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Dirtbag Geocaching Society

JL_HSTRE

By JL_HSTRE
in General geocaching topics

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted (edited)

Had a random chance opportunity to attend a recent DGS event in Ft. Collins, CO last month. The event had a theme to create caches inspired by the movie The Matrix, and otherwise meet, greet and be merry. Our plans got us there late during the event, but we found the Dirtbags to be friendly and welcoming. Their creations were incredible and cache containers I would love to find out in the wilds.

 

No one provided any opportunity to armchair caches and/or TBs.

But they did Ustream the event and apparently allowed some people to make "brief appearances" from afar. Personally, I think armchair attendance is cheesy.

 

and it was their event. so whats the big deal? (i guess the "you play it your way and i'll play it my way" doesnt apply when you all in these forums dont agree with it.)

 

You're serious? "it was their event, what's the big deal?" Can I show pornographic videos at my next event because it was "mine"? :blink: I know you're highly combative and like to think you're going at it with the the whole forum, but it's not just "us" not agreeing with it. It's the policies of Groundspeak. And they are listing these events on Groundspeak's listing service. Don't want any controversy, and trouble with Groundspeak or it's reviewers? List them somewhere else, which could even be your own website.

 

I'm a Facebook hata. You know, kind of like you're a forum hata? :lol: But from what I'm told, many many impromptu unofficial Geocaching events are organized on there. I guess you don't get a smiley on the world's largest Geocaching website if you watch video of your Facebook friends at a sports bar though. :ph34r:

Edited by Mr.Yuck
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ScoutDadNC

+ScoutDadNC

Posted
Posted

Had a random chance opportunity to attend a recent DGS event in Ft. Collins, CO last month. The event had a theme to create caches inspired by the movie The Matrix, and otherwise meet, greet and be merry. Our plans got us there late during the event, but we found the Dirtbags to be friendly and welcoming. Their creations were incredible and cache containers I would love to find out in the wilds.

 

No one provided any opportunity to armchair caches and/or TBs.

But they did Ustream the event and apparently allowed some people to make "brief appearances" from afar. Personally, I think armchair attendance is cheesy.

 

and it was their event. so whats the big deal? (i guess the "you play it your way and i'll play it my way" doesnt apply when you all in these forums dont agree with it.)

 

You're serious? "it was their event, what's the big deal?" Can I show pornographic videos at my next event because it was "mine"? :blink: I know you're highly combative and like to think you're going at it with the the whole forum, but it's not just "us" not agreeing with it. It's the policies of Groundspeak. And they are listing these events on Groundspeak's listing service. Don't want any controversy, and trouble with Groundspeak or it's reviewers? List them somewhere else, which could even be your own website.

 

I'm a Facebook hata. You know, kind of like you're a forum hata? :lol: But from what I'm told, many many impromptu unofficial Geocaching events are organized on there. I guess you don't get a smiley on the world's largest Geocaching website if you watch video of your Facebook friends at a sports bar though. :ph34r:

 

The original purpose of, from what I can understand, was for those DGS members, who are active cachers, could log events and see friends and family while deployed. Not to mention still be part of the fun.

 

Although not there in person, the did participate in their own way.

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nthacker66

+nthacker66

Posted
Posted (edited)

Had a random chance opportunity to attend a recent DGS event in Ft. Collins, CO last month. The event had a theme to create caches inspired by the movie The Matrix, and otherwise meet, greet and be merry. Our plans got us there late during the event, but we found the Dirtbags to be friendly and welcoming. Their creations were incredible and cache containers I would love to find out in the wilds.

 

No one provided any opportunity to armchair caches and/or TBs.

But they did Ustream the event and apparently allowed some people to make "brief appearances" from afar. Personally, I think armchair attendance is cheesy.

 

and it was their event. so whats the big deal? (i guess the "you play it your way and i'll play it my way" doesnt apply when you all in these forums dont agree with it.)

 

You're serious? "it was their event, what's the big deal?" Can I show pornographic videos at my next event because it was "mine"? :blink: I know you're highly combative and like to think you're going at it with the the whole forum, but it's not just "us" not agreeing with it. It's the policies of Groundspeak. And they are listing these events on Groundspeak's listing service. Don't want any controversy, and trouble with Groundspeak or it's reviewers? List them somewhere else, which could even be your own website.

 

I'm a Facebook hata. You know, kind of like you're a forum hata? :lol: But from what I'm told, many many impromptu unofficial Geocaching events are organized on there. I guess you don't get a smiley on the world's largest Geocaching website if you watch video of your Facebook friends at a sports bar though. :ph34r:

 

This guy wants to compare showing porn at an event to allowing deployed military people to log the event - and I am combative. Love it!

 

First of all, they don't upstream often, I know of 1 or 2 events they did this and SAID they were going to do it WITH the approval of Groundspeak. Where in the policy of Groundspeak does it say people cannot log a cache listing find if they aren't there? It doesn't. Why? because Groundspeak cannot enforce it. They going to go out to every cache and check signatures on the log sheets? They going to pry into peoples emails to see if people logging virtuals and earthcache answers? They going to ask for a submittal of physical logs from events?

 

Yes I am combative, especially when it comes to good people being defamed by a community of high strung "do it my way" type of people. I personally don't care who likes me on here or in my local area. The people who get to know me, like me. Those who want to make assumptions based on online forums, their loss. And the people who prejudge DGS based on what others say, will miss out on a very good group of folks and great times.

 

That is all I am going to say - won't be baited or trolled into more arguments here or on this subject.

Edited by nthacker66
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CanadianRockies

+CanadianRockies

Posted
Posted

The original purpose of, from what I can understand, was for those DGS members, who are active cachers, could log events and see friends and family while deployed. Not to mention still be part of the fun.

