Podcaches

[+TopShelfRob]

In the last few months I have started listening to the Podcacher podcast, after getting caught up with all the recent ones, I went on their website back to the beginning and started listening to some old ones, from when their show started back in 2005. In their early episodes a lot of the conversation focused on podcaches, which are caches you find by following clues listening to an audio file. They seemed interesting, although geographically useless to many listeners who aren't near where they were at, but they seemed to be starting to take off. Team Podcacher had done a couple out in San Diego where they are and a few others had started popping up around the USA as other people started making them.

 

Then in 2007 these became un-publishable because the guidelines were changed to prohibit the requiring of downloadable files on a cache page. While I guess you could technically provide an alternate method, that isn't too practical because it would take awhile to type out the text of an audio file like that, and reading directions on paper isn't really the same experience as listening to an audio file while exploring.

 

I understand entirely the problem with downloading files from a third party website and that many people wouldn't do that and aren't keen on getting viruses, etc, and that Groundspeak doesn't want to be in a position of liability or having to vouch for how safe any file linked to from their cache pages may be.

 

But websites and technology have changed in the seven years since that guideline was changed, and perhaps this could be revisited. While it may not be prudent to allow or encourage requiring downloadable files from just any third party site, surely Groundspeak could look into a well-known website like archive.org (The Internet Audio Archive) which is a site where anybody can freely upload audio media of any kind and host them for free and provide them for safe download for everybody.

 

I think this is something that should be considered -- as the game of Geocaching continues to evolve into many different forms, surely something like podcaches could be permitted if a way like this of providing audio files safely to geocachers could be opened up without allowing people to use unverified third-party sites which could be used maliciously.

Edited March 16, 2014 by TopShelfRob

[+T.D.M.22]

They won't even put YouTube videos on a cache page, and Google is so big they could buy Groundspeak and give it away and it would be a drop in the ocean.

 

You said

which are caches you find by following clues

So they say walk 100 meters north. Turn west, and walk until you get to the bench....That sounds like a Letterbox to me. All that's missing is the stamp. Or I'm sure if you hosted it on YouTube and linked to it on the cache page, you could get away with it as a unknown cache.

 

I don't want to have to download anything to find a cache, I really don't care where it's from.

[+Touchstone]

From the Guidelines:

 

Certain files (specifically .TXT files, .PDFs and all audio files) may be acceptable inclusions on cache listings in the interest of allowing greater cache creativity. These downloads must adhere to all geocaching guidelines and include the following text above the link:

 

"Alert: You are about to download a file that contains further details needed to find this geocache. As the cache owner, I represent that this file is safe to download although it has not been checked by Groundspeak or by the reviewer for possible malicious content. Download this file at your own risk. [insert link here]"

[+TopShelfRob]

I don't want to have to download anything to find a cache, I really don't care where it's from.

 

I wouldn't recommend downloading anything from just anywhere, either. But if you just don't want to have to download anything, then I don't think podcaches would be for you. Which is fine.

 

From the Guidelines:

 

Certain files (specifically .TXT files, .PDFs and all audio files) may be acceptable inclusions on cache listings in the interest of allowing greater cache creativity. These downloads must adhere to all geocaching guidelines and include the following text above the link:

 

"Alert: You are about to download a file that contains further details needed to find this geocache. As the cache owner, I represent that this file is safe to download although it has not been checked by Groundspeak or by the reviewer for possible malicious content. Download this file at your own risk. [insert link here]"

 

I was just going by the forum threads that were talking about the guideline change in 2007 that caused podcaches, at that time, to no longer be approved. If it has changed since then and third party downloads are permitted (with above disclaimer), I wasn't aware. Still, I would hesitate myself from downloading something from a third-party site I wasn't familiar with. That's why I brought up the Internet Archive.

 

If this is the case and all third-party downloads are allowed (whether they are safe or not) but they all would have that disclaimer then I think that would lead to most people who may be unsure choosing "no thanks" and essentially be a death blow for podcaches ever taking off. Which I guess is the case, since I don't see any "podcaches" mentioned lately, even the Podcacher podcast doesn't have any new ones mentioned since the 2007 guideline change.

Edited March 16, 2014 by TopShelfRob

[+tozainamboku]

Which I guess is the case, since I don't see any "podcaches" mentioned lately, even the Podcacher podcast doesn't have any new ones mentioned since the 2007 guideline change.

I don't think the lack of podcaches has anything to do with the guidelines changes and probably little to do with people worrying about downloading files.

 

The truth is that most unknown/puzzle caches are passed over by a significant number of cachers. Any that take more effort than looking a the page and being able to quickly figure out how to get the final coordinates appeal only to a very small group.

 

While mystery/puzzles that use some kind of clues to take you to the final location are popular, when the clues go beyond what is written on the page you loose some interest. About the only exception are night caches that use reflective tacks you can only see at night as clue. I'm not sure why hunting at night with a flashlight appeals to more people than downloading a file to an MP3 player and listing to instructions.

 

The other thing with podcaches is that they seem a little dated. Wherigo caches and intercaches, though they require special equipment or an internet connection, can be more interactive - since they can trigger clues based on the user's location as well as their input.

[+Don_J]

Which I guess is the case, since I don't see any "podcaches" mentioned lately, even the Podcacher podcast doesn't have any new ones mentioned since the 2007 guideline change.

I don't think the lack of podcaches has anything to do with the guidelines changes and probably little to do with people worrying about downloading files.

 

The truth is that most unknown/puzzle caches are passed over by a significant number of cachers. Any that take more effort than looking a the page and being able to quickly figure out how to get the final coordinates appeal only to a very small group.

 

While mystery/puzzles that use some kind of clues to take you to the final location are popular, when the clues go beyond what is written on the page you loose some interest. About the only exception are night caches that use reflective tacks you can only see at night as clue. I'm not sure why hunting at night with a flashlight appeals to more people than downloading a file to an MP3 player and listing to instructions.

 

The other thing with podcaches is that they seem a little dated. Wherigo caches and intercaches, though they require special equipment or an internet connection, can be more interactive - since they can trigger clues based on the user's location as well as their input.

 

First, I take a hard look at every mystery cache that gets published in our area. If I can figure it out, it's on the RADAR as a cache to be found in the future. The truth is, I am as dumb as a rock with about 95% of them. It's not that I don't want to do the work, I simply don't know how.

 

As far a Pod, or mp3 cache. The only way that I could do this would be with my portable player and a set of ear buds, and I simply do no not isolate myself in public in this manner. In an urban environment such as our very big city, I am normally hyper vigilant. Not paranoid, but definitely aware of my surroundings. People who are not, are the ones that become victims. When geocaching on a mountain trail, part of my experience is audio. I can't imagine hiking up a trail and not being able to hear the sounds of nature around me. Plus, if the audio were to tell me to go to go off the trail and look in a bush for a clue, I'd have to pause it anyway because there could be a rattlesnake in the bush. I really don't see how this is any different than following a set of printed clues.

[+Team Geo-Rangers]

Looks like Podcacher has a new contest (July 2015): ... go to www.podcacher.com to learn more.