Explaining Geocaching

[hoosier guy]

Have you had any interesting reactions when you have tried to explain geocaching to someone?

[+DragonsWest]

Have you had any interesting reactions when you have tried to explain geocaching to someone?

 

Yes. I explained it in great detail, showed a couple people my GPSr, gave examples of hides, multi-caches, puzzle caches, the extent of the game (world-wide) and went into some detail about my morning geocaching adventures.

 

They then turned to someone else, talked a little to them and then one turned out to be a news paper reporter and wrote a newspaper story about geocaching (and using the obligatory, 'treasure hunt' reference ), mentioning the other person by name, but called me 'a computer wizard'.

 

She really sounded interested in the game. Not sure if she ever took it up, though.

[+StarBrand]

Have you had any interesting reactions when you have tried to explain geocaching to someone?

Several folks have laughed.

 

Some ask me if anybody would "really do that".

 

Some scoff and tell me how they would be stolen immediately.

 

Some think it should be illegal due to the 'litter' we leave.

 

Some like the idea and want to know more.

[+DragonflyTotem]

Have you had any interesting reactions when you have tried to explain geocaching to someone?

 

I was being interviewed by the local paper (not related to geocaching) and the topic involved local neighborhood watches (I'm a coordinator of one) and as we were driving around and was being asked about things that you look for in your neighborhood (harmless vs. call police) mentioned geocachers and some caches nearby. She had heard of geocaching but hadn't actually seen a cache. What she seemed to find amazing was how many there are in our area, and the kinds of places they can be found in an urban setting. She had a look on her face like someone who had just discovered that Harry Potter was living under her stairs....sort of how I imagine I looked when I found out about all of this myself.

[+Chokecherry]

Lots of the people I explain it to are interested. It takes some explaining and unfortunately sometimes the only logical way to get it through to some people is the obligatory treasure hunt/scavenger hunt reference. And then with my dad I had to bring him out to a cache so that he'd kind of get it. But with no experience with GPS initially he was "finding" the cache EVERYWHERE (as an old hunter everything out of the ordinary stuck out to him). Finally got him oriented to the GPS and he got it. But he still asks my mom about what the grand prize is.

[+Canids]

The first person I explained it to was a cop. I figured he may have already heard of it, being a police officer and maybe running into a geocacher poking around in the bushes or whatnot, but no.

 

Other than that, people will crane their heads like dogs do when they hear a strange noise and say, "whaaaaat? I don't get it."

 

I guess you get it (like it) or you don't.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Canids

[+simpjkee]

The most interesting reaction is my reaction. I've always been the type to talk on and on about stuff that interests me, but not with geocaching. It stinks because its constantly explaining it over and over. It's annoying to have to explain it over and over and if you haven't tried geocaching, you just wouldn't understand it based on a short description, ya know. The people I explain it too act interested, but I can tell they think I'm a fruit loop.

[BCProspectors]

I found out about Geocaching after reading about it on the web portal that was set as my homepage. The first person I explained it to was my dad. He either didn't understand it at first or didn't care or both. So I waited a few weeks, explained again and he was interested. Go figure.

[+Gamaliel]

For what it's worth, I use the phrase 'scavenger hunt' instead of 'treasure hunt' on the rare occasions when I try to explain it. I usually don't try unless it's necessary.

[+slowdownracer]

Most people I talk to about it think I'm an idiot.

 

But then, most people I talk to are so wrapped-up in their imaginary significance that they've forgotten how to have fun anymore.

 

I've convinced one person and his family to join our ranks. I consider that a triumph.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Most people I talk to about it think I'm an idiot.

How could you say such a thing? We don't think you are an idiot.......

 

[+dorqie]

My father in law thinks its a wase of time "because you don't win anything"

and every time I come home from finding a cache, he asks me how much cash was inside.

I think people are spelling it wrong :S

[CacheCoeur]

I have to explain geocaching all the time, because I am using it as a context to my research on collaboration between consumers and companies. Usually people get all interested on geocaching and not at all on my theories I even took a couple of colleagues out to find a cache during an academic conference. As good nerds, they were absolutely thrilled and wanted to skip the next session of talks to look for more caches in the area.

Edited May 28, 2010 by CacheCoeur

[+USMCGecko]

Well, Lets see. I think my wife indulges me, but realizes that it will be a good family activity when my kid is older.

 

One friend I talked to about it that also has a couple of older kids acted really excited and said he was going to check it out. I felt it was just being nice, but the next day he came and told me what his GC.com log in was and that he looked up some by his house and he was going to see if he can find them using the satellite view prior to buying a gps.

 

One friend asked me if I started doing drugs, then asked what was in the cache. When I told him he said, "So you go through all that trouble loading these things in your GPS, drive several miles, walk through the woods with bugs and poison ivy to find a key chain or a wet book???"

 

After putting it that way...Who wouldn't get excited????

[+DragonsWest]

My father in law thinks its a wase of time "because you don't win anything"

and every time I come home from finding a cache, he asks me how much cash was inside.

I think people are spelling it wrong :S

 

I think he's just being obtuse. Try making fun of something he likes and see how he likes it.

[+USMCGecko]

My father in law thinks its a wase of time "because you don't win anything"

and every time I come home from finding a cache, he asks me how much cash was inside.

I think people are spelling it wrong :S

 

I think he's just being obtuse. Try making fun of something he likes and see how he likes it.

 

I forget, which is worse, being obtuse

 

 

or being acute?

[+uxorious]

It seems most people get the idea of it fairly easy. Some think it sounds like fun, and some think we are nuts.

 

What is fun though is a few times I have been explaining how we hide a cache, then go seek the cache others have hid. I have someone who seems very interested, and I am really getting into explaining it. Then they ask how much cash people hide! As soon as I explain it is cache not cash, they suddenly lose all interest.

[+stinger503]

For what it's worth, I use the phrase 'scavenger hunt' instead of 'treasure hunt' on the rare occasions when I try to explain it. I usually don't try unless it's necessary.

 

I wonder who keeps the whole "treasure hunt" idea going... Oh.

[+drfred]

I try to use the terms "Nut-Jobs" and "Wackos" as much as possible when explaining what I consider fun...