View Full Version : I Thought That This Game Wasn't About Numbers....



CARoperPhotography
08-24-2010, 12:51 PM
After thinking about recent issues here on the Forum, including the administrator Brdad..... why does this category for posts exist, if many of you including the powers at be, think that numbers do not matter?

Ekidokai
08-24-2010, 03:01 PM
It all depends on how you look at it. This is a community of cachers with different interests. Because a person doesn't like something doesn't mean it can't be on the site.

I don't like number runs. Haven't done out yet.

You didn't complain when people were sending you good wishes and congratulations on your numbers.

Sudonim
08-24-2010, 05:24 PM
Many people do consider this game to have a "numbers" aspect. I've done numbers runs and really enjoyed them. I also like spending a day hiking for one really cool cache.

For some people that may have disabilities, heavy workloads or difficult family situations, passing 100 may be quite an accomplishment that should be celebrated here.

EMSDanel
08-25-2010, 01:18 AM
I did the Stud Mill Road "numbers" run just to know that I could do 100 in a day.... actually in less than 12 hours....and was done with it. After that, I have no interest. I went down to the car series, did half and then drove away. Some day I'll go back. Sudonim said the rest, quite accurately. All my cache finds will be at my pace, and hear me at that.... MY pace. I've seen other cache runs in Maine, other cache runs in other states, and have only minor interest. Those/your cache numbers runs I'll get to, only if something else draws me there, like a state-wide meeting nearby, etc.

brdad
08-25-2010, 07:16 AM
It's not about THE numbers, it's about MY numbers! :D

The game does have a numbers aspect. There is not much in our world that does not. Find two kids, give each an ice cream cone, and at least one will want to race to see who can finish it first. The question is who really wins - the kid who eats it in 15 seconds or the kid who takes 5 minutes to enjoy it? And - which kid presents himself to onlookers as having the best experience? The answer is debatable, as it is in caching. Personally, I prefer a 4.5 minute ice cream. :D

One issue I take with numbers is that they are not comparable. I have paddled 7 miles each way for a 1.5 terrain cache, and I have walked 1/2 mile to a 5 terrain cache. I have found high difficulty caches in seconds, and I have looked hours for a cache rated a 1 difficulty. For this reason I will never look down on cachers with few finds nor will I look up to cachers with 10,000 finds based on their numbers. In reality, I'd have a hard job guessing how many finds any cacher has, most of the time I do not know my own numbers.

I have other opinions about the numbers and milestones as well, but I'll leave that to a forum search for those interested. :D

Regarding the forum and it's categories: I didn't create them, nor do I think it is my place to edit them unless there is immediate need.

Waterski
08-25-2010, 02:38 PM
Has anyone checked on MY numbers lately? Does anyone really care? I can't say it matters much to me what all of you have for numbers, but if you are having a good time at doing whatever you are doing, that matters to me more. Its nice to have an incentive to get you off the couch, but some people do have much more available time than others to cache, so how can you compare?

ltlindian
08-26-2010, 09:16 AM
I agree with waterski. I have personal goals set for myself which have nothing to do with anyone else who caches. For instance, I would like to reach 400 by the end of the summer (which I will!) but I don't care if I have found more caches than dubord, brdad or whoever.

JustKev
08-26-2010, 10:04 AM
I agree with waterski. I have personal goals set for myself which have nothing to do with anyone else who caches. For instance, I would like to reach 400 by the end of the summer (which I will!) but I don't care if I have found more caches than dubord, brdad or whoever.

JustPJ66 and I are stalled at 396 while I fight off this infection in my arm but we're pretty sure we'll get the 4 we need to reach 400. We're looking to do "The Official Milestone Cache" for our 400th but that will be a while from now. Elbow is better but not ready for caching.

It really stinks when the rest of you feels fine and you're restricted from doing anything because of your right elbow and forearm. :(

ltlindian
08-26-2010, 11:03 AM
that's funny! I'm at 396 as well! Hope to finish it off this weekend. I haven't done any at Reid State Park yet, so I'm hoping to bribe the family to go there on sat or sun! If not, then I'll just grab a few by myself to reach the goal.

ltlindian
08-26-2010, 11:04 AM
I forgot to add--please feel better soon!

masterson of the universe
08-26-2010, 11:38 AM
For me it IS about the numbers but quite possibly not the same as some of you. 1. I like to try and stay ahead of the person I cache the most with. #Fail...DrWhogrl passed me and has been ahead for a while. 2. I like the numbers that give you a different kind of smiley... Numbers like the Number of people you meet at event or add on facebook and you have time to have a conversation with that doesn't involve just caching, letting you get to know the person and who they really are. Events don't happen all the time and it's nice to have someone else you can keep in touch with on a regular basis, even if caching is the only common denomenator. Lets face it, this is one of the most diverse groups out there and continues to remain that way.

