The Band of Brothers Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I was recently talking with a friend who didnt know about geocaching, and while I was expolaining it something about it being a sport came out. What do you think? Quote Link to comment
+GEO*Trailblazer 1 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 If you play it. It is a sport. Are you playing? Quote Link to comment
+TheAlabamaRambler Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Not being competitive, it's usually considered a game. Quote Link to comment
+rojeel Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I know that without geocaching I probably would spend most of my time indoors. I was injured a while back, broken back and busted knees, so I really didn't do much of anything. Now after a year of part time geocaching I can walk nearly a mile (previously it was less than 100 yards) so I can say it does provide an incentive for rehabilitation. I still have difficulty, but finding a little box in the middle of nowhere drives me forward. I see some caches require little to no effort to find while some take climbing a mountain to log. I have climbed a couple of small mountains, it took several hours to complete, but for some reason I had to find the cache on top and that is what kept me taking that one more step. So I believe it does have some sporting aspects, but mainly it is fun and I get to see things I would probably have missed after my accident. My vote would be yes it is a sport. Quote Link to comment
+GEO*Trailblazer 1 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Games are played wether it is for fun or all the ($$geocaches). Quote Link to comment
+SqueekyFD5 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Some people are extremly competitive when it comes to GC and the numbers. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Best description I've read in these forums is that Geocaching is a RASH. Recreational Activity Sport Hobby. Quote Link to comment
PyroDave Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 to me if i break a sweet its a sport. I do that quite often geocaching Quote Link to comment
+tabulator32 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 If you play it.It is a sport. Are you playing? Does that mean five card draw is a sport? Quote Link to comment
+1BuzyMom Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I started caching less than 4 months ago and have been out hiking with my kids much more. I say it is a sport. Competition comes in many forms. Quote Link to comment
+webscouter. Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 If you don't think it is a sport try to get a FTF in Kansas City. We routinely have 3 or more geocachers on site within 30 minutes of a cache being approved. Quote Link to comment
+GEO*Trailblazer 1 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 If you play it.It is a sport. Are you playing? Does that mean five card draw is a sport? Guess so. Quote Link to comment
+Glenn Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Googlism for: geocaching geocaching is not a crime geocaching is illegal in nps areas geocaching is "natural " geocaching is a game where you use your gps to locate a hidden "treasure" geocaching is a new 21st century recreation that came about as a result of the improving accuracy of electronic global positioning system geocaching is een avontuurlijk spel voor gps gebruikers geocaching is a high geocaching is a new and entertaining outdoor recreational sport for gpsr users geocaching is currently not allowed on nps land geocaching is treasure hunting for the 21st century geocaching is the treasure hunt of the 21st century geocaching is samengesteld uit geo wat staat voor geografie en caching wat staat voor het verstoppen van een schat geocaching is a new 21st century recreation that came about as a result of the geocaching is a sport in which individuals or organizations cache materials at particular locations geocaching is now more fun geocaching is a treasure hunt where you use a gps receiver to find caches hidden around the world geocaching is a brand new sport that has recently become popular geocaching is a rapidly growing global sport where outdoor enthusiasts seek out treasures planted all over the world geocaching is a fast growing and entertaining sport that involves many outdoor types every year geocaching is de nieuwste trend voor avontuurlijke wandelaars geocaching is a fast geocaching is high geocaching is a great family friendly activity and a fun way to explore parks geocaching is a great activity for all ages geocaching is an exciting new hobby developed with the advent of gps geocaching is a new outdoor activity which involves the search for hidden caches by inputting a set of given coordinates into your gps geocaching is an adventure game where everyone with a gps unit can participate geocaching is also referred to as gps stash hunt geocaching is for you geocaching is then you can read on for some of our experiences geocaching is a new interest that uses global positioning receivers and the us government's global positioning system geocaching is a new outdoor activity that brings treasure hunting into the 21 st century geocaching is an entertain geocaching is also one of our sponsors geocaching is a ton of fun geocaching is an adventure hobby that involves using a gps device to locate a cache geocaching is a relatively new phenomenon geocaching is fun geocaching is a fancy name for a fun geocaching is quickly gaining popularity geocaching is a relatively simple game that blends the