Approving Caches

[+jhwf44]

I was wondering who goes through and approves the caches, and if they need any more help doing. I think it would be a great thing to do. So do you need any help? I'd be willing to do it.

 

jhwf4

[+The Hornet]

Having hidden 28 caches so far (and having had discussions with administrators on several of them) I can testify to the efficient and useful work they do. I don't think that I've ever had to wait more than 12 hours for a cache to be approved or for a query to be posted.

 

As I'm semi-retired and have some free time on my hands I'd be delighted to be able to help, particularly if you need someone to look at UK or European caches.

 

Peter

[+culpc]

I submitted a cache for approval at 3:15 MDT, today, and find that it was approved by 5:30 MDT! Kick-butt response time!!

 

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

[+culpc]

I submitted a cache for approval at 3:15 MDT, today, and find that it was approved by 5:30 MDT! Kick-butt response time!!

 

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

[+The Cheeseheads]

My first hidden cache was submitted at around 4:00 PM on a saturday. I went to dinner, came back to check on it around 5:30. Not only was it already approved, but someone had found it already!

 

The approval must have gone pretty quickly, and the first finder's timing was impeccable by checking for new caches at just the right time.

 

[+Web-ling]

I've submitted a cache, went back in to do a little editing, and found that in the mean time it had been approved! Couldn't have been more than 5 minutes. I've yet to have one take more than 24 hours.

 

[+Markwell]

I don't think jhwf4 was expressing a dissatisfaction with the approval time or process, but just offering additional help. Must be kinda cool to be an 'approver' - although it must suck sometimes, too.

 

Markwell

Chicago Geocachers

[+jhwf44]

Yeah Markwell is right. They do a great job approving caches, and I think they do it at amazing speed too. I just think it would be really fun to approve caches, and I like to help out with geocaching in whatever way I can.

 

jhwf4

[+mrcpu]

I'd like to see GC come up with regional volenteer system. For example, if you are approving caches and I post a cache that you approve because you don't really know the area, it could be a problem.

 

Rob

Mobile Cache Command

[+jhwf44]

Mrcpu..I know what you mean, people should only be approving cahces if there in there area, so it's more accurate as you know what caches are like in the area.

 

jhwf4

[evilrooster]

Not every area has a large enough community of cachers to supply an approver. We're up to 3 in my area (two weeks ago there were two of us). And someone from England, where there are more cachers, doesn't know enough about the local conditions to judge.

 

It would make it practically impossible for caching to expand into new areas.

 

Can I just take a moment, though, to say well done to everyone who's offered to do this sort of work? Online communities stand or fall based on the level of loyalty and volunteerism they inspire, so thanks for being so public-spirited. (And if you're an existing approver reading this, thanks for the hard work!)

 

evilrooster

-the email of the species is deadlier than the mail-

[evilrooster]

Not every area has a large enough community of cachers to supply an approver. We're up to 3 in my area (two weeks ago there were two of us). And someone from England, where there are more cachers, doesn't know enough about the local conditions to judge.

 

It would make it practically impossible for caching to expand into new areas.

 

Can I just take a moment, though, to say well done to everyone who's offered to do this sort of work? Online communities stand or fall based on the level of loyalty and volunteerism they inspire, so thanks for being so public-spirited. (And if you're an existing approver reading this, thanks for the hard work!)

 

evilrooster

-the email of the species is deadlier than the mail-

[+mrcpu]

You could start with one or two per country, and then as the population grew you could put out a call for volenteers in each province/state and then again in regions.

 

Of course, if you happen to geocache in a very very tiny country, you would still have the GC.com people to do the approvals and deal with issues.

 

Rob

Mobile Cache Command

[+erik88l-r]

The approval lackey's discussed this and seemed to find more cons than pros. One concern was that the sport would evolve to have different standards in different places.

 

We have found some regional differences that make us wonder about our brethern in other parts of the world. The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

 

There are benefits to a local understanding - for instance the Dutch know it's ok to bury caches in their dunes, those in much of the Eastern US know they can't even walk on theirs.

 

What we've done to address questions like those above is discuss caches among the approvers before passing judgement on them, or just defering judgement until one of the locals can view it.

 

We do have approvers in Europe, and the eastern and western time zones in the US, so there's pretty good coverage. If the sport continues to grow exponentially I'm sure Jeremy would appreciate offers of help like those posted here.

 

The only limit to more approvers at this time is that the fleet of Lear Jets that shuttle us about are pretty maxed out and the secretarial help keeps leaving early to moonlight for photo shoots,

but somehow we cope. Dream on.....

 

erik - geocaching.com adminion

[+erik88l-r]

The approval lackey's discussed this and seemed to find more cons than pros. One concern was that the sport would evolve to have different standards in different places.

 

We have found some regional differences that make us wonder about our brethern in other parts of the world. The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

 

There are benefits to a local understanding - for instance the Dutch know it's ok to bury caches in their dunes, those in much of the Eastern US know they can't even walk on theirs.

 

What we've done to address questions like those above is discuss caches among the approvers before passing judgement on them, or just defering judgement until one of the locals can view it.

 

We do have approvers in Europe, and the eastern and western time zones in the US, so there's pretty good coverage. If the sport continues to grow exponentially I'm sure Jeremy would appreciate offers of help like those posted here.

