Non Posting of DNFs

[+The Aljos]

We are a pair of rookies at geocaching that have just reached our first 100 (no applause needed, just send champagne), but on our learning curve we have been noticing with regularity that when we arrive at numerous GZ areas, they are looking like they have just been turned over by a herd of stampeding elephants, yet ZERO visits to the cache have been logged within the previous 10/12 weeks.

Is it possible, that some folks simply refuse to register their DNFs, and if so, why?

Surely, it is in the interests of all geocachers and cache owners to recognise the degree of difficulty of every cache by its 'Found' success or failure rate.

We always post our DNFs, but we do find it extremely unhelpful when other cachers refuse to do same.

Failure to post DNFs allows the cache to assume a false degree of difficulty. Can that be helpful? I think not.

C,mon folks, an admission of failure is not exactly a blot in the exercise book.

Are there others that feel like us?

[M&Ms]

You are absolutely correct. If you do not have a few DNFs then you either are aiming for only easy ones or you are not chasing down micros.

 

Recorded DNFs are so important for the owner because it gives them the ability to gauge whether the aim of the cache is being met and perhaps more importantly whether maintenance may be required.

[+hawkeye81]

We are a pair of rookies at geocaching that have just reached our first 100 (no applause needed, just send champagne)

 

Congratulations

 

Is it possible, that some folks simply refuse to register their DNFs, and if so, why?

 

Pride?! Only kidding themselves

 

We always post our DNFs, but we do find it extremely unhelpful when other cachers refuse to do same.

Failure to post DNFs allows the cache to assume a false degree of difficulty. Can that be helpful? I think not.

C,mon folks, an admission of failure is not exactly a blot in the exercise book.

Are there others that feel like us?

 

I log most of my DNFs. If I've not had a decent look around and intend to return I don't log it, likewise if I decide I wasn't looking in the right place - no point putting others off visiting if I didn't look hard enough.

 

As a cache owner I find DNFs helpful - I can go and check up to see if they are indeed missing. As a cache finder I find DNfs helpful as I can avoid hunting for caches have had a number of recent DNFs and so are probably missing.

 

It's not just DNFs people don't log - when I checked on one of my caches recently (following a DNF) I found it had been subsequently found but no online log had been made. Each to their own I suppose

[+Water-Rats]

We have only not posted 2 DNF's simply because they were more like Did Not Search due to mega muggle infestation. We went back on a quieter day. We figured that arriving at the location and then not searching kind of doesn't count.

[+MartyBartfast]

We have only not posted 2 DNF's simply because they were more like Did Not Search due to mega muggle infestation.

 

In such circumstances I usually log a note explaining what happened, at least it lets the owner know that someone was interested in their cache.

[+The Duckers]

I post all my DNF's because as stated they are both helpful to owners and finders alike. I also posted a DNF that I would have preferred to call a WNF (would not find!) due to my fear of heights giving me a reality check!!! It is one cache that will always remain a DNF for me!

[+bones1]

Just to let you know i have logged all of my dnfs on the web site ever since i started caching,i think its all part of the caching experience.i had 4 in one day last week! happy caching patandjeff with sali and george the corgis who make up team bones1.

[+currykev]

Good topical thread for me.

I've decided, over the last couple of weeks, to now minimise my DNF logs. Unless I think the cache is actually gone MIA. If I spend my time looking for a cache "in ivy tree" then I shall log as I wish.

[+The Aljos]

Thanks to all who responded to our thread.

It would appear that posting or non-posting of DNFs is entirely personal and is obviously not governed by any rules.

However, having read through the responses, we still feel that following a reasonable but unfruitful search, a failure to find should be definitely be logged.

[+Original A1]

This is a topic which crops up from time to time. Personally, I'm not ashamed to log DNFs but sometimes I view the cache as "unfinished business" or "work in progress" and prefer not to log anything until it's sorted. A good example is "Yobbies?" which I FINALLY found last week, on about the 8th attempt. There is the rare cacher who worked it out immediately, but it took me months to work it out and the puzzling was part of the "work in progress".

 

If I'm unlikely to be able to return soon to have another look or I feel that it would be of benefit to the cache owner (more often than not, yes), I'll post a DNF. If I feel that it's pilot error or I have to abandon due to muggles, I may not.