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Do I not have the correct etiquette? do I look too suspicious?


mudlizard75

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I am new to geocaching, I like using computers and being out doors, so I figured I give this hobby a try.

 

I do not get to find them as much as I would like, (with work, kids,daily life, ect.) but, feel I am doing ok, I do find looking with someone else makes it easier for both stealth and ability to find faster, went with my sister who introduced me to geocaching and I also take my children 4 and 7 who really enjoy trading their items for other items when we find a cache, or I go doing a lunch break or between jobs by myself

 

I have been asked by many people so far as to what I am doing, most times before I answer they say are you geocaching?, that they have seen a good amount of people looking in the same area I am looking in. I have not found a bunch and others I found where quite hard to get to by myself (one being 9 feet up and having to climb a pole to get it)

 

My question is how do I look for these small caches without being noticed or looking suspicious if I am looking by myself? It is easy to get caught up looking and not notice someone around me (muggles) or (other geocachers)

 

I noticed recently that someone posted the same day as I did that they did not find a geocach and they saw someone before them looking, since I was the only person to log that day before them of a DNF and they also wrote the same DNF, I figured they were talking about me, and it is very disturbing to me what they wrote:

 

[{Had a great day today, found 20 traditional and one puzzle. So we get to the gz. and some guy acting very suspicious is standing

there with his phone acting nonchanlant. We give him a knowing look and go up the trail. As soon as we leave he's molesting the benches

in search of a cache.We came back and looked all over and found nothing. TFTC}]

 

now where I was looking was a paved bike path, a place where cars drive past nonstop all hours of the day(I pass here for work sometimes 6 times a day) where people are walking dogs and riding bikes and tons of houses and people looking out there windows all day and all nite and well lit up at night as well. Do I wait till everyone on the bike path is over a half mile away, making it a 3 to 4 hour ordeal to find one cache?

 

IF I MEET ANOTHER GEOCACHER ARE THEY NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY ANYTHING TO HELP ME LEARN MORE, BUT JUST GO AND INSULT ME?

 

I do not have time during the work week to find 20 in one day, I am lucky to find one or two in one day!

That day I spoke to people that always walk the bike path daily and they said they always see unfamiliar people and out of town people on the bike path looking for caches, they saw me writing in a log for one I did find a little farther from the DNF one and asked if I found it, trying to hide what I was doing I asked them found what? and they said the "geocach" so there are a good amount of others looking supposedly in so called stealth but are still seen!

 

How does one look under a bench or a 9 foot ledge without being seen?

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Now also when I find a cache and it is big enough, I leave an item if there is room, a good amount I have been finding have no items, so I figure I do a pay it forward and leave an item making it funner for the next cacher, Is this wrong to do too?
Unless the cache no longer closes properly because there isn't really room for the item you left, there is nothing wrong with trading up (which is what you're really doing when you take nothing and leave something).
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The reason people think you are suspicious is because you act suspicious.

When people look at you say something.

Like good morning, nice day or in my case howdy.

You are just out to enjoy a nice day just like them.

 

Keep your phone low and by your side.

When someone comes by act like you are texting or talking on your phone.

The only time you have to be careful is when you are going for or replacing the cache.

Just my 2 cents hope it helps

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I am like you and have always waited for people to leave and/or just came back another time if others were around. A few times now I have been with other cachers and there will be muggles around and I say well we can't get this one. They will be like... hold on and do something and just go get it. I have started to add there style to my caching sometimes and often get ones I would have left before. Like lamp post hides. I wouldn't go grab them before if anyone was around as I thought it looked weird. Most times when looking for a lamp post cache I am in my work truck. Just the other day it was so crowded at a parking lot full of people I knew if I parked and walked over there I might gain attention to what I was doing. I just pulled up and parked in the nearby curb and put on my flashers. Grabbed the cache and signed it and replaced it like I knew what I was doing and no one cared at all.

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The reason people think you are suspicious is because you act suspicious.

When people look at you say something. Like good morning, nice day or in my case howdy.

You are just out to enjoy a nice day just like them.

 

Keep your phone low and by your side.

When someone comes by act like you are texting or talking on your phone. The only time you have to be careful is when you are going for or replacing the cache.

Just my 2 cents hope it helps

 

He can't really do both, can he? One or the other on a given occasion.

 

Good tips - trying to act stealthy can look very suspicious.

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One thing that bothered me is that another cacher spotted and said that I was MOLESTING A CHAIR FOR A CACHE

Being spotted by regular people, most will think knowing of of it except to other experienced cachers when spotted will sometimes know what i am up to what

 

What do the experienced cachers do to look normal when kneeling down to looking under a chair, so not to look like they are molesting, which i feel i was definitely not doing!

