People watching

[jaeger.greg]

I'm fairly new to Geocaching. What should I do if someone gets suspicious of me and asks what I'm doing while looking for a Geocache?

[+Arktoi]

Very new myself but if someone actually comes up and asks you what you're doing, just go ahead and tell them you're on a kind of real-life treasure hunt and you're closing in on the goal! You can explain it however you like, but just make sure you are very upfront about it. Being shifty or unclear is a great way to raise that person's suspicions even further, and the last thing anyone wants is a confrontation or even to have the police called on them.

 

If anyone claims you're somewhere you shouldn't be for whatever reason, a good rule of thumb is to just apologize, explain that you didn't know, and leave. No cache is worth the kind of conflicts that might arise from that situation!

 

I went out caching for my first time the other day, and while I did end up in at least one very public place, with lots of potentially suspicious muggles, I was with a friend, and I think that helped keep suspicions down. In general groups are less suspicious than individuals.

[jaeger.greg]

Very new myself but if someone actually comes up and asks you what you're doing, just go ahead and tell them you're on a kind of real-life treasure hunt and you're closing in on the goal! You can explain it however you like, but just make sure you are very upfront about it. Being shifty or unclear is a great way to raise that person's suspicions even further, and the last thing anyone wants is a confrontation or even to have the police called on them.

 

If anyone claims you're somewhere you shouldn't be for whatever reason, a good rule of thumb is to just apologize, explain that you didn't know, and leave. No cache is worth the kind of conflicts that might arise from that situation!

 

I went out caching for my first time the other day, and while I did end up in at least one very public place, with lots of potentially suspicious muggles, I was with a friend, and I think that helped keep suspicions down. In general groups are less suspicious than individuals.

Thank you.

Edited January 18, 2016 by jaeger.greg

[+dprovan]

I'm fairly new to Geocaching. What should I do if someone gets suspicious of me and asks what I'm doing while looking for a Geocache?

Tell them.

[+unkreativ.net]

I'm fairly new to Geocaching. What should I do if someone gets suspicious of me and asks what I'm doing while looking for a Geocache?

 

Arktoi is completly right. Just tell them what you are doing. Most people I met have been very interested and curious.

[+noncentric]

Honesty is the better policy.

 

I would suggest saying that you're "geocaching" or "looking for a geocache". People that have heard of the hobby will understand. Properties that have a geocaching policy will be more likely to understand what you're doing, than if you say something else that they haven't heard of. For example, if a business owner tells his employees that he's given permission for a geocache on the property, then those employees won't be suspicious if you tell them you're geocaching. They may not understand what geocaching is, but the term 'geocache' should be familiar to them.

 

I'm not a fan of describing this hobby as a "treasure hunt". I'd rather describe it like a "scavenger hunt", since the 'treasure' moniker might attract people that are looking to find financially valuable items. Someone may think you're finding a 'treasure' and watch where you replace it, then go and mess with it after you leave. The same seems unlikely if they think you're just doing something goofy for a 'scavenger' hunt. But who knows that people think.

 

Enjoy the hobby!

[+Astro&Friends]

I agree with all previous posts just be honest from the very beginning

[+Walts Hunting]

I tell them exactly what I am doing and most times they indicate they know about the hobby. If not I give a one sentence explanation and take it from there. This whole stealth thing is way overblown.

[+dprovan]

This whole stealth thing is way overblown.

We use stealth to avoid being detected. There's nothing wrong with that. After we're detected, though -- the case the OP is talking about -- it's important to remember that stealth is not the same as being secretive. We don't use stealth so people don't know what we're doing: we use it to avoid being noticed doing it.

 

But that's all by way of agreeing with you: because stealth is so often stressed, some people get the mistaken idea that that means they shouldn't tell people what they're doing if asked.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

In The Beginning cachers NEVER told

Looking for spiders, snakes, etc.....I would rarely even tell police.

Now I pretty much tell everyone....if you're a CO that wants ultimate secrecy hide them where there are no people.

[+The A-Team]

If anyone claims you're somewhere you shouldn't be for whatever reason, a good rule of thumb is to just apologize, explain that you didn't know, and leave. No cache is worth the kind of conflicts that might arise from that situation!

In addition to this, make sure you notify the cache's owner in some way (post a note/DNF on the cache, send an email/message to the cache owner, mention it to them at an event, etc.). If there's an issue of some sort that caused a conflict while you were there, there's a good chance it could happen to another future cacher. Don't be that guy that just walks away and does nothing about it, letting it happen to someone else.

[+dprovan]

In addition to this, make sure you notify the cache's owner in some way (post a note/DNF on the cache, send an email/message to the cache owner, mention it to them at an event, etc.). If there's an issue of some sort that caused a conflict while you were there, there's a good chance it could happen to another future cacher. Don't be that guy that just walks away and does nothing about it, letting it happen to someone else.

Good point. But for exactly the reasons you give, always post it in the cache log. Anyone looking at the cache log needs to know about this problem, so don't hide it from seekers by secretly telling the owner through some back channel. Even if there's some good explanation that means it's not the problem you thought it was, it's still an interesting story about the cache, just what should go into logs.

[+ecanderson]

This whole stealth thing is way overblown.

