+Gonzo-YT Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 (edited) This is of course, only my own opinion, but I suspect that a lot of bugs go missing with newbie cachers because of the tags themselves. Quite frankly, if I don't know what a travel bug is or does, reading the little tag won't help me know anything about it or what to do with it. "I go from place to place, picking up stories along the way. Visit www.Groundspeak.com to learn more about me and add your own!" This little bit of cutesy-wootsy text doesn't say what needs to be said. Nowhere does it tell me that I can't keep this item, or that I need to log it and move it on. Hell, it doesn't even suggest that I need to be left in a geocache. "I go from place to place..." -- does this mean I could leave a TB in a coffee shop, like a bookcrossing book? The message needs to be more clear, something like: If you take me, you must log your find on-line at www.geocaching.com. You can't keep me! Please place me in another geocache as soon as you can. Check the website to learn my goal and try to move me in the right direction, but above all keep me traveling! Edited September 23, 2004 by Gonzo-YT Quote Link to comment
+Cow Spots Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 This is the exact reason that many people print a specific sheet, attached to the Travel Bug, that explains its goal. Not to say that the system is foolproof, but if the TB has a goal sheet a conscientious cacher can decide whether or not they can assist in moving it along. --Dave, The Cow Spots Quote Link to comment
+Sagefox Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 I'm with you on the newby bit. But perhaps the reasons might be a little different. Every tb of ours that had a cool hitchhiker has been taken. Sometimes by low find cachers who never responded to gentle email requests to put the bug back in action and who subsequently left the sport. Other cool looking hitchhikers were grabbed from caches and not reported. An uninteresting bug might last longer but sure is fun to see cool looking ones. Quote Link to comment
+Gonzo-YT Posted September 23, 2004 Author Share Posted September 23, 2004 (edited) I'm not really talking so much about the goal thing. If you're serious about it meeting a goal, I understand why you'd want to attach a sheet. The point I'm getting at is, the way the tags are worded now, they don't say that you can't just keep a travel bug. You shouldn't need to attach a sheet to explain that a person can't just take the thing and keep it -- the tag should do that. Agreed, there are many other reasons that these things are taken and go missing. But having such an ambiguously worded tag sure isn't helping matters. Edited September 23, 2004 by Gonzo-YT Quote Link to comment
+bazzle Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Well it does say "Visit www.Groundspeak.com to learn more about me...". Come on folks get a clue... Quote Link to comment
+the hermit crabs Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Well it does say "Visit www.Groundspeak.com to learn more about me...". Come on folks get a clue... A lot of people might just take that as an advertisement to be ignored. For instance, this can of soda that I'm drinking at the moment is urging me to visit mountaindew.com, but I don't plan on doing so. Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 (edited) Well it does say "Visit www.Groundspeak.com to learn more about me...". Come on folks get a clue... nevermind Edited September 24, 2004 by Elf Danach Quote Link to comment
PatrickD Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 I'd LOVE to see new TB dog tags have better wording to at least clarify that people should keep them moving and NOT keep them. Quote Link to comment
+fly46 Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 If you go to Sissy-n-CR's online store you can buy tags for really cheap to add to your bug that say to move them along. With that said, Rusty Spike went missing (note, he was just an old, ugly, rusty spike), definately a no on the cute factor. You want your bug to not go missing because it's cute, do something to permanantly affix the tag to the item (drilling holes, pop rivits, etc) Quote Link to comment
+Eartha Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 The people have spoken and Groundspeak has heard them!!! So if you want to have any say in this matter, speak up now or forever hold your you peace. (piece?) Remember, it's still a dog tag sized tag, so we can't write a book on them. Quote Link to comment
The McToy Bandit Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Well, Sissy-N-CR's supplemental tags sure do have a lot better info. Conspiracy theory: Perhaps the tags are purposefully vague to inflate the number of missing bugs and sell more tags? My first TB is missing after it moved a a single time. Quote Link to comment
+aprilbapryll Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 as eartha referred to another topic, jeremy is in the process of rewording the travel bugs and is/was looking for feedback in the thread. check it out if you are still concerned. Quote Link to comment
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