What's your take on muggles?

[+ZeeCaching]

I'm just curious about everyone's train of thought on this. When you're geocaching and you see muggles, do you try to educate and recruit or prefer to keep the sport elite and "secretive" (for lack of a better word)?

[+briansnat]

Depends on the vibe I get from them. If I think telling them about geocaching might endanger the cache, I keep it a secret.

[+Lieblweb]

It depends on the situation. In most cases, if there are too many muggles in the area and/or we can't be stealthy without looking suspicious - we won't even bother looking and will move on to another cache.

 

I won't go out of my way to tell people about it. But, there are situations where I have to explain the game .... In the process of explaining it, sometimes their eyes will glaze over and you can tell they're either totally baffled or completely brain dead. Why did I waste my time? Lol

[+MtnMutt-ProDuckShins]

Educate or there's always Bar-B-Que Sauce

[+jellis]

Depends on the vibe I get from them. If I think telling them about geocaching might endanger the cache, I keep it a secret.

+1

[+emmett]

.

 

Muggle after observing cacher looking suspicious while poking and prodding and otherwise examining every inch of a lamp post, "So let me see if I get this right, you pay money to a company so that you can find small containers with nothing of value inside in parking lots?"

 

Cacher replies, "Well yes, but there is more to it than that, there are lots of containers hidden on or near guardrails along the side of the road too. Some people who are really serious, actually hide larger containers with McDonald's toys at easy to find spots in the woods under a pile of sticks. But I hear it was not always that way ..."

 

Hmm, what then do we imagine the term is that the Muggle uses to describe the cacher? Where is the Muggles' forum that asks, What is your take on geocachers?

 

 

.

[+Isonzo Karst]

Sorry to be taking your topic off topic, but the term muggles was part of my vocabulary before geocaching, and it refers to marijuana. The only current internet reference I can find to this is to the Louis Armstrong recording, Muggles

 

It did and does strike me as peculiar that a game that changed from using "stash" to using "cache" to avoid drug references, then started using the term "muggles"! though I appreciate that its meaning for most is now from some fantasy novels.

 

When I was doing urban caching, I used 2 techniques:

if I was with my husband, he'd pull out a yoyo and start doing string tricks - this definitely cleared me for whatever finding the cache required - nobody looking my way

If I was alone, I'd start picking up trash. I guess people assume you're doing community service, or are some kind of nut job, 'cause they look away and move away ;-)

[+firestronaut]

I've had one encounter with a muggle who was curious enough by my poking and prodding to actually stop and ask, rather than give me the sidewards escaped-from-the-loony-bin glance.

They seemed harmless enough so I told them they truth. They had the basic idea of geocaching and went on their merry way.

[+Ambient_Skater]

I ignore them and they ignore me.

 

If I see people caching when I'm not I like to pretend to be a muggle and ask what they're doing to see what kind of responses I get.

[+wimseyguy]

I never take muggles, in fact I hardly even look at the swag.

[+TeamTwoStar]

Well, it depends. What I think about muggles depends on what hat I am wearing, cacher or CO.

 

When I am a cacher, they ignore me and I ignore them. I am just a wierd person standing 30ft off the trail in the woods. If they are curious enough to come up and ask, then I have no problem explaining what I am doing and what geocaching is. It is the short explaination. If you are geocaching now, then you must have heard it from somewhere, right? Who knows, they might end up playing and likeing the game as much as I do.

 

When I am the CO.... #$%^&*#$%^&*% #$%^&*(!!!!! I must have the fastest muggled cache ever. The day after it was publish a muggle walked off with it, and Helpfully *sarcasim* took it to the police station for us. Wasn't that nice *sarcasm*? When I am a CO, I don't want muggles near my cahce. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=be5eef3b-5b8d-465a-84c4-96ecbcce6a2d

Luckily, the cache is one of our closer caches to home, and I took care of it in the morning.

 

It depends on what perspective you are taking.

[Nick - Cacher]

.

