FTF found 20 days before publication?

[+Clive and Juliana]

What to do? This morning there was a new listing about 15 minutes from me, actually two listings. I hopped up and went to the cache site. When I quickly grabbed the first cache and opened the log book, it already had a FTF on it. I thought "crap, I was too late". It happens. But as I read the log book front page, it had this. The cache owners name and date placed 3-13-11. Immediately I thought it had been placed a while back and probably errors had occurred to delay publication. Then the FTF log. It was dated 4-10-11. Today is 4-30-11. 20 days later. The owner has only 5 caches found and these two hidden. The FTF has only 12 finds. They joined the site 6 days apart and have finds at the local campground park. I immediately thought they knew each other and talked about the cache to get the FTF. That happens and is dishonest in my book. Now, here's the kicker. The person that logged the FTF was my ex-wife!!!!!!! The cache was in a cemetery and I screamed once I realized this and possibly woke the dead. She started caching after I started taking our teenage daughters and competes with me in every thing I do. I do go after FTFs and is part of the fun. So, how would you handle this?

[+StarBrand]

Log my find online.

 

This is just a listing service for Geocaches. There are no rules for FTF.

 

FTF is a fact not an award. The first person to locate the cache by whatever means at hand, and sign the log is the FTF. Just that simple. The cache may be cross listed at another site or some locals may be sharing new coordinates. Whatever.

 

FTF and 2 quarters will get you a can of soda at the machine over on Main Street. As a bonus - the 2 quarters work equally well.

[+Scubasonic]

I would contact the cache owner and express my feelings, but if he is unwilling to do the right thing YOUR SCREWED just forget it and move on.

 

Scubasonic

[+Scubasonic]

Oh yes and another thing if your X-Wifes name is Juliana I would suggest you change your caching name RIGHT AWAY.

 

Scubasonic

[+Clive and Juliana]

Oh yes and another thing if your X-Wifes name is Juliana I would suggest you change your caching name RIGHT AWAY.

 

Scubasonic

LOL. Absolutely not. Her name isn't and neither is my wife's now. I chuckled from that.

[+Relheok]

Looks like your X-Wife is having a blast with you. Keep the stories coming, we are enjoying them too!

[+KBfamily]

I would most certainly just move on...if the cache owner and your ex are friends, don't you think the cache owner would tell her that you are complaining? THAT would humiliating and embarrassing....

[+Clive and Juliana]

Looks like your X-Wife is having a blast with you. Keep the stories coming, we are enjoying them too!

She had no idea I'd find it first and still doesn't know it was even published I'm sure so it isn't having a blast with me. It's just a cheap and easy way to get a FTF.

[+roziecakes]

As the others say, FTF isn't an official part of GC.com, so you'll just have to move on. I can understand your frustration though. Usually what I do is if I have a friend come with me to place caches, they don't log it as FTF, they'll log later after someone else logs it first. But I know we don't all play that way.

[+19claire75]

Ahhh. Don't worry about it. Plenty more FTF's out there!!

[+Clive and Juliana]

Yeah, I know there's nothing really to do. It is just real frustrating to get up on a day off and waste my time for a FTF that won't happen, drive and waste gas at over $4 a gallon and trek through the mud only to find out there's a psychic geocacher that plays by a different set of rules. Lesson learned here is not to go get anymore caches from the CO. It is a tally mark for my finds I guess

[+geodarts]

Add the FTF to the your totals it you feel you deserve it. It counts the same either way.

 

I do not use the initials when I sign a blank new log and as a cache owner I would stay out of the matter all together. It is customary in my area for people who beta test a cache or accompany a cache owner to wait until three people have logged the cache online. But there are also cachers who have found caches that have not been published through extraordinary geosense, with no hints or help from the CO. In fact the motto for the School of Intuitive Caching[tm] is "why wait for caches to be published?"

[+popokiiti]

It's irritating, for sure...but at least you're not still married to her! Look at the good side of things, rise above it. I wouldn't bother contacting the CO, if she finds out this bugs you, she's won. Leave the FTFs for a little while also....let her compete with herself.

[+briansnat]

So, how would you handle this?

 

I'd sign the log book and log my find online. I can't imagine the need to do anything else.

