[GeoStL] Re: Another scare
- From: Know Future <know_future@xxxxxxxx>
- To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:32:25 -0600
-
You're probably right on that point. But I think it's more important to
focus on proactive things that we can do to protect our somewhat covert
hobby from unwanted restrictions.
The news article (below) is a bit confusing but it reads like the bomb
squad blundered onto this geocache while engaged in an actual, but
unrelated, bomb threat at the courthouse. Not knowing any details, my
first thought is: maybe it's a bad idea to place a geocache in a
courthouse, or on the courthouse grounds. Maybe it's a bad idea to place
caches near any public facility that regularly draws large crowds, like a
sports stadium, or a school. You might say that's common sense, but
really, good sense is not that common.
We are lucky that gln asks all the right questions and then requires the
cache owner to get all the right people involved before he'll approve a
new geocache. I know from experience that he won't approve a cache placed
in a spot that could create problems with the public. I appreciate that
more each time someone posts one of these "geocache mistaken for bomb"
news stories.
K. Future
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:05:34 -0600 Mike Lusicic <lusicic@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
writes:
> -
> I mostly agree with the steps you suggest. They seem to make sense.
> But
> I would like to perhaps take exception to the following:
>
> If you think about it, who, besides a bomb-planting terrorist, would
> be doing the goofy things we do?
>
> I don't think the things we do are anything at all near what a
> bomb-planting terrorist would do, except for the original cache
> hider. I don't think anyone planting a bomb is going to be puttering
> around the area for a long period of time. They don't want to draw
> attention to what they are doing, so they are going to in and out
> and draw as little attention as possible. They are not looking for
> anything. The are leaving something. So I really don't see the
> connection. Granted we are trying to draw as little attention as
> possible to avoid a cache being plundered, but I just don't see a
> terrorist sticking around the location for an hour where they are
> trying to plant something.
>
> I am no terrorist expert, so I could well be wrong, but to me
> someone
> doing what we do may seem a bit loony, but I don't think "terrorist
> planting a bomb" would enter my mind.
>
> Know Future wrote:
>
> >-
> >To me, this is the biggest potential problem with urban/suburban
> >geocaching. Traditional caches (not micros) are cammoflagued,
> well-hidden
> >and usually just the right size to arouse the suspicions of a bomb
> squad.
> >
> >When we search for caches in busy areas we are careful not to
> expose its
> >hidden location to non-geocachers. That means we often putter
> around
> >waiting for the muggles to dissipate, so we can zero in on the
> cache.
> >Then we wander around a specific bush, bench or whatever, sometimes
> for
> >an hour or more, digging, scratching and sniffing everything. I've
> often
> >wondered what I look like to a casual observer while wander I
> around,
> >make sudden turns, stop, wait, go back and make circles - all the
> time
> >looking at something in my hand. You have to admit, it not only
> looks
> >weird, but probably suspicious.
> >
> >These days, everyone is terror-conscious and Homeland Security has
> asked
> >every citizen to be watchful for suspicious and/or unusual
> activities in
> >public areas. That makes us sitting ducks. If you think about it,
> who,
> >besides a bomb-planting terrorist, would be doing the goofy things
> we do?
> >It's a wonder that more of us don't get taking into custody for
> >questioning.
> >
> >I think there are two things we can do to minimize incidents like
> the one
> >reported below.
> >
> >1) Make sure our cache containers are clearly marked as geocaches.
> >Stickers are available. We should make sure they are on every cache
> -
> >both existing and future caches.
> >
> >2) Make sure the proper authorities are well informed about the
> location
> >and characteristics of the cache container. Maybe it would be a
> good idea
> >to take a photo of the container and give it to park manager,
> forest
> >ranger, etc for their file so they know exactly what the cache
> looks
> >like. Maybe we should consider putting the name and phone number of
> the
> >authority that has granted us permission to place the cache on the
> >container?
> >
> >I'm sure there are other things we can do to help prevent these
> unwanted
> >incidents in the future. Everytime this happens we are getting a
> bad
> >reputation in somebody's mind. This is something the whole
> geocaching
> >community needs to address, otherwise our hobby/sport may be
> greatly
> >restricted in the future.
> >
> >Just my two cents,
> >
> >Know Future
> >
> >
> >On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 17:34:03 -0800 (PST) Pam Ekey
> <pekey@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >writes:
> >
> >
> >>-
> >>At least they didn't detonate this geocache. The following article
>
> >>is from the Orlando (FL) Sentinel. Apparently, police down there
> are
> >>at least aware of geocaching.
> >>--Pam
> >>
> >>Bomb hunt yields harmless box
> >>While investigating a bomb threat at the Volusia County Courthouse
>
> >>in DeLand, deputies found a "suspicious package," sheriff's
> >>officials said.
> >>
> >>Using a bomb robot, deputies determined that the box found near
> >>Alabama Avenue and State Road 44 was not an explosive.
> >>
> >>When they got a closer look, they figured out that it actually was
>
> >>part of a high-tech treasure hunt. Investigators said the
> >>"geocaching" box, which contained some papers, was likely left as
> >>part of the hobby whose participants rely on global positioning
> data
> >>to find clues.
> >>
> >>The box was not related to the bomb threat, deputies said.
> Deputies
> >>evacuated all three Volusia County courthouses after receiving the
>
> >>threat but found no explosives.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ****************************************
> >> Our WebPage! Http://WWW.GeoStL.com
> >> Mail List Info. //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching
> >> Mail List FAQ's: //www.freelists.org/help/questions.html
> >> ****************************************
> >>To unsubscribe from this list:
> >> send an email to geocaching-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
> >>'unsubscribe' in the Subject field
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >JURA BAR QBBE PYBFRF NABGURE QBBE BCRAF
> > ****************************************
> > Our WebPage! Http://WWW.GeoStL.com
> > Mail List Info. //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching
> > Mail List FAQ's: //www.freelists.org/help/questions.html
> > ****************************************
> >To unsubscribe from this list:
> > send an email to geocaching-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
> 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> ****************************************
> Our WebPage! Http://WWW.GeoStL.com
> Mail List Info. //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching
> Mail List FAQ's: //www.freelists.org/help/questions.html
> ****************************************
> To unsubscribe from this list:
> send an email to geocaching-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
> 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field
>
>
>
>
>
>
JURA BAR QBBE PYBFRF NABGURE QBBE BCRAF
****************************************
Our WebPage! Http://WWW.GeoStL.com
Mail List Info. //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching
Mail List FAQ's: //www.freelists.org/help/questions.html
****************************************
To unsubscribe from this list:
send an email to geocaching-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the
Subject field
Other related posts:
