Post by Cowboy Camper on Jul 29, 2010 21:37:04 GMT -6
This seems to be a Common Debate, so I thought I'd start up a topic here about it. Here's a great place to hold this debate, and get a feel for what others in the caching community consider as Fair or Cheating.
I intend this to be an open and free debate/ Discussion, and I don't want anyone to get hostile about one position or the other. I'm just opening this up for a friendly back and forth of what will likely be different opinions for different folks. I've been in both positions during my short tenure here in the caching game, and have met folks on both sides of this aisle. I have both Asked this question, and I have also Answered this question:
"Is logging your own cache as a Found It acceptable?"
My short answer is... It depends. It depends who you're talking to, and it depends on how you are playing this game. Some will condemn the practice, others will condone it, and yet others don't fret on this one way or the other. I guess it all just depends on you yourself and how you want to go about caching. After all, it is just a Game, isn't it? IMHO, there aren't necessarily any hard and set rules that have been written in Stone, but there sure can be opinions that folks have.
I for one, am wanting and willing to learn about the general consensus that is out there, so here goes!
I recently answered a question about logging your own cache as a Found It log. I did so Publicly as another Found It log at the cache listing, since it was the Owner of the cache asking if it was OK to log his cache as a Found It.
Without Direct Permission from that CO, I will not quote the original log. (but I have the text, and can Edit it In here with permissions...) But the general question was something to the effect of, can I log my cache as found?
MY reply: (since criticized and ultimately Deleted by me. ~ Further replies Deleted by a Reviewer.)
Generally speaking, it's usually considered a bad thing (in poor taste, aka Cheating?) to Find a cache that you have hidden yourself. You put it there, so how can you claim a smiley/Found it when you know where it is from the start? Besides, on the Map, why change a Star (you Own it) into a Smiley (you Found it)?
Speaking from Experience and Forum conversations that I have either initiated or just participated in, there are several different Opinions regarding this. Some folks will call you out on this, and others will not fret about it at all. My general answer/conclusion (based on Experience...) is that this is an Individual's Game, and the only thing that matters is how You feel Comfortable with playing this said game.
In a more private email or phone call talk, I can explain a bit more on my experience and what I have and or have not done in my part of playing this game. My story may help you decide what you are comfortable with. But I can tell you this, here in the public view with a certain amount of comfort against criticism.
I have done some things that others may frown upon. On the other hand, other folks don't give a crap what I've done. But in the end, it's really up to You and your comfort level of how you want to play this Geocaching Game. For a fact, I am comfortable (thus I am being as fair as I can be, In MY Opinion...) of how I am playing the game. I have my reasons for doing the things that others might look down upon, but this is ultimately my game and I see it as I am playing by my safe and fair Rules. So really... it's up to you to decide what is or is not fair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Having said all of that, I have to let you know that I sent you this email Via a Log at you cache. I figured this is the best way that I can actually get in touch with you, generally speaking. And, it's just quicker for me to do this, rather than go the email user method.
But I will Publicly also state that this is a Second Found It Log for me on this cache. This will give me another Smiley as a result, even though I already Found this one back in April. So... what is Fair in your mind? What are You comfortable with regarding the opinionated rules of this game? Will you let my Second Found It log stand for this cache? Or will you Delete it, cause I already found it back in April?
Ultimately, this is Entirely up to You. You own this cache, and it's Your Game. Play it as you wish. It's a Game, in my humble opinion. And it's been said to me more than once, "To each his own". That applies to Life in general, but also to this Game we call Geocaching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for me and this Open Post/Found It log, I'm gonna leave it up for a while and wait to see what you may have to answer in reply. It's your cache, what can I say? If you give it to me, I'll take it. If you Delete it, I'm good with that too. But to be fair, just consider the whole picture. What you do with my post, you should also do with yours.
So, I guess that's where I'll stop. At this point, it's entirely up to you. You are, after all, the CO for this cache. You have my Number and know how to get a hold of me for matters that are better discussed in Private, but here's my public answer.
Do not be surprised if I Delete this log on my own. That may happen at any time. But I will try to keep it up until I hear back from you Direct.
