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Post by fuzzybelly on Jul 26, 2013 8:02:15 GMT -9
I don't think the "wrench" , Needs maintenance, works very well as an option for a cacher when placing a log to a cache page. To often I've seen a wrench placed by newer cachers who don't understand the meaning or owners who don't know how to remove it.
What do others think? Whats a better sollution?
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Post by SSO JOAT on Jul 26, 2013 8:14:33 GMT -9
I agree that it is often misused by finder (e.g. "we couldn't find the cache, so we're putting in a Needs Maint log for the CO to check on it") and more often than that it is ignored by the CO. And when the CO does get around to fixing the cache (or finding out there is nothing wrong with it in the first place), they often just post a note (or do nothing) which doesn't clear the wrench from the attributes. Not sure how to fix it. Logic says that education would fix it, but there have been a multitude of GroundSpeak newsletter articles about the NM log, there are warning flags that pop up during the process of posting a NM as well as to the CO if they place a new cache and any of their existing caches have the NM set. And then our GLR reviewer has been going through every cache in the state of Alaska twice a year and posting notes to the ones that have a NM set to encourage the CO to fix it. His notes even spell out exactly how to clear the attribute. And still, there are a ton of old NMs set on caches. I think that GS has tweaked the NM system and added enough bells and whistles that there really isn't much more they can do. I think the only thing left is for GS to establish an Elite Cache Police (ECP) force who will go around with their rubber hose and force cachers to comply with the GC Guidelines. I would recommend they tap into the Elf Liberation Force that Tim Allen has up there at the North Pole. Those guys really only work two days per year, so they could spend the rest of the year zipping around in those flying suits to crack down on shady cachers.
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Post by ladybugkids on Jul 26, 2013 11:51:46 GMT -9
I think the only thing left is for GS to establish an Elite Cache Police (ECP) force who will go around with their rubber hose and force cachers to comply with the GC Guidelines. I would recommend they tap into the Elf Liberation Force that Tim Allen has up there at the North Pole. Those guys really only work two days per year, so they could spend the rest of the year zipping around in those flying suits to crack down on shady cachers. You've broken into the stores cabinet with the "good stuff" in it, haven't you? On topic...Scott is correct...GeocacheAlaska! has put "how to" in it's training materials and published articles about it in the newsletter.
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Post by GreatlandReviewer on Jul 26, 2013 12:02:23 GMT -9
Even though not required by Groundspeak, the local Reviewer has placed notes on hundreds of caches with the "Needs Maintenance" attribute and the majority of those Cache Owners ignore the notes. The lack of response by Cache Owners has led to placing notes on caches with that attribute a "spare time" only effort.
"Needs Maintenance" is intended to be a communication tool between Cache Seekers and Cache Owners without involving the local Reviewer or Groundspeak. "Needs Archived" is intended to be one way to get the local Reviewer's attention by sending him/her an alert. The local reviewer can also be contacted via e-mail through his profile and Groundspeak may be contacted via contact@groundspeak.com. Be sure to provide the GC number of the cache of concern.
"DNF" is the only proper way to log that one did not find a cache. If one doesn't find the cache, one cannot possibly know that the cache "Needs Maintenance." If there is a string of DNFs on a cache and the Cache Owner hasn't responded, "Needs Archived" is a good way to get the local Reviewer's attention. The Reviewer won't archive the cache immediately, but s/he will drop a note on the cache page and put the cache on a watch list, and then archive if no action is taken within a subjectively reasonable amount of time which depends in large part whether the cache is urban or rural and what season it is. Cachers should log every DNF attempt to keep a cache's history accurate and to help the Cache Owner and the Reviewer know there may be a problem with the cache. Twice a year, I check every cache in Alaska that has three or more consecutive DNFs on it. Caches with a long DNF streak receive a note asking the Cache Owner to confirm all is well with the cache. If there is no response and the DNF streak continues, the cache will be archived.
Cache archival can be easily avoided by the Cache Owner writing a note to the cache page stating their intent to perform maintenance or confirming the cache is present. Post-archival, a Cache Owner can request unarchiving if the location meets the current guidelines and no one else has swooped in on the spot.
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Mac5115
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 76
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by Mac5115 on Aug 19, 2013 15:09:48 GMT -9
Scott, Where do I sign up for this Elite Cache Police and what are the minimum qualifications? We can fight the zombie cache brigade! We could form the ZCET (Zombie Cache Extraction Team) and contribute to the CITO revolution.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Aug 19, 2013 15:49:15 GMT -9
I like the way you think.
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