internet geocaching is a fun way to get out while learning and using navigation skills geocaching is an opportunity to get off your bum and see the world geocaching is an opportunity to get off your duff and see the world geocaching is geocaching is an activity in which participants hide a cache and take a position at the location using a gps receiver geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users geocaching is a great way to justify the purchase geocaching is for the seeker to find a cache hidden by someone else geocaching is a gps based sport geocaching is orienteering geocaching is a pastime in which caches of items are hidden in non geocaching is a game that was made possible when the accuracy of handheld gps receivers became good enough to locate objects within a few feet geocaching is een nieuwe sport die ontstaan is in de verenigde staten geocaching is all about geocaching is the sport of searching for and finding caches that have been hidden around the world geocaching is an adventure game based on a 'treasure hunt' theme where participants in one party use a handheld gps device to search for sealed caches left by geocaching is an "entertaining adventure game for gps users geocaching is kind of like a high geocaching is "natural " geocaching is a relatively new outdoor sport geocaching is the coolest geocaching is done knowing nothing more than the latitude and longitude of the cache's location geocaching is een buitenactiviteit geocaching is an activity that has taken off at an even faster pace than letterboxing geocaching is civilized and family geocaching is for everyone…young and old…whether you are a techno geocaching is deceptively simple geocaching is a relatively new sport/outdoor activity that is sweeping the nation geocaching is a puzzle geocaching is a relatively new hobby in which people use a global positioning unit to find hidden containers along trails in parks and other natural areas geocaching is a new sport that's part treasure hunt and part hide geocaching is simply a treasure hunt using a gps geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps geocaching is and requests an exchange of contents geocaching is a giant Quote Link to comment
+fly46 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Badmitten (sic) is not only considered a sport, but held in the olympics. If that can be an olympic sport, then yeah, geocaching can be a sport, too. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 (edited) Main Entry: sport Function: noun 1 a : a source of diversion : RECREATION (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure Sounds like a sport to me. I kind of prefer to call it that. I think that calling it a game makes it sound a bit friviolous. You hear the debate in SC and when they talk about our playing games in cemeteries it makes me cringe. Not being competitive, it's usually considered a game. Skiing is considered to be a sport and the vast majority of skiers do not compete. Sames goes for fishing, climbing, kayaking and many other activities. Because something is a sport does not mean competetion is involved. Edited May 9, 2005 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+nfa Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Geocaching is a pursuit n. - An activity, such as a vocation or hobby, engaged in regularly. I also like this word choice for the double entendre (ok...maybe 1.5 entendre) nfa-jamie Quote Link to comment
MagicMeeko Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I will get flamed for saying this. But here goes. If Cheerleading is a Sport, Then Geocaching is a sport. Certain physical feats are required to reach a pre-set goal. Some of the goals are harder to reach. Points are rewarded. Highest point total wins. I thought I could use Chess as an Example, but Googling that proves that issue to be a hot topic as well. (I'm pro chess as a sport.) Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 (edited) Dictionary.com: n. 1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Other than some really easy P & Gs, geocaching requires physical activity. Definately geocaching is goverened by a set of rules (sic), customs goes without saying. Depending on where you live, it can certainly be competitive, but the definition does not require competition. Just the facts. You decide if it is a sport. EDIT: No competition required. Edited May 9, 2005 by Jeep_Dog Quote Link to comment
+Anonymous' Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I would say that geocaching is a mixture of sports. Quote Link to comment
+The Leprechauns Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Best description I've read in these forums is that Geocaching is a RASH. Recreational Activity Sport Hobby. Anyone who was around in the summer of 2002 knows that the question was settled definitively when majicman coined the term "RASH." See the confirmation in this thread. Sprinting is an Olympic sport. Long-distance running is an Olympic sport. NASCAR is a highly successful commercial sport. But break a dozen traffic laws driving around an unfamiliar city at 2:00 a.m. to run sprints across parking lots, and it's a game? Sheesh. Quote Link to comment
