[GeoStL] Re: Bogus MOGA logs-I have to admit, you had a good point

  • From: Chad Groharing <cgroharing@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 09:34:25 -0500

Hi everyone.

No one here knows me as I am very new to geocaching (16 finds to be exact)
My name is Chad and I live in O'Fallon.  I am writing to all of you to
express concerns over what I am reading.  I hope that maybe I can offer an
outside perspective whether it is warranted or not.

I like that geocaching is treasure hunting with technology.  It is the
thrill of the hunt.  Sometimes it's going out to public places with my girls
or my wife and looking for something in a bush while trying not to be
noticed or someone saying, "What's that guy digging in that bush for?" :-)

Many times, because I am new, I can't find the cache.  My Delorme PN-40 says
I'm right on top of it and I still can't find it.  I will mark that as a DNF
on the website and maybe in the future I will go back and try again.  I see
no point in marking caches that you didn't physically see or actually hunt
to find.  But to some people that seems to be acceptable and that's ok.

There are definitely some passionate people on this freelist and I think
that's awesome!  I love reading that.  However, what concerns me is how much
attention is paid to "the other guy."  Geocaching was never intended to be a
competition.  It was to go out with friends and/or family and to explore the
world.  More than likely taking you places you would have otherwise never
gone.  I have never gone out looking for a cache on my own because to me I
enjoy hunting with someone else.  I enjoy sharing the time hunting.

I feel that this conversation and bashing of other cachers is damaging to
geocaching all together. As much as I would like to,  it makes me never want
to go to MOGA or attend a SLAGA event.  Because if this "sport" has begun to
be about who can get the most caches and who is cheating, then I will just
go back and enjoy it with my family.  Personally, I don't care who's
cheating.  It does nothing to me or anyone else.  They are only cheating
themselves..and for what?  More bragging rights?  Big deal!  Those who want
to cheat have lost focus on what geocaching is and so be it.

In closing, again looking from the outside, I hope that we can all enjoy
more productive posts.  I liked how some of you look out for others by
posting when rooms were taken up at such and such place in Iowa for next
year's MOGA.  And when someone wasn't able to make it they were kind enough
to post a room available so someone else could make it.  That stuff is
fantastic to read!  Someone needed a specific cable, or someone asked about
a certain GPS unit.  That is all good stuff.  Not all the bashing that has
been happening lately.

I know I've begun to ramble and I apologize.

Happy caching!

Chad

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