction/disappearance and a host of other things people wonder about endlessly with regard to caching.......

 

There would need to be dozens of different hides of different types and in different regions over the period of the study. All wired for sound and video the way naturalists study wild animals.

 

Wouldn't it be a hoot to watch a documentary series where geocachers are the unwitting "animal" subjects? I think it would be a riot. Think of all the peanut gallery theories that could be put to rest if it was done professionally.....

 

The surveillance technology exists to pull it off. Now all we need is a sociology nerd Phd. student to take on the project.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

What if you were an unwitting participant in some actual future study?

 

What if you stumbled upon some surveillance equipment while looking for a cache?

 

Have fun with this..... Personally, I'd find it fascinating.

It's already in progress as part of a taxpayer funded study of human behavior (in Texas, I believe).

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

We have the technology, we just need to use it!

 

I sometimes watch the website watchthedeer.com which has cameras set up at deer feeding stations in the woods all over the country.

 

I see all sorts of wildlife, including some monster bucks that appear 'round midnight most nights on the West Texas camera.

 

Would that be cool or what, to have live cameras streaming from your cache sites?

 

I would totally watch watchthecacher.com!

 

Add a text chat and we could all watch and critique some poor cacher... "LOL, look at him, he's standing right by it" and "ROFL, what was she thinking wearing that blouse?".

[Tahosa and Sons]

Maybe the nude cacher would be caught out in the open without a can.

[+KBI]

I guess this means that I should be careful during my 'outdoor lavatory' visit the next time I'm caching!! I'd hate for someone to jump out of the bushes with a camera and tell me I've been punked.

Or you could just pee on the hidden camera.

[+KBI]

It's already in progress as part of a taxpayer funded study ...

..... must ....... resist ........

[GOF and Bacall]

It's already in progress as part of a taxpayer funded study ...

..... must ....... resist ........

 

Stand fast! You can do it.

[+Minimike2]

And here we see the indigenous Homo chacheramus doing what appears to be a mating dance. It is oddly familiar to the same dance done by honeybees to impart knowledge of nectar to hive mates.

[4wheelin_fool]

Wht is unusual for this thread is the amount of views compared to replies.

 

Many times it is 20 time the amount.

 

In this thread it is 1100 views per 30 replies, nearing 40 times. It could somehow be coming up on internet searches and being read by many noncachers..

[Dj Storm]

Wht is unusual for this thread is the amount of views compared to replies.

 

Many times it is 20 time the amount.

 

In this thread it is 1100 views per 30 replies, nearing 40 times. It could somehow be coming up on internet searches and being read by many noncachers..

 

Psst... They are watching us!

[+Chi-Town Cacher]

Wht is unusual for this thread is the amount of views compared to replies.

 

Many times it is 20 time the amount.

 

In this thread it is 1100 views per 30 replies, nearing 40 times. It could somehow be coming up on internet searches and being read by many noncachers..

I'm thinking your theory about this thread showing up on internet search engine results could be true. However, I be more inclined to believe the OP writes much more interesting thread titles than most of us so therefore it catches peoples attention more. Another factor that may play into the unusually high number of views could be folks like me who know from reading other posts that the OP has written that more than likely this thread will be interesting too so they check it out. Lastly I'd propose that reading through this thread it highlights the very creative comedy writing skills of some of our fellow forum dwellers and comedy is much more enjoyable to read than say, "Why don't other cachers participate in CITO?"

 

Now to get back on topic I thought I was going to agree with a previous responder and then at the last second they went in a totally opposite direction than I would have gone. I do believe there is a good likelyhood of getting grant money for this type of operation. The reason is that geocachers behaviour is so similar to terrorists that watching films of geocachers could make an excellent training aid for Homeland Security or even for training the public in general what to keep an eye out for near locations that could be likely to be of interest to terrorists.

[CacheCoeur]

As a nerd PhD student who is doing research on geocaching for my dissertation, I am having a lot of fun with this thread A project like that would be amazing, but it's hard to believe that it would ever be aproved by the ethics committee in any university! We have many protocols for using "human subjects" in research – just something to protect people from the curious scientific minds out there...