 

I mean these nano's are in some tight spaces and sometimes require a little work to get them out, so they are not in the open so, they are going to look off when trying to get them

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You can't look normal when searching a bench.

 

And who cares if he said you were molesting the bench? You were groping it; we all do to find the cache. It's a stupid use of the term, and very insensitive - but that's on HIM, not on you.

 

And you're right - muggles will mostly think nothing of it. If they do and ask you what you're doing, you can say you're geocaching. That's better than saying, "Uhh, nothing," and make them think you're a drug dealer or something. ;) But geocachers have radar vision when it comes to other geocachers. Of course he saw you geocaching - he would have looked the same to you had you walked by instead. :)

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I am new to geocaching, I like using computers and being out doors, so I figured I give this hobby a try.

 

I do not get to find them as much as I would like, (with work, kids,daily life, ect.) but, feel I am doing ok, I do find looking with someone else makes it easier for both stealth and ability to find faster, went with my sister who introduced me to geocaching and I also take my children 4 and 7 who really enjoy trading their items for other items when we find a cache, or I go doing a lunch break or between jobs by myself

 

I have been asked by many people so far as to what I am doing, most times before I answer they say are you geocaching?, that they have seen a good amount of people looking in the same area I am looking in. I have not found a bunch and others I found where quite hard to get to by myself (one being 9 feet up and having to climb a pole to get it)

 

My question is how do I look for these small caches without being noticed or looking suspicious if I am looking by myself? It is easy to get caught up looking and not notice someone around me (muggles) or (other geocachers)

 

.....Happens all the time .. don't worry about it.

 

I noticed recently that someone posted the same day as I did that they did not find a geocach and they saw someone before them looking, since I was the only person to log that day before them of a DNF and they also wrote the same DNF, I figured they were talking about me, and it is very disturbing to me what they wrote:

 

{{Had a great day today, found 20 traditional and one puzzle. So we get to the gz. and some guy acting very suspicious is standing

there with his phone acting nonchanlant. We give him a knowing look and go up the trail. As soon as we leave he's molesting the benches

in search of a cache.We came back and looked all over and found nothing. TFTC}]

 

.....Probably meant as a joke

 

now where I was looking was a paved bike path, a place where cars drive past nonstop all hours of the day(I pass here for work sometimes 6 times a day) where people are walking dogs and riding bikes and tons of houses and people looking out there windows all day and all nite and well lit up at night as well. Do I wait till everyone on the bike path is over a half mile away, making it a 3 to 4 hour ordeal to find one cache?

 

.....No ... my opinion is I'll try to be as unnoticeable as I can, but a when cacher hides in that kind of environment, chances are the cache won't last long and it's not up to me to be overly concerned about it.

 

IF I MEET ANOTHER GEOCACHER ARE THEY NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY ANYTHING TO HELP ME LEARN MORE, BUT JUST GO AND INSULT ME?

 

.....Most cachers will stop and talk and help to find it. Again .. I think the insult was meant as a joke, as crude as it might be.

 

I do not have time during the work week to find 20 in one day, I am lucky to find one or two in one day!

That day I spoke to people that always walk the bike path daily and they said they always see unfamiliar people and out of town people on the bike path looking for caches, they saw me writing in a log for one I did find a little farther from the DNF one and asked if I found it, trying to hide what I was doing I asked them found what? and they said the "geocach" so there are a good amount of others looking supposedly in so called stealth but are still seen!

 

.....Right there, you should have said "yes", because obviously they knew what you were doing, (and by responding the way you did, made yourself suspicious) and then maybe engage them in a conversation about geocaching.

 

How does one look under a bench or a 9 foot ledge without being seen?

 

Sometimes you can't ... you just go ahead and do it and most times no one will notice, or care.

The term "Stealth" is overrated, and you look more suspicious trying to be "stealthy" than just going ahead as if you have every right to be doing what you are (which you do).

Edited by BC & MsKitty
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I don't think that I've ever used the term "molesting" when referring to another cacher, but I have used the term referring to myself. Sometimes I just feel like I'm all over some object, looking for a cache, and it does feel awkward or inappropriate. I hope I don't seem offensive to others by using that term.

 

If I see another cacher when caching, I go up to them and introduce myself. If they're actively searching, I might wait a bit to be polite and let them find the cache. But I think it's fun to meet new cachers! It's too bad that these cachers didn't feel like introducing themselves. I just met a cacher at one of my most recent finds. It made me happy to say hi to her.

 

There are some ways to be somewhat inconspicuous while looking for something on a bench. I'm sure it would be more difficult if you're looking for a nano. I don't think I've ever seen a nano on a bench - the overwhelming majority that I've seen are magnetic keyholders, although I've seen a bison or two. You can sit down on the bench and reach under when no one's looking, a lot of the hides will be underneath. You could pretend to be tying your shoe. You could bring your kids along (or even a dog, if you have one) - they cover up a lot of silliness. I pretend to be talking on my phone sometimes, people tend to look away from people who are having a conversation on their cell phone.

