Annoyed at arbitrary auto-deletion policy

[+Mysterion604]

I got a message today from "HQ" (well, HQ's system anyway), stating "This old unpublished cache has been archived as part of site maintenance and database clean-up. ..."

Basically the entry for my pending geocache got auto-deleted, either because of its GC or the last date in which it had activity.

In particular my cache had run into a problem where it was basically near complete, but the parks officials balked at the location and I put it on hold trying to see if I could eventually find another location which fit the concept. Now all that info I had saved is dead & gone. This is the second time I have had a geocache entry shoved arbitrarily into its grave, and it is pissing me off.

 

I take a lot of time to get my caches right, going back multiple times to get readings for their coordinates, testing out their concept, in field testing of waypoints. Some of them are part of a series, and the release needs to be coordinated. 

Some of these are on mountainous trails, I cannot just randomly go up there whenever I like - it takes free time, planning, and not-winter conditions. Some are challenge concepts that will require me to find someone who can code them; or bonus caches planned which require me to figure our how to develop the adventure lab for it first.  A lot of them take correspondence with park or city officials who can take months to get back to you, if they can even be bothered at all.

 

Well, I am not made of free time, nor infinite amounts of focus and energy, and especially not a giant pile of money ! So you can imagine how annoyed I am at having my projects being guillotined by some F-ing algorithm without even a F-ing warning to let me know that one of my project entries was in jeopardy. 

 

I mean seriously, you can design a way to auto-delete peoples' caches, and notify them by email after the fact, but can't send them a warning it is coming a month or a week before it happens ?!

 

If you want people to continue to devote time & money to this hobby, don't you think you should be working with them instead of against them? I shouldn't have to fight to recover my cache data now, because your system decided to arbitrarily wipe it out without any warning.

 

It is 220 AM and I am having to write this because I got notified of my cache project's demise at midnight, and just happened to glace at my phone notifications. On top of all the other problems I have in life, I do not need another one.

 

 

 

[+Hügh]

19 minutes ago, Mysterion604 said:

Now all that info I had saved is dead & gone.

 

19 minutes ago, Mysterion604 said:

I mean seriously, you can design a way to auto-delete peoples' caches

 

Your unpublished cache listing was not deleted; only archived. Just like with published caches, this means the content is still there.

 

Use the link to the cache in the (archival) email you were sent to open up the listing and copy the content to a new cache listing.

Edited December 29, 2024 by Hügh

[+Hügh]

It's also worth noting that the e-mail you got probably said something like this:

 

Quote

This old, unpublished cache has been archived as part of site maintenance and database clean-up. You are not required to take action. If you are working on a new cache, create a new listing and submit it for review. Should you prefer to use this listing, contact your local reviewer to request unarchival. See this Help Center article to identify the reviewer for your area. In the future, please work to submit cache pages for review within three months of creation. If you are working on a complex cache, or are waiting on permission, communicate your progress by posting regular reviewer notes to unsubmitted listings. Submissions older than six months may be automatically archived.

 

Emphasis added. That'll work, too.

[Keystone]

The advice you received from @Hügh is excellent.  I would add just one more tip:  post a Reviewer Note on your "work in progress" page every few months, saying something like "I am still working on this cache page" or "I am still working with the park officials to determine an acceptable location for this cache."  Cache pages with no activity for more than six months are at risk to be auto-archived.  A change to the page re-sets the clock.

 

There are a number of reasons for this protocol.

[+JL_HSTRE]

Aren't unpublished cache pages only archived after a year of inactivity on the page? Activity being defined as any edit or log.

 

Hopefully @Keystone or another Reviewer can confirm the time frame. 

[Keystone]

The timeframe for auto-archival of inactive, unpublished cache pages is less than one year.  The process relies on a script that's run by Geocaching HQ.  To avoid auto-archival, the cache owner should post a Reviewer Note every few months to indicate they're still working on the cache page.

[+MartyBartfast]

27 minutes ago, Keystone said:

To avoid auto-archival, the cache owner should post a Reviewer Note every few months to indicate they're still working on the cache page.

I have a series that's been in the planning since June, but ended up being put on the back burner. This thread prompted me to post a reviewer note that they will be ready soon to avoid auto-archival, it's also prompted me to get off my backside and get them finished!

So thanks to the OP and responders for the prod!

[+Max and 99]

Here's what the help center says: 

 

6.16. Unpublished geocaches may be archived

It’s good etiquette to submit your cache page for review within three months of creation. Inactive and unpublished cache pages may delay the review of newly submitted geocaches. To prevent this, inactive cache pages that are older than ten months may be automatically archived.

Make sure to check your Cache owner dashboard for updates and to post regular Reviewer Notes on your cache page if:

 

 

• You are working on a complex cache
• You are waiting on permission for your cache placement

[+peter-tvm]

In the past it was enough to edit the listing once every third month or so. Or changing the placed date to the current date to show that the listing was still active. Or edit the reviewer note to add more information. The last option is however closed since reviewer notes now are locked. 

 

So if the help Center article is correct på posting a new reviewer note is the only option nowadays.

[+thebruce0]

Use this link to see all archived and unpublished cache listings in the right sidebar: https://www.geocaching.com/my/geocaches.aspx?archived=y