 

Muggle after observing cacher looking suspicious while poking and prodding and otherwise examining every inch of a lamp post, "So let me see if I get this right, you pay money to a company so that you can find small containers with nothing of value inside in parking lots?"

 

Cacher replies, "Well yes, but there is more to it than that, there are lots of containers hidden on or near guardrails along the side of the road too. Some people who are really serious, actually hide larger containers with McDonald's toys at easy to find spots in the woods under a pile of sticks. But I hear it was not always that way ..."

 

Hmm, what then do we imagine the term is that the Muggle uses to describe the cacher? Where is the Muggles' forum that asks, What is your take on geocachers?

 

 

.

[+DanOCan]

I make every effort I can to avoid use of the word Geocaching because it normally means I'm going to spend more time explaining it and less time doing it.

 

There are already enough hides around me to last the foreseeable future, I don't need to recruit anyone else into the hobby.

[+redsox_mark]

For me, it depends.

 

Most of the time I'm out in the countryside; so the caching is combined with a walk. The muggles I see are also out walking (just not caching). I will say hello; sometimes we will have a discussion about the weather, where we are going, their cute dog etc. I usually won't mention Geocaching.

 

Now if I am discovered while I am actively looking - and the person asks me what I am doing - then my answer depends on their tone of voice and the vibe. I'll either make up an excuse or tell them the truth.

[+DarkSasquatch2]

If I can avoid them, I do, but sometimes they can come out of nowhere. And if they ask, I tell them. I once had a full-on conversation with a guy and he even joined in. Even the time I had a police officer ask me, I told him the truth and he went on his merry way.

[+The Jester]

I can take 'em or leave 'em.

[+ShaunEM]

I did one cache a few weeks ago that really was too close to play equipment. After getting a few glances from a grandmother with grandchild I introduced myself and with cache in hand explained what I was doing. She already suspected, but sometimes it's good to put others at ease.

 

She didn't seem like someone who was going to raid the cache after I left.

 

Shaun

[+StarBrand]

Depends on the vibe I get from them. If I think telling them about geocaching might endanger the cache, I keep it a secret.

This.

[+Sol seaker]

My take on them is that they're not always muggles.

 

I was signing a log along side of the road yesterday, and a woman pulled up in a van, rolled down her window and yelled,

"Congratulations! You found it!! We found that one last week!"

 

I was looking for a cache in a really crowded area next to a beach on Saturday. There were people everywhere. It was a hard one. I figured if I had to search that hard, KNOWING what I was looking for, they weren't likely to find it on accident. I was going by the ole, "if you ignore them they ignore you" idea. It usually works.

 

One guy came up to me and said he was an electrical contractor (the cache was on electrical boxes) and he wanted to know what I was doing. I told him I was inspecting them. Then laughed and told him the truth. He gave me some suggestions of where to look. Neither of us found it.

He walked off saying, "I'd hate to ruin it for you." NO WAIT!! I could have used the help. Oh well. Another time.

[+elyodeel]

Sorry to be taking your topic off topic, but the term muggles was part of my vocabulary before geocaching, and it refers to marijuana. The only current internet reference I can find to this is to the Louis Armstrong recording, Muggles

 

It did and does strike me as peculiar that a game that changed from using "stash" to using "cache" to avoid drug references, then started using the term "muggles"! though I appreciate that its meaning for most is now from some fantasy novels.

 

When I was doing urban caching, I used 2 techniques:

if I was with my husband, he'd pull out a yoyo and start doing string tricks - this definitely cleared me for whatever finding the cache required - nobody looking my way

If I was alone, I'd start picking up trash. I guess people assume you're doing community service, or are some kind of nut job, 'cause they look away and move away ;-)

 

I think this has something to do with it... haha, probably not referencing drugs, at least I never thought it was.

 

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Muggle

[+power69]

ignore the muggles. you're more likely to compromise the cache by slinking and ducking around that just getting it.

[+The Blorenges]

Be nice to the muggles.

