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Discover and share multiple TB codes


rojanich

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Hi folks.

 

We’ve been caching for a few years now and really love a number of different aspects of the hobby; TBs being one of them. We love watching our own move round the world and try to help others achieve their goals too.

 

We visited a cache today which I had noticed online last night was supposed to have two TBs in it. Well, it was quite a challenging cache for the Old Goat (OH) to climb to so I tried to be as quick as possible doing the log signing etc. when he handed me the box. I was disappointed not to find any ‘regular’ TBs in the box but grabbed a little laminated card with a couple of, to me, obviously TB type numbers on, thinking this might be a proxy/replacement TB. On getting back home I now discover this card has three tracking codes and the message Discover and share.

 

I’ve checked the codes and they lead me to TB pages with photos of many different but similar cards with two, three and four tracking codes on and the TBs have thousands of Discovered logs and huge mileages. It seems the owner has bought some TBs, made multiple card copies of multiple TB codes and set them loose. Being a simple soul I don’t think this is what TBing is all about.

 

So, my question is what should I do ? Should I ‘discover’ the codes, ‘Grab’ the TB in ignorance or chuck it in the bin because the TB owner is not ‘playing the game’ ? Or, do I just put it in the next cache we find with enough room. Am I being too pompous in not approving of the TB owner playing the way they want to ?

 

Any views ?

 

Also, a question. If there are say, three of these cards and a cacher logs a Discover for one TB code in cache a) and another cacher Discovers the same TB code in cache b ) a 1,000 miles away maybe the next day and another cacher Discovers the same code in cache c) another 2,000 miles away the next day does the TB log up 3,000 miles with just these cards being found and Discovered ? (I said I was a simple soul........)

 

Cheers.

 

Jane (the ja in rojanich)

Edited by rojanich
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Haven't run into that one.

 

I wouldn't grab them, since any attempt you make to "correct" the TB mileage is just going to get undone by the next person who finds another of these cards somewhere else.

 

Discover if you want.

 

As for what to do with the card...I'd be hesitant to just put it back out there. Are there any of the TB owner's caches around? Maybe just drop it in there and let them know that you don't think they're TBing quite right.

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We know a few people who simply leave the codes to trackables around, some because every time they leave an actual trackable, it's gone into someone's pocket.

One is a regular on these forums. :)

Sounds like instead of one code on a laminated card, they opted for three.

Since you could spend a couple days reading all the threads on stolen trackables, it seems that Groundspeak has relented on what one can do with their property.

 

"The Game" is Geocaching, with Trackables merely a side-game of this hobby.

 

I would have simply Discovered the codes at the cache, and moved on. :)

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I wouldn't consider that a TB, so I'd probably just throw it in my souvenir box and forget about it.

 

The closest thing I've seen is when the TO had created thousands of duplicate cards with the same code on them just to see what happened. What happened was that the TB was locked, so on that one, I couldn't have logged it even if I'd wanted to.

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If there are say, three of these cards and a cacher logs a Discover for one TB code in cache a) and another cacher Discovers the same TB code in cache b ) a 1,000 miles away maybe the next day and another cacher Discovers the same code in cache c) another 2,000 miles away the next day does the TB log up 3,000 miles with just these cards being found and Discovered ?

"Discover" changes no mileage.

 

If people move these identical cards to other caches using Retrieve/Drop logs (or Visits), the map will become crazy. Plus, with 3 tracking numbers per card, it's extra work for you if you log them. Check the TB pages for information on what the deal is. I hope the TB Owner has a decent plan. :anicute:

Edited by kunarion
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Thanks to everyone for their responses especially kunarion for the answer re. 'Discover' not racking up mileage. I suspect these TB's logs do have seriously false mileage due to cachers moving the cards from cache to cache.

 

The TB owner is in Germany and I'm in UK so no chance of putting the card in one of his caches and I guess he'd just set it on its way again. There's no mention of the cards on the TBs' webpages so no requests what to do with them and so no plan.

 

To cerberus1 - I appreciate that TBs are a side game but there are still guidelines and these cards don't come within them. I take you to mean that once someone has paid for a TB it becomes their property and they can do what they like with it. To a certain extent I agree but if you buy an official team cricket/baseball bat it doesn't mean you can march onto the team's pitch and play to your rules does it ? B)

 

It feels a bit like armchair caching, I'm going to call it armchair TBing.

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To cerberus1 - I appreciate that TBs are a side game but there are still guidelines and these cards don't come within them. I take you to mean that once someone has paid for a TB it becomes their property and they can do what they like with it. To a certain extent I agree but if you buy an official team cricket/baseball bat it doesn't mean you can march onto the team's pitch and play to your rules does it ? B)

 

It feels a bit like armchair caching, I'm going to call it armchair TBing.

Please explain the "rules" for trackables, particularly which one they're not abiding by. :)

 

In "What does a Travel Bug do?" in Geocaching.com's own Travel Bug FAQ, they say " It's really up to the owner of the bug to give it whatever task they desire. Or no task at all."

 

We see codes on trackable pages now, codes on vehicles and other personal property, and yeah, some on laminated cards.

I think that sorta says they're playing this side-game as they wish (whatever task they desire...), not by someone else's idea of "what's right". :)

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To cerberus1 - I appreciate that TBs are a side game but there are still guidelines and these cards don't come within them. I take you to mean that once someone has paid for a TB it becomes their property and they can do what they like with it. To a certain extent I agree but if you buy an official team cricket/baseball bat it doesn't mean you can march onto the team's pitch and play to your rules does it ? B)

 

It feels a bit like armchair caching, I'm going to call it armchair TBing.

Please explain the "rules" for trackables, particularly which one they're not abiding by. :)

 

In "What does a Travel Bug do?" in Geocaching.com's own Travel Bug FAQ, they say " It's really up to the owner of the bug to give it whatever task they desire. Or no task at all."

 

We see codes on trackable pages now, codes on vehicles and other personal property, and yeah, some on laminated cards.

I think that sorta says they're playing this side-game as they wish (whatever task they desire...), not by someone else's idea of "what's right". :)

 

Not going to argue because there are only guidelines (sort of rules) not laws and even laws are open to interpretation - else why does the free world have 'Higher Courts' ? and Geocaching is a game not real life (or is it :laughing: .....??!!).

 

It's just that my interpretation of 'The item becomes a hitchhiker that is carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world and you can follow its progress online.' must be different to the TB owner's.

 

Let's just say I will be far more committed to actual TBs and their goals than these cards. I just wish others were more careful of our TBs but that's another issue.

 

Happy caching. We did a fabulous series today, ten themed caches, a great walk, good fun, exercise, fresh air and we gave a themed TB a good time too. Suits us.

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