 

Although not there in person, the did participate in their own way.

First, none of the apparent virtual "attendees" at this event seemed to be deployed.

 

Second, even if they were deployed, nothing prevented them from watching the Ustream video, seeing their friends and family, being part of the fun, and logging a "Write Note."

 

Third, one of the "participants" watched a DGS You Tube video and logged their "attendance" a week after this event was held. Not a whole lot of interaction going on there. Another "participant" claimed to have "attended" both this Colorado DGS event and a California DGS event on the same day. (The California event never happened, so they were the only "attendee," which probably made it difficult to see friends and family and be part of the fun.)

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted

Had a random chance opportunity to attend a recent DGS event in Ft. Collins, CO last month. The event had a theme to create caches inspired by the movie The Matrix, and otherwise meet, greet and be merry. Our plans got us there late during the event, but we found the Dirtbags to be friendly and welcoming. Their creations were incredible and cache containers I would love to find out in the wilds.

 

No one provided any opportunity to armchair caches and/or TBs.

But they did Ustream the event and apparently allowed some people to make "brief appearances" from afar. Personally, I think armchair attendance is cheesy.

 

and it was their event. so whats the big deal? (i guess the "you play it your way and i'll play it my way" doesnt apply when you all in these forums dont agree with it.)

 

You're serious? "it was their event, what's the big deal?" Can I show pornographic videos at my next event because it was "mine"? :blink: I know you're highly combative and like to think you're going at it with the the whole forum, but it's not just "us" not agreeing with it. It's the policies of Groundspeak. And they are listing these events on Groundspeak's listing service. Don't want any controversy, and trouble with Groundspeak or it's reviewers? List them somewhere else, which could even be your own website.

 

I'm a Facebook hata. You know, kind of like you're a forum hata? :lol: But from what I'm told, many many impromptu unofficial Geocaching events are organized on there. I guess you don't get a smiley on the world's largest Geocaching website if you watch video of your Facebook friends at a sports bar though. :ph34r:

 

This guy wants to compare showing porn at an event to allowing deployed military people to log the event - and I am combative. Love it!

 

 

No, it was just to point out the absurdity of your "it's their event, and they can do whatever they want" type stance. Nothing more.

 

So, in summary:

Those who have never met the DGS, and are clueless, disparage them.

Those who have met the DGS like them.

That speaks volumes.

 

I'm sure I would like them if I met them, especially being retired military myself. However, around here in these forums, they are most well known for the horrfically ugly forum thread which is given in the second link in Post #23, which included one of the early Military members of the DGS referring to an Active Duty Army Jag officer as a REMF. And the thread was so ugly, that a full-time Groundspeak employee felt compelled to post to it after a volunteer moderator closed it.

 

But I have read all posts here in this thread, be they testimonials from non-members who have met them, well thought out, and non-confrontational posts from current members, and, the testimonial from Maingray, who I'm sure is not only familiar with that forum thread, but in the distant past local incidents. I am now convinced that ugly forum thread was an aberration from early in the group's history.

 

That still doesn't mean I think some guy who watches a youtube video of a Geoaching event a week later should log an "attended" for that event. :P

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Clan Riffster

Clan Riffster

Posted
Posted
It's the policies of Groundspeak.

Assuming I host a local event, folks show up, eat burnt dogs, schmooze, etc. Now assume I create a live feed so my caching buddy in NosePckistan can make a virtual attendance. He logs it as attended. As the owner of the event cache, I accept his log as valid, because he was there, in everything but body. Have either of us violated any Groundspeak policy?

 

You know me well enough to know I am opposed to arm chairing.

 

But are they the same thing? I'm not sure they are.

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DantonioG

+DantonioG

Posted
Posted (edited)

Differences in opinions are always going to exist and many people will not be converted no matter what you say. So, to add more to the argument about events and armchair logging I will yet again post a couple of opinions and facts..... The DGS that are in the Cape Fear Region of NC have Ustreamed events. That is a fact that no one can dispute. Their philosophy on that matter is that if you are in the chat room talking with the individuals that are at the event, then you are participating in the event. It is the same principal as participating in an office meeting via skype or some other form of communication. You are still a part of the meeting and can say that you were there. Now to talk about logging events days or weeks later will bring up a lot of discrepancies, and if someone does it to one of your caches, you are free to delete their logs as you see fit. If you communicate with the majority of the DGS, then you will find out that they don't delete logs. They don't care if you are about the numbers and are logging a smiley just because you want a bigger number. I myself have found about a thousand more caches than my name has, but I do not care about logging any of them or forget to log them because they are just not that good. A DGS cache though, I will log and have excellent memories of. I am not a part of the DGS, but I will go to any of their events that they are constantly holding and any of their caches because they are simply not micros in woods, but are puzzles and challenges that are fun and are adding to my experience as a cacher and not a number. Also, I have had some of my logs deleted because I have simply mentioned the DGS in them or somehow offended the CO because of me stating things like I do not care for micros. Those COs are the real "dirtbags", not the DGS....

 

Also done with this forum. Take care

Edited by DantonioG
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Manville Possum

+Manville Possum

Posted
Posted

If this thread is about a event host allowing members of their group to log them as attended, when in fact all the member did was drop some geocoins and send some swag but did not attend in person, well I was invited to do so. I had to cancel attending the local event to be with some other Dirtbags and went Waymarking in North Georgia and took some kids to the RC Cola & Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle, Tennessee while other members attended Bonnaroo in Manchester. I did not log the local event as attended because I am a photo bug and if I attend a event you have to see my happy smiling face with my attended log. All Dirtbags are not the same. :)

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Manville Possum

+Manville Possum

Posted
Posted

My bad. Low blood sugar and not enough caffine. :(

I'm sorry. I misread your post. I will delete mine. Sorry, carry on. :)

 

And I have edited mine, so your quote doesn't appear. I'm not allowed to talk about other websites around here anyways. :ph34r:

Thanks. I really should wait a few hours after I'm fully awake before posting. Type 2 diabetes is no fun, but I have always been grouchy in the mornings. :laughing:

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CanadianRockies

+CanadianRockies

Posted
Posted
It's the policies of Groundspeak.