But let me propose a slightly different research design: If you want to participate in a scientific study, take a video camera with you the next time you go out to do geocaching and record everything. No editing is allowed, so the video gets as close to the real experience as possible! If go caching alone, you may want to say out loud what's in your mind while you're downloading the coordinates or planning the route, walking to the cache, etc. If you have a caching partner, you can take turns holding the camera.

I will then email you a consent form (explaining the study, your rights, and the risks involved) and if you decide to participate, you email me your video (or a link to it on Youtube). I will use the videos as research "data" and aggregate them to all other information I have been collecting for my study. When the analysis and interpretation are done I will be happy to share the results with you!

Let me know if you are interested in this research or have any questions. I am also looking for interviews with geocachers (in person, via Skype or email). If you have stories and opinions to share, just send me a message and we can start to talk!

[mtbikernate]

Hunting cameras are a perfect fit. Motion-activated. You can get them with IR flash so folks don't notice them. Cachers with experience camouflaging things could hide one well, I think. Most will take both video and still photos.

 

Who said anything about a sociologist doing this? IMO, a biologist would be better suited for the field work on this one. For my master's thesis, I was running grids of 60 motion-sensing trail cameras for wildlife. A sociologist would have an awful lot to catch up on with regards to camera placement and such. A sociologist might be well-suited to analyze the data once collected, but certainly not the act of hiding and maintaining trail cams.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Hunting cameras are a perfect fit. Motion-activated. You can get them with IR flash so folks don't notice them. Cachers with experience camouflaging things could hide one well, I think. Most will take both video and still photos.

 

Who said anything about a sociologist doing this? IMO, a biologist would be better suited for the field work on this one. For my master's thesis, I was running grids of 60 motion-sensing trail cameras for wildlife. A sociologist would have an awful lot to catch up on with regards to camera placement and such. A sociologist might be well-suited to analyze the data once collected, but certainly not the act of hiding and maintaining trail cams.

It shouldn't be hard to create cameras with live online feeds... in fact these folks will sell you a complete solar-powered cellular live remote camera system perfect for geocachers! - http://watchthedeer.com/camera_packages.shtml

 

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

[+Snoogans]

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

 

Umm, what if you catch someone taking a geo-whiz, stealing, or any other questionable activity?

 

Never say never.

[+Castle Mischief]

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

 

Depends how public an area it is and if there's a reasonable expectation of privacy. If I'm in the woods and I step several yards off the trail to take care of business I don't expect to have an audience.

Edited December 9, 2009 by Castle Mischief

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

 

Umm, what if you catch someone taking a geo-whiz, stealing, or any other questionable activity?

 

Never say never.

I don't know the law, I just know that public webcam's are pretty common... there are some in Alabama, the one at Perdido Pass is also a geocaching webcam... you stand on the sea wall and have someone online zoom in on you holding your GPS to get credit.

 

There are other geocaching webcams on at least three college campuses in Alabama, one at Troy University, one at Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and one at the University of North Alabama... so if there are any legal issues involved I am sure they've been addressed.

 

See http://www.webcambiglook.com/al.shtml for some of them.

 

And there is a geocache in full view of this webcam, though I haven't seen anyone hunt it yet! http://webcambiglook.com/alabama/leed.htm

 

Have you ever gotten frisky with your honey on a picnic table when you thought that you were alone in a state park campground? Then you should know about cameras like this one... or you might star in the next YouTube video!

 

 

The existence of these public webcams tells me that we now live in a paparazzi world and there is no expectation or right of privacy outside your home.

Edited December 9, 2009 by TheAlabamaRambler

[+Minimike2]

I seriously doubt that terrorists do the bee dance.

[4wheelin_fool]

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

 

Umm, what if you catch someone taking a geo-whiz, stealing, or any other questionable activity?

 

Never say never.

 

That happened to me. I took a pee about 100 feet from a cache, and then when I opened it up there was a note saying that the area was being monitored by camera. It was on the cache page, but I never noticed it because I had been with my girlfreind who had initally looked at the page and downloaded the coords. Oh well..

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

 

Umm, what if you catch someone taking a geo-whiz, stealing, or any other questionable activity?

 

Never say never.

