MnGCA

bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3655

Yep, I've already completed several challenges having never left my desk and they seem to be added to the count.

knowschad · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject:

termdisc · Geocacher Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 9

I agree that adding these so-called "challenges" to the find count dilutes and pollutes and convolutes the number of legitimate finds, and I will not be participating, at least initially. However, if the madness doesn't stop, if this truly becomes the "new normal," will I absolutely, never, ever log a "challenge" as a find? Sigh.

This seems to be just another example where version 2.0 (or 5.0, whatever) is worse than the original. Elegance is removed in the name of "progress." And it used to be fun looking back and saying, hmmm, April 12, 2008, that's when I was at such-and-such a place - but no more, since they've removed the dates on the logs. What in the world were they thinking there?!

Having said all that, it has occurred to me in the past that Groundspeak is a privately owned company and, in theory at least, the owners could one day say, "You know, we had some fun, we made some money, time to move on to the next thing," and pull the plug entirely. So I guess I'll be glad that they haven't hosed it up even more, or outright quit!

Hunter-Killer · Geocacher Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 222

Just did Grounspeaks" Kiss the frog challenge" . Horns, confetti, fireworks. Completed it having a few brewskis in 90 degree heat on the deck overlooking our backyard pond and noticed Kathy had a plastic motion sensing frog. Took a photo (hey I had to walk to the kitchen and grab the camera off the top of the fridge) took a photo and "Bobs your uncle"......Challenge complete.

Can not wait for a Watch paint dry challenge.

Or better yet get a picture of the old lady cutting the lawn challenge. WOOOOHOOOO

qwerty2582 · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 457

I just completed the "Point toward St. Paul and burp" challenge. Really exciting stuff there...

knowschad · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:12 pm Post subject:

termdisc · Geocacher Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 9

Well, I created a termdisc-challenges username and completed the ridiculous "kiss the frog" challenge or whatever it's called. Then I logged a cache find on an archived cache of mine, to see how the numbers would be reported.

As many have probably seen, they do combine caches found and challenges completed into one big "found/completed" number at the top of the page, and every log has that combined number on the left side. At least you can mouse over the left side of logs to see finds and challenges separated.

In short, they've taken elegant clarity and made it misleading and complex and dilluted. Brilliant.

As for my "-challenges" username, though, I do like the idea of creating an I-394 series of challenges - say one for every one hundredth of a mile in the morning with one hand on the wheel, one for every one hundredth of a mile in the morning with two hands on the wheel ... morning, evening, middle lane, right lane, carpool lane, bus with legs crossed, bus with legs straight, bus while reading a book... 950 completions on the way to work, 950 completions on the way home, five days a week - In just 10 short weeks I can be at 100,000 challenges completed, and in a couple years I'll be in the millions!

Or, maybe I'll just go walk the dog.

Sky King 36 · Geocacher Joined: 09 Apr 2009 Posts: 36

rosebud55112 · Geocacher Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 90

At the moment, I don't think I'm going to accept any challenges. I can't exactly say why though, because I have logged 32 various virtual caches, and nearly 50 other cache types without a container and logbook.

Obviously GS didn't put enough thought into how geocachers would respond to this project, and unfortunately they don't seem to have a good reputation for cleaning up their own messes. Abrupt and rude though it was, as Jeremy said, I don't have to play that game.

I've learned not to care so much about other people's cache find counts. (Saying that, I should admit that yesterday I did inform a CO about someone who misread their challenge cache page and hadn't actually met the challenge ALR as given). If you want to rack up points, go ahead.

Maybe someday I will log a challenge. Maybe someday I will perform the challenge but not log it. I don't know. I think, that once some of the chaff gets removed (hopefully it can), then the good challenges left might indicate some interesting places to go if you are on vacation in an area, much like the current Virtuals do.

JJnTJ · Geocacher Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 218

Overnight, I came around on these a little. It concerns me how poorly Groundspeak implements things, but eventually some of the silly oversights might get corrected.

But I think I'll follow through on my idea to hide a geocache and publish the coordinates in a Challenge. In order to complete the challenge, you have to find the cache and sign the log inside.

Smiling duo · Geocacher Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 104

Let me go on record and say I don't care for this type of challenge. If my better half hears about this one, he'll think we're all nuts. So on December 24th when I need a grid filler, I could just sit at home and kiss a frog or point to St. Paul and burp and that will fill the day? Bad!

emmanogoldfish · Geocacher Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 106

Challenges seem to be isolated from caches at the moment so just create a new account and log challenges on that account if you want to keep your find count pristine. Don't worry about others find counts.

Groundspeak Inc. doesn't listen, to what complaints and tweaks? They are a business, they want to grow, has anyone ever given them the next big idea?

It's their business, it's their money, spend it however they want to.

As far as ideas, has Groundspeak Inc. ever had any, seems everything they provide they borrowed from someone else.

qwerty2582 · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 457

Personally, I see a point to challenges - I really do. It can serve as an intelligent replacement for virtuals.

However, it cannot in the way it was implemented. "Kiss the Frog" and "Burp Toward St. Paul" (yes, even though I did that one), are not suitable challenges for geocaching. A challenge to visit the Como Conservatory, and take a picture near a plaque, and answer a question on the plaque - yeah, I could see that one working.

You should have to answer some sort of question to get credit, which gets sent to the CO for an approve/deny (similar to how we do virtuals today, but a little more automated), not simply say "Yup, I did it" and take credit.

This is **EXACTLY** what everone was afraid of with the "return of virtuals" - is that it would become pointless, and there would be a virtual for everything. Surprise, it happened.

EPMinnesota · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 1898

What was the reason location-less caches were discontinued? I thought it was because a cache requiring you post a picture of a barber pole, well, you can grab a picture of any barber pole off the internet and mark it as "found" and they decided they wanted to keep the game pure. Isn't that what this is only worse???

termdisc · Geocacher Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 9

Interesting exchange between Jeremy and a geocacher, in response to Jeremy's "my way or the highway" response to all the negative feedback:

http://feedback.geocaching.com/forums/75775-geocaching-com/suggestions/2171763-read-this-jeremy?ref=title

Meantime, the suggestion "Bring log date back, please" has over 5,000 votes in about 24 hours.

http://feedback.geocaching.com/forums/75775-geocaching-com/suggestions/2170437-bring-log-date-back-please?ref=title