 

The only limit to more approvers at this time is that the fleet of Lear Jets that shuttle us about are pretty maxed out and the secretarial help keeps leaving early to moonlight for photo shoots,

but somehow we cope. Dream on.....

 

erik - geocaching.com adminion

[evilrooster]

quote:

---

Originally posted by ~erik~:

The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

---

 

I was going to protest vociferously about such a slur on Britcachers. Then I remembered that my first cache, a virtual multi, uses the signs on the outside of a particular pub.

 

Mind you, that's partly because about half the landmarks here are either at or near a pub. Quote from my playtesters, all American, when trying to find the fifth and most difficult stage:

"OK, so what are we looking for here?"

"It's a pub."

Pause while all three cachers look around them in the main tourist district of Edinburgh.

"Oh, well that narrows it down!"

 

evilrooster

-the email of the species is deadlier than the mail-

 

[This message was edited by evilrooster on July 27, 2002 at 01:04 AM.]

[evilrooster]

quote:

---

Originally posted by ~erik~:

The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

---

 

I was going to protest vociferously about such a slur on Britcachers. Then I remembered that my first cache, a virtual multi, uses the signs on the outside of a particular pub.

 

Mind you, that's partly because about half the landmarks here are either at or near a pub. Quote from my playtesters, all American, when trying to find the fifth and most difficult stage:

"OK, so what are we looking for here?"

"It's a pub."

Pause while all three cachers look around them in the main tourist district of Edinburgh.

"Oh, well that narrows it down!"

 

evilrooster

-the email of the species is deadlier than the mail-

 

[This message was edited by evilrooster on July 27, 2002 at 01:04 AM.]

[+culpc]

quote:

---

~erik` wriets: We have found some regional differences that make us wonder about our brethern in other parts of the world. The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

---

 

I'm not sure that this is a slur on the British or commercial, it is simply a landmark device, sort of like renting a car in St. Croix-everything is marked by Esso stations!

 

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

[+culpc]

quote:

---

~erik` wriets: We have found some regional differences that make us wonder about our brethern in other parts of the world. The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

---

 

I'm not sure that this is a slur on the British or commercial, it is simply a landmark device, sort of like renting a car in St. Croix-everything is marked by Esso stations!

 

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

[+The Hornet]

quote:

---

Originally posted by ~erik~:

 

The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

 

erik - geocaching.com adminion

---

 

I put my hand up as an "offender" here as many of my caches mention local pubs as convenient "resting" places to visit after a long slog to the cache and back (remembering the extra 35' there and back ).

 

erik & I had a friendly discussion about the commercial aspect of pubs a week or so ago. No problem there and it was resolved quite amicably (as usual)

 

Just for clarification most of the caches in England (never done one in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland so can't speak for those - yet!) are in attractive rural locations. In those areas pubs are not seen by locals as "commercial" organisations in the same way as for instance a McDonalds, petrol (gas) station etc. would be.

 

Rather they are part of rural life in the same way as churches, post offices, community centres, small village shops etc. Most (not all I admit) are frequented by walkers, families, locals etc. for a quiet relaxing drink, a meal perhaps and act as a focal point in the local community.

 

Although money changes hands in pubs I would see them in a totally different category to "true" commercial organisations which I wholeheartedly agree must be kept out of geocaching. Perhaps they are unique to the UK but I am sure each country has something similar.

 

I suggest that mention of pubs in cache descriptions adds, not detracts, to the caching experience and still maintains the essential "innocence" of caching which remains one of its great attractions to me.

 

And as I said in my first post in this thread, if you need any volunteers for any aspect of geocaching.com remember I'm here.

 

Peter

[+The Hornet]

quote:

---

Originally posted by ~erik~:

 

The Brits can't seem to post a cache without focusing on the nearest local pub, which is a challenge with our ban on commercial caches, so we have to be sensitive to their needs.

 

erik - geocaching.com adminion

---

 

I put my hand up as an "offender" here as many of my caches mention local pubs as convenient "resting" places to visit after a long slog to the cache and back (remembering the extra 35' there and back ).

 

erik & I had a friendly discussion about the commercial aspect of pubs a week or so ago. No problem there and it was resolved quite amicably (as usual)

 

Just for clarification most of the caches in England (never done one in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland so can't speak for those - yet!) are in attractive rural locations. In those areas pubs are not seen by locals as "commercial" organisations in the same way as for instance a McDonalds, petrol (gas) station etc. would be.

 

Rather they are part of rural life in the same way as churches, post offices, community centres, small village shops etc. Most (not all I admit) are frequented by walkers, families, locals etc. for a quiet relaxing drink, a meal perhaps and act as a focal point in the local community.

 

Although money changes hands in pubs I would see them in a totally different category to "true" commercial organisations which I wholeheartedly agree must be kept out of geocaching. Perhaps they are unique to the UK but I am sure each country has something similar.

 

I suggest that mention of pubs in cache descriptions adds, not detracts, to the caching experience and still maintains the essential "innocence" of caching which remains one of its great attractions to me.

 

And as I said in my first post in this thread, if you need any volunteers for any aspect of geocaching.com remember I'm here.

 

Peter