Cookie cutter copy and paste logs

[Decrepit]

😳 I’m sure I’m guilty of cookie cutter cache logs… sorry. I usually don’t get around to logging caches until days or weeks later. I still haven’t logged the ones from our trip to IA. When I finally get around to finding my cache pages (yep, I still use paper), I log my find along with any maintenance needed messages if there are any. There are some caches though, that I feel I definitely need to tell the story, in which case, I do.

[jenhen1]

For us, one of the joys of placing a cache is reading the feedback. For the most part, the caches we place we try to make it a memorable, loggable experience. Some succeed, some don’t, but we really enjoy all feedback, even if it simply says that the cache is getting empty, there’s brush that’s grown up around it etc… So for those that have left original feedback (which is almost everyone) Thanks!!!

It seems to me that as the game has shifted to a more numbers oriented game, that there has been a dramatic change in logging practices in the last few years. While there is still a majority of poeple who write original logs for each cache, it seems there is an increase in short and generic logs as the number of finds achieved in a single day has increased. It’s not easy coming up with something original to say for 50 straight logs in a day, and quite frankly makes it hard to remember all of them. It’s fun to go back and read the old logs of old caches written back in the day when each and every cache find was a memorable experience since there weren’t that many of them.

I would assume most hiders enjoy positive feedback if it’s warranted, and think it kind of cheats the hider who hides a GREAT cache and has it’s log lumped with the guardrail caches.

[EnergySaver]

I too “live for” the logs of others at my caches … that’s why I hid them to hear about how others enjoy them. But at the same time I can see how it gets tough to make the logs individual when you have lot of finds in one day/weekend.

However, I’m still “happy” if someone gives me a generic “play by play” of their weekend, and maybe throws in a word or two on at least a couple of my caches. Here’s a great recent example of what “works for me” (custom portion bolded):

6:23pm, From 6:59am, to 8:32pm, 21 caches & 2 DNF’s today. Today had its ups and downs. I started in Port Washington, went up to Belguim, and back down to Port Washington. Then I went down into gullies and creek beds, and up to churches and bluffs. Concluesion? There are very few easy caches in Port Washington. TFTC.
The joke, Pete & Repete go for a boat ride. Pete falls in, who’s left… Pete and

[Lostby7]

@RSplash40 wrote:

…If its meant to be a “for the numbers” cache, I wouldn’t think (as I do on some of mine that are intentionally that way) that the owner was expecting any more than “signed the log”.

I totally agree and as I have two caches that are nothing short of PARK AND GRABS, I expect just that type of log….the caches I own which are multi’s or well thought out puzzles are the ones where I’m a bit disappointed in the ZERO effort logs. I guess I take too much pride in a few of my caches and feel that everyone else should think these are the greatest caches since the invention of the GPS…OK maybe not but still some of them are nifty and a few kind words about the effort I took to place them would be nice.

[Timberline Echoes]

We did a bunch of caches in the UP this week and it was a pain reading the cache logs in the palm as the past 5 logs on over 35 caches were the same cut and paste message… at least we knew they were there.

Jim does the logging and tries to write something on each one that is unique… but then we usually do ones that give a reason to leave a complimentary log.

We do enjoy reading what others write about our caches, got a chuckle from one last week that said the cache was “uneventful” but area was nice… it’s at the source of the WI river and has a bunch of history going back into the 1600’s. posted there… the whole purpose is to get people there not to spend time ripping up the place searching for a cache but to enjoy the beauty and history that abounds.

Neat thing about he sport eveyone makes it what they want it to be.
Mrs. TE

[seldom|seen]

@rogheff wrote:

I for one, will admit I am guilty of this offense. Cookie cutter geocaches get cookie cutter logs.

However….

Fascinating, unique and interesting geocaches get fascinating, unique and interesting logs.

I will simply echo this sentiment rather than digress on my personal feelings about the cookie cutter logs that I have gotten on some of my caches. Worse than cookie cutter logs are logs that come from a guided tour where the cachers come away with no DNF’s due in no small part to efforts of the “Tour Guide”

What is the point of logging a find on a 10-part multi without doing any of the 10 stages? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the sport and cheat the individual who has gone though all of the effort to put together an elaborate or memorable cache?

I try to make my caches fun, memorable, laughable, enjoyable and sometime aggravating, but in the end I know that you will at least come away “remembering” what you went through to get an s|s find. That is unless you were “clued in” by a tour guide.

The vast majority of the logs on my caches reflect the effort or experience of getting the find and most include the word “memorable”. If that’s the only thing you get out of an s|s cache, then I am content to know that you got more out of it than you would a 35mm canister on a guardrail. (Yeah, yeah, I know I have a couple of those, but at least the container is interesting!).

Respect the owner. If it looks like it took some time, expense, research and energy to put a cache together, then say as much in your log. That’s all that we can ask for.