[+Clive and Juliana]

It's irritating, for sure...but at least you're not still married to her!

 

Thank goodness!!!!!! Lol. It has made for an interesting topic today!!!!

[+Clive and Juliana]

So, how would you handle this?

 

I'd sign the log book and log my find online. I can't imagine the need to do anything else.

 

That's all I've done. I'm taking the high road.

[+LukeTrocity]

Ex wife's ruin EVERYTHING! Geocaching was the last thing they needed to get their mits on.

[knowschad]

Yeah, I know there's nothing really to do. It is just real frustrating to get up on a day off and waste my time for a FTF that won't happen, drive and waste gas at over $4 a gallon and trek through the mud only to find out there's a psychic geocacher that plays by a different set of rules. Lesson learned here is not to go get anymore caches from the CO. It is a tally mark for my finds I guess

Lesson here is to not put so much emphasis and value on getting FTF. If you're going to play the FTF game, you have to be prepared for the bumps and bruises, even if they come from your ex.

[+SwineFlew]

This is an interesting topic.

 

Thanks for a good laugh of the day!!

[jholly]

This is an interesting topic.

 

Thanks for a good laugh of the day!!

To say the least. I bet the ex had a good laugh when the cache got published and if she reads the forums is probably having a really good laugh on getting someones goat.

[mresoteric]

This is an interesting topic.

 

Thanks for a good laugh of the day!!

To say the least. I bet the ex had a good laugh when the cache got published and if she reads the forums is probably having a really good laugh on getting someones goat.

 

If I was the ex and read this thread I would have my friend hide a few more caches so I could FTF the crap out of the OP. LOL

[+sheddybetty]

This has happened to me more than once. Not the ex-wife part but the rest of it. What I did was quit caring much about being first. Something you haven't shared: was it a quality cache?

Edited April 30, 2011 by sheddybetty

[+SwineFlew]

This is an interesting topic.

 

Thanks for a good laugh of the day!!

To say the least. I bet the ex had a good laugh when the cache got published and if she reads the forums is probably having a really good laugh on getting someones goat.

 

If I was the ex and read this thread I would have my friend hide a few more caches so I could FTF the crap out of the OP. LOL

 

Sometime its best that your ex doesnt knows what you are up to.

[+Clive and Juliana]

This is an interesting topic.

 

Thanks for a good laugh of the day!!

To say the least. I bet the ex had a good laugh when the cache got published and if she reads the forums is probably having a really good laugh on getting someones goat.

No worries, I'm sure she doesn't read the posts, she's only found a handful of caches. She doesn't even realized it's been published. She signed the log as FT5. Yes that's a 5, not a typo. Maybe we race to 5???

The funny thing is, the odds of me getting the FTF was not that good. I've grabbed a few but the publication times usually hit while I'm at work and we have a few FTF hounds in my area so they are gone when I'm off. I think the funny thing is I was the first person to find it and they got busted on the dishonest FTF. I'm sure she will brag about finding it first and the whole time it's bogus. LOL I'll take the high road, or try.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Clive_and_Juliana

[+Clive and Juliana]

This has happened to me more than once. Not the ex-wife part but the rest of it. What I did was quit caring much about being first. Something you haven't shared: was it a quality cache?

Not really a quality cache, easy to get.

[+CanDMan47]

Yeah, I know there's nothing really to do. It is just real frustrating to get up on a day off and waste my time for a FTF that won't happen, drive and waste gas at over $4 a gallon and trek through the mud only to find out there's a psychic geocacher that plays by a different set of rules. Lesson learned here is not to go get anymore caches from the CO. It is a tally mark for my finds I guess

 

I am a little disturbed concerned confused by this post. I do understand the part about gas being high now. But do you only go after FTFs? Whether a cacher plays the FTF game or not, all cachers I am aware of still go after caches where they aren't going to get it first. In fact, I looked at some of your other finds and you have found at least one that was hidden in '03, well before you started. If you couldn't get the FTF, why did you go for it and waste your time and gas?

 

My point is no cache is a waste of time just because someone already found it (some are a waste of time for other reasons), and if the CO hides more, go for them, just don't expect to be FTF.