Thanks, CC~ Scott.
There you have it. That's My position. Let the Discussions begin, but remember to keep it Friendly folks.
I intend this to be an open and free debate/ Discussion, and I don't want anyone to get hostile about one position or the other. I'm just opening this up for a friendly back and forth of what will likely be different opinions for different folks. I've been in both positions during my short tenure here in the caching game, and have met folks on both sides of this aisle. I have both Asked this question, and I have also Answered this question:
"Is logging your own cache as a Found It acceptable?"
My short answer is... It depends. It depends who you're talking to, and it depends on how you are playing this game. Some will condemn the practice, others will condone it, and yet others don't fret on this one way or the other. I guess it all just depends on you yourself and how you want to go about caching. After all, it is just a Game, isn't it? IMHO, there aren't necessarily any hard and set rules that have been written in Stone, but there sure can be opinions that folks have.
I for one, am wanting and willing to learn about the general consensus that is out there, so here goes!
I recently answered a question about logging your own cache as a Found It log. I did so Publicly as another Found It log at the cache listing, since it was the Owner of the cache asking if it was OK to log his cache as a Found It.
Without Direct Permission from that CO, I will not quote the original log. (but I have the text, and can Edit it In here with permissions...) But the general question was something to the effect of, can I log my cache as found?
MY reply: (since criticized and ultimately Deleted by me. ~ Further replies Deleted by a Reviewer.)
Generally speaking, it's usually considered a bad thing (in poor taste, aka Cheating?) to Find a cache that you have hidden yourself. You put it there, so how can you claim a smiley/Found it when you know where it is from the start? Besides, on the Map, why change a Star (you Own it) into a Smiley (you Found it)?
Speaking from Experience and Forum conversations that I have either initiated or just participated in, there are several different Opinions regarding this. Some folks will call you out on this, and others will not fret about it at all. My general answer/conclusion (based on Experience...) is that this is an Individual's Game, and the only thing that matters is how You feel Comfortable with playing this said game.
In a more private email or phone call talk, I can explain a bit more on my experience and what I have and or have not done in my part of playing this game. My story may help you decide what you are comfortable with. But I can tell you this, here in the public view with a certain amount of comfort against criticism.
I have done some things that others may frown upon. On the other hand, other folks don't give a crap what I've done. But in the end, it's really up to You and your comfort level of how you want to play this Geocaching Game. For a fact, I am comfortable (thus I am being as fair as I can be, In MY Opinion...) of how I am playing the game. I have my reasons for doing the things that others might look down upon, but this is ultimately my game and I see it as I am playing by my safe and fair Rules. So really... it's up to you to decide what is or is not fair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Having said all of that, I have to let you know that I sent you this email Via a Log at you cache. I figured this is the best way that I can actually get in touch with you, generally speaking. And, it's just quicker for me to do this, rather than go the email user method.
But I will Publicly also state that this is a Second Found It Log for me on this cache. This will give me another Smiley as a result, even though I already Found this one back in April. So... what is Fair in your mind? What are You comfortable with regarding the opinionated rules of this game? Will you let my Second Found It log stand for this cache? Or will you Delete it, cause I already found it back in April?
Ultimately, this is Entirely up to You. You own this cache, and it's Your Game. Play it as you wish. It's a Game, in my humble opinion. And it's been said to me more than once, "To each his own". That applies to Life in general, but also to this Game we call Geocaching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for me and this Open Post/Found It log, I'm gonna leave it up for a while and wait to see what you may have to answer in reply. It's your cache, what can I say? If you give it to me, I'll take it. If you Delete it, I'm good with that too. But to be fair, just consider the whole picture. What you do with my post, you should also do with yours.
So, I guess that's where I'll stop. At this point, it's entirely up to you. You are, after all, the CO for this cache. You have my Number and know how to get a hold of me for matters that are better discussed in Private, but here's my public answer.
Do not be surprised if I Delete this log on my own. That may happen at any time. But I will try to keep it up until I hear back from you Direct.
Thanks, CC~ Scott.
There you have it. That's My position. Let the Discussions begin, but remember to keep it Friendly folks.