Assuming I host a local event, folks show up, eat burnt dogs, schmooze, etc. Now assume I create a live feed so my caching buddy in NosePckistan can make a virtual attendance. He logs it as attended. As the owner of the event cache, I accept his log as valid, because he was there, in everything but body. Have either of us violated any Groundspeak policy?

 

You know me well enough to know I am opposed to arm chairing.

 

But are they the same thing? I'm not sure they are.

I agree with this post by a Groundspeak Lackey:

 

Common misconceptions about couch potato logs

"There's no requirement visiting the location in the cache listing".

 

Stating that you must visit the location is not necessary as this is an implicit requirement

Assume I have a friend who is standing in front of a Webcam cache and calls me on their non-smart phone and asks me to get a screenshot of them. I see them on my computer monitor, capture the screenshot, and send them an image. Do I get to claim a smiley for that Webcam cache, too, since I was there in everything but body? Of course not.

 

As MissJenn also commented:

 

I remain surprised at how complicated some people think this issue is. It's not complicated.

  1. Coordinates are posted.
  2. You go here.

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted
It's the policies of Groundspeak.

Assuming I host a local event, folks show up, eat burnt dogs, schmooze, etc. Now assume I create a live feed so my caching buddy in NosePckistan can make a virtual attendance. He logs it as attended. As the owner of the event cache, I accept his log as valid, because he was there, in everything but body. Have either of us violated any Groundspeak policy?

 

You know me well enough to know I am opposed to arm chairing.

 

But are they the same thing? I'm not sure they are.

 

I'm trying to make ammends with the Dirtbags here, you know. :laughing: But I'm forced to explain myself here. When I referred to armchair logging, in the previously referenced UGLY THREAD from a couple years ago, it was brought to light that several of the original Ft. Bragg DGS members would armchair log caches in Nevada, Michigan, and Afghanistan, just because a DGS member placed them. But that too seems to have been a minor discretion in the distant past with the very early members, and stuff like that doesn't happen any more. Nothing to see here. :ph34r:

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Clan Riffster

Clan Riffster

Posted
Posted
It's the policies of Groundspeak.

Assuming I host a local event, folks show up, eat burnt dogs, schmooze, etc. Now assume I create a live feed so my caching buddy in NosePckistan can make a virtual attendance. He logs it as attended. As the owner of the event cache, I accept his log as valid, because he was there, in everything but body. Have either of us violated any Groundspeak policy?

 

You know me well enough to know I am opposed to arm chairing.

 

But are they the same thing? I'm not sure they are.

 

I'm trying to make ammends with the Dirtbags here, you know. :laughing: But I'm forced to explain myself here. When I referred to armchair logging, in the previously referenced UGLY THREAD from a couple years ago, it was brought to light that several of the original Ft. Bragg DGS members would armchair log caches in Nevada, Michigan, and Afghanistan, just because a DGS member placed them. But that too seems to have been a minor discretion in the distant past with the very early members, and stuff like that doesn't happen any more. Nothing to see here. :ph34r:

Yeah, I figured that out. I think the only one who has not is the dude from up north. :lol:

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nthacker66

+nthacker66

Posted
Posted
It's the policies of Groundspeak.

Assuming I host a local event, folks show up, eat burnt dogs, schmooze, etc. Now assume I create a live feed so my caching buddy in NosePckistan can make a virtual attendance. He logs it as attended. As the owner of the event cache, I accept his log as valid, because he was there, in everything but body. Have either of us violated any Groundspeak policy?

 

You know me well enough to know I am opposed to arm chairing.

 

But are they the same thing? I'm not sure they are.

 

I'm trying to make ammends with the Dirtbags here, you know. :laughing: But I'm forced to explain myself here. When I referred to armchair logging, in the previously referenced UGLY THREAD from a couple years ago, it was brought to light that several of the original Ft. Bragg DGS members would armchair log caches in Nevada, Michigan, and Afghanistan, just because a DGS member placed them. But that too seems to have been a minor discretion in the distant past with the very early members, and stuff like that doesn't happen any more. Nothing to see here. :ph34r:

 

I know I said I was done but I am baited back in ;-)

 

I doubt highly the armchair logging was JUST a "dgs thing" - DGS came into being around 2010 or so? So in thw 10 years of caching before hand, I would be floored if armchair logging didn't exist.

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted
It's the policies of Groundspeak.

Assuming I host a local event, folks show up, eat burnt dogs, schmooze, etc. Now assume I create a live feed so my caching buddy in NosePckistan can make a virtual attendance. He logs it as attended. As the owner of the event cache, I accept his log as valid, because he was there, in everything but body. Have either of us violated any Groundspeak policy?

 

You know me well enough to know I am opposed to arm chairing.

 

But are they the same thing? I'm not sure they are.

 

I'm trying to make ammends with the Dirtbags here, you know. :laughing: But I'm forced to explain myself here. When I referred to armchair logging, in the previously referenced UGLY THREAD from a couple years ago, it was brought to light that several of the original Ft. Bragg DGS members would armchair log caches in Nevada, Michigan, and Afghanistan, just because a DGS member placed them. But that too seems to have been a minor discretion in the distant past with the very early members, and stuff like that doesn't happen any more. Nothing to see here. :ph34r:

 

I know I said I was done but I am baited back in ;-)

 

I doubt highly the armchair logging was JUST a "dgs thing" - DGS came into being around 2010 or so? So in thw 10 years of caching before hand, I would be floored if armchair logging didn't exist.

