+Damaxx Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 I'm usually pleased to see the game publicized, but I do like to see it well-described and represented. Page 48 of yesterday's (Aug. 20) NY Post had an article that tried to play on the excitement of the thrill of the hunt in geocaching, but it missed the mark a bit, IMHO. Most of it was just fine, but lines like the following one might be misleading. "Baubles are hidden all over the world, but there's no way of knowing the nature of the prize until you find it." First, this and other parts of the article imply that it's all about the *prize*. That's not always the case. Second, this makes it sound like you have no idea what type of cache you're searching for and that the contents are entirely secret. With many caches listing original contents, and many people logging what they took and left, one often can know *the nature of the prize*. Sure, there's often a surprise or two in the cache, agreed, but I don't think that's how this article came off. I did like that the author relayed an actual experience of his in finding a cache, but it implied that the listing of the cache did not let him know that it was a virtual cache. Maybe that's the actual case, but I doubt it. He was thoroughly surprised to find no real cache there. Maybe the cache hider intended that - maybe. "No gold, no jewels, not even a CD - just the thrill of the chase." You were expecting rough-cut diamonds, maybe? Damaxx Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 The problems with the article may not be the fault of the reporter. I think that it is the responsibility of the cacher who the reporter interviews to put the right 'spin' on geocaching. I suggest that, when talking to a reporter, the focus on cachestash is minimized and the other benefits of the activity is stressed (exercise, knowledge of new and cool locations, family time, et al). Also, if a reporter is going to tag along on a hunt, you should take him/her to the coolest cache around. You probably want to take him to one that you have already visited. This way you know that it is a great cache, is completely appropriate, and that you can find it. Remember, if the reporter comes away from the interview/hunt thinking that geocaching is lame, the article will not be written, or it will not make geocaching look inviting. Quote Link to comment
+Damaxx Posted August 21, 2002 Author Share Posted August 21, 2002 sbell, you hit on serveral good points that i didn't cover well. thanks. i particularly like the idea of going to a known cache if one happens to have a reporter tagging along. makes sense. In the article to which I was referring, the author *was* the geocacher, not someone he interviewed. i think he had a good experience, but not a great one, necessarily, in the hunt he mentions in the article. It's certainly a positive article about geocaching; don't get me wrong. I was just being picky about the parts I didn't like. When I see the words, "prize, booty, and treasure" in the same article (as was the case here), I just wonder what non-cachers are thinking. The more people get in their minds that something of monetary value is hidden in caches, the worse off we all are, I think. In this author's defense, he clarifies a bit by saying that the "...treasure can be anything from a rubber snake or a roll of film to a secret sign left behind." That helps, and it's responsible journalism. He also refers to the items as "baubles". That's good, too. It's just that the buzzwords I mentioned above are what stick with people, not "rubber snake". Look, I know much of this is semantics, but with regulations in place in some states, (including my own), other limitations likely down the road, I do think it's worth nitpicking sometimes about how this game is represented. I enjoy it that much. Damaxx Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 I totally agree with you. I didn't realize that the cacher was the writer of the article. In my opinion, the cacher missed a golden opportunity to create a VERY positive article. Quote Link to comment
Team Dragon Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 It's possible the story was edited to place more emphasis on the "booty" side. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Team Dragon:It's possible the story was edited to place more emphasis on the "booty" side. True. I'm going to use this as one more reason to hate the Post. Quote Link to comment
bxreporter Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 Regardless of the way the Post article was written, it was enough for me to hit geocaching.com, become interested and order a GPS. If you believe the old adage that it's a success if even one person becomes interested, then it succeeded. Also, it so happens that I'm a newspaper editor in NYC and I intend to put together another story on geocaching to highlight my own experiences. An aside, I'm pretty sure the Post article was written by a freelance columnist. CB Quote Link to comment
+Rusty & Libby Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 It's not that easy for everyone to 'steer' a reporter in the right direction. I was interviewed for a newspaper article Monday and the reporter had gone on a cache hunt with someone else last week. He seemed a little disappointed becuase I didn't have much to say on the prizes I had found in caches. My main motivation is the hunt itself. He was taken to a cache that was buried (one of the earliest ones in our area when nobody thought anything of it) and I made sure he knew not to write about it being "buried treasure". That's the one thing I hate to see in articles. Rusty... Rusty & Libby's Geocache Page Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ting Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 quote:Originally posted by sbell111: I suggest that, when talking to a reporter, the focus on cachestash is minimized and the other benefits of the activity is stressed (exercise, knowledge of new and cool locations, family time, et al). WAIT JUST ONE DARNED SECOND! This is EXERCISE?!?! I have to spend MORE time with my wife? And I HAVE to see new and cool locations?? I KNEW there was a catch!! Bear I thought I was a little off, then I looked at my GPS and discovered I accurate to 12 ft. Geocachers don't NEED to ask for directions! Quote Link to comment
+Damaxx Posted August 21, 2002 Author Share Posted August 21, 2002 Hey, welcome aboard, C.B.!! As I mentioned earlier, it certainly was a positive article, and I'm sure you're not the only one who jumped on the bandwagon because of it. Although you acted rather quickly by already ording a GPS. That's great. I also have feeling you're right about this being a freelance article. Hehe, he's probably reading this now. Can't wait to see your article. Give us a heads up when it comes along, won't you? Damaxx quote:Originally posted by C.B.:Regardless of the way the Post article was written, it was enough for me to hit geocaching.com, become interested and order a GPS. If you believe the old adage that it's a success if even one person becomes interested, then it succeeded. Also, it so happens that I'm a newspaper editor in NYC and I intend to put together another story on geocaching to highlight my own experiences. An aside, I'm pretty sure the Post article was written by a freelance columnist. CB Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 Welcome aboard CB. I'm an old Bronx boy myself. Born and raised there. Did you realize the Bronx is the only NYC borough of all five that is part of the contiguous US?? The other four are on islands. I guess that now makes me and "out islander". ALan Quote Link to comment
+Seay me Posted August 21, 2002 Share Posted August 21, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Alan2:...Did you realize the Bronx is the only NYC borough of all five that is part of the contiguous US?? The other four are on islands... ALan I'm not from NY, but that is quite an interesting piece of information. Chip Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 22, 2002 Share Posted August 22, 2002 Does anybody have the URL for this article? I went to the Post's website, but couldn't find anyting. "Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing" - Helen Keller Quote Link to comment
+Damaxx Posted August 22, 2002 Author Share Posted August 22, 2002 Here's the URL to the article. I this link doesn't work for some reason, from the main page at http://www.nypost.com you can type in the word "geocaching" without the quotes in the search field at left. This will take you to the link page for the article. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/index.html?ts=1030040441 Also, you can only read a few short paragraphs free of charge. To get the entire article, they'll want $2.95 from you. That's why I didn't place the URL in my original post. Damaxx quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:Does anybody have the URL for this article? I went to the Post's website, but couldn't find anyting. "Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing" - Helen Keller Quote Link to comment
bxreporter Posted August 22, 2002 Share Posted August 22, 2002 I have the Post story saved as a txt file. I'll post it here if there's interest. I just don't want to post a long article without asking first. Quote Link to comment
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