NorthWest Arkansas Cachers

We seem to have a new cacher here in NWA who, as of today, has logged 40 caches. Problem is, his average word length is zero -- that's right, zero.

Not a good cache, this cache sucked, I love this game -- nothing.

If you're like this person, and you ever need help on a *TnT* cache, forget it. It ain't gonna happen. Although according to the new groundspeak rules, I can't delete his logs, I can not respect him as a cacher and I can not give him any help with any of our puzzles or more difficult hides.

In fact, that's going to be my new policy. If I see blank logs, or cut and paste logs repeatedly from you -- I aint helpin'.

There's one down in the valley that has 87 now, and all of his logs are the same.

"Logged from my phone using the Geocache Navigator by Trimble"

Which is auto added by the software., and then about 3-5 more that are just putting TFTC with less than 10 finds.

I'm glad to see new people in the game, but yeah, a bit of log info would be nice.

I am fairly new to hiding caches but I have enough out to know that I do not like the TFTC log. I think most of these do come from new cachers. I have tried to improve my logs because I now know that it is important to write good logs. A log without works is just a number to someone.

I think you all are going overboard with the log rules you self-impose on everyone. And Im sure I'll catch all your wrath for saying so, but oh well. Let people play the game the way they want to. There could be a good reasons why someone doesnt type anything, or maybe they just didnt have anything to say. And I think it slightly rude not to help just because some doesnt write logs the way you want them to. jeez lighten up a little.

Actually, after perusing the GS forums today, I came across about three threads where apparently some people are having some wierd reaction to WAP enabled mobile devices that are logging the caches and leaving blank logs. No idea if the cacher thinks they are just to note they found it via logging, and not realizing they should say something, or if they are writing a log, but it's getting eaten.

So i'm back to not going to worry about it since it MIGHT be a technical glitch.

As more of a hider than a finder, I can understand your frustration. However, we also have to keep in mind that not everyone is part of an organised geocaching group that meets up, and not everyone reads forums like this one and the global one. If you don;t chat to others and read forums, all you have to go by is other logs. There are so many TFTH logs that a newbie might easily think that is what they are supposed to do.

as a newbie, I have to agree with Penguine_ar:

Penguin_ar wrote:... If you don;t chat to others and read forums, all you have to go by is other logs. There are so many TFTH logs that a newbie might easily think that is what they are supposed to do.

On my first couple of finds that is all I did. I went back and updated my logs after reading thru the forum.
This forum is excellent in helping the newer people learn the 'proper' way fo doing things.

Thanks again

While there isn't really a "Proper" way to do things in this game, you do get noticed for the logs you write and the hides you make. People will do unto you what you do unto them.

Just remember that the opinions expressed on here are just that -- opinions. Another good place to get a range of opinions is on the groundspeak forums. In the end, you will make the choice and your actions and words will dictate what others remember about you.

i've never been one to agree with 'logging rules' and so on. I'm with Gruiz on this one...lighten up a little.
However, i also have placed 75+ caches so i get a lot log-email. And the TNLNSL emails DO get tedious sometimes.
I enjoy reading the logs on my caches, especially the ones that i 've put some time and effort into creating. But i also have easy ones, skirtlifters out there. I dont expect much of a log on a skirtlifter. what can you say?
Another thing....
I recently had a great day of caching down in El Dorado with TrickRick, and we found 50 caches that day. When i got home that night and began to log my finds, i couldnt even remember half of them! (sad, isnt it?) So i used a lot of generic logs on some of those caches 'great time', ' fun day', etc.

HikerRon

You'd think that after the effort of hunting a cache they might put a couple words like, "Nice hide" or "Didn't expect it there" every so often just to confirm that they are actually finding them and not just logging "finds".

This is a discussion that has been going on ever since I started caching and I don't think it will ever change. I too get lots of emails with TFTC or the equivalent. But my email has this nifty little button that says "DELETE" so I just tap that little button once and it's erased from my inbox and my mind.

Good logs are intended to stroke the ego of the hider and thats all. Logs should be kept simple in most cases unless you have a story to tell. But thats my opinion. Im not a big fan of cut and paste logs either unless you are on a cache run and cut and paste is the standard like the Oklahoma land Run. which I did with a few friends this weekend and had 192 finds in 1 day. Cut and paste is the only way to go!

I currently have 80 hides out and I have come to the conclusion that some of the logs are not going to be much but the good logs will more than make it for that. I get logs of nothing, a period, logged from I phone, the intials of which some I don't even know what means, and then I get some really good logs. I have only deleted three logs and those were duplicate logs. I remember that my first logs were terrible and I hope as some of these new cachers stay in the game they will learn that logging is a big part. Most of the no loggers will soon drop out of the game I am thinking. Just my update opinion on logging.

I usually try to at least write something about a find and in the case where I'm out picking up a bunch of them I'll write notes on the GSAK printout to kind of refresh my memory when it comes time to log. I know I always enjoy reading what people think. What really bugs me is when they find a problem and post it on the log as opposed to sending me an e-mail.

I dont enjoy reading all the TFTC logs and such but I agree. People play the way they want too, just because i write lengthier logs doesn't mean the next person needs or wants to. As far as posting problems with a cache on the page instead of email. I do that. And I do that because one, that seems to be the way geocaching.com wants us to do it and also because as a cacher, when i read something that says log is wet, then I know to bring a sharpie or that I might find mush or to bring a replacement log with me just in case. Sometimes cache hiders aren't able to get out and replace or fix something quickly, I know I'm not always able to. If something is wrong with the cache, I want to know before I go hunt it, by reading past logs. Just my thoughts.