Jumbo Village Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 IMHO Geocaching is not a sport. For me, sport requires that there be a winner. And I don't Geocache to win. I go jogging, but that's not sport is it? That's exercise! Sport-hobby. Yep, let's get that in the dictionary so we can all be happy! Cheers Richard Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 (edited) IMHO Geocaching is not a sport. For me, sport requires that there be a winner. Where in the name of tarnation did you get that definition? I can think of many sports where there is no "winner". Skiing, snowshoeing, climbing, surfing, running (for pleasure) and fishing (well I guess technically the successful angler wins) to name a few. On the other hand, when I play Monopoly, chess or Simon Says there is a winner but most people wouldn't call them sports. but the definition does require competition. That def says: ...and often engaged in competitively. Often does not mean always. BTW, you also left out another Dictionary.com def for sport: 3. An active pastime; recreation. Is geocaching a past time? Yes. Is it active? Yes. Is it recreation? Yes. So its a sport. Edited May 9, 2005 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+AtoZ Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Dictionary.com: n. 1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Other than some really easy P & Gs, geocaching requires physical activity. Definately geocaching is goverened by a set of rules (sic), customs goes without saying. Depending on where you live, it can certainly be competitive, but the definition does require competition. Just the facts. You decide if it is a sport. So what is mountaineering, rock climbing etc..... Sport or Game. I don't see many rules in either. Do you have fun doing it is ALLs that matter. cheers Quote Link to comment
+RockyRaab Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 For my personal definition, "sport" is on a higher plane than "games." To be a sport, the activity should be largely self-regulated, does not require competition or score keeping to be successful, and not require objective observers to verify compliance with rules. Most important, sport must be character-building. What the media call "sports" are largely just games in my estimation. Umpires, referees, penalty flags and instant replay to resolve who was cheating are far removed from sport. Such things destroy character, not build it. Whether it's football, soccer, baseball, hockey or basketball, winning depends more on who got away with more violations than who outplayed the others. The final score is all that counts. On the other hand, golf, hunting, fishing, skiing and even backpacking are true sports. The only competitor (in many instances) is the player against himself. Any rules are self-enforced, and any penalties are self-complied with. Score-keeping is optional and there may not be a "winner" even though the effort expended was large and difficult. Character can be built with participation. Geocaching? It fits my definition of sport. Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 but the definition does require competition. That def says: ...and often engaged in competitively. Often does not mean always. BTW, you also left out another Dictionary.com def for sport: 3. An active pastime; recreation. Yup. Typo on my part. Meant to type "does not require competition." Didn't need the third definition in there, so I did indeed leave it out. The first, most commonly used form, clearly covers geocaching as a sport, in my opinion. Didn't need to dig into less common uses. Quote Link to comment
+Moab Man Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Just like Golf, I wouldn't call it a sport as much as a skill. Quote Link to comment
+Team Perks Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 geocaching is fun That's all I care to define geocaching as. Quote Link to comment
+sept1c_tank Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 It's a hobby, like canoeing, hiking or birding. Quote Link to comment
+1NatureMom Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Just like Golf, I wouldn't call it a sport as much as a skill. IMO, a sport has to have a defense. ~Golf does not have a defense; I've debated this with a golfer friend, and he said that nature is the defense in golf. So geocaching is a sport with nature as it's defense. If you think golf is a sport, than geocaching is a sport. Quote Link to comment
dsandbro Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 With apologies to George Carlin, I post his definition of a sport: It must be played with a ball. There must be a chance of an injury to participants. You must be able to bet on the outcome. And you can drink beer while being a spectator. Geocaching has two, maybe three of the four criteria. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 IMO, a sport has to have a defense. That's the oddest definition I've ever heard. So ski racing, track and field, bike racing, swimming and triathalon aren't sports? Quote Link to comment
Lawcomic Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Not a sport. A sport must involve: 1. Physical exertion (true for some, but not all, caches) 2. Must involve competition in which there is a defined winner and a loser. 3. If it requires the use of machinery or technology, its not a sport (I'm looking at you, NASCAR). And, finally, if I can reasonably participate in it....it ain't a sport. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Not a sport. A sport must involve: 1. Physical exertion (true for some, but not all, caches) 2. Must involve competition in which there is a defined winner and a loser. 3. If it requires the use of machinery or technology, its not a sport (I'm looking at you, NASCAR). And, finally, if I can reasonably participate in it....it ain't a sport. So much for the photo finish, the instant replay, the glowing hocky puck, the computer designed baseball bat, announcers, radios, and of course the organ playing charge. On second thought so much for golf, and bowling, and bass fishing, and biking, and polevaulting, and shooting. That last one I probably could reasonable participate in. Quote Link to comment