 

Glad I could "bait" you back in, but you totally misunderstood. How on earth could you interpret me as implying the DGS ivented Armchair logging? I'll say I first heard the phrase "Greetings From Germany" in about 2004, meaning armchair logging of virtuals was going on, and being noticed.

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lukedrywalker

+lukedrywalker

Posted
Posted

Q: What is the DGS? Is their purpose to encourage creative out-in-the-woods non-micro geocaches? Or is it to promote ignoring the guidelines, facilitate armchair logging of caches, share lists of puzzle cache solutions, and share lists of trackables?

 

A: yes.

 

Q: What does it mean to be a Dirtbag?

 

A: It means many things to me, and probably different things to different people. I like the Comradery Of belonging to a group of people who accept me for who I am. You don’t need to fit in with these people; if you did not fit in they would have never voted you in. I like the fact that I can call someone and say hey I’m in a tunnel 500 feet under a city looking for a nano and can’t find it, do you know where it should be? Most of the time they do! I like the fact that to us rules are just guidelines (I have always lived like this) I love that we have a nationwide network of chapters that is still growing. Dirtbags love to Geocache. When I placed 33 caches in a series 130 miles long it was Dirtbags who found them all in one day! Dirtbags act like elitist because they are!

 

Q: Do Dirtbags hate micros?

 

A: Most of the time yes, but for me it’s not so much the container I dislike it’s the placement. Think about the last 10 micros you have found and tell me how awesome it was. Can you? I recently rode my bike 20 miles on the American tobacco trail where there are Geocaches every 530 feet and about 98% are micros hanging from a tree branch. After about 10 miles I was so board with micros I quit caching and just rode. You have literally hundreds of acres at your disposal to hide caches and you place a micro in da bush? I don’t think only a Dirtbag would consider this lame. I recently hid a micro (forgive me father for I have sinned) on the end of an abandoned pier. At low tide you can walk up to it and grab it, High tide is another story. You see in this case not lame. So I don’t think all Dirtbags dislike micros. If I’m going to talk junk it’s probably going to be about a micro in da bush! Why? Because talking junk is just plain fun!

 

Q: Do Dirtbags Log Caches from their couch?

 

A: Some do, some don’t. Personally I dislike logging the ones I find so armchair logging for me is out. I did log one of HB’s caches as a joke one time all I used to find it was my crystal ball. I have seen many Geocachers do this sort of thing, people are so hungry for some sort of status they will do all sorts of nutty things. I was at an event last year and the people running it wanted to hit the mega status so bad they would have sold their soul to get that status, and they did in my opinion. They were running around asking people in the park to come over and sign there event log trying to hit the magic number. I even signed my dog on their log just to see if they would let me and they did! Personally I find the whole thing hilarious. I think most people who do the armchair logging thing do it more as a joke than anything else. If you get banned from the website for a year for logging hundreds of caches in a single day you are my hero.

 

Q: What are DGS the videos about?

 

A: They are spoofs. The first video I saw before I was acquainted with DGS I was thinking what a dick head thing to do. The video involved a ladder and moving someone’s cache. As I watched other videos by this crew it became apparent to me that they are all in fun. They are Poking fun at each other and Geocaching as a whole.

 

Q: Do Dirtbags care what you think about them?

 

A: no.

 

Q: should you pre judge a Dirtbag?

 

A: No. Go find ten DGS hides then attend three DGS events. And then feel free to judge us, you may be surprised.

 

Q: Is Lukedrywalker a member of DGS?

 

A: You bet your sweet a** he is!

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JL_HSTRE

+JL_HSTRE

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
Q: What does it mean to be a Dirtbag?

 

A: It means many things to me, and probably different things to different people. I like the comradery of belonging to a group of people who accept me for who I am. You don’t need to fit in with these people; if you did not fit in they would have never voted you in.

 

Comradery is pretty much the point of most geo-groups.

 

Also, the italicized part seems rather contradictory.

 

Who gets to vote new members in? Are there entrance requirements? Initiation rites?

 

I like the fact that I can call someone and say hey I’m in a tunnel 500 feet under a city looking for a nano and can’t find it, do you know where it should be? Most of the time they do!

 

This would seem to apply to having any friends who are geocachers.

 

I like the fact that to us rules are just guidelines (I have always lived like this)

 

I hope the Reviewers are watching your activity extra close as a result. <_<

 

I would say any person or group that promotes and endorses circumventing the Guidelines because they are "just guidelines" is actively damaging the hobby. That's exactly the kind of thing that gets geocaching banned from an area.

 

Q: Do Dirtbags hate micros?

 

A: Most of the time yes

 

See, if they were just a society of cachers following the geo-teachings of Clan Riffster I think I could get behind that. :lol:

 

Q: Do Dirtbags Log Caches from their couch?

 

A: Some do, some don’t.

 

I would think armchair logging of caches is exactly the kind of thing a group that promotes interesting caches in interesting places would clearly oppose.

 

Q: What are DGS the videos about?

 

A: They are spoofs. The first video I saw before I was acquainted with DGS I was thinking what a dick head thing to do. The video involved a ladder and moving someone’s cache. As I watched other videos by this crew it became apparent to me that they are all in fun. They are Poking fun at each other and Geocaching as a whole.

 

While it may have been intended in jest, it seems like the kind of thing that should be privately circulated amongst the DGS and not put out on YouTube. It gives people a bad impression.