Agreed. We've gone to the opposite extreme, and hence, are rarely queried about what we're doing. If nobody asks, there's nothing to answer.

 

http://www.mediafire.com/view/gkdg0ivo1fxv9yl/Cachemobile.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/view/6vvbsc3dmq0a0qm/Shirt_and_Hat.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/view/ibw21h83k8qm8a7/StealthOverrated2.jpg

[+The A-Team]

In addition to this, make sure you notify the cache's owner in some way (post a note/DNF on the cache, send an email/message to the cache owner, mention it to them at an event, etc.). If there's an issue of some sort that caused a conflict while you were there, there's a good chance it could happen to another future cacher. Don't be that guy that just walks away and does nothing about it, letting it happen to someone else.

Good point. But for exactly the reasons you give, always post it in the cache log. Anyone looking at the cache log needs to know about this problem, so don't hide it from seekers by secretly telling the owner through some back channel. Even if there's some good explanation that means it's not the problem you thought it was, it's still an interesting story about the cache, just what should go into logs.

I would actually say that you should usually post it in a log, but not necessarily always. I can foresee there being scenarios where spoiler information would need to be discussed (e.g. "A muggle confronted me about the [clever puzzle item] at [secret stage location]"), and private communication could be better for those cases.

[+Pond Bird]

I always use stealth, but if I'm caught I would probably tell them that I was looking for "the geocache" pretty straight forward so people will let you look instead of making you look suspicious.

[+dprovan]

I would actually say that you should usually post it in a log, but not necessarily always. I can foresee there being scenarios where spoiler information would need to be discussed (e.g. "A muggle confronted me about the [clever puzzle item] at [secret stage location]"), and private communication could be better for those cases.

Yes, there can be exceptions, but your first impulse should be to put it in the log for the same reasons your first impulse should be to file NAs instead of sending private email to a reviewer. In this case, it's important to warn anyone else that might visit GZ about local issues, including unhappy neighbors, without waiting for the CO to react even though the log might need to be carefully worded.

[+WarNinjas]

It is case by case for me. I would and have told about 90% of people who asked what I was doing I was caching. There is that 10% or so that I decide I don't for whatever reason want to tell them as I feel they might come back and take the cache.

Say for instance (this has happened) I am looking for a cache and there is a group of teenagers spray painting (tagging) a nearby wall and they ask what I am doing...am I going to tell them so they can be punks and possibly go take it? Probably not. These kids were actually pretty cool and I think it would have been safe but I still didn't tell them.

Other times it could be some lady who is overly concerned over nothing I might not tell her as well, This is a case to say it in the log.

On the other hand I remember once I was on a long hike and in some crazy bushes and some guy walked by looking at me crazy. Later on I was on the trail with a ammo can open and swagg all around and he came up and asked what I was doing. I told him I was geocaching and he said "Oh I have heard of that" and just went on his way. It just depends on who it is if I will tell them or not.

[+hzoi]

Years ago I thought up the perfect response. "I'm looking for someone who is minding their own business. Have you seen any?" I've never used it, because that would be pretty rude.

 

Most of the time, I apparently just don't draw enough attention, because no one has asked me in ages. I think the last person who asked me posed it like, "Can I help you with anything?" I put on a winning smile and said, "Nope, I'm doing fine, thanks!" Totally threw them off.

 

Naturally, if it's a police or security officer, I tell them I'm geocaching and give the full explanation if needed.

[+Ry Dawg]

Just be honest. I've only had one issue, and it was minor. They asked me, politely, to come back in the daylight. Every other encounter they have all been curious. I had a police officer stop and talk to me while looking on a fire hydrant. I explained the game to him, and now he has an account. Honestly is a good thing.

[+ecanderson]

Not having to engage at all except when the mood suits is even better!

[+J Grouchy]

My policy:

 

For law enforcement, security patrols and property owners/representatives - total disclosure, total cooperation

 

For average citizens - your call, depending on the situation. Many times I just don't feel like going into it and, if asked if I'm looking for something, will just mumble some appropriate response and hope they leave (which they always do). If I'm in a more chatty mood I'll bring up geocaching and answer any questions about.

[+Cachez]

I've only been asked twice. The first time was an old man who jocularly asked me what I'd lost as I scouted the edge of a backstreet car park for a nano. I told him I was looking for hidden treasure and he laughed, got in his car and drove off. The second time I was looking in a field in the middle of nowhere on a walk. Had not seen a single soul for hours then a walker popped up just as I was searching for the cache and asked if I was lost. I told him I was geocaching and he said 'Ah right!' and walked off.

[+Pond Bird]

I had somebody ask me what I was looking for and they actually helped me find the geocache!

[+Team Abarth]

We were asked a couple of times...and just said straight up we're geocaching. Seem to answer the question fine. Don't think we were very "stealthy" though. Probably looked like a small away team from Star Trek holding my phone like a tricorder. I should've worn my Starfleet uniform....but it's red...and you know how it works out for those guys.

[+Samn1]

Never have had to explain. Usually when people see us searching and they come up to us, it's to give us a pointer on where to look

[Chippewawarrior]

If it's non-law enforcement I usually just say that I dropped something. If it is law enforcement I tell them that I'm geocaching and whatnot.