[+Clive and Juliana]

Yeah, I know there's nothing really to do. It is just real frustrating to get up on a day off and waste my time for a FTF that won't happen, drive and waste gas at over $4 a gallon and trek through the mud only to find out there's a psychic geocacher that plays by a different set of rules. Lesson learned here is not to go get anymore caches from the CO. It is a tally mark for my finds I guess

 

I am a little disturbed concerned confused by this post. I do understand the part about gas being high now. But do you only go after FTFs? Whether a cacher plays the FTF game or not, all cachers I am aware of still go after caches where they aren't going to get it first. In fact, I looked at some of your other finds and you have found at least one that was hidden in '03, well before you started. If you couldn't get the FTF, why did you go for it and waste your time and gas?

 

My point is no cache is a waste of time just because someone already found it (some are a waste of time for other reasons), and if the CO hides more, go for them, just don't expect to be FTF.

Point is this, I most likely would not have driven out to that area today but the possibility of a FTF, which is not easy to get here, drew me out there. Instead I would have picked one up closer to home today and grabbed that one when I was out that way. I don't just go for FTF, that would be stupid. I love all types of geocaches. But when a rare FTF is available and works for my schedule, I will try to get it. I have gotten to caches before and was hoping to be a FTF but was beaten to it. I have no problem with that. That is what is fun, the race. What I have a problem with is someone getting the bogus FTF 20 days before it is published and it cannot be logged as found so everyone rushes out there to try to get it first. That should not be confusing????

Edited May 1, 2011 by Clive_and_Juliana

[+KBfamily]

It looks like you are the first to find on the online log....was there another online log that has been removed or was it just on the paper log that someone wrote? I have had a friend place caches with me and then he logged the online log AFTER the cache was found by a couple of other people....

[+kwcahart]

FTF?? Just remember, the second mouse gets the peanut butter!

[+Too Tall John]

FTF and 2 quarters will get you a can of soda at the machine over on Main Street. As a bonus - the 2 quarters work equally well.

Sometimes just 2 quarters aren't enough.

[+power69]

Yeah, I know there's nothing really to do. It is just real frustrating to get up on a day off and waste my time for a FTF that won't happen, drive and waste gas at over $4 a gallon and trek through the mud only to find out there's a psychic geocacher that plays by a different set of rules. Lesson learned here is not to go get anymore caches from the CO. It is a tally mark for my finds I guess

Whether or not you get ftf, the smilie is as yellow.

[+power69]

FTF and 2 quarters will get you a can of soda at the machine over on Main Street. As a bonus - the 2 quarters work equally well.

Sometimes just 2 quarters aren't enough.

50 cents for a soda. WOW that brings back memories!

[+Q10]

[4wheelin_fool]

This is an interesting topic.

 

Thanks for a good laugh of the day!!

To say the least. I bet the ex had a good laugh when the cache got published and if she reads the forums is probably having a really good laugh on getting someones goat.

No worries, I'm sure she doesn't read the posts, she's only found a handful of caches. She doesn't even realized it's been published. She signed the log as FT5. Yes that's a 5, not a typo. Maybe we race to 5???

The funny thing is, the odds of me getting the FTF was not that good. I've grabbed a few but the publication times usually hit while I'm at work and we have a few FTF hounds in my area so they are gone when I'm off. I think the funny thing is I was the first person to find it and they got busted on the dishonest FTF. I'm sure she will brag about finding it first and the whole time it's bogus. LOL I'll take the high road, or try.

 

Well, that settles it. She was officially First To Five.

 

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Yeah, I know there's nothing really to do. It is just real frustrating to get up on a day off and waste my time for a FTF that won't happen, drive and waste gas at over $4 a gallon and trek through the mud only to find out there's a psychic geocacher that plays by a different set of rules. Lesson learned here is not to go get anymore caches from the CO. It is a tally mark for my finds I guess

 

I am a little disturbed concerned confused by this post. I do understand the part about gas being high now. But do you only go after FTFs? Whether a cacher plays the FTF game or not, all cachers I am aware of still go after caches where they aren't going to get it first. In fact, I looked at some of your other finds and you have found at least one that was hidden in '03, well before you started. If you couldn't get the FTF, why did you go for it and waste your time and gas?