 

Q: Do Dirtbags care what you think about them?

 

A: no.

 

I suppose a group that calls themselves "dirtbags" isn't particularly concerned about their public image. Even if it started because of Army slang about serving in the desert, that meaning is not well-known; most people are only familiar with the dictionary definition ("a contemptible person")

Edited by Joshism
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Clan Riffster

Clan Riffster

Posted
Posted

So, to further clarify:

If someone is so rigid in their thinking that they believe there is only one True way to cache, (in Thy mercy), then the DGS is a cesspool of evil which must be purged, lest the Glorious hobby of Geocaching be banished from the land. For these folks, pitchforks and torches are the weapons of preference whilst fighting this Holiest of battles.

 

If someone just wants to find awesome caches hidden by great people, then the DGS is okay.

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Maingray

+Maingray

Posted
Posted

 

Q: Do Dirtbags hate micros?

 

A: Most of the time yes

 

See, if they were just a society of cachers following the geo-teachings of Clan Riffster I think I could get behind that. :lol:

 

 

This made me spit coffee. :wub: Match made in heaven :wub: .

 

 

*PS He used the word elitist.

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Manville Possum

+Manville Possum

Posted
Posted
I even signed my dog on their log just to see if they would let me and they did!

 

You signed your dog's name on a cache log? :unsure: My dog has his own account and has achieved GSA's highest level of Platinum EarthCache Master. :lol: And armchair logging? I got a friend request today from someone that I did not know, but accepted it anyway. Then a PM asking if they could armchair some of my geocaches. I blocked the user and did not respond to their request. They were not a member of the DGS, but rode in on a thread. Waymarkers have been logging their own listings before any DGS chapters were even formed, and many are totally against armchair logging. Has anyone out there ever dumped the water out of someone's geocache and added a dry log? Is that frowned upon too? DGS members hide geocaches and promote geocaching. We all have our own rules and standards that we follow along with the guidelines. So what's next? A Masonic Geocaching Society? :huh: Yeah, I'm a member of that group too. :lol: There are lot's of geocaching groups on FB, and the DGS is just a small drop in the bucket. :anibad:

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CanadianRockies

+CanadianRockies

Posted
Posted

If someone is so rigid in their thinking that they believe there is only one True way to cache, (in Thy mercy), then the DGS is a cesspool of evil which must be purged, lest the Glorious hobby of Geocaching be banished from the land. For these folks, pitchforks and torches are the weapons of preference whilst fighting this Holiest of battles.

You do seem to enjoy fighting straw men, perhaps because they are such easy battles.

 

I don't know anyone who has argued "there is only one True way to cache." But there are many people who are opposed to certain geocaching practices. I think this group probably includes yourself (e.g., armchair finds).

 

I think both armchair finds and armchair attends are rather cheesy. You might think armchair attends are okay. If so, then that's cool. As briansnat noted in an earlier thread, that would allow you to watch the Super Bowl on television and tell everyone you attended the game.

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Clan Riffster

Clan Riffster

Posted
Posted

If someone is so rigid in their thinking that they believe there is only one True way to cache, (in Thy mercy), then the DGS is a cesspool of evil which must be purged, lest the Glorious hobby of Geocaching be banished from the land. For these folks, pitchforks and torches are the weapons of preference whilst fighting this Holiest of battles.

You do seem to enjoy fighting straw men, perhaps because they are such easy battles.

 

I don't know anyone who has argued "there is only one True way to cache." But there are many people who are opposed to certain geocaching practices. I think this group probably includes yourself (e.g., armchair finds).

 

I think both armchair finds and armchair attends are rather cheesy. You might think armchair attends are okay. If so, then that's cool. As briansnat noted in an earlier thread, that would allow you to watch the Super Bowl on television and tell everyone you attended the game.

The Reverend has spoken. Bow your head. :lol:

I'm wondering if straw men have ever been named Sir Pot and Sir Kettle? <_<

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nthacker66

+nthacker66

Posted
Posted

My head is honestly spinning from the hypocrisy in here LOL. As clann put it about the "here to argue staw men" - sir kettle, meet sir pot.

 

I love the summary for DGS - a group with a warped sense of humor. Said in so few words that is exactly them. I will annotate that it is a harmless warped sense of humor, a good natured warped sense of humor, a warped sense of humor I would have no problems with my kids being a part of.

 

This one, said by joshim is one of my favs

 

"I hope the Reviewers are watching your activity extra close as a result. <_<"

 

I would say any person or group that promotes and endorses circumventing the Guidelines because they are "just guidelines" is actively damaging the hobby. That's exactly the kind of thing that gets geocaching banned from an area."

 

Because I didn't see anywhere where Luke said he or any dgs member is circumventing the guidelines. I have never seen a dgs cache that is "actively damaging the hobby" - what I have seen "actively damaging the hobby" are caches placed on business properties without permission even after the managers asked several times for something to be taken down (yes I have an example if you MUST have it) power trails and guard rail caches (so much so Virginia DOT banned them). I will reiterate the words of Briansnat - "taking a low profile low impact activity and turning it into a high profile high impact thing" is really the damage that is being done to caching.

 

And all of these "issues" people keep mentioning - armchair logging, etc. - is nothing new to the hobby. It wasn't an invention of DGS.

 

As far as the dogs name on an event log and going around to non cachers to get them to sign the log to make the next years event a mega. I know exactly what group he is talking about. These are people who talk about integrity of the game and one should never do ANYTHING against the guidelines pulling that?

 

Me, personally, I don't care. You want to log my cache without finding it. Go ahead. You want to log an event without being there? It really doesn't hurt the game in any way. Personally, I won't do it. But I am not such a stickler for the rules that I feel a need to bash anyone who does that. There are a lot of things I think may ruin this game - armchair/virtual logging/making silly videos are far from anything that will hurt the game.