 

We were all muggles once.

 

MrsB

[+Postholedigger]

If I take a muggle, I always leave an equal or better one in its place.

[mvarley84]

I make every effort I can to avoid use of the word Geocaching because it normally means I'm going to spend more time explaining it and less time doing it.

 

There are already enough hides around me to last the foreseeable future, I don't need to recruit anyone else into the hobby.

 

What would you be doing if someone didn't introduce you to geocaching? I'm new at this, but I don't hesitate to introduce other people to this hobby. There's actually a couple guys at work heading out this weekend to buy GPS's and sign up.

 

To not introduce someone to this because there's enough caches near you already comes off as ignorant and elitist.

[+Postholedigger]

 

What would you be doing if someone didn't introduce you to geocaching? I'm new at this, but I don't hesitate to introduce other people to this hobby. There's actually a couple guys at work heading out this weekend to buy GPS's and sign up.

 

To not introduce someone to this because there's enough caches near you already comes off as ignorant and elitist.

 

...says the noob.

 

I kid

[stldenise]

Who in the heck Googles muggle and only finds drug references? What internet are you on?

[+fuzziebear3]

Hey, here is the opposite side of the question --

 

What do you do when you see someone walking in circles and poking in the bushes (aka geocaching behavior)?

 

Do you introduce yourself as a fellow geocacher? Offer to help them search or give hints if you already know? Pretend to be a muggle and see what they do? Laugh at/with them as they look crazy?

 

I have met many new cachers this way, and I think that helping them through some of their first finds helps them to become successful and active geocachers.

But I do admit, if I see someone that already looks like they know what they are doing, I usually try to play muggle -- but it usually only lasts a minute before they know I too am searching and then we merrily search together.

And of course, I also recognize many of our local active cachers on sight now.

[+DragonsWest]

Hey, here is the opposite side of the question --

 

What do you do when you see someone walking in circles and poking in the bushes (aka geocaching behavior)?

 

Do you introduce yourself as a fellow geocacher? Offer to help them search or give hints if you already know? Pretend to be a muggle and see what they do? Laugh at/with them as they look crazy?

 

I have met many new cachers this way, and I think that helping them through some of their first finds helps them to become successful and active geocachers.

But I do admit, if I see someone that already looks like they know what they are doing, I usually try to play muggle -- but it usually only lasts a minute before they know I too am searching and then we merrily search together.

And of course, I also recognize many of our local active cachers on sight now.

 

As my mum said, I'm fulla beans. I usually play the inquisitive muggle .. at some point I reveal I'm a geocacher, too.

[+StarBrand]

Hey, here is the opposite side of the question --

 

What do you do when you see someone walking in circles and poking in the bushes (aka geocaching behavior)?

 

Do you introduce yourself as a fellow geocacher? Offer to help them search or give hints if you already know? Pretend to be a muggle and see what they do? Laugh at/with them as they look crazy?

 

I have met many new cachers this way, and I think that helping them through some of their first finds helps them to become successful and active geocachers.

But I do admit, if I see someone that already looks like they know what they are doing, I usually try to play muggle -- but it usually only lasts a minute before they know I too am searching and then we merrily search together.

And of course, I also recognize many of our local active cachers on sight now.

 

Briansnat once suggested the following:

 

When meeting somone you think might be a geocacher you yell "Ho, are ye a geocacher?" and the correct response is "Yay I a geocacher am I".

 

Upon the confirmation, the two then approach each other, put their left hand on the other person's right shoulder, standing arm's length and dance around in a circle while skipping and singing (very loudly) "Geocachers are we! Runy muny mee! Yaba daba baba. He, he, he!". This should continue for no less than 3 minutes

[+Team Periwinkle]

Who in the heck Googles muggle and only finds drug references? What internet are you on?

 

+1

[+power69]

If I take a muggle, I always leave an equal or better one in its place.

thats why them blasted nano's are hard to open. theres a 180 pound man inside most of them

[+power69]

Hey, here is the opposite side of the question --

 

What do you do when you see someone walking in circles and poking in the bushes (aka geocaching behavior)?