 

My point is no cache is a waste of time just because someone already found it (some are a waste of time for other reasons), and if the CO hides more, go for them, just don't expect to be FTF.

Point is this, I most likely would not have driven out to that area today but the possibility of a FTF, which is not easy to get here, drew me out there. Instead I would have picked one up closer to home today and grabbed that one when I was out that way. I don't just go for FTF, that would be stupid. I love all types of geocaches. But when a rare FTF is available and works for my schedule, I will try to get it. I have gotten to caches before and was hoping to be a FTF but was beaten to it. I have no problem with that. That is what is fun, the race. What I have a problem with is someone getting the bogus FTF 20 days before it is published and it cannot be logged as found so everyone rushes out there to try to get it first. That should not be confusing????

 

Here's how I see it. You are choosing to participate in what you call a race. The problem is, this race has no rules that everyone agrees with, and no central authority for keeping track of how often "competitors" have won a race. Although in some areas where there a lot of active FTF hounds there may be some conventions that are followed, there is no authoritative body that can make a determination on whether someone has not followed rules or conventions. At the end of the day, anyone that chooses to play the FTF games determines for themselves, based on the own interpretation of the "rules" of the race, whether or not they won. Since anyone that wants to keep track of often they've won the race does so individually, if you feel that you're FTF on a cache, go ahead and add it to your list.

 

However, I get the sense from threads like this that it's not a matter of someone being able to "claim FTF" and add it to their profile or where they happen to keep track of such things, as much as it is stopping someone else from claiming FTF and adding to their list, because they play by a different set of rules.

Edited May 1, 2011 by NYPaddleCacher

[+Crow-T-Robot]

I think the funny thing is I was the first person to find it and they got busted on the dishonest FTF. I'm sure she will brag about finding it first and the whole time it's bogus. LOL I'll take the high road, or try.

 

How is this bogus? You weren't the first to find the cache, she was. Nothing dishonest about the FTF, unless you're of the camp that believes a geocache isn't a geocache until it's listed on this site and even then it isn't dishonest.

[+M 5]

Should have covered geocaching in your divorce settlement. Bad move.

Edited May 1, 2011 by M 5

[+Clive and Juliana]

I think the funny thing is I was the first person to find it and they got busted on the dishonest FTF. I'm sure she will brag about finding it first and the whole time it's bogus. LOL I'll take the high road, or try.

 

How is this bogus? You weren't the first to find the cache, she was. Nothing dishonest about the FTF, unless you're of the camp that believes a geocache isn't a geocache until it's listed on this site and even then it isn't dishonest.

 

Well, I wasn't the first to physically find it, she was indeed. Did I find it when it was published, yes. Bogus in my book is having an unfair edge to get a desired result. RULES are subjective with the FTF game. In my area, most play by the publication of the cache, then it's on. That's the fun part IF you play the FTF game. Those that find caches before publication (there are a few) don't have the best reputation. If they can live with it, fine by me. If I had, or many others, had known about it 20 days before publication, I could have crawled to it backwards and still had the FTF. I, for one, would not do this. Its not much of a challenge personally to write in a log book FTF when you are standing beside of the CO when they hide it or are given the location before publication. Is it fair to all the others that play the FTF game who think they can get the FTF? Here's just one example of bogus in my book (you make the comparisons if you like, we all have opinions):

 

A student somehow gets there hands on an exam before it is given. He/she finds the answers and is the only person to do this. The test is given in class at the same time. He/she gets a perfect score while the rest of the class fails. So because the one student had the test beforehand, their goal was obtained to do well. Was it fair to the other students that they did not have the answers beforehand?

 

Point is, start out on the same playing field. I for one, am not psychic and do know know of unpublished cache locations. If I did, I would not FTF it. I would want to go after the FTF with the same info everyone else did. You do not think it's bogus. I do. Others will agree with either of us. It's opinions and we all have them, among other things.

[+Clive and Juliana]

Should have covered geocaching in your divorce settlement. Bad move.

ROFL!!!! I should have but I was divorced before geocaching began. I'd probably have lost that too.

[+Icenians]

Sorry but finding a cache first is nothing like cheating at an exam. One may effect your career etc the other means nothing!

 

It just isn't worth all this fuss!

