Have log passwords ever been considered for this sport?

[Shadon1nja]

I can't help but notice people can just lie about what they have found. Not that this is a really big issue (that's just a guess). Have the owners of this website ever considered putting in an optional password that is needed to log a cache? Something like a 4 digit pin that is on the top of a log, or written in Sharpie on the bottom of the cap of a film canister microcache.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Shadon1nja

[+niraD]

Yes, they have been considered. Years ago, codeword caches were allowed, where finders had to email the cache owner the codeword found in/on the cache. But codeword caches haven't been allowed at geocaching.com for years.

 

[edit: correct keyword -> codeword]

Edited April 10, 2014 by niraD

[+Bear and Ragged]

I can't help but notice people can just lie about what they have found. Not that this is a really big issue (that's just a guess). Have the owners of this website ever considered putting in an optional password that is needed to log a cache? Something like a 4 digit pin that is on the top of a log, or written in Sharpie on the bottom of the cap of a film canister microcache.

 

I have over 1,000 finds, would you like to swap numbers/passwords from those caches, so you can claim more finds for yourself?

 

It's a game of trust. If you want to cheat, you're only cheating yourself...

[+ChileHead]

It rarely is a problem. When it happens, it's not causing anybody harm other than those who might be deceived into thinking a cache is there because it was bogusly found yesterday when it's been missing for months.

 

In my 11 years of caching, I think I've only had to deal with this twice as a cache owner. I don't normally validate finds unless I think there is an issue.

[Shadon1nja]

I can't help but notice people can just lie about what they have found. Not that this is a really big issue (that's just a guess). Have the owners of this website ever considered putting in an optional password that is needed to log a cache? Something like a 4 digit pin that is on the top of a log, or written in Sharpie on the bottom of the cap of a film canister microcache.

 

I have over 1,000 finds, would you like to swap numbers/passwords from those caches, so you can claim more finds for yourself?

 

It's a game of trust. If you want to cheat, you're only cheating yourself...

 

Woah there. I'm just asking if the idea ever came up. No trying to sound pushy.

[+Walts Hunting]

It has come up many, many times but it is prohibited for many, many good reasons. I think that the Bear is just trying to point out that if you had taken some time to think through the ramifications of this request you might have made a different decision.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Walts Hunting

[+Isonzo Karst]

It was part of the game for quite a while, caches where you were to email the CO the codeword in the log book. Local to me this was mostly on micro caches for some inexplicable reason, and there where some multis where you were supposed to get codewords from each stage and the final and email all of them.

 

Frankly, it was offensive to me, and at some point I just stopped doing it. Found caches, signed logs, logged finds - emailed nothing to nobody. Nobody ever deleted a find, or even asked me about it.

 

It does seem like an okay idea, until you're the one finding caches and having to keep track of the darn codewords, and the soggy unreadable logs with their soggy unreadable codewords :-)

[Shadon1nja]

It has come up many, many times but it is prohibited for many, many good reasons. I think that the Bear is just trying to point out that if you had taken some time to think through the ramifications of this request you might have made a different decision.

 

I still think you are being unfair about my post. This was a question aimed at learning more about the history of the sport, not an attempt to define its future. I didn't request anything. And some people have given me quite informative responses, educating me on both codeword's existence in Geocaching's past as well as the rise and fall of this idea. Thank you to those who have replied!

[+T.D.M.22]

It has come up many, many times but it is prohibited for many, many good reasons. I think that the Bear is just trying to point out that if you had taken some time to think through the ramifications of this request you might have made a different decision.

 

I still think you are being unfair about my post. This was a question aimed at learning more about the history of the sport, not an attempt to define its future. I didn't request anything. And some people have given me quite informative responses, educating me on both codeword's existence in Geocaching's past as well as the rise and fall of this idea. Thank you to those who have replied!

 

I disagree. How was it unfair? The first reply told you if they had considered it. The second told you why it wouldn't work.

 

With the mass of accounts, most ideas that are brought up, have been so already. A lot of veteran forum users have answered the same questions over and over(I think we're overdue on a how do I make a virtual cache), and most of the time it's easiest to say why it does or doesn't work right away. Right to the point. It may not be all roses and puppies, but that doesn't make it any less correct. Now if someone would have said that you should have done a search on the forums and left it at that, then that would maybe have been mean. But still not unfair(Since you would have gotten your answer by following what the person said)

[Shadon1nja]

It has come up many, many times but it is prohibited for many, many good reasons. I think that the Bear is just trying to point out that if you had taken some time to think through the ramifications of this request you might have made a different decision.

