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I’ve read the many comments on the long thread about what will kill the game. In all honesty, I think the two things most likely to kill the game are:
1) Irresponsible caching behaviors that attract attention of those who allow cache placements (more about that in another post)
2) And….all the endless nitpicking about what is “right” or “wrong.” I have to think that someone who looks in on those kinds of discussions and is just getting started will think….really? I’ll take up knitting! Granted, we are MUCH nicer here than on the groundspeak forums, but I’m trying to look at these discussions with the eye of someone new to the game. Discussion is just fine and encouraged of course, but when we get into absolutes, we run into issues. As stated, there are many reasons people do or don’t write good logs. There are many reasons some people cache, for that matter. I found BakRdz comments interesting, and know where we sit in his groupings, but somehow, I just don’t see the site splitting to meet the diverse needs. Nor do I feel it should. Above all else, one of the things we enjoy about geocaching is the many different people who enjoy it. Old, young, families, singles, tree climbers and skirt lifters, there just aren’t that many arenas in modern society to find such a mixture of people all sharing the same interest.
Now…what about the logbooks themselves? When we started, of course there weren’t the endless micros that are seen now, so the caches usually contained an actual notebook. I found a cache not too long ago that was pretty old, like 2001, and it had the original logbook. It was in a nice woodland location, so I sat down to read through the logs. Along about 2007, I stopped seeing notes beyond ” 5/2/2008 Trekkin’ and Birdin’, Took geocoin, left TB TFTC.” By 2009, it had dropped to just “5/2/2008 Trekkin’ and Birdin’.” Not even “TFTC.”
My little personal challenge to myself, one I’d encourage anyone to take up if they haven’t already is this….when you find a cache with a real logbook, stop, sit down and take the time to write a short note in the logbook. I know cache owners who put those types of logbooks in the cache enjoy reading them, and you can say things that sometimes can’t be said in the online log. I’ve found it allows me just that little bit of extra time to sit and enjoy the location before moving on. I found a life bird just yesterday doing exactly that!
We found a 2001 cache over the weekend that had the original log book in it. It wasn’t full-sized, but the first few cache logs covered at least one page each. Then towards the end, we noticed that there were 10-12 names on each page. I wrote some longer stuff, and my caching partner (whom I love dearly) accused me of starting the next “Gone With the Wind” novel, so I wrapped it up.
If you’re in a nice spot and out of sight for a while, take the time to do some reading and writing. It’s fun!
Gwen, you just hit on one of my unspoken (at least publicly) pet peeves. It’s hard to find a “real” logbook even in regular size caches anymore. Just a log sheet in a bag…
I don’t write detailed accounts in the physical log, but given the room I try to write at least a couple of lines.
If there are not mosquitos flying around and I find a larger log book, I always look back at past logs and enjoy reading what others had to say about their visits. I also make a point to log something more than just my name in the larger log books like where I’m from and a word about the weather or what I traded.
Obviously in the micros it’s name only.
I’ve made a point to sign the log in every cache I’ve ever found — unless the log was a ball of wet mush.
When I’m caching away from my home area or out of state, I usually sign the log “Frizz, Green Bay”.
@Trekkin and Birdin wrote:
I’ve read the many comments on the long thread about what will kill the game. In all honesty, I think the two things most likely to kill the game are:
1) Irresponsible caching behaviors that attract attention of those who allow cache placements (more about that in another post)
2) And….all the endless nitpicking about what is “right” or “wrong.” I have to think that someone who looks in on those kinds of discussions and is just getting started will think….really? I’ll take up knitting! Granted, we are MUCH nicer here than on the groundspeak forums, but I’m trying to look at these discussions with the eye of someone new to the game. Discussion is just fine and encouraged of course, but when we get into absolutes, we run into issues. As stated, there are many reasons people do or don’t write good logs. There are many reasons some people cache, for that matter. I found BakRdz comments interesting, and know where we sit in his groupings, but somehow, I just don’t see the site splitting to meet the diverse needs. Nor do I feel it should. Above all else, one of the things we enjoy about geocaching is the many different people who enjoy it. Old, young, families, singles, tree climbers and skirt lifters, there just aren’t that many arenas in modern society to find such a mixture of people all sharing the same interest.
Now…what about the logbooks themselves? When we started, of course there weren’t the endless micros that are seen now, so the caches usually contained an actual notebook. I found a cache not too long ago that was pretty old, like 2001, and it had the original logbook. It was in a nice woodland location, so I sat down to read through the logs. Along about 2007, I stopped seeing notes beyond ” 5/2/2008 Trekkin’ and Birdin’, Took geocoin, left TB TFTC.” By 2009, it had dropped to just “5/2/2008 Trekkin’ and Birdin’.” Not even “TFTC.”