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I noticed recently that someone posted the same day as I did that they did not find a geocach and they saw someone before them looking, since I was the only person to log that day before them of a DNF and they also wrote the same DNF, I figured they were talking about me, and it is very disturbing to me what they wrote.

May not be about you - unless you were really going all TSA over the bench. Many people unfortunately do not post DNF.

 

If I pass by someone near a cache, I don't purposely avoid eye contact, and if they look my way, I'll give a smile. I don't always approach others who I suspect might be geocachers unless it is really obvious, because I've been wrong before and gotten a blank stare. And of course, there's this one guy who shall remain unnamed here who gave me an outraged look, exclaimed "what the hell are you talking about?" before breaking into a huge grin.

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Usually with out my kids DNF 's are the ones i try to go for first, when I see no one has found it in 6 months to a year, and there are many cachers posting DNF. They are the ones i go for first and tend to take me a bit of time to find if it is still there!

 

That is how i found the one that was 8-9 feet up, i had to climb a pole and shimmy across a ledge to find, feels good to find something many others had failed at, but usually takes more time and trial and errors, but also tends to get more looks

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Reminds me of the time I was laying on the sidewalk looking for a nano on a bench outside a bar and grill. A few patrons stopped to ask if I were alright? If one puts a cache on a bench, one has to expect cachers to look suspicious!

(Yes. I suspect that 'molesting' was an attempt at humor.)

 

You're braver than me! There's a magnetic nano somewhere on one of several metal benches right in front of stores with plenty of muggles. I gave a quick search and posted DNF.

 

Maybe I needed a clipboard to pass for a maintenance worker.

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I was molesting a hollow log just the other day. Good times. It was at the edge of a car park and two or three cars pulled in while I was "tying my shoes" and I didn't get a single glance. Look like you're supposed to be doing what you're doing and most people are so caught up in their own thoughts they won't even notice you.

 

It's the getting and the putting back that are the tricky times if there's people about. Once you have it in hand it's golden. No one knows or cares.

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Most cachers probably don't care what others think of them, and will only be concerned if the cache they were looking for goes missing because of them being spotted. As long as the non cacher does not see you retrieve or place it back, they likely won't have an idea what you are looking for, and that means that they probably won't find it either because they do not know what it is. Most other cachers will identify themselves, give hints or spoilers if they see you. I had a few people on occasion shout "you'll never find it" from a car, and I thought it was humorous and took it as a joke, but when I tried using that phrase myself on someone they got annoyed. Likewise someone saying they spotted you molesting a bench was likely intended as humor, and I'm guessing they were not sure you were even geocaching until they saw your log. Just ask if you suspect another cacher. Saw a few logs that went like this: "

Could not even get out of the truck to look as there were muggles staring me down"
, followed by another log
"tried looking for this but there was some guy sitting in his truck at ground zero"
on the same day. ;) Edited by 4wheelin_fool
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How does one look under a bench or a 9 foot ledge without being seen?

 

The first bit of etiquette advice that came to my mind was an old adage, 'What other people think of you is none of your business'.

When I'm out GeoCaching, I do what I have to get that smiley. Sometimes I act nonchalant, sometimes I refer to my printout and GPS frequently as if I'm doing something official (clipboards are a magic tool), and sometimes I back away and hopefully can return another time.

 

Good luck and good caching.

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Reminds me of the time I was laying on the sidewalk looking for a nano on a bench outside a bar and grill. A few patrons stopped to ask if I were alright? If one puts a cache on a bench, one has to expect cachers to look suspicious!

(Yes. I suspect that 'molesting' was an attempt at humor.)

 

Here is a similar "attempt at humor" from a log today:

 

Sure enough after I found the container there was a nice clean log to violate! Now to head back home and get back into bed! LOL

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The thing I've learned over the years while urban caching is that you have to act like you own the place. The more discreet you try to be the more suspicious you look. Act like you belong there and you'll lessen your chances of being questioned. Now, lying under a park bench might be harder to explain...

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The thing I've learned over the years while urban caching is that you have to act like you own the place. The more discreet you try to be the more suspicious you look. Act like you belong there and you'll lessen your chances of being questioned. Now, lying under a park bench might be harder to explain...

 

Um... The NYC park employees thought that I was a homeless dolphin. The two cachers that I was with explained about geocaching. The park employees accepted the explanation and drove off in their cart.

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The reason people think you are suspicious is because you act suspicious.

I agree. I just really own it and act like I am supposed to be there. I don't hesitate. If it's a more high traffic area and I have my dog with me, I will just let him sniff around and I pretend to day-dream as I look.

