Why I voted "NO" to logging temps

[Barry Butrymowicz]

…well that depends on how the extra smiles are logged. I’d still not have them count towards the main find count but rather as a number of event finds (like benchmarks are logged).

I would agree to this, if they showed up in your count, like a benchmark, but didn’t add to your actual found count,…….NOW only if it would be RETROACTIVE! 😈

😈 Barry of sweetlife 😈

[seldom|seen]

I don’t care what other’s do. I don’t log temps, but then I don’t care about numbers either, nor do I care about Milestones, FTF’s or almost ninety percent of the statistical standing aspect of the sport, with one exception: I am having fun playing the LCG. But, even this aspect of the sport would probably not appeal to me if it weren’t for the friendly competition that I have going with Sagasu, who is now a close friend and one I never would have meet had it not been for the sport.

For me it’s a question of image and it’s the same reason I get worked up about loose rules, sloppy management of a logo update process and other things that the WGA board oversees in a reactive manner.

This is an international sport. And for many of our neighboring states, this question is a moot point as they have decided not to allow it. Yet, here we are, this lone state, trying to justify logging temps to the rest of the nation with the only outcome being a bad rap and perception that Wisconsinites only care about their numbers.

I agree with all of the previous sentiments about having some way to log these with another designation. I think it’s silly to show 40 “attend” logs to represent your temp finds.

Lastly, if they are great temp caches because they are clever containers or hides, then make them permanent where they are or move them somewhere else and do so. Most of the temp caches I placed for the Campout last year, I either made permanent where they were or placed somewhere else and did so for the enjoyment of cachers who weren’t able to attend and for the de ja vu factor of those who did. There are still a couple in the works, but eventually they will all go out.

And just to keep things in perspective, keep in mind that the Referendum results are more telling of the “general” sentiment of the community than is this thread:

Logging Temporary Caches At WGA Events

The Wisconsin Geocaching Association has a long history of allowing people to log all the temporary caches they found at WGA events. For many years, Groundspeak took a neutral position on this practice. The greater geocaching community seems to frown on this practice, and the WGA often receives bad publicity after each event. The WGA has taken a neutral position, allowing people to log temp caches if they so desire. To gauge what the membership currently believes are acceptable temp logging practices, the WGA would like your opinion.

Should geocachers be allowed to make multiple “Attended” logs on geocaching.com to record temporary cache finds at WGA events?

40 (32%) – Yes. The WGA should continue to allow multiple logs for temp cache finds.

83 (67%) – No. The WGA should no longer allow multiple logs for temp cache finds.

1 (1%) – No vote

If the WGA no longer allowed multiple logs, would you still attend WGA events?

105 (85%) – Yes. I would attend regardless of whether multiple logs are allowed or not.

13 (10%) – No. It’s very important to me to be able to log the temp caches. If I can’t log them, I won’t attend.

6 (5%) – No vote.

[The Lil Otter]

WOW…

[cheezehead]

Not to bring up this dead horse again but I have a question.
But first a short story- I attend my 1st WGA Fall Picnic Last September.
I had never been to the park before or cached there. I teamed up with Trekkin & Elfdoctors and found 25 regular caches. The most I have ever found in one day. Elfdoctors pushed me pretty good. So go that I had to stop caching because of blisters on my feet. Did not look for one Temp and did not find all the rest of the regular caches.

So here is my question. Why should I be penalized for not looking for a temp cache? They (WGA BOD or the Picnic Committee) wanted to make temps “worth something” for finding them. So ya got extra tickets for the drawing. How is that fair? If there aren’t temps, people won’t show. So they don’t show. I know there is a topic going in the Candidates Corner on topic. Can some one explain to me how this is fair? Also it is my opinion until GC.com makes it so you can’t attend multiple times it a mute point and people can play the game however they want. I just don’t think that I should be penalized for playing the game the way I want.

[jerrys dad]

Why not just eliminate temps, make those that were temps actual caches, yes you would have to work with a reviewer, and then when over if it wasn’t a really good cache archive it or better yet make all really good caches and leave them active.

[labrat_wr]

this looks like an optimist/pessimist debate.

the pessimist’s view is that they are being penalized as they do not recieve additional tickets for the drawing.

the optimist’s view is that they are being rewarded with the extra tickets.

The variety and creativity of the temporary caches is what the temps are about. These caches often do not meet GC guidelines and could not be published caches. The experience of the creative if not sometimes goofball caches is the experience the temp placers desire.

If you chose to seek only permanent caches that could be logged officially on GC.com, that is a choice you had made. If your choice would have been to seek the temporary caches for the event, that would have been another choice.
As far as the drawings went, every team (if not every person) recieved a ticket and had a chance for a prize.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[cheezehead]

@labrat_wr wrote:

As far as the drawings went, every team (if not every person) recieved a ticket and had a chance for a prize.

But those who found the TEMPS got extra tickets!