 

Do you introduce yourself as a fellow geocacher? Offer to help them search or give hints if you already know? Pretend to be a muggle and see what they do? Laugh at/with them as they look crazy?

 

I have met many new cachers this way, and I think that helping them through some of their first finds helps them to become successful and active geocachers.

But I do admit, if I see someone that already looks like they know what they are doing, I usually try to play muggle -- but it usually only lasts a minute before they know I too am searching and then we merrily search together.

And of course, I also recognize many of our local active cachers on sight now.

 

As my mum said, I'm fulla beans. I usually play the inquisitive muggle .. at some point I reveal I'm a geocacher, too.

you're fulla beans. you not muggle. you a tootin' guy.

[+The_Incredibles_]

Hey, here is the opposite side of the question --

 

What do you do when you see someone walking in circles and poking in the bushes (aka geocaching behavior)?

 

Do you introduce yourself as a fellow geocacher? Offer to help them search or give hints if you already know? Pretend to be a muggle and see what they do? Laugh at/with them as they look crazy?

 

 

You forgot to add 'holding a GPS'. This will help you differentiate between geocachers and people looking for a lost tennis ball.

 

The few times I've caught someone in the act, or been caught, the conversation goes something like this:

 

1st person "Looking for something????"

 

2nd person "Um, yeah <blushes> I've been here 3 times and I can't find it."

 

...2 seconds later...

 

1st person "Here it is!" <lifts lamp skirt>

 

2nd person "OMG, that was fast. I"m impressed."

Edited April 21, 2012 by The_Incredibles_

[+ayrbrain]

The number of times we have been asked "Have you lost something" the latest being in Dubai enroute to holiday in Australia end of last year. We had been searching and searching this particular area with no luck, I did notice the car pull in to the car park and glance over at us, a while later the man came up to us with his little boy in his arms and asked if we had lost something, we explained what we were doing as we felt it was only polite as he was polite with us, he was interested in what we were explaining. I wish I had a pound for everytime someone answered with "What" when we say "Geocaching"

just recently we were in the bank and the lady dealing with us asked us towards the end of the meeting if we had any hobbies, I said geocaching then went on to explain what it was all about. She was going to go home that night and look it up on the net, the other lady sitting in on the meeting said she was also going to look it up. A few days later we were back in the same building and one of the ladies came over to us laughing saying that the other person had looked up geocaching on the net but had ended up at a porn site!!!! goodness knows what she had typed in for geocaching!!

Edited April 22, 2012 by ayrbrain

[+FishieFive]

LOL at some of these posts.

 

We look a lot like muggles...we cache with our kids, one of whom is either in a stroller, trying to get out of one, screaming to be in one, or aimlessly wandering around us. The little guy is a great excuse for anything. Our 6 year old loves to have her picture taken. Since we use our phones to cache, if a muggle happens by, she strikes a pose and I take a pic. We can get away doing anything just about anyplace with the kids. If I see someone who's caching, I always introduce myself. I've met some fabulous cachers this way. But genuine muggles...we do just about anything to stay secretive. Otherwise, as someone else mentioned, it takes too long to explain and takes time away from caching.

[+Nomesquad]

We've only run into a few people while doing the searchy-search so far. One walking her dog says, "Didja find it? Its way up there!" referencing a magnetic nano on the back of a sign about 7 1/2 ft off the ground (thank goodness for taller people with me).

 

Most muggles we wait until they're doing something else and can clearly grab the cache to sign the log without the risk of being caught.

Other times we just try to look like we belong there.. (though how you actually look as if you belong is beyond me when you're feeling up a fire hydrant who'd probably rather not get so personal..)

 

If its super crowded we just come back later.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

A few days later we were back in the same building and one of the ladies came over to us laughing saying that the other person had looked up geocaching on the net but had ended up at a porn site!!!! goodness knows what she had typed in for geocaching!!

