This topic contains 9 replies, has 10 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
When do you log these? Every time you walk away empty handed, or when you oficially give up on a cache? I tend to do the latter, unless I’m farther away from home, then I log after that first trip. I hate to log them, but I figure if no one does then people will spend countless hours searching for possibly no good.
If we seriously search for a cache and don’t find it we log a DNF. If we run out of time and plan on coming back, or half-heartedly search and a game of “I poked you and you can’t catch me–teee heee hee” breaks out, we don’t log it.
We’re pretty new, so we’ve only had about two that took more than two tries to find. Generally we don’t DNF because normally it’s just a terminal case of the stupids and we find it right away the next time. We’ve posted notes if we are really, really positive it’s not there (one or two to date), or we are stumped, but know it’s there and are coming back(one or two date).
We’ve only truly logged one DNF and that was a canoe cache, so it seemed like a special case with the logistics and all. But normally, we feel that nothing is going to defeat us for long, and we feel it should be reserved for something especially problematic. Mostly if we can’t find it we log nothing and keep an eye on it until we get another crack at it. Oh, and sometimes we mail the cache owner and plead(once or twice to date)(laughs). That said, it’s probably not right, because just because our instincts tell us it’s there and we can’t find doesn’t mean it hasn’t been muggled.For sure log it when you feel it’s not there, even if your going to try again.
If you “sort of tried” and feel you’re not done trying, then it’s optional. But if you do log a no find, make sure it indicates the “not sure” status, to avoid scaring others.
A tip … If you had a “no find”, you might want to add the cache to your “Watchlist” so you get an email when the owner posts an update and/or someones elses finds or doesn’t find it. I’ve also added caches to my “Watchlist” that I’ve not looked for yet but other have reported as missing … that way I know when the coast is clear and the cache is in business again.
If you do log your DNF (and you should!) and then go back another day and find the cache, when you log the find don’t delete the DNF log. That’s interesting information that might be useful to the cache owner if several people have initial DNFs for the same reasons.
Remember: When you’re at the Pearly Gates, St. Peter isn’t going to be there with your finds/DNF ratio to decide if you get in or not…
I log DNF whenever I have given it a real search and can’t find it. If I couldn’t get to the location (high water, a field of poison ivy) I don’t log the DNF but post a note about the conditions. Recently, while doing cache maintenance, I quickly looked for another cache nearby. I wasn’t properly dressed and ran out of time so I didn’t put my full effort into it. I did not log anything about this search.
As a cache owner, I prefer that people log DNF’s whenever they give their best search and can’t find it. I want to know if there’s a chance my cache is gone and will check on it as soon as possible.
I will log a DNF if I KNOW I won’t be back for a second look. It depends on the cache for me. If it is a 5 on difficulty, I may go back a second time then list a DNF. If it is low in difficulty and I can’t find it, then for sure I list the DNF. Not sure how many of those I listed on the one Sub Series cache and on the ” You can’t get there from here” cache. But finally found that Sub and still NOT giving up on “You can’t get there from here.” I had a little help and at least have an idea of WHAT I’m looking for, but not necessarily where.
[This message has been edited by Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu (edited 06-30-2005).]
quote:
Originally posted by cacherchick:
I hate to log them,…people will spend countless hours searching for possibly no good.As a cache owner, I would prefer that each and every person who has a DNF posts it. If not for these, I would not know that there may be a problem with one of my caches. How would I know to go and check on it unless someone tells me. (And believe me, there have been plenty of DNF’s on a couple of them.) Once I know that the cache is indeed okay, I will send a note to the one who posted the DNF and let them know. I often post notes on the cache page as well. In any case, if you don’t find it, let the owner know.
As for at what point it becomes a DNF?…well, like most things Geocaching, it’s relative…one man’s DNF is another man’s did not look in the right place. It’s not our job as cachers to think that just because we didn’t see it, it’s gone! It’s our job to either uncover it, try again, or ask for help or walk away.
Even worse than DNF’s is the fact that I have recently cached w/ someone who cached w/ 2 WGA members that log DNF’s as finds. Saying that, “If it were there we would have found it, so we’re logging it.” That, in my opinion is a bunch of Mr. Hanky!!! They actually logged 12 caches that they did not touch. (There were no names mentioned, but since I know where they were when they were caching, it didn’t take long to figure out who the two upstanding WGA members are.) Sadly, it’s not the first time I’ve heard it. Oh well…whatever it takes I guess! (I’m so happy that numbers are only personal goals for me and not something I need to show the reast of the world!)
Before this turns into another heated discussion that gets locked or deleted, I’ll stop typing.
MajorBratI concur with bnb and MajorBrat. As a cache owner, I like to see any DNFs to ID a potential problem. As a cache finder, if I get to the ground zero area, search and don’t find, it’s a DNF and I log it – hopefully with a little humor added. And anyone who has cached with me knows I don’t give up easily!
Team LightningBugs
* * * * * * * * * *Same goes for me. I will log a DNF anytime I give it a good try. You never know what could happen. I would rather know of a potential problem than have people mad at the cache and me.
The only freedom we have is decideing what we do with the time we have.
The forum ‘Old General Forum (Busted)’ is closed to new topics and replies.