Entitlement

[+John in Valley Forge]

What does the term entitlement mean in the context of Geocaching.

It is used quite often here and I get the gut feeling that it is not meant as a nice thing.

[knowschad]

In the context that you usually see it used here, it is just a snarky, divisive word that some people feel entitled to throw at those they disagree with. Personally, I hate it.

[+d+n.s]

From Wikipedia:

"In a casual sense, the term "entitlement" refers to a notion or belief that one (or oneself) is deserving of some particular reward or benefit[1]—if given without deeper legal or principled cause, the term is often given with pejorative connotation (e.g. a "sense of entitlement")."

 

In geocaching, I suspect that it means people expect more from a hide than what is recommended in the guidelines. Or perhaps they mean that the person in question expects a prize or special treatment. Hard to say without context and reading people's mind on the interenet is usually just starting a fight.

[+bflentje]

You feel that you're entitled to my opinion on this topic.. well forget it.

[+John in Valley Forge]

You feel that you're entitled to my opinion on this topic.. well forget it.

 

Do tell, please.

 

 

[+Harry Dolphin]

Entitlement means that some people feel that they are entitled to something because "I am Me! I deserve it." Definitions will vary, and disagreements will ensue, because different people approach this game in different ways. Basically, it is the thought that "Rules don't apply to me." (Or guidelines. Or common sense.)

I should get GPS downloads, even though I'm not a premium member.

I should be able to hide a cache in a National Park.

Premium Member Caches are unfair!

Or, you could go to more subtle things:

I saw the cache in the top of the tree, but I didn't climb it, but I'm claiming a find anyway, and put the onus on the CO to delete my log.

I searched for a minute but didn't find the ammo can, so I'm dropping a film canister and claiming a find.

(The best is putting the onus on the CO to delete the log! That's entitlement.)

I didn't get a webcam photo, but I was there, so I'm claiming a find.

There wasn't a pen in the film canister, and I didn't bother bringing one with me because I'm lazy, so I didn't sign the log, but I'm claiming the find anyway.

Why should I bother answering questions on an EarthCache? I was there!

 

People will argue with all of these examples, and in the final analysis, it is between the CO and the logger.

But, you get the idea. I'm special! I can do anything I want! Rules, guidelines and laws don't apply to me!

The driver who makes the right exit from the far left lane. Laws don't apply to him/her! He's entitled.

Now, where's the popcorn icon???

[+Markwell]

Another version thrown around these forums is that caches are placed. End of story. To expect that caches are placed with well-thought-out locations, or with the seeker in mind is saying that that cache seeker is "entitled" to get a good feeling from caches. Apparently, this sense of not wondering why I was brought to a location, is a bad thing.

[+Don_J]

Another version thrown around these forums is that caches are placed. End of story. To expect that caches are placed with well-thought-out locations, or with the seeker in mind is saying that that cache seeker is "entitled" to get a good feeling from caches. Apparently, this sense of not wondering why I was brought to a location, is a bad thing.

 

It goes both ways. Some people feel that because they placed a cache, they are entitled to receive three paragraph logs extolling how good their cache is.

 

While I appreciate good logs, all I feel that I am entitled to is that they close the container properly and hide how they found it.

[AZcachemeister]

As I understand it, 'ENTITLEMENT' or 'A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT' is the belief that one did not receive the 'special treatment' they feel they deserve.

 

It does not matter if anyone else did or did not get the 'special treatment'...the complainant is 'entitled'!

 

In here, saying someone has 'a sense of entitlement' is tantamount to saying they are living in an 'alternate reality' and /or that they think they are more important than they really are.

 

Hmm. I just noticed that the 'emoticon sidebar' is still open from the last time I was in here a couple of days ago when I opened it.

[+WRASTRO]

Entitlement means that some people feel that they are entitled to something because "I am Me! I deserve it." Definitions will vary, and disagreements will ensue, because different people approach this game in different ways. Basically, it is the thought that "Rules don't apply to me." (Or guidelines. Or common sense.)

I should get GPS downloads, even though I'm not a premium member.

I should be able to hide a cache in a National Park.

Premium Member Caches are unfair!

Or, you could go to more subtle things:

I saw the cache in the top of the tree, but I didn't climb it, but I'm claiming a find anyway, and put the onus on the CO to delete my log.

I searched for a minute but didn't find the ammo can, so I'm dropping a film canister and claiming a find.

(The best is putting the onus on the CO to delete the log! That's entitlement.)

I didn't get a webcam photo, but I was there, so I'm claiming a find.

There wasn't a pen in the film canister, and I didn't bother bringing one with me because I'm lazy, so I didn't sign the log, but I'm claiming the find anyway.

Why should I bother answering questions on an EarthCache? I was there!

 

People will argue with all of these examples, and in the final analysis, it is between the CO and the logger.

But, you get the idea. I'm special! I can do anything I want! Rules, guidelines and laws don't apply to me!

The driver who makes the right exit from the far left lane. Laws don't apply to him/her! He's entitled.

Now, where's the popcorn icon???

Well said finned one!

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Entitlement meanz all yur cache are mine, and y'all playz by my rulez.

Edited December 28, 2010 by TheAlabamaRambler

[+tozainamboku]

Another version thrown around these forums is that caches are placed. End of story. To expect that caches are placed with well-thought-out locations, or with the seeker in mind is saying that that cache seeker is "entitled" to get a good feeling from caches. Apparently, this sense of not wondering why I was brought to a location, is a bad thing.

Well there's entitlement right there. I don't think caches are placed without reason. I think people place caches for different reasons - not all the reasons are to bring Markwell to a place he thinks is well thought out. There are definitely caches that had me wonder "Why did the hider bring me here?" If I bother to ask, the cache owners always seems to have a reason (even if it doesn't sound very good to me). It seems amazing, but some people really do want to have more LPCs in parking lots or have a cache in the alley behind their house where the neighbor's dog barks the whole time I'm searching. But these people had a reason.

 

Now I wouldn't argue that you can't post in your log that you wonder if this is such a great place for a cache or that you can't suggest other location where the hide may have also worked that are more interesting (to you). Just questioning the reason of other cachers because their cache didn't please you seems to me to be "entitlement."