Deleting virtual logs that didn't comply with logging requirement?

[+crossseeker77]

I have a new virtual and I wanted to make the logging requirements simple. Basically, they have to: 1. post (or email) a thumbs-up photo at the location; and 2. write in the log what they enjoyed or learned about the location. Very simple, and the instructions are clear in the description, but people are posting logs with one or both of those tasks not completed. The photo is proof of visiting the location.

I'm curious how you all handle this with virtuals and earthcaches? Do you message them with a reminder? How much time do you give them to comply? Do you delete their log if they don't? I don't want my virtual to become just an armchair caching site, but I don't want to be a jerk. Thanks

 

[+GeoElmo6000]

I have two virtuals that require a photo.  The large majority of loggers do so without issue, though some will message me the photo and post the photo (when I said that there's no need to message me the photo).

 

For those that message me a photo and don't post it, I ask them to add the photo to the log.  I offer to explain how to do so also.  I'm very patient despite a clear "please post a photo within 24 hours of your log" requirement.  For those that don't post a photo, I ask them to post a photo, again offering to explain to them how to do so if they need help.

 

If a few days goes by without any progress, I delete the log.

 

Sometimes the person will re-post the log with the photo afterward, sometimes no log will be posted.

 

You can see my virtuals on my profile if you want to see how I worded things.

[+NanCycle]

27 minutes ago, GeoElmo6000 said:

For those that message me a photo and don't post it, I ask them to add the photo to the log.  I offer to explain how to do so also.  I'm very patient despite a clear "please post a photo within 24 hours of your log" requirement.  For those that don't post a photo, I ask them to post a photo, again offering to explain to them how to do so if they need help.

 

If a few days goes by without any progress, I delete the log.

Sometimes this is an issue for me as a finder.  If we are away on a trip, my husband takes the pictures on his camera (yes, camera, not phone) and they don't get downloaded until we are home -- this can be as long as two weeks or even a few days more.  I always explain this in my original log;  I sometimes get a reminder from the CO that I haven't posted the photo, to which I respond with the date when I expect to be able to post the photo.  I've never had a log deleted because of this.  

[+GeoElmo6000]

2 hours ago, NanCycle said:

Sometimes this is an issue for me as a finder.  If we are away on a trip, my husband takes the pictures on his camera (yes, camera, not phone) and they don't get downloaded until we are home -- this can be as long as two weeks or even a few days more.  I always explain this in my original log;  I sometimes get a reminder from the CO that I haven't posted the photo, to which I respond with the date when I expect to be able to post the photo.  I've never had a log deleted because of this.  

 

And that's why I said I'm patient.  I'm not going to delete a log if there's communication.  But eventually there has to be a photo.

[+barefootjeff]

The virtual rewards guidelines in the Help Centre says "The purpose of the required logging task is to show that the geocacher was at the location. Anything other than that should be optional."

 

My own virtual, published in January this year, has three waypoints with questions to answer plus a requirement to include a photo taken at the final one with your log. It's only had 6 fiinders, but one of those managed to get the first two questions wrong and included his photo with his answers instead of in his log, but it was enough to convince me he'd been there so I was content to let his log stand without fussing over the technicalities. I want it to be a fun experience, not an exam. Much the same went for my now-archived EC where I only deleted logs if I didn't get any answers at all in spite of requesting them in follow-up messages and emails, or if it was clear the logger had never been to the location.

[+BirdSearcher]

I have a virtual that requires answering 5 questions, i.e., not very simple. Of the 100+ people that have visited so far, maybe 4-5 have answered one of the questions wrong. However I let all the logs stand since they obviously visited the location.
I would actually suggest not making the logging requirement too simple, as it seems that people enjoy it more when they put a bit more effort into it 😀

[+NLBokkie]

I logged this one and so did my mate: https://coord.info/GC890Z0 , complete with photo as required. As the background was visible and our faces and part of our bodies were fully shown, it was clear that my mate and me have been at the exact place. The owner deleted our logs as the picture didn't show our caching names, which is a logging requirement according to them. This is mentioned in the listing, but apparantly very strictly enforced ... not my style of having fun with caches ...

Edited September 23 by NLBokkie

[+Goldenwattle]

20 minutes ago, NLBokkie said:

as the picture didn't show our caching names,

I've had that happen to me. I had my GPS and hand with statue behind, but no name on paper. My log was deleted. I had some other cachers contact me and say this was ridiculous. It was. I am planning to get a friend to stand there for me, write my name on paper and hold it up to make a mockery of this rule. Hand and name only as he's male. ANYONE can write a name. My hand and GPS were more reliable.

[+arisoft]

1 hour ago, NLBokkie said:

it was clear that my mate and me have been at the exact place. The owner deleted our logs as the picture didn't show our caching names

 

The same happens if you make a photolog of a traditional cache. It may be clear that you visited the place but your task is to sign the log.

[+Sottiwotti]

The requirement of showing your caching name is so ridicilous. I do not have a piece of paper with me all the time, and I'm sure I'm not the only one

[+Max and 99]

2 minutes ago, Sottiwotti said:

The requirement of showing your caching name is so ridicilous. I do not have a piece of paper with me all the time, and I'm sure I'm not the only one

Looks like one person wrote their name on their finger and put it in the photo. 

[+cerberus1]

5 hours ago, NLBokkie said:

I logged this one and so did my mate: https://coord.info/GC890Z0 , complete with photo as required. As the background was visible and our faces and part of our bodies were fully shown, it was clear that my mate and me have been at the exact place. The owner deleted our logs as the picture didn't show our caching names, which is a logging requirement according to them. This is mentioned in the listing, but apparantly very strictly enforced ... not my style of having fun with caches ...