Lawcomic Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 So much for the photo finish, the instant replay, the glowing hocky puck, the computer designed baseball bat, announcers, radios, and of course the organ playing charge. On second thought so much for golf, and bowling, and bass fishing, and biking, and polevaulting, and shooting. That last one I probably could reasonable participate in. No no. The use of technology enhances those sports as you set them out. But such technology is not required to play. For example...in NASCAR, a car is operated to compete. Hence, not a sport. A bat manufactured by a new process is not the same thing. Nor is a glowing hockey puck, etc. Biking is ok, because it is man-powered machinery (yes, I am changing the rules on the fly). Quote Link to comment
+CurmudgeonlyGal Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 With apologies to George Carlin, I post his definition of a sport:It must be played with a ball. There must be a chance of an injury to participants. You must be able to bet on the outcome. And you can drink beer while being a spectator. Geocaching has two, maybe three of the four criteria. There are a lot of people with balls who geocache. There are a lot of people who don't have balls, but by the very things they do whilst geocaching prove somewhat otherwise. (Stupid or Ballsy... you decide.) The caches that promise some sort of dance with death, or have high injury potential for the participants? The best! (I wish there were more... I'd not bother with the others!) Betting on the outcome? Come cache with me! Will she... or won't she find the cache?! The best part is that beer drinking while being a spectator... The key, here, however, is to be faster than everyone else so you're to the top of the peak and back down before most everyone else... you can spectate their return to the parking lot over a nice cool Heinie (puhleeze... the beer) or hefeweizen. Hopefully they won't have been so long that you will have finished your beer... and theirs too, eh? That said, geocaching is my hobby. Sometimes I do 'sporty' things in the pursuit of my hobby - hiking, walking, kayaking, etc and I keep in shape so it's easier for me to do my hobby, but you know what? There is NOTHING 'sporty' about walking up to a lampost in every strip mall parking lot in my town. Especially when I can park w/i 10 feet of said lamppost at any given location. Hmmm. Now, if I could run from lampost to lampost, maybe... I do like my hobby tho. -=- michelle Quote Link to comment
+TeamK-9 Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Not being competitive, it's usually considered a game. Monopoly is competitive isn't it? Quote Link to comment
CARTFan Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 IMO geocaching is both a sport and a game, much like hockey, basketball, tennis, lawn bowling, etc. Each hunt is a game where the object is to find the cache, hidden by another player. Geocaching as a whole is a sport consisting of many people participating in many separate games. Quote Link to comment
+Corp Of Discovery Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I tend to think of it more as a hobby/pursuit/recreation type of thing. I associate sports/games with winning/losing. To paraphrase what others before have said- as long as you enjoy this thing we do, you can't help but 'win' and only you can decide if you've 'lost'. Quote Link to comment
+TheAlabamaRambler Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Judging by the thousands of contentious and argumentative posts by dozens of geocachers, geocaching is, more than anything else...something to argue about. Quote Link to comment
Jeremy Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Judging by the thousands of contentious and argumentative posts by dozens of geocachers, geocaching is, more than anything else...something to argue about. No it isn't I like RASH. Defined it can be any of them. Quote Link to comment
+Nyarlotep Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 If curling is a sport, then geocaching is a sport. It's more demanding than sweeping ice in front of a rock, and you're not making an a** of yourself. Quote Link to comment
+Divine Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 In my language the meaning of the translation of sport doesn't sound good to describe geocaching with. Translation of game sounds better to me, hobby the best. RASH no matter if capitalized, brings mainly skin problems into my mind. - Hello, newbie, and welcome to the RASH! - Ick! Don't touch me! Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 RASH no matter if capitalized, brings mainly skin problems into my mind Yeah, I cringe when I see it used . Quote Link to comment
Find Now, Log Later? Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 (edited) To one who geocaches as an escape from the pressures of every day life, geocaching is a much needed diversion. To one whose goal is to visit somewhere new, get out in the fresh air, and take a nice walk, geocaching is a recreational activity. To one whose goal is to be FTF on every new cache in has/her region, geocaching is a competitive game. (Geocaching is a "sport" to those adults embarrassed to admit that they "play.") To those less-concerned with "the numbers," geocaching is simply a game of "hide-and/or-go-seek." To one who spends more time thinking and talking about geocaching than doing it, geocaching is an obsession. Ditto for one who feels compelled to snag every cache in his/her region, regardless of quality. Obsessions are rarely healthy. Edited May 10, 2005 by Find Now, Log Later? Quote Link to comment