 

That happened to me. I took a pee about 100 feet from a cache, and then when I opened it up there was a note saying that the area was being monitored by camera. It was on the cache page, but I never noticed it because I had been with my girlfreind who had initally looked at the page and downloaded the coords. Oh well..

Not to worry, webcams can't zoom in to the microscopic level...

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

This topic will be affected I'm sure by the kerfluffle currently underway about tools like Google Streets where a mobile camera is being used to map the world's streets from automobiles. Already several lawsuits have been filed for invasion of privacy by people 'caught on camera' including car owners whose tags have been shown, and at least one country has banned it's use.

 

I can see where a gal visiting her fella would not want her husband to see her car parked in the wrong driveway, and yes that is one of the lawsuits!

[+Minimike2]

So that is what is happening. I just assumed people in Spain were featureless.

[4wheelin_fool]

What with the advent of live webcams being placed pretty much everywhere today I don't think there would be any legal issues.

 

Umm, what if you catch someone taking a geo-whiz, stealing, or any other questionable activity?

 

Never say never.

 

That happened to me. I took a pee about 100 feet from a cache, and then when I opened it up there was a note saying that the area was being monitored by camera. It was on the cache page, but I never noticed it because I had been with my girlfreind who had initally looked at the page and downloaded the coords. Oh well..

Not to worry, webcams can't zoom in to the microscopic level...

 

 

You know, back in 1995 way before geocaching, my ex-wife used to call me "micro" and then snicker, and I could never figure out why, despite being 6'3"..

hmmm...

 

 

Edited December 10, 2009 by 4wheelin_fool

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

I hope this catches on, I can't wait to see a 'geocacher bloopers' website such as this...

 

Google’s Street View feature for Google Maps, which enables users to see certain parts of several big US cities through panoramic images, has caused a new trend: StreetSpotting (we just invented that). We’ve gone through the avalanche of reports about funny, weird or even sexy things spotted on Street View, and chosen 15 that we like most.

 

From http://mashable.com/2007/05/31/top-15-goog...view-sightings/

Edited December 10, 2009 by TheAlabamaRambler

[+Snoogans]

On 4/24/2008 at 3:50 AM, Snoogans said:

The pitch. (I bet there's grant money in this.)

 

A video/investigative study into human nature dealing with the secretive public activity of geocaching. All aspects of the sport/activity including the social aspect, but mainly focusing on candid footage in the field.

 

So, picture this.....

 

Once and for all getting to the bottom of cache content degredation, hide degredation/improvement, coin/tb thievery, false logs, environmental impact, cache destruction/disappearance and a host of other things people wonder about endlessly with regard to caching.......

 

There would need to be dozens of different hides of different types and in different regions over the period of the study. All wired for sound and video the way naturalists study wild animals.

 

Wouldn't it be a hoot to watch a documentary series where geocachers are the unwitting "animal" subjects? I think it would be a riot. Think of all the peanut gallery theories that could be put to rest if it was done professionally.....

 

The surveillance technology exists to pull it off. Now all we need is a sociology nerd Phd. student to take on the project.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

What if you were an unwitting participant in some actual future study?

 

What if you stumbled upon some surveillance equipment while looking for a cache?

 

Have fun with this..... Personally, I'd find it fascinating.

I forgot I posted this idea.

 

Funny thing though. I have been planning a hide on my own property. A cache container that will be large enough for a small cacher to actually get inside and close the lid. (I don't know why I'm picturing my good friend Binrat?)  I have a trail cam in that spot, but wireless surveillance cameras are pretty cheap these days. It's an excuse to buy another toy, but it might be interesting. I've always wanted to publish a scientific paper.

 

Any thoughts?

[+JL_HSTRE]

It sounds like an interesting idea.

 

The problem I see is if you tell people they're being recorded or under surveillance they will alternate their behavior. But not telling them has potential privacy issues. A legal compromise might be to use the recording as a source for an article, but not actually post the footage anywhere. (Note: I am not a lawyer.)

 

For an urban cache it would be interesting to see geocacher behavior relative to muggle activity. For non urban, monitoring the human impact on the otherwise natural cache site. In the latter case, the video is important because if you were to simply revisit the site in person monthly or weekly you would be contributing to the site changes such as geotrail wear.