My little personal challenge to myself, one I’d encourage anyone to take up if they haven’t already is this….when you find a cache with a real logbook, stop, sit down and take the time to write a short note in the logbook. I know cache owners who put those types of logbooks in the cache enjoy reading them, and you can say things that sometimes can’t be said in the online log. I’ve found it allows me just that little bit of extra time to sit and enjoy the location before moving on. I found a life bird just yesterday doing exactly that!
Interesting points. As coincidence would have it, I am just now home from a caching trip where I got just a few caches, but the ones I got were of good quality. I dont often write much in the physical log, but one of them was in such a great place (and I was tired) that I sat down and wrote a whole page in the logbook.
To write a log in the logbook usually means a great location and a full size log book.
z
I do enjoy reading legacy logbooks…but I can’t write with a pen or pencil. Literally, it’s some fine motor issue that has cropped up that makes it difficult to manipulate a pencil and that has turned regular poor penmanship into illegible scrawl. Just ask Mrs. gotta run, she’ll vouch for me.
Which is why you will get from me, if I’m caching alone, almost without fail, “gr,” and perhaps a date, no matter how big the log book is.
So far I’ve avoided using stickers, which I personally don’t like but really have no problem with as long as you choose a size that doesn’t cover half of the micro log.
So, just like people who have commented that not everyone can write a meaningful online log, not everyone can write a physical log either. But I do appreciate the thoughtful ones that are written. (Resisting…urge…to…make…another…letterboxing…comment…)
On the Left Side of the Road...@gotta run wrote:
. . .
So far I’ve avoided using stickers, . . .(Resisting…urge…to…make…another…letterboxing…comment…)
Some use small stamps, which might be gr8 4u. 🙂
If the weather is nice and the bugs leave me alone, I’ll write a paragraph or two if the cache is worth it. That includes caches with just micro logs…I just fill every line with my ramblings and then post a N/M for a full log 😈
Thanks for the suggestion; as time permits I hope to write more on the physical log sheet/log book. I really haven’t been doing that but it’s a great idea.
FWIW if you’d like to read a fun log book, go visit (or revisit) Covert Cache GC3798 (in Milwaukee). In it is the original log book from 2002 to about 2004, then the 2nd log book 2004-ish to about 2008, then a thrid book 2008 or so to current, filled with a lot of comments. They’re all still there!
Although I used to write extensively, I don’t normally write a lot in physical logs any more…I tend to write more in the on-line logs though…not sure why I’ve trended that way[8D]
Oconto...the birthplace of western civilization:)
@bartrod wrote:
Although I used to write extensively, I don’t normally write a lot in physical logs any more…I tend to write more in the on-line logs though…not sure why I’ve trended that way[8D]
I would say that of myself as well for a couple reasons – 1) I didn’t know people read the physical logs and 2) I prefer the keys to the pen.
But Gwen makes a good point – you can write things in the physical log that you can’t online – things that would otherwise be spoilers or the like. Also, spending the additional time writing at GZ makes the spot more memorable (assuming it’s a spot you WANT to remember). I remember a cache up by the Rhinelander airport (Airport View – GC16CPY) where I stopped to have lunch at GZ overlooking the little lake. Between that and the hike it was a memorable experience. And I think I even wrote a few sentences in the log 🙂
Now that I know some people actually take the time to read them, I’ll make a point of writing better in-the-box logs 🙂
Actually, I think trying to write logs in haiku could be amusing.
My GPSr
said seven feet to the left.
I moved it for you.I did a cache that asked for haiku logs last month.
http://coord.info/GC2H5J5Most people don’t give it a try. I have a book about writing haiku and the one thing I took from it is that the guy considered to be the haiku master, Basho, said he wrote one good haiku…ever. So I did. Got an email from the owner thanking me. Those of us who write good logs and try to honor a cache’s intent can attest to the many such emails received. I don’t expect to get such notes from cache owners, but it’s nice to know they enjoy the effort, too, and gives another opportunity to share thoughts/appreciations for their effort.
And a very entertaining Haiku it is!
One day retired
Caching all around the town
Where can this one be?A beacon perfect!
Look and look and look some more
I cannot find it!Oh no! DNF?
Not the way to end the day
Hurray! There it is!That’s cool. I just got a note from a CO the other day as well on a log I wrote. It was one of those where the smiley was almost meaningless by the time I finished the cache. Nice to get, but the subject matter was moving and my 45+ minutes spent there was awesome.
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