 

I still think you are being unfair about my post. This was a question aimed at learning more about the history of the sport, not an attempt to define its future. I didn't request anything. And some people have given me quite informative responses, educating me on both codeword's existence in Geocaching's past as well as the rise and fall of this idea. Thank you to those who have replied!

 

I disagree. How was it unfair? The first reply told you if they had considered it. The second told you why it wouldn't work.

 

With the mass of accounts, most ideas that are brought up, have been so already. A lot of veteran forum users have answered the same questions over and over(I think we're overdue on a how do I make a virtual cache), and most of the time it's easiest to say why it does or doesn't work right away. Right to the point. It may not be all roses and puppies, but that doesn't make it any less correct. Now if someone would have said that you should have done a search on the forums and left it at that, then that would maybe have been mean. But still not unfair(Since you would have gotten your answer by following what the person said)

 

Replying to my original question with an extreme example of why the system wouldn't work obviously aims at making my question look stupid. The "unfairness" I was referring to was the blunt response by Bear. I am surprised this is turning into such a debate when I am just a newcomer

 

Some people on this thread have given me very informative answers from their personal experience which provided me the exact information I was after. Thank you guys.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Shadon1nja

[+niraD]

Shadon1nja does have a point. This is the Getting Started forum. Responses should remain friendly and helpful.

 

But with that said, "Let us not attribute to malice and cruelty what may be referred to less criminal motives." (Jane West) I've reviewed the thread again, and I still don't see as much malice and unfairness as Shadon1nja seems to. Then again, I've been active in online discussions for decades, so I may have developed a rather thick skin.

[klsswimsagain]

As a newbie myself, I too would have found that post a little insulting. "would you like to swap numbers/passwords from those caches, so you can claim more finds for yourself" .. this, to me, is implying that Shadon1nja was looking to "cheat". After reading the initial post, I don't believe this was the intent. Just my two cents.

[+MKFmly]

Unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence on forums that posters choose to use I and you to attribute values and place judgements upon other posters rather than answering the question, defining the issue, or respectfully expressing an alternate opinion.

 

Generally, when posters start to discuss the poster rather than the issue then rational discourse is lost.

 

Often found on this particular site is the standard answer "I would do (or never do) _________, but it’s a free country do what you want ...", with its implied value judgement.

 

For example,

I have over 1,000 finds, would you like to swap numbers/passwords from those caches, so you can claim more finds for yourself?

 

It's a game of trust. If you want to cheat, you're only cheating yourself...

could easily have been rephrased as

Code words have been used many times in the past but with varying issues, (e.g. ...). Those who "can just lie about what they have found" would trade code words so they are not the solution.

 

Posters should be able to educate, debate, and disagree, without being disagreeable.

[+Harry Dolphin]

It has come up many, many times but it is prohibited for many, many good reasons. I think that the Bear is just trying to point out that if you had taken some time to think through the ramifications of this request you might have made a different decision.

 

I still think you are being unfair about my post. This was a question aimed at learning more about the history of the sport, not an attempt to define its future. I didn't request anything. And some people have given me quite informative responses, educating me on both codeword's existence in Geocaching's past as well as the rise and fall of this idea. Thank you to those who have replied!

 

I disagree. How was it unfair? The first reply told you if they had considered it. The second told you why it wouldn't work.

 

With the mass of accounts, most ideas that are brought up, have been so already. A lot of veteran forum users have answered the same questions over and over(I think we're overdue on a how do I make a virtual cache), and most of the time it's easiest to say why it does or doesn't work right away. Right to the point. It may not be all roses and puppies, but that doesn't make it any less correct. Now if someone would have said that you should have done a search on the forums and left it at that, then that would maybe have been mean. But still not unfair(Since you would have gotten your answer by following what the person said)

 

While users here should be kindly to the newbies, newbies should not come in with attitudes. They should be kindly to the other users as well.

[+TriciaG]

SO...

 

Shadon1nja, has your question been answered?

[+briansnat]

I believe the question has been answered and this thread as taken a turn that is completely inappropriate for the Getting Started forum.

 

Please remember that this is the "kinder and gentler" forum and for many new geocachers, this is their first contact with other geocachers. Please keep that in mind when posting here and if you can't be polite and helpful, there are other forums here where a small degree of curmudgeonliness is tolerated.

 

Closing this.