+CapeDoc Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Saw this elsewhere in the forums. Geocache rating tool for Firefox called GCVote . Very simple to install plug in. Works well. My feelings: Ambivalent. We all cache for our own reasons and we all get different pleasure from caching. We thus will give ratings for different reasons. However, if a cache is really poor, or really excellent, it will probably show with time and this system may prove informative. Quote Link to comment
+the pooks Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Can't get too excited about it. The game is competitive enough as it is. The really top caches end up in bookmark lists and the logs already rate caches in their own way - (if one reads the logs, which is what you are supposed to do). A rating system would just intimidate folks like youngsters who also want to play the game and now they get exposed to the rough and tumble of the competitive world. Quote Link to comment
+Skyjuggler Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hmmm... I must be honest, I'm really on the fence with this one. On one hand, I agree with the Pooks, caching is already pretty competitive and this may just exacerbate it. However, I think it's a great idea for when one goes caching in a different area. My logic here is that you tend to find the caches in your area regardless of how good/bad they are, but just cos they're there. But it'd be great for me to go to the cape and choose a couple of high rating caches, instead of digging through trash for a micro that's full of water... And if the competitive cachers take it to another level... Well, each to his own. We all play the game our own way. Quote Link to comment
+Discombob Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I quite like it myself. It would be interesting to see what sort of rating various caches get, as well as get ideas on your own. Although i can see that it could have negative aspects if some caches are not rated highly and might stop cachers placing more if they feel people dont like their caches. Of course, with my caches being so fantastic, it would be a great ego boost too Quote Link to comment
+cownchicken Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Of course, with my caches being so fantastic, it would be a great ego boost too They are?? Quote Link to comment
+Discombob Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Of course, with my caches being so fantastic, it would be a great ego boost too They are?? Sure, doesn't everyone like getting stuck in tiny pipes with a river freezing you, getting lost in claustrophobic caves with your knees scraped off, hanging off cliffs wishing you'd taken out extra life insurance, and getting attacked by baboons Quote Link to comment
+CapeDoc Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Of course, with my caches being so fantastic, it would be a great ego boost too They are?? Sure, doesn't everyone like getting stuck in tiny pipes with a river freezing you, getting lost in claustrophobic caves with your knees scraped off, hanging off cliffs wishing you'd taken out extra life insurance, and getting attacked by baboons Five Star ratings from me! I have been using the rating system and it is nice to see at a glance what others thought. Early days, so I take it all with a pinch of salt. Quote Link to comment
+trevorh7000 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 You gotta love Firefox and Greasemonkey - Don't let that scare you onto not trying out the system. Greasemoneky is easy to install and so are the scripts for it. Once you get a feel of what it can do it can really enhance your web experience. I have rated a few caches as well and notice a few rated by others - Must be the Doc. It could be quite useful but requires a critical mass before it really works But hey look at geocaching - started with a handful and look at it now, There are some other very useful Greasemonley scripts that enhance the functionality of the Geocaching web pages. Do some googling to find them OK for the armchair caches here are the goodies Greasemonkey Addon https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748 GCVote - http://dosensuche.de/GCVote/index_en.php some more scripts - http://gmscripts.locusprime.net/index.html Google for more. I have not used any of those yet but I do have some from somewhere else that i was impressed with when I first loaded them. Have fun and if you come accross any killer scripts let us all know. Trev Quote Link to comment
+DamhuisClan Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I am running quite a few Greasemonkey scripts from LittleDeville And now when I look at someone else's browser, it looks and works so much different. link: http://www.lildevil.org/greasemonkey/ I also modified my FireFox QuickSearch box, so I can just enter either a GC code, or TB code, and it will take me right to the correct page. Will have a look at those other pages, and see if there is something interesting to add. Quote Link to comment
+carlstein Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 What I'd like is for visitors to caches to be able to give their ratings for terrain and difficulty. Quote Link to comment
+CapeDoc Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 So a few cachers are using this system around Cape Town. A nice feature is that you can bring up your own caches and see what others have rated your caches. It is quite...educational. Seeing ratings of one and two stars does make you think about how to improve your caches. Five star ratings are of course a bit of an ego boost. The pinch of salt remains, but still think with time the system does have...some...value. Quote Link to comment
+DamhuisClan Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I have used it a few times It is a nice feature enhancement. It gives a good indication of what others think of the cache. I think with more people scoring it would become a good measuring line. Quote Link to comment
+the pooks Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I had it on for a while, but it messes with the cache list - the individual items take up more space so fewer caches are listed on the page. It also appears more cluttered and takes a bit of extra time to load. So I have disabled it for now: too much information... Quote Link to comment
+carlstein Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Guess it's off the topic a bit, so perhaps should have its own thread, but I'm interested to hear what others think of my idea of a system where cache finders can give their rating for difficulty/terrain so that the cache page can display an average. I reckon it is easier to rate a cache for difficulty/terrain having experienced it rather than having placed it. Quote Link to comment
+DamhuisClan Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Guess it's off the topic a bit, so perhaps should have its own thread, but I'm interested to hear what others think of my idea of a system where cache finders can give their rating for difficulty/terrain so that the cache page can display an average. I reckon it is easier to rate a cache for difficulty/terrain having experienced it rather than having placed it. I keep a diary of all caches we as the DamhuisClan have done, and on recommendation of Crystal Fairy, I have added the terrain, and difficulty rating to each diary entry. This has made me quite attune to the ratings added to each cache we have done. Before I add the info to our Diary, I ask myself what Dif/Ter I would have given it, and if it is out more then .5, I send the owner a suggestion of maybe increasing or decreasing it. Sometimes the owners accept it, and sometimes they don't. I think in the 350 odd caches so far we have done, I think I have disagreed with about 4 to 8 caches, and maybe sent 3 or 4 recommendations. That is pretty good going, I would think. Bottom line: If you think a rating is wrong email the owner with the suggested ratings. I have adjusted some rating of my caches from the logs I have received as well. Quote Link to comment
+Henzz Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 It works really well... Pooks does have a point though... It does take a little bit longer to load, but when we get to a point where there is let's say about 20 votes on each cache you will have a good indication of what cache quality is, and that will outweigh that extra second or two... I recently did a 3-day stint to East London and back, and this rating system would have come in handy.. Given limited time I had to pick some and leave some.. Some caches was good and some not, but if GC-Vote was around then I would have picked a bit better I suppose... One small gripe I've got though is that you can only rate caches as 1,2,3,4 or 5 star... So what do you do if you feel that a cache is better than 3-star (average), but not really a 4-star (good)... I would have liked to have a 3.5-star as an option... Quote Link to comment
+carlstein Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 One small gripe I've got though is that you can only rate caches as 1,2,3,4 or 5 star... So what do you do if you feel that a cache is better than 3-star (average), but not really a 4-star (good)... I would have liked to have a 3.5-star as an option... Cache-karma: give it a 4 Quote Link to comment
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