[GeoStL] Re: Cache Scare Redoux

-
I agree with the earlier comments about how ridiculous this terrorism stuff
is getting.  However, this is another good example of why I like clear
Tupperware containers.  It also demonstrates the importance of clearly
marking the outside of the container to let others know what it is. Maybe it
is time to develop a better sticker that can be placed on the container to
make it easier to know what it is.  Perhaps it should be bright orange.  How
about getting a toll free number to call on the sticker then the cops can
call it to find out what it is.  How about a sticker that says, "Geocache,
www.geocaching.com Questions 1-800-XXX-XXXX"  Then there could be some fine
print explaining geocaching.  

Jim Bensman
"Nature Bats Last" 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:geocaching-
> bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Pam Ekey
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 9:16 PM
> To: Geocaching
> Subject: [GeoStL] Cache Scare Redoux
> 
> -
> The folks in Indiana aren't geocaching friendly, especially in Delaware
> County. More on yesterday's "bomb scare" incident:
> 
> Game not all fun after bomb scare
> By: Kevin O'Connor
> Staff Reporter
> Published: 10/27/2004, 22:46:45
> DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. (NLI) - An explosive incident Tuesday in Hartford
> City has raised questions about the safety of a popular electronic-age
> treasure hunting game with fans from coast to coast.
> 
> "It is a family friendly game," Layne Cameron, author of "The Geocaching
> Handbook," said. "But when somebody sees an empty container sometimes
> their first reaction, they jump to conclusions and think it's more than
> just a game."
> 
> Cameron said over one million people visit the Geocaching website every
> month. But Tuesday's bomb scare was the first incident he'd heard of where
> a prize in the game had been mistaken for a dangerous object.
> 
> Delaware County's bomb squad responded to Hartford City on Tuesday on a
> call about a suspicious looking object placed under a replica train near
> State Roads 3 and 18. The object was blown up as a precaution before
> authorities realized it was a part of the Geocaching game craze.
> 
> Workers at the Tin Lizzy restaurant noticed a man with kids milling around
> and eventually taking a package from underneath the replica train behind
> the restaurant. The man took something from the package, then replaced it
> under the train, and left.
> 
> It turns out the package was part of a Geocaching game. To play the game,
> Geocachers log on to a Web site to find coordinates and clues that lead to
> hidden treasures. The treasures are left by other players and put in
> hidden containers near landmarks.
> 
> Treasures can be hard to find even with the help of a Global Positioning
> System (GPS) tracking device.
> 
> This leads to a pretty suspicious looking treasure hunter. After
> yesterday's bomb scare, Geocachers have to wonder, could seaching in
> public places for these little treasures, get them in big trouble?
> 
> Delaware County Sheriff George Sheridan responded to Tuesday's bomb scare
> and said he would respond to any similar situation in the same way. When
> NewsLink presented him with a Geocaching container we found on Wednesday,
> he looked at it and said he thought it looked like trouble.
> 
> "Oh yeah, this definitely looks suspicious; if you would come up on this
> as a bomb expert, this would look like an explosive device." Sheridan said
> of the object NewsLink found.
> 
> "Ten or 15 year ago, this wouldn't have been an issue, but nowadays, it's
> very serious," Sheridan said. "Somebody's gonna be talking about this game
> and it's gonna turn out, and it's gonna be the real thing; somebody's
> gonna get hurt."
> 
> On the topic of terrorism Sheridan said Tuesday's scare was somewhat
> reassuring because, "People are being diligent and watching for this sort
> of thing."
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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