+CYBret Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 How about "Geocaching is what it is"? For me--most of the time--it's a recreation. When life gets too oppressive and the stress level rises just a bit too high, geocaching "re-creates" me and helps me to get away from the things that drive me nuts. For some it's an obsession. They have to get out there, have to be FTF, have to cache or they go nuts. Hmmmm, maybe the "A" in RASH should be changed to "Addiction"...really "Activity" seems redundant and also repetitive. For others it's a sport. They enjoy the friendly competitive nature. FTF's are not just about being first, it's about beating the other guys. They compare number, rub it in and generally drive each other nuts. And then for some it's a Hobby. If they're in the area of a cache and feel like doing it, they do it. They might log a couple a month or a couple a year. These are the people I really don't understand, but hey...who am I to throw stones. Bret Quote Link to comment
+Chamma Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 (edited) Skiing is considered to be a sport and the vast majority of skiers do not compete. Sames goes for fishing, climbing, kayaking and many other activities. Because something is a sport does not mean competetion is involved. When I ski, it is a competetion. My friends and I are always trying to out do each other. In fact just about everything I do, I try and do it better then those around me. If there is nobody around then I try to do whatever I am doing better then I did the day before, or the last time I did that same thing. Heck when I walk down the side walk to the store I am trying to get ahead of others. I guess life is a sport Chris Edited May 10, 2005 by Cabear Quote Link to comment
+Chamma Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 With apologies to George Carlin, I post his definition of a sport:It must be played with a ball. There must be a chance of an injury to participants. You must be able to bet on the outcome. And you can drink beer while being a spectator. Geocaching has two, maybe three of the four criteria. There are a lot of people with balls who geocache. There are a lot of people who don't have balls, but by the very things they do whilst geocaching prove somewhat otherwise. (Stupid or Ballsy... you decide.) The caches that promise some sort of dance with death, or have high injury potential for the participants? The best! (I wish there were more... I'd not bother with the others!) Betting on the outcome? Come cache with me! Will she... or won't she find the cache?! The best part is that beer drinking while being a spectator... The key, here, however, is to be faster than everyone else so you're to the top of the peak and back down before most everyone else... you can spectate their return to the parking lot over a nice cool Heinie (puhleeze... the beer) or hefeweizen. Hopefully they won't have been so long that you will have finished your beer... and theirs too, eh? That said, geocaching is my hobby. Sometimes I do 'sporty' things in the pursuit of my hobby - hiking, walking, kayaking, etc and I keep in shape so it's easier for me to do my hobby, but you know what? There is NOTHING 'sporty' about walking up to a lampost in every strip mall parking lot in my town. Especially when I can park w/i 10 feet of said lamppost at any given location. Hmmm. Now, if I could run from lampost to lampost, maybe... I do like my hobby tho. -=- michelle I wonder how many people here know what HefeWeizen is. I know that it is dadgum good. Chris Quote Link to comment
cexshun Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 (edited) Personally, I don't consider it a sport. My test to determine if it's a sport or not is: Are the participants athletes? I don't consider cachers athletes by virtue of caching alone. While I'm sure there are many athletes among us, simply caching does not make you an athlete. It seems everyone wants their recreational activity to be considered a sport. Not being a sport is not a bad thing! Other things that are not sports in my book: NASCAR NHRA IHRA Fishing Bowling Competative eating Board games(monopoly) Games of chance(poker) Games of skill(chess, scrabble) Anything where people have to ask, "Is this a sport?" Edit: I lived in Germany for 3 years. You better believe I know what HefeWeizen is! Pilsner, bleck. Although I'm more of a Stout fan myself. Edited May 10, 2005 by cexshun Quote Link to comment
GeoPhishers Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Haa! "RASH" Thats great. I love it! And it is the way I see Caching. Or "TICK" Trecking Intesecting Cache Kits. I know it's dumb but ticks are a part of Caching too. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Personally, I don't consider it a sport. My test to determine if it's a sport or not is: Are the participants athletes? What do the participants being athletes have to do with something being a sport. One of the definition of sport (according to Merriam-Webster) is "Recreation. A physical activity engaged in for pleasure". Geocaching certainly fits that definition. If you go to a newspaper to read about a pastime where do you go? If its in the sports section, then its a sport. Quote Link to comment
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