[+Clive and Juliana]

Sorry but finding a cache first is nothing like cheating at an exam. One may effect your career etc the other means nothing!

 

It just isn't worth all this fuss!

 

Agreed it isn't worth the fuss. Am I comparing the exam and FTF on a degree of importance, no. I'm just saying if you're honest you are, if you're not, well you're not. No matter how big the subject(exam) or how small (FTF). At least it's been an interesting topic of discussion.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Clive_and_Juliana

[+Chokecherry]

Sorry but finding a cache first is nothing like cheating at an exam. One may effect your career etc the other means nothing!

 

It just isn't worth all this fuss!

 

Agreed it isn't worth the fuss. I'm just saying if you're honest you are, if you're not, well you're not. No matter how big the subject(exam) or how small (FTF). At least it's been an interesting topic of discussion.

 

Going to be interesting to see what happens if other caching sites take off. Some caches maybe published first at another one and later here. Then what does that do to you FTF game?

 

I'm of the camp to believe that the first name in the log is FTF. If that means I go beta test a cache for Joe Bob across the way and I sign prior to publication fine. But FTF is not a big deal here and people tend to not get wound up about it at all as we all enjoy just finding a cache in general.

[+KBfamily]

So again, maybe she hid the cache WITH the cache owner.....she didn't claim a FTF on the online site so WHAT is the problem? This is standard when two people hide a cache together....WHAT is the problem? I know it is early but I am just not getting it.....

[+Clive and Juliana]

So again, maybe she hid the cache WITH the cache owner.....she didn't claim a FTF on the online site so WHAT is the problem? This is standard when two people hide a cache together....WHAT is the problem? I know it is early but I am just not getting it.....

No problem now. I just wanted to see what others thought. I have talked to some veteran cachers in the area and took their advice. I appreciate all the opinions.

[+keithj999]

To start I have to confess I have found caches prior to their publication. The reasons vary, on one I had received prior info from the CO to entice me back out to do maintenance on another of his nearby caches, one was part of an event saving caches for the event participants, and the remainder were part of cache series and using geosense and information available to all was able to make the find. I count them all as finds and have received bitches from other geocachers in varying degrees. I keep my own list and as other have pointed out it makes no difference. I'm honest in my logs and date them approppriately. I will point out one thing that I've recently noticed, it appears that my finds on caches found prior to publication don't count in the Favorite Point calculation. I haven't decided if I care about Favorite points and haven't awarded any as yet, so let the record show I'm owed another Favorite Point. I also have the radical belief that you can share a FTF and have share over 3 dozen and enjoyed them all the more for the company. It's a game and I have a lot of fun with it.

[Mr.Yuck]

I think the funny thing is I was the first person to find it and they got busted on the dishonest FTF. I'm sure she will brag about finding it first and the whole time it's bogus. LOL I'll take the high road, or try.

 

How is this bogus? You weren't the first to find the cache, she was. Nothing dishonest about the FTF, unless you're of the camp that believes a geocache isn't a geocache until it's listed on this site and even then it isn't dishonest.

 

I suppose. This is still an amusing story though. This whole FTF before publishing (without the ex-wife twist) has been going on for years. There were a couple of guys doing it on each others caches in my area in 2003. And once (although I don't care), I was on an extended out of town business trip, and should have been the first to find a new cache 200 miles from home, only to find the CO's pal was given the coords, signed the log and claimed FTF 5 or so days earlier. Even as a non-FTF side game participant, I find this rather sleazy, but absolutely nothing you can do about it.

[knowschad]

FTF and 2 quarters will get you a can of soda at the machine over on Main Street. As a bonus - the 2 quarters work equally well.

Sometimes just 2 quarters aren't enough.

50 cents for a soda. WOW that brings back memories!

Queue Starbrand... tell us, Starbrand. How much do they cost in your neck of the (cough!) woods?

[GOF and Bacall]

I swear. One of these days I am going to hide a cache and publish it in the local paper a week ahead of the GC.com listing. It will be interesting to see if it gets logged before the reviewer hits the publish button.

[+Nature Kids]

So the Ex got the house, alimony & FTF...

[+BlueDeuce]

So, how would you handle this?

 

I'd sign the log book and log my find online. I can't imagine the need to do anything else.

 

Ayep.