[Az-Geocaching] Yes...very sad (Something to consider)

[Joe Brekke]

Given the recent posts on this list serve, I just wanted to share something with the members of this list.

I met recently, a couple who were new to Geocaching at a cache here in the Portland area.  It was a multi-stage and we were walking out as they were starting it.  I noticed them and struck up a conversation.  After talking for a few minutes, I said goodbye, and we went on.  I was contacted by them because they did not find the cache.  I told him where he went wrong and this opened up several e-mails between us.  

Their team name is Bandmaster.  He has retired as a Bandmaster in the US Army.  He had several questions of a technical nature on his Garmin 60CS and PDA's.  I don't profess to be anything of a technical guru but know that several on this Listserve are:

The following are exerts of our recent e-mails.

Bandmaster:

I remember that you and I have the same Garmin gps. Right?  How do you like it?  Any tips on its operation?  I've been looking for someone who knows how to download clue sheets to a PDA.

My Response:

I love my 60C.

I do not have a PDA, so I have never downloaded them I just print it to a piece of paper just like you have done.  I'm just not good with PDA's, so I don't use them.  For people that do use them there is a way to do it, as long as you match software.  I can probably put you in touch with some people that can tell you how to do it.  I subscribe to a geocaching listserve...in Arizona where I used to cache.  They can be a great source of technical information...often really terrific.  They do have their quirks, but a lot of them are great technical sources.  The link to this site is:
 ttp://www.azgeocaching.com/index.html       you can check out the site there.    If you subscribe to the mailing list then you can post a question.  I've never had any viruses or any problems with spam due to this list, so it's pretty safe.  You can ask anything and get some pretty good answers.  Usually you will get a 3 or 4 responses, and then you can just privately e-mail the person you choose to ask...usually the post from the person will give you a link to their e-mail.  I can tell you that a really good source for information on the Garmin 60C is a guy named Brian Casteel.  There are several sources that can help you with the PDA question as well.  Occasionally the posts can get quite childish, sometimes people get their feelings hurt, but the technical information from some of them can't be beat and is a lot better than I can give you.  You can check it out, and if the infighting gets too much for you, just unsubscribe from the list.

Bandmaster:

Great info Joe!  My model is the 60cs, probably an added feature I haven't used yet. You gave me good resources too.

My point is that these e-mails between he and I started  on the 22nd.  If he joined on that day you all know the type of messages he has received from this list.  In light of this, I truly hope that he didn't take my advice and join...even though I warned him that the possibility existed that he would come across some thread like this.  I don't think that is something that is ever thought through when e-mails are posted to this list.  Think of someone who was a new subscriber and they came right into this yet again unproductive toxic thread - usually off topic that gets started from an e-mail...though I do realize this wasn't totally the case here.  The point is that something like this continually occurs.  The AZGeocaching.com web site says there are 300 members on this list.  I'm pretty sure that close to 90% of the posts come from less than 20 of these members.  

One of the threads on this Listserve in the last few years has dealt with extending a hand to new Geocachers and acting as mentors and inviting them to this list so that they can see what a wonderful community we have.  Ok, can anyone say that the discussions they have seen the last couple of days on this Listserve has in any way served as an ambassidorship or helping hand to new Geocaching members?  Have these threads been something that we as mentors to new members should be proud of?  I have to say that I'm not, and Bandmaster if you did actually subscribe to this list, I apologize.  My intent was not to get you involved in this mess.  

Joe - TeamBlunder
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