Clean the map of missing trackables?

[+Trail Blaisers]

Moving trackables has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of geocaching since I joined in 2007. However, as has been mentioned over and over in these forums, the careless handling of trackables has become an epidemic which is truly unfortunate. There are still a good number in circulation, but I would say that at least 2/3 of caches that I visit does not have the trackable that is listed as being there. With a map full of icons that say there is a trackable it is an unpleasant task to try and weed them out. I've been proactive to let both TB and GC owners as well as cache owners know they should mark their items as missing if it's been more than a year, but rarely get action.

 

Without taking action, the 'litter' of missing trackables will only get worse. My question is, with the obvious exception of those that may be in a very lonely cache, can/should Groundspeak make a clean sweep and eliminate or mark missing any trackable that hasn't been moved in a given amount of time (say one or two years)?

[+lee737]

I Agree. Maybe day to day do the same if some number of finders (10?) find the cache after the TB is placed, and don't discover/retrieve it.

[+Isonzo Karst]

You might want to post in the Website section, perhaps to one of the existing threads:

[FEATURE] Bulk Action Mark Missing Mark Missing all TBs over a year in D/T1- 1.5 Trads

 

It's a somewhat less aggressive action than you're proposing, as it's limited to Trads D/T 1.5 (the caches available to "muggles with apps").

I think it's the right place to start with such an action. See what (if any) blow back it creates before expanding it.

 

Also a fine suggestion that's been around for a while,

SUBMITTED (21313) - [FEATURE] System to remove "ghost" trackables from cache inventories.

 

This would apply broadly to all trackables in all caches. Takes the community caring enough to do it, but I think it would work fine.

[+Evil Tom]

Moving trackables has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of geocaching since I joined in 2007. However, as has been mentioned over and over in these forums, the careless handling of trackables has become an epidemic which is truly unfortunate. There are still a good number in circulation, but I would say that at least 2/3 of caches that I visit does not have the trackable that is listed as being there. With a map full of icons that say there is a trackable it is an unpleasant task to try and weed them out. I've been proactive to let both TB and GC owners as well as cache owners know they should mark their items as missing if it's been more than a year, but rarely get action.

 

Without taking action, the 'litter' of missing trackables will only get worse. My question is, with the obvious exception of those that may be in a very lonely cache, can/should Groundspeak make a clean sweep and eliminate or mark missing any trackable that hasn't been moved in a given amount of time (say one or two years)?

Easiest way is to get people to stop stealing the trackables. This is the only hobby I participate in where theft of personal property is not just over looked but condoned. It has gotten to the point where people now have to staff the trackable tables at events and make people sign for them when they take them.

[+cerberus1]

- snip -

My question is, with the obvious exception of those that may be in a very lonely cache, can/should Groundspeak make a clean sweep and eliminate or mark missing any trackable that hasn't been moved in a given amount of time (say one or two years)?

Yes.

[+kunarion]

can/should Groundspeak make a clean sweep and eliminate or mark missing any trackable that hasn't been moved in a given amount of time (say one or two years)?

Yes they can and should, but only on the condition that they post a running tally of the number of "Missing" Trackables. In a highly visible place in the Geocaching Trackables Shop. Why not Include that in the Geotour Info!

Edited June 21, 2016 by kunarion

[+kunarion]

This is the only hobby I participate in where theft of personal property is not just over looked but condoned. It has gotten to the point where people now have to staff the trackable tables at events and make people sign for them when they take them.

A friend told me about how she passed around her prized binder of her own Geocoins at a small Event. When she got it back, a coin was gone. I guess Geocaching.com can/should mark that one missing.

 

Believe it or not, I've even seen open discussions about how to make the "ghosts" of the stolen items go away. Not how to get them returned to the game, but ways to hide the evidence, ways to make the situation worse. You absolutely never see TPBT even hint how bad an idea that is. But we all see the results.

Edited June 21, 2016 by kunarion