 

That depends on which version of the Internet you're using...Apparently on one of the versions Muggle takes on a whole new meaning.

 

My favorite "muggle was actually a geocacher moment" came when I was trying to figure out how to get to a cache that is located on an island in the middle of the Tiber river in Rome. There is a foot bridge that goes to the island from both directions and a really nice walkway that circumnavigates the island near the waters edge. I was walking up to a railing to look down to where I can see that cache was hidden when a guy turned around we found ourselves standing face to face with someone holding a GPS. I asked if they were geocaching (they were) and then if they knew how to get down below the bridge to where the cache was hidden. We search around for awhile before discovering that there was some construction going on and the stairway that went to the walkway was closed. We ended up chatting about caching for awhile, discovered travel bugs we were each carrying, and other caches we had found in Rome. He (and his girlfriend) were from Germany and were on a short holiday in Rome at the time. We both DNFd the cache that day but I found it the next time I was in Rome a couple of years later. The first I looked I specifically was trying to find that cache because it was one of the few caches nearby that was large enough to hold a trackable item or two. I ended up finding another one big enough a couple of days later and that one had a "muggle who really was a muggle" moment.

[+The_Incredibles_]

LOL at some of these posts.

 

We look a lot like muggles...we cache with our kids, one of whom is either in a stroller, trying to get out of one, screaming to be in one, or aimlessly wandering around us. The little guy is a great excuse for anything. Our 6 year old loves to have her picture taken. Since we use our phones to cache, if a muggle happens by, she strikes a pose and I take a pic. We can get away doing anything just about anyplace with the kids. If I see someone who's caching, I always introduce myself. I've met some fabulous cachers this way. But genuine muggles...we do just about anything to stay secretive. Otherwise, as someone else mentioned, it takes too long to explain and takes time away from caching.

 

I"m impressed if you are able to cache discretely with a 6 year old.

 

When I cache with kids, as soon as a muggle is in a view, one of the kids will invariably blurt out:

 

(shouting loudly) "A muggle, look, everybody look, a muggle! Don't let them see the cache! Quick, hide it!!"

[+DragonsWest]

Hey, here is the opposite side of the question --

 

What do you do when you see someone walking in circles and poking in the bushes (aka geocaching behavior)?

 

Do you introduce yourself as a fellow geocacher? Offer to help them search or give hints if you already know? Pretend to be a muggle and see what they do? Laugh at/with them as they look crazy?

 

I have met many new cachers this way, and I think that helping them through some of their first finds helps them to become successful and active geocachers.

But I do admit, if I see someone that already looks like they know what they are doing, I usually try to play muggle -- but it usually only lasts a minute before they know I too am searching and then we merrily search together.

And of course, I also recognize many of our local active cachers on sight now.

 

As my mum said, I'm fulla beans. I usually play the inquisitive muggle .. at some point I reveal I'm a geocacher, too.

you're fulla beans. you not muggle. you a tootin' guy.

 

In the words of California Carlson, "Yer darn tootin'!"

[+ByronForestPreserve]

I always go with my nice, big camera slung around my neck if I fear muggles near GZ. Sure, they may wonder why I'm taking pictures of light posts, but then that's all they think I'm doing. If I'm surprised by unexpected muggles or traffic, I pretend my GPSr is a camera.

 

A few weeks ago I was in the Bahamas...and at every single cache I found, a local spotted my GPSr and said, "I know what you're looking for!" (A good thing, too, because I ended up getting a hint on one). I guess with the caches being in spots that aren't super popular with tourists that they've learned visitors usually mean geocachers!

[+Ohiosiouxfan]

We were looking for a cache tonight at a Cracker Barrel parking lot that was in a tree on the outer part of the back lot. While my 7 year old and I were studying the tree, out of the restaurant came an employee with a garbage bag. He quickly called out a manager and they took a quick look at us. I'd already logged the cache by then, so we weren't caught with "cache in hand."