MnGCA

spatten26 · Geocacher Joined: 07 Aug 2011 Posts: 6

We hosted an event recently, and there was an "official start time" for the hunting. One participant left about 45 minutes early, and claimed a number of FTF's (which also meant receiving extra tickets for door prizes), then bragged about it later. I understand that having an actual start time for the hunt is a bit "on your honor," and being used to a smaller/ rural area I'm used to playing by the rules. But is this a common thing? It wouldn't have been such a big deal, but then the cacher bragged about it at the closing get together and in their logs.

Is this normal? If it's happened at an event you've attended, how have you seen it handled?

This isn't a rant, and specifics aren't being used. Just wanted to start some constructive conversation to get some ideas on whether to try to discourage this in the future, and how to deal with it if we host another event.

King Boreas · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:56 pm Post subject:

Don't reward FTFs.

Everyone attending the Event claims FTF. It allows leisure finds, instead of encouraging the destruction of GZ.

Just my 2¢

15Tango · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:00 am Post subject:

I suppose the most diplomatic way to handle it would be not to have door prizes based on FTF on the caches and declare, as CO, that everyone who finds a new permanent cache during the event is a co-FTF with everyone else who finds the cache that day. Also have the start time to go hunting the same as the start time for the event. There are some people that might have other plans, but they want to find a few caches and can't wait until the official start time, if for example you have a meet and greet from 10-11, and then cache hunting from 11-3.

The last event I went to, I believe the permanent caches were submitted the night before, and in most cases, were published on gc.com as we were on the trail (at least that's when I got the notifications) looking for them.

When I'm at an event, I usually wait until there's a group that wants to head down-range and tag along with them - in quite a few cases, though, I'm fashionably late and there's already people out looking for caches when I get there.
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There comes a time in every young boy's life when he gets an irresistible urge to seek buried treasure.--Mark Twain

bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3655

Moe the Sleaze · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:08 am Post subject:

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:06 am Post subject:

sir_zman · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:02 pm Post subject:

My thinking was that these were Temp Caches, so the FTF was on the Temp...but my answer is the same as most other people....put the temps out, and what we've done in the past is put a paper stamp (punches a hole in a sheet of paper) in the various caches..then we give each participant a log book with spaces for each of the various caches, that they then need to punch...when they are done, we give raffle tickets based on the punched caches...since each punch is different, it reduces cheating, and it won't matter who starts first or ends first or last or whatever.

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

Arcticabn · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject:

I don't care about early finds on the day of the event. Days prior is a different story.

I don't award FTF extras. Anyone finding the cache is awarded a chance at the DP. One per cache per cacher find. Doesn't matter first, second or last on the day of the event. They just get a chance.
On the day of the event they get a score card to write their answers. If they visited earlier, they should not be able to figure the answer.
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bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3655

Team Dennis · Geocacher Joined: 09 Mar 2010 Posts: 18

I've only been to two events where there were FTF chances out there. Both times I stayed at the event site for quite a while after the "start" time. Eventually we made our way out to the woods where we happened to get a few FTFs. Maybe it's just me but I enjoyed chatting with other cachers much more than going out hounding for FTFs.

MNMizzou · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:47 am Post subject:

Personally, and this is just me, if "new" permanent caches are going to be available at/near an event I wish they would be published 24-48 hours prior to the event. That way I can either run a PQ or send all the caches from my PC to the GPS beforehand. I am not a fan of having to hope someone else's laptop will send the caches to my GPS or stand there and enter them in by hand. But then again I don't give a hoot about FTF either... I'd rather read for additional clues in people's logs and find it that much faster.

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:39 am Post subject:

Mrs. Mizzou · MnGCA President Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 503

Generally on Event Etiquette -

Didn't the logging of temp caches on the event page fall out of favor?

whaleboat+jojo · Geocacher Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 2

This was our first event and we enjoyed it. While we waited in line for the coordinates I wondered if early arrivals were running out to get a butt-load of FTF's. Maybe confusion because the event was called a "cache dash"?

Suggestion #1: Give everybody or nobody an FTF for the event. Channel a few FTF's for the newcomers to boost their "geo ego".

Suggestion #2: Give raffle tickets on a per person basis +1 more for a completed survey or event task. Don't give raffle tickets based on # of FTFs for the event.

Suggestion #3. Good job, Steve and Amy. Do another one!