Hints for soliciting puzzle hints

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

We've been fielding an above-average number of requests for help on puzzle caches lately--might have something to do with the lonely cache game but I haven't checked.

Anyhoo, we here at team gotta run are always willing to help people who are polite and have made a good faith effort to get somewhere on the solution themselves. But lately, the requests have been...well, shall we say, a bit more demanding.

So, let me offer up a few hints for soliciting puzzle hints:

Do not tell the cache owner that you think you “deserve” the solution just because you spent a long time on the puzzle.

Do not ask for help until you’ve actually tried solving the puzzle.

Do not tell the cache owner that you haven’t visited a location in a field-based puzzle because it's too far away/too hard to get to/you don't feel like getting out of the car, but ask for help solving for the final anyway.

Do not ask questions that clearly show you haven’t read what’s on the cache page.

After the cache owner has helped you through to a solution, try to say something nice in the log. Or at least, don't write a log complaining about the puzzle. And if you do, don't be surprised if your future emails are ignored.

If, after the cache owner has helped you with the solve, you decide to give the solution to 100 of your closest friends, don't be surprised if the cache owner isn't real excited about helping you with the next puzzle.

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:33 pm

I've seen an increase in requests for help as well. I'm always willing to give help, but think it's just common courtesy for the cacher to provide the following as a minimum:

1) GC # / Cache Name (both would be great)
2) What they have assumed about the puzzle type (i.e. it's an anagram, it's a soduko, it's a math puzzle, it's a trivia puzzle, etc.)
3) What have they tried? Please include specifics as applicable.
4) If the question is specific to a particular digit(s) of the solve, please provide the details behind it including any website used, math used, etc. This really helps the CO get right to the point.
5) Be as specific as possible when emailing the CO. They are certainly willing to help, but without knowing what you've tried, what you're assuming, etc. they can't provide much help.
6) Feel free to write a note to the cache page when you solve it and the solve is fresh in your head. Obviously try to avoid spoilers, but feel free to claim victory of the solve prior to actually finding it.
7) If you're group logging a puzzle cache, provide the CO with the common courtesy of telling them (via the log) "XYZ solved it, ABC found it first, but we had a great time caching as a group today."

WGA Member Joined: 2010-11-11 Posts: 98

I know gotta run is talking about me for at least one of his rants. That being said I have noticed that where the object in question is supposed to be doesn't jibe with the rest of the puzzle. I know I didn't explain fully in my email but i was asking where to park for the object in question. I know roughly where to go. I'd like to plan out my route for me, my friend and the kids. My friend is almost 7feet tall and long car rides cramp his legs so he can't walk far distance after the ride.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:49 am

If a CO is unresponsive, you may wish to ask yourself what is the possibility you've done something. I know I do.

A few examples could be continually asking the same question to which the CO has offered advice such as rereading the question and re-answer it to check for the error OR if there is a discrepancy provide your answer and what you found different from the CO's answers.

I generally feel that the Golden Rule is a good way to move forward when interacting with people.

This is the extent of my wasting electrons on the subject.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

Hardinfam wrote:

I know gotta run is talking about me for at least one of his rants.

Despite your professed powers of telepathy, my comments above do not reference you, and I have gone well out of my way to ensure that none of my threads or posts are eponymous.

My advice is based on an amalgamation of experience over time, albeit with a recent flurry of activity bringing this issue to the forefront.

WGA Member Joined: 2010-11-11 Posts: 98

your email to me says otherwise

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

Hardinfam, I have sent you a grand total of 2 emails in my history of geocaching, both of which have been in response to requests you have made of me for help, and both of which provided help. I would challenge you to prove otherwise.

I am not going to get in a pi**ing match with you here because frankly I don't know you from Adam or really care. Let me say this one more time: this thread is not about you. If you are narcissistic enough to think so that is not my problem.

If I may say so, you seem to assume a whole bunch of stuff that is said in this forum is directed at you personally and then choose to get upset about it. You also seem to have a very difficult time accepting opinions that are different from your own. I suggest you get some thicker skin or spend some time away from the forums in venues that are less frustrating for you.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:49 pm

That was fun.