 

As for DGS - I will continue to hang out with them, go to their events, cache with them because they are good people. I think Luke answered everything about DGS that needs to be answered. Well done Luke!

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Cacher Freeman

Cacher Freeman

Posted
Posted
As for DGS - I will continue to hang out with them, go to their events, cache with them because they are good people. I think Luke answered everything about DGS that needs to be answered. Well done Luke!

 

Why we are just like a big family that gets together and geocaches. I'm sure that Groundspeak does not have a problem with us supporting geocaching and hosting or attending Mega events. Signal the Frog even attends our events and we pour money into the community where we hold events. :ph34r:

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nthacker66

+nthacker66

Posted
Posted
As for DGS - I will continue to hang out with them, go to their events, cache with them because they are good people. I think Luke answered everything about DGS that needs to be answered. Well done Luke!

 

Why we are just like a big family that gets together and geocaches. I'm sure that Groundspeak does not have a problem with us supporting geocaching and hosting or attending Mega events. Signal the Frog even attends our events and we pour money into the community where we hold events. :ph34r:

Yes but are the items all branded with a Groundspeak/Waymarking/geocaching logo? :laughing:

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PA Ladi

+PA Ladi

Posted
Posted

Yes, there were a few people who logged their dog as an attendee at the HR picnic last year. Those names were removed from the logs before they were submitted to Groundspeak. There were also a few cachers who logged family members on the log sheets even though those family members were not at the picnic. Those names were also removed before the logs were submitted to Groundspeak. There were a few cachers who signed the log more than one time. Again all but one of their signatures were removed from the final total. Yes, there were a few non-cachers who came over to find out about caching and signed the logs. The final numbers were about 520 individual cachers actually present who signed the logs and 12 or 15 non-cachers. Groundspeak reviewed the actual logs including the ones that were lined through and not counted and were satisfied that we met the requirements for mega status. No souls were sold and a lot of people had a fun day. Will we maintain that status for next year? Time will tell but we will be honest even if attendees try to pad the numbers.

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted

Yes, there were a few people who logged their dog as an attendee at the HR picnic last year. Those names were removed from the logs before they were submitted to Groundspeak. There were also a few cachers who logged family members on the log sheets even though those family members were not at the picnic. Those names were also removed before the logs were submitted to Groundspeak. There were a few cachers who signed the log more than one time. Again all but one of their signatures were removed from the final total. Yes, there were a few non-cachers who came over to find out about caching and signed the logs. The final numbers were about 520 individual cachers actually present who signed the logs and 12 or 15 non-cachers. Groundspeak reviewed the actual logs including the ones that were lined through and not counted and were satisfied that we met the requirements for mega status. No souls were sold and a lot of people had a fun day. Will we maintain that status for next year? Time will tell but we will be honest even if attendees try to pad the numbers.

 

Not sure what this has to do with the Dirtbags (probably nothing), but there are indeed some borderline Mega events out there, Who don't even come close to 500 attended logs, but squeak by on family members, friends, non-geocachers checking out Geocaching, etc.

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cerberus1

+cerberus1

Posted
Posted

Yes, there were a few people who logged their dog as an attendee at the HR picnic last year. Those names were removed from the logs before they were submitted to Groundspeak. There were also a few cachers who logged family members on the log sheets even though those family members were not at the picnic. Those names were also removed before the logs were submitted to Groundspeak. There were a few cachers who signed the log more than one time. Again all but one of their signatures were removed from the final total. Yes, there were a few non-cachers who came over to find out about caching and signed the logs. The final numbers were about 520 individual cachers actually present who signed the logs and 12 or 15 non-cachers. Groundspeak reviewed the actual logs including the ones that were lined through and not counted and were satisfied that we met the requirements for mega status. No souls were sold and a lot of people had a fun day. Will we maintain that status for next year? Time will tell but we will be honest even if attendees try to pad the numbers.

Not sure what this has to do with the Dirtbags (probably nothing), but there are indeed some borderline Mega events out there, Who don't even come close to 500 attended logs, but squeak by on family members, friends, non-geocachers checking out Geocaching, etc.

I believe it was a response to this...

- snip -

I was at an event last year and the people running it wanted to hit the mega status so bad they would have sold their soul to get that status, and they did in my opinion. They were running around asking people in the park to come over and sign there event log trying to hit the magic number. I even signed my dog on their log just to see if they would let me and they did! Personally I find the whole thing hilarious. I think most people who do the armchair logging thing do it more as a joke than anything else. If you get banned from the website for a year for logging hundreds of caches in a single day you are my hero.

- snip -

Q: Is Lukedrywalker a member of DGS?

 

A: You bet your sweet a** he is!

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted (edited)

Yes, there were a few people who logged their dog as an attendee at the HR picnic last year. Those names were removed from the logs before they were submitted to Groundspeak. There were also a few cachers who logged family members on the log sheets even though those family members were not at the picnic. Those names were also removed before the logs were submitted to Groundspeak. There were a few cachers who signed the log more than one time. Again all but one of their signatures were removed from the final total. Yes, there were a few non-cachers who came over to find out about caching and signed the logs. The final numbers were about 520 individual cachers actually present who signed the logs and 12 or 15 non-cachers. Groundspeak reviewed the actual logs including the ones that were lined through and not counted and were satisfied that we met the requirements for mega status. No souls were sold and a lot of people had a fun day. Will we maintain that status for next year? Time will tell but we will be honest even if attendees try to pad the numbers.