[jerrys dad]

@cheezehead wrote:

@labrat_wr wrote:

As far as the drawings went, every team (if not every person) recieved a ticket and had a chance for a prize.

But those who found the TEMPS got extra tickets!

And we go back to the cashe bash and somebody getting extra tickets for socializing. It just doesn’t seem fair that you get penilized for NOT finding the temps, by having a smaller chance at a prize, but went after the regular caches in an area you might not have visited before. I’ll be honest, but having temps is a drawback for me. It doesn’t make me want to go to an event, it needs more. And I admit to not being a socialite most of the time.

[Team Black-Cat]

Regarding the Cache Bash, that wasn’t a WGA event.

As far as the extra tickets for finding temps at WGA events, while having extra tickets does give someone a better chance of winning, it’s really only a very small advantage. I don’t know the total number of tickets handed out, but let’s assume 1000. If you only got one ticket, you would have a 0.1% chance of winning on any one draw. With three tickets, it would only be 0.3% chance. With more tickets given out, the percentages would be even closer (and lower).

It might be worth looking into more ways to gain tickets besides finding temps, but it may become unwieldy and time consuming to keep it all straight on the day of the event.

[Smashing Ground]

going out and finding/logging temp.caches seems more legit than armchair logging caches.at least were out there searching.
to each there own

[-cheeto-]

@jerrys dad wrote:

Why not just eliminate temps, make those that were temps actual caches, yes you would have to work with a reviewer, and then when over if it wasn’t a really good cache archive it or better yet make all really good caches and leave them active.

The BOD candidate thread has touched on a couple reasons why it’s important to keep the tradition of temp caches at the WGA events.

Just because some don’t enjoy finding them, there are hundreds of members who attend WGA events and everyone has differing preferences.

Temp caches are an activity at geocaching events. In most recent events, the location already had many permanent caches for everyone to find and many new permanent caches were placed in addition to the event temp caches.

I don’t see any issue with both of these existing.

Temp caches do not have the “permanence” or proximity issues that a permanent cache has. Containers do not have to stand up to the rigors of a permanent cache so therefore, this allows even more creativity on the part of the cache placer.

I do not need credit for every cache I find.

It’s just a game… rinse lather and repeat.

[-cheeto-]

I was not at the picnic so I did not know additional tickets were given for temps. At the camp-out the temps were just an activity with nothing being gained by finding them.

I would like to see a nominal cost prize given to anyone who completes “x” number of temps placed. Turn in your card and receive something. Very simple “system” to run at an event. It might cost a little more than extra raffle tickets but there are some members and their families who do the temps and would like to take something home as a reminder. Perhaps we seek out a sponsor for this piece so it would still cost nothing.

Just a thought.

[lone_gunman]

Being penalize implies something was taken from you. If extra tickets were given to those that sought temps, that would be a reward for those finding temps.

Besides, who ever said life was fair? Where is that written?

[cheezehead]

But the the reason the tickets were given out was to make Temps WORTH something. And the only reason the Temps were placed was to make some happy. I thnk the thread is locked now, but there was a big discussion about it. IF the WGA doesn’t want Temps from events logged, why put them out and then give dredit for finding them???. There wil be a time when there will be a WGA Event at a park where permanant caches won’t fit and all it’s going to be all Temps. That will make things interesting.

[-cheeto-]

IF the WGA doesn’t want Temps from events logged, why put them out and then give dredit for finding them???

Because everything is NOT about logging caches on geocaching.com.

Because temp caches are an event activity that many enjoy.

Because some people who attend do not care if they are finding a permanent cache or not (family members, children come to mind)

Because giving things away at events is fun!

Because finding a temp cache can be as rewarding or more than finding a permanent cache. Online log or not.

Because placing a temp cache can be as rewarding or more than placing a permanent cache. Not having to deal with Groundspeak volunteer reviewers is rewarding for some 😉 (sorry Dave & Becky)

Because temp cache hiding allows new cachers to hide caches in a group and learn.

Because hunting temp caches allows new cachers to hunt caches in a group and learn.

Because family’s enjoy the temp cache stamping!

Perhaps the enjoyment I received from participating in the hiding of and hunting of these temp caches this past year has “clouded my judgment”.

The argument that giving a prize for doing temp caches is penalizing someone who finds permanent caches instead is silly. Everyone chooses whether to attend an event. They choose which activities to participate in. They choose how social they want to be or anti-social.

I spoke to more than one other family at the Camp-out last year that were not WGA members that attended the event because they sort of like geocaching and the event was close. They all had a blast hunting the temp caches. They’re the kind of cacher that might not even log a permanent geocache online. They got to enjoy some quality cache hunts and had fun.

Permanent caches will be there the next time you visit that state park. Will the other event activities be there then?

If you’re so against the idea of temp cache placement solely because they can’t be logged online then so be it. There are many other people who feel differently.

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