Etiquette – Wisconsin Geocaching Association

This topic has 40 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 4 months ago by LDove.

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09/10/2011 at 9:07 pm #1732523
pkarm
Today the wife and I went out and did a couple of caches. We like to do this when we have a little time on our hands that allows us to go. We loaded the GPS and the smartphone with a number of caches for the day. We use the GPS for obviously tracking the cache, but like to have the smartphone also so that way we can get hints, descriptions and other useful information when we are out on the hunt and don’t have to print off a bunch of stuff before we leave. One of the things I do when we find one is report it found and will post a simple TFTC using my phone. I do this so when I get home I am able to log on and easily locate our finds and then update the log with a little more detail.

Today to my amazement when we got home, I had an email in my box from one of the cache owners of today’s finds basically telling me that I need to stop with the TFTC only postings as may owners will delete that from their logs. Now this person who wrote to me assumed that we are new at geocaching because we have ONLY 61 finds. I did not know that you are required to have a certain number of finds in order not to be considered a newbie? I guess that fact we have been doing this for 3 years just does not count.

Are people really that shallow that they are deleting simple TFTC post? I guess my question is why, is it an ego thing? Is it a “I deserve more than just a TFTC for all of my hard work” thing? I would think knowing someone took the time to find your cache would be reward enough.

Finally I will get off my soapbox(in case you can’t tell I am a little annoyed by the letter), but don’t just assume because you may have 3,362 finds that makes you a better geocacher than me, all it really says is that you have more free time on your hands.

My wife and I really enjoy doing this, we have our way of geocaching as I am sure all of you have your way of geocaching, enjoy the experience don’t worry what others are doing, we are not all the same.
09/10/2011 at 10:44 pm #1953068
Lostby7
Owners are not allowed to delete logs because they feel the logs are too short…if they do turn them in to Groundspeak….beyond that ignore them.
09/10/2011 at 10:58 pm #1953069
JimandLinda
Participant
Yes, Lostby7 is right. COs should NOT delete logs that only say TFTC, which is why I told you in my e-mail to you that I wouldn’t.
My apology if you were upset about the message. I only wished to inform you of the current TFTC comments from cache owners that post about “crappy logs” in the Crappy Log thread of the WGA Forums.

Again, my apology to you if my shallowness upset you.
09/10/2011 at 11:18 pm #1953070
huffinpuffin2
Participant
@pkarm wrote:

. . . One of the things I do when we find one is report it found and will post a simple TFTC using my phone. I do this so when I get home I am able to log on and easily locate our finds and then update the log with a little more detail.. . .

For what it’s worth, we’ll sometimes take the same approach as you, but add our intent to add more to the log in the future; something like: “TFTC from the road, more to come………..” We find it invaluable while on the road, in an unfamiliar area, where we’ll use our phone to tag/log our finds. It really helps verify/remember which caches we’ve found. 😀
09/10/2011 at 11:24 pm #1953071
pkarm
After rethinking the original letter I may have overreacted here and I apologize to that cacher who sent it to me. You actually did make sense.
09/11/2011 at 1:21 am #1953072
Barry Butrymowicz
pkarm,

Check out this other forum about logs,

http://wi-geocaching.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=13192

there has been discussion about “crappy logs” going on for a while. If you are using the phone to log, HP2’s idea of on the road more to come with the TFTC is a good idea.
09/11/2011 at 1:32 am #1953073
labrat_wr
Please also be aware that the Cache Owners do not receive edits to “found it” logs from Geocaching.com. the only way to know that a TFTC post was edited to include an in depth log would be to visit the cache page. If there is no indication that there will be more coming, I don’t believe too many owners go back to check.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
09/11/2011 at 1:42 am #1953074
pkarm
@labrat_wr wrote:

Please also be aware that the Cache Owners do not receive edits to “found it” logs from Geocaching.com. the only way to know that a TFTC post was edited to include an in depth log would be to visit the cache page. If there is no indication that there will be more coming, I don’t believe too many owners go back to check.

Ok I will keep that for future reference I guess I will just wait to enter the find in the future.
09/11/2011 at 1:49 am #1953075
labrat_wr
@pkarm wrote:

@labrat_wr wrote:

Please also be aware that the Cache Owners do not receive edits to “found it” logs from Geocaching.com. the only way to know that a TFTC post was edited to include an in depth log would be to visit the cache page. If there is no indication that there will be more coming, I don’t believe too many owners go back to check.

Ok I will keep that for future reference I guess I will just wait to enter the find in the future.

I post this not just for the finders to be aware of but for the cache owners also. Too often, the CO may just assume that the TFTC log is all that is posted and that no edits will be done. I point the finger of assumption on the CO here. If the cache you have seems in your mind that it deserves a bit more than a TFTC log, go ahead and check the cache page. you may be surprised to see more than you were aware of. (I include myself in this too. — time to review a few cache pages 🙂 )

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
09/11/2011 at 2:18 am #1953076
TeamCabana
If all you want to put after finding the cache is a TFTC thats fine don’t let CO’s bully you into writing more if you don’t want to.
09/11/2011 at 2:43 am #1953077
CodeJunkie
One option would be to list it as “Found it – More Later”. That accomplishes the same goal, but lets the CO know more is coming. I’ve done this a number of times when I’m short on time but want to at least put the marker out there.
09/11/2011 at 3:33 am #1953078
cheezehead
@TeamCabana wrote:

If all you want to put after finding the cache is a TFTC thats fine don’t let CO’s bully you into writing more if you don’t want to.

So I guess you do not want CO’s to put out more cache for YOU to find then, huh? With out CO’s, there are no caches to find. Why should a CO put out anymore, and maybe CO’s should just achive their caches cuz finders don’t seem to care aboout the time and effort and money that is put into placing a quality cache. Just sayin… As a CO with over 170 caches, maybe I should say enough is enough, I’m done hiding them, cuz it seems most people just don’t seem to care anymore.
09/11/2011 at 4:48 am #1953079
LostBoys5
I had no idea that the edited cache logs would not be sent to me as a cache owner and then logs that I edited are not sent on to CO. Thanks for that tidbit.
09/11/2011 at 5:00 am #1953080
Todd300
With all the stupid updates that Groundspeak does, you would think that they would have the capability of edited logs sent to to CO. But nah, that’s not the case.
09/11/2011 at 12:08 pm #1953081
BeccaDay
Instead of typing out TFTC in the field I type out “more soon”. It’s short and lets the CO know what’s going on.

Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien
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