Kids on the Playground
I have not written in a while, and perhaps I should be starting back writing something all cheerful and full of joy, but not today.
I have seen a number of people that just seem to cause problems this summer. Sometimes they are in the forums, other times I see them on Facebook, and another time I ran into them at a Mega event. I wonder if we are back in elementary school and playing.
If you remember those days there were kids playing on all the playground equipment, taking turns and enjoying themselves. There were rules to the playground, and usually there was a teacher or two that policed the area and made sure there were no problems, and there were always problems. Some kid was throwing rocks, another was pushing people off equipment so he could play, his buddies tended would muscle onto something or badger the other kids so they had something to themselves.
For some reason I have seen an increase of that this year, and it is disheartening to me, and makes me upset.
There are a few groups out there that some people target as the problem. I don’t see it that way. I have some great friends that are members of those groups, and they are great cachers. They make caching fun for others. Like every group there are people who cause problems.
Stealing caches, multiple logs on cache pages or trackables, getting mad because you broke the rules and got caught, what the hell is this grade school? I assume we are all adults, but perhaps mentally that is not the case for everyone. Do you feel that being a bully is a good thing. Happily I am not in charge of Groundspeak or I would just shut your account down and walk away.
I should say I have seen a number of people push the boundaries. Most of them take it in stride when the cache is archived, or I tell them it cannot be published. I have gotten thanks you emails for letting me know, people have apologized at events for lying to me to get a cache published, and sometimes a grumbly email stating they thought I was wrong. Those people I can understand and respect. I have no issue with people going to appeals. If I am wrong Groundspeak lets me know, I try and learn from that and move on. Just like cachers, I am not infallible. I try to stay up on what Groundspeak wants so that I can be the most effective and helpful to people.
Yet I see those people who are entitled. You know the ones that say public property is mine, I can do what I want there. This is my webpage and cache, I can do whatever I want.
Earlier this year a cacher complained to me that someone wanted to log with a video feed their event. They did not feel that was appropriate, and told them no. They got an angry email back. Face it, you were not there, you were not at the cache location, if the cache owner wants to delete your log, suck it up and be a man (or woman) and move on with your life. It is not the end of the world.
You can dislike micros, and you can dislike lamp post hides. Take the time to drive past, and ignore them. What are you a five year old that takes all of them to destroy? I got an email of a pile of caches they found by the side of the road, someone had stolen them all, then pulled over, and dumped them in a pile and drove off. Can you step back and see how childish that is? Personally, I hate caches that were placed with no intention for them to ever be found. You know the ones, the 20 stage multi trip, many mile multicache, or the puzzle that requires an advanced degree in mathematics, linguistics, mental telepathy, and/or rocket science. I ignore them. I don’t acknowledge their existence. In the winter I give them a glance, but not seriously. What do they hurt?
Then I see a few people and their friends that decide to harass new cachers, cachers they don’t like, or that made them angry. These people are the bullies in the playground. If you can’t grow up, get the hell out. I have dealt with a few in the forums, and I see other instances in the community. I don’t have time for your drama, but you do make me decide to not help you, not give you advice, or just not care when something bad happens.
Well my rant could go on, but perhaps it is time for me to just shut up. I will look forward to the hate mail. I seem to get some whenever I post something like this, but it makes me feel good to vent. Perhaps someone will listen, perhaps not.
Now that is over…
Anyone want to go caching?