 

The only requirement is have visible caching name (just a small card even, like the example on the cache page). It'd fit in your pocket.

It's a popular area, and I could probably pass myself off as any other person that visited there that day.

 - If anyone else happened to look like a bridge troll...      I would have a similar small card in my pocket for the visit.  NBD.

[+cerberus1]

3 hours ago, Sottiwotti said:

The requirement of showing your caching name is so ridicilous. I do not have a piece of paper with me all the time, and I'm sure I'm not the only one

The nice thing about this hobby is I don't have to do caches that bug me, skipping by hundreds to get to one I'll do.

I remember seeing a webcam where the CO wanted you to phoon at his webcam so he could tell which person you were.

Before cellphones and immediate gratification, we had to have a third person at home take our photo from a PC to log our only webcam

Having a card in your pocket for the day for one virtual doesn't seem like that big a deal...

 

Edited September 23 by cerberus1

[+Goldenwattle]

4 hours ago, cerberus1 said:

phoon

What is that?

[+Max and 99]

2 minutes ago, Goldenwattle said:

What is that?

phooning is the act of striking a pose where all the limbs are bent at the joints, and the body is bent forward at the waist.

 

[+Goldenwattle]

10 minutes ago, Max and 99 said:

phooning is the act of striking a pose where all the limbs are bent at the joints, and the body is bent forward at the waist.

Well I can't imagine many non-Americans would know that. Doesn't translate well internationally. Also very difficult to do when caching alone. Perhaps a picture of my bent arm or knee saying that's all that I could fit in the photograph needing to to take a picture of myself from myself.

 

Edited September 24 by Goldenwattle

[+Hynz]

19 hours ago, Goldenwattle said:

ANYONE can write a name. My hand and GPS were more reliable.

Really? Lets assume you want to cheat your visit at the location. Do you really think finding someone making a photo at the location with *your* name is easier than searching the internet (I would even suggest manipulating an older photo from the gallery ) for an acceptable motive with a person or a gps or a hand?

At my virtual I even require the date (either together with the person/gps or with the username) to prevent that old family photos were used.

[+Goldenwattle]

47 minutes ago, Hynz said:

Really? Lets assume you want to cheat your visit at the location. Do you really think finding someone making a photo at the location with *your* name is easier than searching the internet (I would even suggest manipulating an older photo from the gallery ) for an acceptable motive with a person or a gps or a hand?

At my virtual I even require the date (either together with the person/gps or with the username) to prevent that old family photos were used.

Sigh, didn't you read what I wrote. I did visit the virtual sight and I supplied a photograph of my GPS and me at the site. I also answered the questions correctly (which I needed to visit the site to find the answers for) and sent them to the CO before I logged, as I always do. My log was rejected, because I didn't include a piece of paper with my name on it. What does that prove? That a friend held it up for me! I had messages from other geocachers saying this is ridiculous and they would have accepted the log. I have been ignoring this virtual as every time I pass it I get annoyed just thinking about it. So fair game, it's on. When I can be bothered I will get a friend to write my name and pose with the statue. Then log . A name on the piece of paper and even a date is zilch proof anyone was there. Zero!

[+arisoft]

34 minutes ago, Goldenwattle said:

My log was rejected, because I didn't include a piece of paper with my name on it. What does that prove?

 

You have some misunderstanding about the virtual caches. You must perform the task stated in the description. Visiting the site is optional(*), unless stated in the description. If you miss the task your log may be deleted.

 

(*) CO can not delete your log just because you didn't visit the GZ.

[+barefootjeff]

30 minutes ago, arisoft said:

Visiting the site is optional(*), unless stated in the description.

 

The Help Centre has a different take on this...

 

[+Goldenwattle]

2 minutes ago, barefootjeff said:

 

 

Pleased about "Cache owners cannot require information to be sent through one particular tool." Some want an email send with the answer, which then sends a reply to log back. For some reason it doesn't work with the email address I want to use for this. I won't use my personal email. Good, I will continue to message answers.

[+arisoft]

1 hour ago, barefootjeff said:

The Help Centre has a different take on this...

 

Did you see the fine print (*)

 

There are similar requirement for other type of caches too but it is considered that the name in the logbook is enough for a find, because CO can not delete the find if this primary requirement is fullfilled.

Edited September 24 by arisoft

[+thebruce0]

On 9/23/2024 at 8:09 PM, Goldenwattle said:

What is that?

 

A running man pose. Nothing big or special. But a geocacher did it many many years ago, started a trend, and now it's kind of a quiet fun thing geocachers sometimes do. SOrt of like planking for geocachers.
(Sadly it looks like the homepage's last stand was back in February and has since been lost to the ether)

 

The phoon is also used as a component theme in my logo for Cache The Line, since day 1

 

 

 

I have seen numerous geocaches, mainly Virtual, that have a phoon theme to them. Whether requiring a phoon for a valid Find or just having fun with the pose.

 

When I did my 366 day streak of finds I took a phoon photo every single day. Got a lot of practice 

[+Goldenwattle]

9 hours ago, thebruce0 said:

A running man pose.

Thank you. I haven't noticed that image before. Might be regional.

[+barefootjeff]

3 hours ago, Goldenwattle said:

I haven't noticed that image before. Might be regional.

 

It may well be, as I haven't seen any local virtuals with a "phooning" requirement. The photo requirements on most, including my own, are just to include a part of yourself (face optional), or something of yours such as a card bearing your caching name, with the feature of interest in the background.