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You can't look normal when searching a bench.

 

And who cares if he said you were molesting the bench? You were groping it; we all do to find the cache. It's a stupid use of the term, and very insensitive - but that's on HIM, not on you.

 

And you're right - muggles will mostly think nothing of it. If they do and ask you what you're doing, you can say you're geocaching. That's better than saying, "Uhh, nothing," and make them think you're a drug dealer or something. ;) But geocachers have radar vision when it comes to other geocachers. Of course he saw you geocaching - he would have looked the same to you had you walked by instead. :)

You can if you just sit down and feel under the bench when know one is looking or kneel down and look around. The latter just looks like you dropped something.

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I don't think you should worry about what other people say, so much. First of all, you really don't know if that log was aimed at you. It could've been another cacher who DNF'd it, but didn't actually log the DNF. Also, some cachers just aren't all that nice! And some are! I personally always introduce myself and some will grunt a response and keep on moving and some will sit down and have a nice little chat with me. Ain't our differences grand?? :D:D:D

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I don't think you should worry about what other people say, so much. First of all, you really don't know if that log was aimed at you. It could've been another cacher who DNF'd it, but didn't actually log the DNF. Also, some cachers just aren't all that nice! And some are! I personally always introduce myself and some will grunt a response and keep on moving and some will sit down and have a nice little chat with me. Ain't our differences grand?? :D:D:D

I know that you're being positive here, but I have to say that I'm sorry if you've experienced cachers who just keep going and aren't friendly. I don't think I've ever had that happen to me. Of course, there have been times where people have been a bit reticent, but I'm a pushy person and I don't let that slide. ;) I met someone at a cache recently, and she seemed quite hesitant to be around me, but I invited her over to help make the find, and chatted with her for a few minutes. I made sure to be quite friendly, not quite sure if she appreciated it, though. :P

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I don't think you should worry about what other people say, so much. First of all, you really don't know if that log was aimed at you. It could've been another cacher who DNF'd it, but didn't actually log the DNF. Also, some cachers just aren't all that nice! And some are! I personally always introduce myself and some will grunt a response and keep on moving and some will sit down and have a nice little chat with me. Ain't our differences grand?? :D:D:D

I know that you're being positive here, but I have to say that I'm sorry if you've experienced cachers who just keep going and aren't friendly. I don't think I've ever had that happen to me. Of course, there have been times where people have been a bit reticent, but I'm a pushy person and I don't let that slide. ;) I met someone at a cache recently, and she seemed quite hesitant to be around me, but I invited her over to help make the find, and chatted with her for a few minutes. I made sure to be quite friendly, not quite sure if she appreciated it, though. :P

 

I just hope you all don't judge the weary traveler. Some of us are extroverted and some are introverted. Some of us are just down right shy or antisocial. That alone hardly makes for a bad person.

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I just hope you all don't judge the weary traveler. Some of us are extroverted and some are introverted. Some of us are just down right shy or antisocial. That alone hardly makes for a bad person.

 

I understand this completely

 

I just started Geocaching and as an introvert with social anxiety I can get socially awkward when I get nervous and probably look all fidgety as if I'm on drugs and looking for a hidden exchange or something lol especially in this colder weather with a hooded jacked on!. Hiding from muggles is a must for me. My first find was actually at a (I need to go read the rules so I'll just say "a big box store parking lot") It was obvious it was on or around a light pole. I happened to be able to park right in front of it. Seeing a crack in the plastic base cover I had a good idea where it was hidden. I popped my hood and acted like I was checking something and quickly went to grab it. The gf snatched it up and we hopped in the car to sign it and then replaced it.

 

It was fun but I will definitely be avoiding high traffic areas until I'm more comfortable and can keep more calm. This will actually help me a bit with my nervousness so hey geocaching does more good than expected!

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I think also smiling and a friendly but brief explanation when asked is a good idea, had someone come out of his garden gate and ask what I was doing as I crawled into a gap in some bushed to remove a cache the other day. Not surprised that he was a little worried at spotting someone crawling around outside his propertY. I just told him I was doing a kind of treasure hunt and he was fine, wished me a good day and went back inside. Maybe I'm not the most inconspicuous of geocachers either. Perhaps we will start to look less suspicious with experience :)

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Now also when I find a cache and it is big enough, I leave an item if there is room, a good amount I have been finding have no items, so I figure I do a pay it forward and leave an item making it funner for the next cacher, Is this wrong to do too?

 

I do this all of the time :) I cache with my 4 & 6 yr olds, who LOVE making little things for them. If someone else is caching with their kids directly after us, it's nice to know that they'll land on something rather than nothing. For the kids, doing this makes them feel better about landing on a cache with no swaps when they were expecting more.

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