Changing Adoption Process

[+FireDiven]

Dear Geocaching.com

 

I don't understand why the current adoption is quite the way it is. In real life, when you adopt something, let's say a child, that something becomes yours legally. You have the right to change it's name, and it's information is all attached to you. In the geocaching world, when I adopt a cache, it still shows listed to the original owner. I don't agree with this. The original owner has nothing to do with the cache any longer and has no say so over it. If I am going to take credit for and do all the work to keep the cache up, then why isn't my name on it. This makes no sense to me. I don't think anyone really cares who placed the cache but are more likely to care about who the actual cache owner is. Please consider changing this so that it makes more sense.

 

FireDiven

[Pup Patrol]

Dear Geocaching.com

 

I don't understand why the current adoption is quite the way it is. In real life, when you adopt something, let's say a child, that something becomes yours legally. You have the right to change it's name, and it's information is all attached to you. In the geocaching world, when I adopt a cache, it still shows listed to the original owner. I don't agree with this. The original owner has nothing to do with the cache any longer and has no say so over it. If I am going to take credit for and do all the work to keep the cache up, then why isn't my name on it. This makes no sense to me. I don't think anyone really cares who placed the cache but are more likely to care about who the actual cache owner is. Please consider changing this so that it makes more sense.

 

FireDiven

 

You, as the cache owner, can edit the cache owner's name.

 

You can change everything about the cache...the description, the clue, whatever the cache owner can change, you can do now that the cache has been adopted over to you.

 

6. Cache Ownership: A Long-Term Relationship

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=38

 

I've seen a lot of adopted caches where the owner name field was changed to something like "xxx, adopted by yyy".

 

B.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Pup Patrol

[+Ma & Pa]

Dear Geocaching.com

 

I don't understand why the current adoption is quite the way it is. In real life, when you adopt something, let's say a child, that something becomes yours legally. You have the right to change it's name, and it's information is all attached to you. In the geocaching world, when I adopt a cache, it still shows listed to the original owner. I don't agree with this. The original owner has nothing to do with the cache any longer and has no say so over it. If I am going to take credit for and do all the work to keep the cache up, then why isn't my name on it. This makes no sense to me. I don't think anyone really cares who placed the cache but are more likely to care about who the actual cache owner is. Please consider changing this so that it makes more sense.

 

FireDiven

If you have adopted it correctly, it is shown in your list of caches. However the adoption process does not change anything on the cache page, including the name of the person who placed it. You can change thaet information by clicking on edit and then change the name of the person who placed it. When I adopt a cache, I place our caching name in that section, and the name of the person who hid it.

 

Here is an example

 

http://coord.info/GC3BKVB

[+pppingme]

The cache owner field is a "free form" field that you can put whatever you want.

 

Some people use this creatively, and it might have special meaning to the cache.

 

Just go in and edit the cache and change it. It doesn't even have to be your name.

[Pup Patrol]

oh, duh is me.

 

 

 

B.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Pup Patrol

[AZcachemeister]

Dear Geocaching.com

 

I don't understand why the current adoption is quite the way it is. In real life, when you adopt something, let's say a child, that something becomes yours legally. You have the right to change it's name, and it's information is all attached to you. In the geocaching world, when I adopt a cache, it still shows listed to the original owner. I don't agree with this. The original owner has nothing to do with the cache any longer and has no say so over it. If I am going to take credit for and do all the work to keep the cache up, then why isn't my name on it. This makes no sense to me. I don't think anyone really cares who placed the cache but are more likely to care about who the actual cache owner is. Please consider changing this so that it makes more sense.

 

FireDiven

 

Perhaps a less angsty post in the 'How Do I...?' forum would have left you in a better light.

 

Since you didn't hide the cache, you can't really take credit for that, can you?

 

In most cases, I do care about who actually places the cache. I also appreciate the adoptive owner for maintaining it.

 

I suggest adding 'and adopted by FireDiven' to the 'Placed By' field, and preserving the name of the original owner on the cache page.

 

But (now that it's yours) you really can edit away and put whatever you like there.

[+The_Incredibles_]

Like others have said, you can change the Cache Placed By to whatever you like. I think it's nice, however to give tribute to the original cache owner by including their name AND yours.

 

Such as "Cache Placed By: old_and_gone (adopted by The_Incredibles_)"

[jholly]

The cache owner field is a "free form" field that you can put whatever you want.

 

Some people use this creatively, and it might have special meaning to the cache.

 

Just go in and edit the cache and change it. It doesn't even have to be your name.

Actually the cache owners field is not free form. It is controlled by the system and *does* reflect the cache owners name. What is free form is the Cache Placed by field. The owners name has been changed when you adopted. Simply click on the A cache by on the listing and it will take you to the cache owner's profile.

[+ArcherDragoon]

The cache owner field is a "free form" field that you can put whatever you want.

