It seems like someone on the Executive made it their point to criticize a fellow geocacher to the point of making PBD stop participating. (...) I would like this executive member to step forward and tell us (the members) whether this was an executive decision to tell PBD that, or whether they acted on their own.
For the record, I've had no direct communication with PBD on this, or any other issue.
While there was some discussion of cache quality at the last board meeting, which was prompted by some of the (now deleted) posts in this forum, the discussion was was directed more at how to generally improve caches in the province. It was specifically noted that the MBGA Committee has no place criticizing any particular cacher's hides for any reason at all. We are not, and do not want to be the "Cache Police".
Individuals are free to have and express their opinions, but they should not be interpreted as having the weight of the "executive" behind them. While I do not know the specifics of what was said in this case, I would be surprised if any comments or criticism was implied to have such weight.
Brian Greenberg. Vice President, Manitoba Geocaching Association.
In Calgary we occasionally have a similar problem, but with new cachers.
They come into the game, get excited after a few finds, the proceed to hide lame micros. I admit that I can be pretty fly-off-the-handle and jerky about my comments, but that's just me I guess. I guess that I get frustrated because I've done pretty well all the caches in the Calgary area ( except for some of those dratted puzzle caches ) and then all the new caches coming out are lame, high-muggle caches. Very frustrating.
Now, that being said, when I visit other cities, I go for the numbers and lame micros in these cases work just fine for me. If I'm in the area for an extended period, I'll spend time also going for quality caches. I guess this is my way of saying that the mix of cache-types are fine, but do ALL ( well, almost ) new caches need to be lame micros? Probably not and that's where education ( probably in a nicer tone than mine ) for new cachers is appropriate. There was one case ( this is second hand info ) where a veteran Calgary cacher bumped into a new cacher who told the veteran that he'd drive by places and was amazed that a cache wasn't there ... does that mean that one should be there? Maybe not ... do we really need a camo-taped match container hidden under a bush in a park that is in plain view of local residents living right across the street?!
Lately, Calgary's DanOCan and One Bad Ant have taken the charge by setting the example of what great caches are like by hiding a combination of inner city caches ( ammo cans ) and country road, small town caches ( also ammo cans ). They've been greatly appreciated by the Calgary geocaching community and are a great break from the lame micro spew that Calgary has been subjected to more recently.
Note that in the end, cachers can place whatever kind of caches they want, no association can tell them what to hide. If someone did that to me, well ... I can't tell you here what my response would be but I'm sure that you can guess.
BTW, what's the weather like right now in Winnipeg? It's -25 C and windy out right now in Calgary ... brrrr!
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"Oh boy sleep! That's where I'm a Viking!" - Ralph Wiggum
I hope the battle scars have healed over and haired up, and you are feeling better about the future of geocaching. We look forward to finally getting the chance to meet you in the field and finding some more of your caches.