Not sure what this has to do with the Dirtbags (probably nothing), but there are indeed some borderline Mega events out there, Who don't even come close to 500 attended logs, but squeak by on family members, friends, non-geocachers checking out Geocaching, etc.

I believe it was a response to this...

- snip -

I was at an event last year and the people running it wanted to hit the mega status so bad they would have sold their soul to get that status, and they did in my opinion. They were running around asking people in the park to come over and sign there event log trying to hit the magic number. I even signed my dog on their log just to see if they would let me and they did! Personally I find the whole thing hilarious. I think most people who do the armchair logging thing do it more as a joke than anything else. If you get banned from the website for a year for logging hundreds of caches in a single day you are my hero.

- snip -

Q: Is Lukedrywalker a member of DGS?

 

A: You bet your sweet a** he is!

 

Ya' have to quote people!! :laughing:

 

Groundspeak has probably tightened up, and audits wannabe Mega's the first year they go for it. Because I'll tell you what, I can think of one in a rural, hard to get to area, with no Interstate's from the closest major cities, that I've questioned the true Mega status of from day one (and it's been Mega about 5 years). I wouldn't doubt GS gets besieged by Mega request, especially from outside of North America.

 

To comment on some other stuff in Luke's quote. OK, that's starting to make a teeny little sense about the armchair logging being a joke. There have been other "old school, ammo box in the woods" Geocaching organizations though, and I'm not aware of any of them group engaging in a lame, taboo area of Geocaching as a joke. The DGS members that do engage in armchair logging do indeed have a unique sense of humor. :P

Edited by Mr.Yuck
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nthacker66

+nthacker66

Posted
Posted

Yes, there were a few people who logged their dog as an attendee at the HR picnic last year. Those names were removed from the logs before they were submitted to Groundspeak. There were also a few cachers who logged family members on the log sheets even though those family members were not at the picnic. Those names were also removed before the logs were submitted to Groundspeak. There were a few cachers who signed the log more than one time. Again all but one of their signatures were removed from the final total. Yes, there were a few non-cachers who came over to find out about caching and signed the logs. The final numbers were about 520 individual cachers actually present who signed the logs and 12 or 15 non-cachers. Groundspeak reviewed the actual logs including the ones that were lined through and not counted and were satisfied that we met the requirements for mega status. No souls were sold and a lot of people had a fun day. Will we maintain that status for next year? Time will tell but we will be honest even if attendees try to pad the numbers.

Not sure what this has to do with the Dirtbags (probably nothing), but there are indeed some borderline Mega events out there, Who don't even come close to 500 attended logs, but squeak by on family members, friends, non-geocachers checking out Geocaching, etc.

I believe it was a response to this...

- snip -

I was at an event last year and the people running it wanted to hit the mega status so bad they would have sold their soul to get that status, and they did in my opinion. They were running around asking people in the park to come over and sign there event log trying to hit the magic number. I even signed my dog on their log just to see if they would let me and they did! Personally I find the whole thing hilarious. I think most people who do the armchair logging thing do it more as a joke than anything else. If you get banned from the website for a year for logging hundreds of caches in a single day you are my hero.

- snip -

Q: Is Lukedrywalker a member of DGS?

 

A: You bet your sweet a** he is!

 

Ya' have to quote people!! :laughing:

 

Groundspeak has probably tightened up, and audits wannabe Mega's the first year they go for it. Because I'll tell you what, I can think of one in a rural, hard to get to area, with no Interstate's from the closest major cities, that I've questioned the true Mega status of from day one (and it's been Mega about 5 years). I wouldn't doubt GS gets besieged by Mega request, especially from outside of North America.

 

To comment on some other stuff in Luke's quote. OK, that's starting to make a teeny little sense about the armchair logging being a joke. There have been other "old school, ammo box in the woods" Geocaching organizations though, and I'm not aware of any of them group engaging in a lame, taboo area of Geocaching as a joke. The DGS members that do engage in armchair logging do indeed have a unique sense of humor. :P

 

I highly doubt DGS would put as much time, effort and money into geocaching if they thought it was a "joke" - there is big difference poking fun at how serious people take this, poking at Groundspeak - than how they are being portrayed.

 

Yes, they have a very gruff sense of humor - a very military sense of humor - lots of jagging and poking. But that is all it is, the joke in the end is really on them and that is how they like it. But I can tell you this - if you have this image of Bad-a'd biker gang types who are scary and mean, you will be very disappointed. You show up at one of their events and see they are just regular guys and gals looking for the same silly pieces of paper hidden on this planet. Lots of laughs during and good beer and stories afterwards.

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SloCachers

+SloCachers

Posted
Posted

Since I am in class right now, I didn't have a chance to read all the negative notions.

 

We are proud members of the DGS. We are not military or even veteran service members (but we whole heartedly support the troops!) what we are, we are members of this game that are sick of crappy hides. A vast majority of participants that defend hiding hundreds of film cans, pill bottles, goofy Gatorade bottle lid contraptions, MKHs, etc need to pull their heads out of the sand. Why are LPCs, pine trees, guard rail hides everywhere? Well frankly it's because 99% of participants are lazy and have this "if I have 88,000 find count, then I am better than everybody else" mentality. You are robots. You get in your car, drive to a light post in a Walmart parking lot, roll out of your car, lift the skirt, grab the cache and sign the log, replace the cache and then rinse and repeat another 4000 times.

 

Sounds to us like the OP is frustrated because the DGS have more interesting hides, better events, you name it. Yea, maybe some caches were "borrowed" in the beginning, punishments were handed down from TPTB, we've moved on. I guess you could say that the best example of the DGS is unionism. We are collectively working together for the better of the geocaching community. We have 88 favorite points across 5 of our hides, 3 of those are DGS affiliated hides which make up 58 of those 88 favorite points. Now you can keep wasting fuel and time and brain cells chasing down lame micros, but don't hate what you can't handle.

 

Keepin' it Dirty in Windy City,

SloCachers

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Wall-E&Eva

+Wall-E&Eva

Posted
Posted

What is the DGS? Is their purpose to encourage creative out-in-the-woods non-micro geocaches? Or is it to promote ignoring the guidelines, facilitate armchair logging of caches, share lists of puzzle cache solutions, and share lists of trackables?

Hey Josh what violations has the DGS done? Any examples or is this a "he said she said" statement? I shared a list that I complied over the years of trackables and that's it. Trackables are meant to be discovered or am I mistaken. Whoever is the owner of the trackable and does not like the virtual sharing can delete the log and that's it. What's the bid deal about me sharing a list that I made. Let the trackable owners complain about it; if you are of the opinion that trackables should be physically discovered then that's your opinion.

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Mr.Yuck

Mr.Yuck

Posted
Posted

What is the DGS? Is their purpose to encourage creative out-in-the-woods non-micro geocaches? Or is it to promote ignoring the guidelines, facilitate armchair logging of caches, share lists of puzzle cache solutions, and share lists of trackables?

Hey Josh what violations has the DGS done? Any examples or is this a "he said she said" statement? I shared a list that I complied over the years of trackables and that's it. Trackables are meant to be discovered or am I mistaken. Whoever is the owner of the trackable and does not like the virtual sharing can delete the log and that's it. What's the bid deal about me sharing a list that I made. Let the trackable owners complain about it; if you are of the opinion that trackables should be physically discovered then that's your opinion.

 

If you look at one of Josh's posts You'll see he *is* one of the trackable owners. Namely his trackable nametag that he wears to events was virtually logged by people at a DGS event. And I'd say Josh's opinion is a majority opinion, and one shared by The Powers That Be at Groundspeak. Not to mention the whole idea of distributing lists of TB's is cheesy, and not normally associated with proponents of quality Geocaching. :P

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Wall-E&Eva

+Wall-E&Eva

Posted
Posted

What is the DGS? Is their purpose to encourage creative out-in-the-woods non-micro geocaches? Or is it to promote ignoring the guidelines, facilitate armchair logging of caches, share lists of puzzle cache solutions, and share lists of trackables?

Hey Josh what violations has the DGS done? Any examples or is this a "he said she said" statement? I shared a list that I complied over the years of trackables and that's it. Trackables are meant to be discovered or am I mistaken. Whoever is the owner of the trackable and does not like the virtual sharing can delete the log and that's it. What's the bid deal about me sharing a list that I made. Let the trackable owners complain about it; if you are of the opinion that trackables should be physically discovered then that's your opinion.

 

If you look at one of Josh's posts You'll see he *is* one of the trackable owners. Namely his trackable nametag that he wears to events was virtually logged by people at a DGS event. And I'd say Josh's opinion is a majority opinion, and one shared by The Powers That Be at Groundspeak. Not to mention the whole idea of distributing lists of TB's is cheesy, and not normally associated with proponents of quality Geocaching. :P

Mr. Yuck I understand and respect your opinion but not everyone shares the same opinion. I understand that one of Josh's trackable's was logged and he has the right to delete the log if he wishes. What I don't agree with is that whether it is the opinion of the majority or minority that it be considered the "standard". I personally don't release any of my trackable's into to "wild" because of the horror stories of people stealing trackable's or holding them hostage; others do and that's their choice. You can go on any social media posting and see how many different ways people play the game; why should anyone tell a cacher how to discover a trackable because it's wrong in their opinion. Perhaps before people pass judgment on the DGS maybe they should find out what there all about instead of reading random post which cast them in a negative light. That's my two cents on the matter.

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Ecylram

+Ecylram

Posted
Posted

So I live in the state where the dirtbags started. I will admit, when I came back to geocaching after a 2 year hiatus, I was told by others who I thought were my friends, to avoid DGS. They were bad people. They were ruining the game, etc. and so on. I prejudged them until I met some of them. Where there other locals who always shunned me and treated me bad, the dirtbags treated me kindly and warmly. They hold great events, do a lot for the caching community, have very good relationships with local officials and know how to have fun....

 

The DGS is simply a geocaching club. Not a gang, not a bunch of meatheads, but family oriented people who like to have fun while keeping the game light by poking some fund at it and themselves. I cannot say enough nice things about them. They are a great bunch of people whom instead of prejudging, give them a chance and you will see that they are all about fun, no pressure to conform and easy to get along with.

 

Nthacker's experience is similar to my own. The local DGS chapter started here about 1 1/2 years ago. Shortly after the chapter started up a lot of rumors started getting passed around about them and I didn't like what I heard. There were some very nasty things being said, so I started asking around and, gasp, actually talked with members. It turned out the facts were a lot less 'exciting' than the stories.

I started attending their local events and found them to be less rigid and more social. I heard less moaning and complaining and more talk about the fun side of geocaching. Unfortunately, I lost one dear geocaching friend who couldn't understand how I could be friendly with 'dirtbaggers'.

 

Here's the truth about DGS (or at least what I've seen about the local chapter):

 

They are a group of geocachers that have all the virtues and flaws of any other group of geocachers. The main difference is they tend to be more social, prefer creative caches, and prefer caching in interesting places. Many have families and they are very supportive of each other.

 

They have a lot of members now so, of course, there are a couple that have an anarchistic bent but most are just people who love the game of geocaching. The local chapter is comprised of a nurse, current and ex-military folks, housewives, small business owners, and many are parents.

 

But don't take my word for it, attend some DGS events and talk with the members yourself. If you've got a concern, ask them about it.

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