[kweejee]

Both of my caches are just meant to show people locations they probably haven’t stopped at before. As long as new people are finding them, I don’t care what they log, although it is nice reading new things. What interests me more in logs is looking back when I find another cache and seeing what other people experienced in the exact same location at some other time. That and knowing what’s happened to items in the cache is interesting.

The history is especially interesting to me when it’s for an archived cache that I was standing on top of before I knew what they were. In fact, I’ve seen references to muggles that were probably my group. Cookie cutter logs don’t allow that.

Being new to this, I haven’t yet done more than 10 in a day so I haven’t had a need to use the cookie cutter method of logging. Usually I take a notebook and write down the name and a few words to turn into a log later.

And in reference to lee42048’s comment about feeling the need to read each duplicate log in case there’s a change, I fear that day and hope the logs are short.

[Team B Squared]

@Timberline Echoes wrote:

We do enjoy reading what others write about our caches, got a chuckle from one last week that said the cache was “uneventful” but area was nice… it’s at the source of the WI river and has a bunch of history going back into the 1600’s. posted there… the whole purpose is to get people there not to spend time ripping up the place searching for a cache but to enjoy the beauty and history that abounds.

I watch that cache of yours because we enjoyed the spot so much. I have to say I was a little bit insulted by that log…and it wasn’t even our cache.

As for writing cache logs, I get fairly frustrated by cut and paste logs myself, as I enjoy reading about other people’s caching adventures almost as much as caching itself. In our area, we probably own about half the caches that are hidden (and watch the other half), so when someone comes through with a “Out caching with XXX, TFTC, TNLN” type log, it gets very old very fast.

We are just as guilty about power caching as the next person, but we try to take some notes on each cache. If we go out and find 20-30 in a day, I don’t try to log them all at once, because I know that if I do it will be difficult to give each cache the thought it needs. In certain situations, (like light pole or dead end caches) we will leave a very short note, because what can you really say about that type of hide? Luckily for us, there aren’t too many of those up here! 😆

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Well, I’m a storyteller by trade, so what does that tell you? 😉 I will say that I try not to go on for too long, although certain caches truly deserve full accounts. “Lair” is one that comes to mind, for instance. I had a blast doing that log, because that cache was such an adventure.

There is a new cache in our area, the only one that I ever really cared about getting FTF. Without saying too much about it, it demands long log entries. I’ve been surprised it hasn’t gotten more action, because it’s in a great area close to at least three other caches, including one of ours. I wonder if people are shying away from it because they’ve looked to see what’s been logged already and they just don’t want to have to do that?

[marc_54140]

cut-n-paste vs original thesis
micro caches vs ammo boxes
traditional caches vs puzzles
signing the log vs do not sign
urban vs rural caches
group vs solo caching
temporary caches vs not
casual vs power caching

The geocaching community is an extremely opinionated one.

My only hope is that despite the intensity of feelings, that there is a strong tolerance of the opinions of others.

[Lostby7]

@marc_54140 wrote:

traditional caches vs puzzles

Really? I must have missed this topic along the way. As most of my caches are puzzles I’m curious as to what the controversy would be……granted that is for another topic as I’d hate to be a thread stealer…..

[Trekkin and Birdin]

The geocaching community is an extremely opinionated one.

Marc, Fear not, controversy like this isn’t the sole province of the geocaching community. The birding lists get into it. The storytell list will argue endlessly about “paid v. non-paid,” “what is storytelling?” ad nauseum. If you want to see real nastiness, hang around some of the large scrapbooking websites long enough. I’ve seen people have their career RUINED on those, talk about contentious!

According to Trekkin’, the historical trekking boards aren’t any better. Guess people are just funny, no matter what their interests! 😉

[SammyClaws]

While we have never done a cut and paste job on a log, some of ours have been brief. There just isnt that much to say or it is hard to come up with something. The thought I wanted to leave is that we have never made a hide to see what logs would come back (even though we do enjoy them) but more as a thank you to the other people who made hides for us to find.

[Frizz]

My hunch is that cachers who have hidden caches generally tend to write a more complete and descriptive log than someone who has not been on the receiving end of a cookie cutter log. I try to write a unique log for each find I have. This is a little more difficult after a power caching run though.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

SammyClaws, I agree with you, putting out caches–and releasing geocoins/TBs–is more our way of repaying the caching community for letting us play. I do enjoy the logs, but I understand not everyone wants to write a book about their experience.

After checking one of our caches today–one we placed in mid-April—I wonder if anyone will thank us for it if they do it right now! Though I have to say, some of the thorny stuff one passes to get to the cache includes black raspberries! I’ve been eating my share of those as I cache lately. No nettles or poison ivy there, just lots of underbrush to find this one. And hills. And a bit of a hike. Especially the way we chose to go today. I’m all in now! Trekkin’ kept complaining that we weren’t even getting a smiley for this one!

I did put my red Jeep and a geocoin in it, though. Can’t wait to read any new logs. No one’s been there since April 29. 😥

[Author]

Posts