 

Some people use this creatively, and it might have special meaning to the cache.

 

Just go in and edit the cache and change it. It doesn't even have to be your name.

Actually the cache owners field is not free form. It is controlled by the system and *does* reflect the cache owners name. What is free form is the Cache Placed by field. The owners name has been changed when you adopted. Simply click on the A cache by on the listing and it will take you to the cache owner's profile.

lol...semantics!!!

 

Either way...what the OP "describes" about the "real life" adoption process is very similar to the geocache process...everthing is "assigned" to the new owner...but nothing changes until the new owner takes the correct actions. So...as the new owner, you can change anything you want on the cache page (and/or the actual cache) now that it is yours.

 

Posts above have detailed how to do it and have pointed out the most common way of "crediting" the original owner of the cache...

[+stijnhommes]

Sure, if you adopt a cache, it should technically be yours, but why shouldn't the original CO be credited with finding the hiding place and hiding the cache that allowed you to adopt it in the first place?

[I!]

Perhaps a less angsty post in the 'How Do I...?' forum would have left you in a better light.

I see no angst in the opening post

[+FireDiven]

OK, think what you all will.....I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit. But the cache is MINE now....this is my child. He shall have my name! Sorry, that's just the way it is. I have figured it out now from the above helpful posts. Thank you very much.

[I!]

This brings to mind the guideline that adopted caches should preserve the character of the original. At least, I thought that was a guideline, but I can't find it now. Anyone?

[Mr.Yuck]

OK, think what you all will.....I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit. But the cache is MINE now....this is my child. He shall have my name! Sorry, that's just the way it is. I have figured it out now from the above helpful posts. Thank you very much.

 

I have to admit, this is kind of strange to me. It's quite customary to make it say "By [username] Adopted by FireDiven". I don't know how many characters you get in that field, but it's quite a bit. You sure there isn't some animosity between you and this guy? Which I doubt, considering he had to give you permission to adopt.

 

In my opinion, not that many people know you can edit the "Placed by" field, and even less know you can change the name of a cache. Not that I see why you would want to in this case.

 

EDIT: And I might be totally misreading that you want to change the name of any caches.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Mr.Yuck

[+lamoracke]

especially if its an old cache that was known in the community, I think its very nice for the new owner to give credit to the original owner....as the OP says, well, its their baby.

 

Just looked up what is most likely the adoptive cache, a 2001 one I see. Those are old and very nice. Personally I appreciate the ones that are 2001 and older. I personally would have mentioned the original owner name in the cache field since obviously it was created before I was even around and is probably known to the caching community given its age (like what is said on GCD right now as someone just recently adopted that one).

 

However, at least the note still exists saying the cache ownership changed from x to you so if someone looked, they would at least see the name.

 

Obviously the OP can do what they feel like, but just giving my 2 cents if it was me given what I feel and what I feel is standard practice on such ones.

[Pup Patrol]

I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit.

 

Another way that I've seen is the new cache owner posts a note on the cache page that says something like "this cache adopted from Cacher XYZ to Cacher ABC."

 

There's nothing that says you "must" do anything in this regard. It's just a courtesy.

 

It's your cache now, and you can do what you like with it, except change the cache type or move it more than 528 feet, the same restrictions as if you originally placed it, as per the Guidelines restrictions.

 

In the "a cache by xxx" field, you can put whatever you want. It will still link back to your profile name.

 

B.

[+Don_J]

Perhaps a less angsty post in the 'How Do I...?' forum would have left you in a better light.

I see no angst in the opening post

 

No? I see a full out rant. Someone demanding a feature that already exists.

 

A simple, "How do I change the placed by name on a cache I adopted?", would have been sufficient. If the answer is, "you can't", then you go rant mode.

[+Don_J]

OK, think what you all will.....I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit. But the cache is MINE now....this is my child. He shall have my name! Sorry, that's just the way it is. I have figured it out now from the above helpful posts. Thank you very much.

 

Good. Just be aware that you will not be adopting any more caches. When the rest of the community realizes that you have that mentality, none will be offered. As you say, sorry, that's just the way it is.

[+Don_J]

I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit.

 

Another way that I've seen is the new cache owner posts a note on the cache page that says something like "this cache adopted from Cacher XYZ to Cacher ABC."

 

There's nothing that says you "must" do anything in this regard. It's just a courtesy.

 

It's your cache now, and you can do what you like with it, except change the cache type or move it more than 528 feet, the same restrictions as if you originally placed it, as per the Guidelines restrictions.

 

In the "a cache by xxx" field, you can put whatever you want. It will still link back to your profile name.

 

B.

 

That note is automatically created by the system, and it will be lost from a PQ after another five logs are posted.

 

It's just my opinion, but I think that what the OP is doing is totally dis-respectful and selfish. I'm sure that it has happened around here, but I personally can not recall anyone in my area ever deleting the original owners name from a cache that they adopted.