Perhaps this part should go into a different thread...It used to be that when I got someone into caching, this was one of the first places I'd send them to get help with anything and everything. Lately, I'd tend to steer them to myself or another cacher directly due to all the polite disagreements that go on here. Caching may be about the physical number of caches you find for YOU and what you went through to get the smiley, but there are a lot of numbers involved in this game. The number of visitors to this site is a pretty important number too so keep that in mind as well.

ltlindian
08-26-2010, 01:30 PM
well said!

dubord207
08-26-2010, 02:32 PM
And speaking of numbers, apparently many of the roads where Chadd's Star War series were placed are now gated so he's archived them all. You snooze, you loose I guess. Di and I got most of them. Too bad, that was a fun run for many of us.

Hiram357
08-26-2010, 08:23 PM
And speaking of numbers, apparently many of the roads where Chadd's Star War series were placed are now gated so he's archived them all. You snooze, you loose I guess. Di and I got most of them. Too bad, that was a fun run for many of us.

yeah, thats a tough one to understand, those were all good roads, probably some of those liberal hippies that don't want people hanging out in the woods.... :rolleyes::rolleyes::D:D

WhereRWe?
08-26-2010, 08:54 PM
yeah, thats a tough one to understand, those were all good roads, probably some of those liberal hippies that don't want people hanging out in the woods.... :rolleyes::rolleyes::D:D

Sheesh! Come down and visit me sometime. I'll take you to a real 1960's Hippie Colony - aptly named "Creep City"! (It's located about 3 miles further down the road I live on! LOL!)

Hiram357
08-26-2010, 10:50 PM
Sheesh! Come down and visit me sometime. I'll take you to a real 1960's Hippie Colony - aptly named "Creep City"! (It's located about 3 miles further down the road I live on! LOL!)

lol, you mean in new portland?? I thought they were only there a few days a year...

WhereRWe?
08-27-2010, 07:11 AM
lol, you mean in new portland?? I thought they were only there a few days a year...

No this is a permanent "colony". Rather nice actually - as are the people. Two are local high school teachers. :D:D

Mapachi
08-27-2010, 08:19 AM
I think I'm more "stats" orientated then "numbers" per se.
I get real antsy when I approach my "Days between a cache find" stat.
I also like to keep my stat for average number of finds per day of caching above 5.0 for some inane reason!
This is where power runs come in handy! I can get a cache a day for a while, then go on a short power run to bring my daily average up!

If I fail to pay attention to these two stats, I'm afraid I'll loose my "edge"! (and my sanity!)

JustKev
08-27-2010, 08:25 AM
I think I'm more "stats" orientated then "numbers" per se.
I get real antsy when I approach my "Days between a cache find" stat.
I also like to keep my stat for average number of finds per day of caching above 5.0 for some inane reason!
This is where power runs come in handy! I can get a cache a day for a while, then go on a short power run to bring my daily average up!

If I fail to pay attention to these two stats, I'm afraid I'll loose my "edge"! (and my sanity!)

You lost your sanity years ago. Some of your caches reflect that. You know, as in "Mapachi has to be insane to place caches like this!!!!"

Mapachi
08-27-2010, 08:36 AM
You lost your sanity years ago. Some of your caches reflect that. You know, as in "Mapachi has to be insane to place caches like this!!!!"


Ok, enough of that!:mad: Who you been talkin' to; my wife?:confused: She thinks I lost my marbles years ago.:) Little does she know; I have them all in a little cloth bag I keep hidden in a box that's buried in the woods;).........now if I could only remember where I hid the coordinates to the box!:eek:

JustKev
08-27-2010, 08:44 AM
Ok, enough of that!:mad: Who you been talkin' to; my wife?:confused: She thinks I lost my marbles years ago.:) Little does she know; I have them all in a little cloth bag I keep hidden in a box that's buried in the woods;).........now if I could only remember where I hid the coordinates to the box!:eek:

You didn't put the bag in Ekidokai's lost treasure mystery cache by chance? If so, it may never be found again.:eek: