Etiquette

[Mister Greenthumb]

@pkarm wrote:

wow rc you really missed the point. I log them NOT because I am in a hurry but just because it is convenient to do. Yesterday we did two WSQ and we spent a good 30 mins at each place walking around and looking at the stones once we found the cache. Reading post it seems like to may of you this is more a competition for my wife and I it is a fun little hobby. Instead of getting irritated appreciate that someone took the time out of their day to find your cache. One of the things I have noticed is that people put a lot of emphasis on the number of finds they have or numbers of hides they have. For myself it is all about spending time outdoors enjoying a simple game of hide and seek, not who I am trying to impress.

Then why log them? Just find them for fun and leave it at that.

[gotta run]

Because it’s the only way to ever have a managable query!

On the Left Side of the Road...

[BeccaDay]

Just a friendly suggestion but it might be a good idea to let this topic rest for a little while.

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

[pkarm]

@Mister Greenthumb wrote:

Then why log them? Just find them for fun and leave it at that.

Really?

[zuma]

@beccaday wrote:

Just a friendly suggestion but it might be a good idea to let this topic rest for a little while.

Dittos.

I appreciate reading and learning differing viewpoints on writing logs, and I think we can all learn from each other, since it is pretty apparent that different folks approach the game from different starting points. So thanks to all who shared their opinion.

But in the end, it is just a game, with let’s try to be nice to those who have differing points of view and try to learn from them.

zuma

[Team Black-Cat]

This discussion has been quite civil. I see NO reason to ask people to stop the discussion.

And… to add my $.02 and to pull this thread back on topic…

Short online logs are mostly a case of follow the leader. If a new cacher sees nothing but one line or one word logs, they are most certainly going to think that is the norm and will follow suit.

It is the same as the trend that has happened for physical logs. Very rarely will you see more than a name and date even in a “real” log book, if you can every find one.

Calling out someone for TFTC logs is not going to fix the situation. Continueing to write thoughtful logs for worthy caches will do more good.

Now, only half-kiddingly I say that the REAL cause is micros.

[sandlanders]

Writing logs that tell the stories of our experiences on our cache hunts is why I am now 36 logs behind.

But they will be worth waiting for if you’re one of those COs! 😉 😀

[Northwoods Tom]

@Team Black-Cat wrote:

…the REAL cause is micros.

I think this may be a larger part of the problem than anyone wants to admit.

If it’s a micro on a guardrail or in as pine tree and no more in the cache page, expect a short log on the page. I for example, will use them as a numbers builder sometimes just before a milestone. I try to put a little more in the web page log, but lets face it. How wonderful are they except for building the numbers. Just how beautiful was the traffic on the highway?

Now there are exceptions, a puzzle that may have been tricky to solve, then the micro was the cache. O.K., you now have something to talk about. “Puzzle was fun, we had to ask the neighbor ladies husband to find the final answer because he’s the only mortician we know”. You get what I mean.

A larger cache offers more possibility for the “unknown” in the container. Sometimes you are surprised and that often comes out in the cache log. Putting effort into were you place a cache and/or a story behind it often leads to a more interesting log.

My final observation is that often the numbers people have some of the lamest and shortest logs. They are about the search and the conquest.

All in all, as has been stated over and over, everyone plays in their own way. I would like to see more in the cache logs and every now and then, people share those experiences. If a person is unhappy with what they get, think about how you could personally make the experience better for those out there and watch for those really great logs.

[pkarm]

Well I for one have learned a lot from this discussion and know in the future I will take more time when it comes to logging, I never gave the consideration so many people have brought up here.

[CodeJunkie]

I think a number of people have all made some interesting points. To me the biggest being that we all play the game differently. I’m not the best writer out there, but I do like share my experience and my logs generally reflect that.

To the same aspect I understand where the cache and run crowd is coming from and they’re doing it their way. I used to get really annoyed at the “TFTC” logs (and admittedly still do at times), but for the most part I just let it go. Why? Because this group of cachers are doing there own thing and one of my caches helped them get their “fix”. It’s how they want to enjoy their time and I helped them do that so it’s mission accomplished.

[LDove]

I can tell you that I would estimate 90% of the logs I got for all the work I did (along with everyone else) at the bash were cut and paste. I try not to let it bug me, but when you spend your OWN money, and try to be really creative and put something out there fun for someone else, it is nice to hear a little more than TFTC. Just one sentence makes a difference. Nice location, good container, the hide made me smile – anything! I think it is just a nice thing to do to thank the cache owner. I have done it once or twice too, don’t get me wrong – especially if I run into a whole lot of caches that are exactly the same, I forget, but overall I really think it is nice to try and say at least something about the quality cache hides you find. It will only encourage hiders to put out more if we know we are doing a good job! Honest to goodness I even wrote to some of the people who took the time to personalize their logs and thank them, and I’m not kidding!

[Author]

Posts