[Pup Patrol]

I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit.

 

Another way that I've seen is the new cache owner posts a note on the cache page that says something like "this cache adopted from Cacher XYZ to Cacher ABC."

 

There's nothing that says you "must" do anything in this regard. It's just a courtesy.

 

It's your cache now, and you can do what you like with it, except change the cache type or move it more than 528 feet, the same restrictions as if you originally placed it, as per the Guidelines restrictions.

 

In the "a cache by xxx" field, you can put whatever you want. It will still link back to your profile name.

 

B.

 

That note is automatically created by the system, and it will be lost from a PQ after another five logs are posted.

 

But the new cache owner can post a note on their own, no?

 

It's just my opinion, but I think that what the OP is doing is totally dis-respectful and selfish. I'm sure that it has happened around here, but I personally can not recall anyone in my area ever deleting the original owners name from a cache that they adopted.

 

It's not at all disrespectful or selfish.

 

A person adopts a cache to keep it going in good shape should be thanked, not harangued.

 

Lots of people adopt caches and remove the original placer's name. There's nothing wrong with doing that, and I don't understand why there should be such hard feelings towards the OP of this thread.

 

I think it's better than archiving the caches and placing new ones with some silly "ode to" or "redux" text in the cache name.

 

 

B.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Pup Patrol

[I!]

I see no angst in the opening post

No? I see a full out rant. Someone demanding a feature that already exists.

 

That is not angst, Don_J.

[cezanne]

[

Lots of people adopt caches and remove the original placer's name. There's nothing wrong with doing that, and I don't understand why there should be such hard feelings towards the OP of this thread.

 

This might be subjective, but I feel that it is wrong to delete the original hider's name and in many cases it is comparable to using others' intellectual property and selling it as one's own. In any case, I would not be willing to adopt out one of my caches and even less if I not only lose it from my profile, but also get deleted from the placed by field.

 

I also do not think that the set up of adopted caches should be changed if not absolutely necessary to keep the cache going.

 

Cezanne

Edited August 20, 2012 by cezanne

[knowschad]

OK, think what you all will.....I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit. But the cache is MINE now....this is my child. He shall have my name! Sorry, that's just the way it is. I have figured it out now from the above helpful posts. Thank you very much.

 

You CAN change the name. The actual owner is the one who's profile page is displayed when you click on the "A cache by" link. If you have adopted a cache, that profile page would be your own. The name displayed next to the "A cache by" link is a field that you can edit to anything you wish. You can change it to FireDivin, or you can change it to <original hider's name> + "adopted by FireDivin". Its your call.

[jholly]

OK, think what you all will.....I have no problem with giving the original cache owner credit. But the cache is MINE now....this is my child. He shall have my name! Sorry, that's just the way it is. I have figured it out now from the above helpful posts. Thank you very much.

 

You CAN change the name. The actual owner is the one who's profile page is displayed when you click on the "A cache by" link. If you have adopted a cache, that profile page would be your own. The name displayed next to the "A cache by" link is a field that you can edit to anything you wish. You can change it to FireDivin, or you can change it to <original hider's name> + "adopted by FireDivin". Its your call.

Or something unrelated. I adopted a Harry Potter cache and changed the A cache Placed by to Sirius Black. Seemed appropriate. I did not worry about offending the original owner since they had really dropped out and the cache was missing. When I adopted it out I'm not sure what the new owner did, and I don't care. It is not my cache.

[+redsox_mark]

In my one adopted cache I put my name in "placed by" - but in the first line of the description on the cache page I gave credit to the original owner.

[ll JK ll]

One of my hides that I adopted has a family tree going - Lazaraus > Cherokee Bill > JK_81.

 

I felt it was only right to give proper respect to those who handled the location before me.

[+jellis]

Dear Geocaching.com

 

I don't understand why the current adoption is quite the way it is. In real life, when you adopt something, let's say a child, that something becomes yours legally. You have the right to change it's name, and it's information is all attached to you. In the geocaching world, when I adopt a cache, it still shows listed to the original owner. I don't agree with this. The original owner has nothing to do with the cache any longer and has no say so over it. If I am going to take credit for and do all the work to keep the cache up, then why isn't my name on it. This makes no sense to me. I don't think anyone really cares who placed the cache but are more likely to care about who the actual cache owner is. Please consider changing this so that it makes more sense.

 

FireDiven

 

You, as the cache owner, can edit the cache owner's name.

 

You can change everything about the cache...the description, the clue, whatever the cache owner can change, you can do now that the cache has been adopted over to you.

 

6. Cache Ownership: A Long-Term Relationship

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=38

 

I've seen a lot of adopted caches where the owner name field was changed to something like "xxx, adopted by yyy".

 

B.

I do it. It's a way of honoring the cacher who created and placed it. As said, you can do as you wish.