>From: Gale >Reply-To: listserv@azgeocaching.com >To: listserv@azgeocaching.com >Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] New look at GC.com >Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:39:57 -0700 (PDT) > >Wow, you are right. Talk about biting the hand that feeds them. That state >organization is the >binding entity that got us (well mostly you Steve, and >others here) to work to put geocaching in a >positive light locally. It is >azgeocaching.com that has done so much to promote geocaching here. If >it >wasnt for azgeocaching.com, I am not sure if I would be into geocaching as >much as Mike and I >are. It wasnt gc.com but Brian through the community on >azgc.com that got the CITOs on the >local highway cleanup. It wasnt gc.com, >but Steve through the community on azgc.com that >worked with local >agencies on their geocaching policies. It was the community through >azgc.com >that made caching good here, not gc.com. I get people that ask me all the time why I am not a premium member of gc.com. Well, there is one of the primary reasons right there.... I never felt gc.com supported the local geocaching groups. When I first got started in geocaching, the main drive for me to cache was not only for the adventure and the outdoor nature of the game... but also to go after a #1 in the rankings. Azgeocaching.com has not only provided a friendly natured competition thru the rankings.. but the rankings have always provided us with team specific data for PDA and GPS downloads and such to make caching on the go easy and quick for me. These stats are no more since gc.com will not allow the azg.com access to the data on the main site. I dont cache for the numbers anymore, but I do still enjoy caching and having the downloads sure makes caching on the go easy. Much like Gale said, I certainly would not have gotten as interested in the game if it wasnt for azgeocaching.com. I had a month to month $3 membership to gc.com for a short time and I didnt feel the additional provisions where worth the $30 a year. Some cachers have told me I should support the main site anyways since they give us this game to play. Azgeocaching.com gives me everything I need to play the game too. If the main site will not support the local sites, I see no reason to support the main site. On the flip side of this argument... I admit another reason I wasnt a premium member of the main site was because the features I got from the prem membership, I could also get for free from azgeocaching.com. Perhaps that may play a factor in why gc.com doesnt allow these local sites to crawl the main site for data? I simply found azg.com's file downloads simpler to use and more user friendly. They are also specific to Arizona and since I only cache in Arizona... those data downloads were all I ever needed. Either side of the argument you look at... there is no doubt that the local sites benefit the main site in providing some sense of community on the local level. This in turn keeps local geocachers interested in the game. A game that might be short lived for some ("oh I went for a few, it was fun but I got over it and moved on"), became more fun as there was a sense of community developed thru the local sites with chat rooms, listservs and of course event caches. Geocaching is a very social game and a great way to make new friends. I know I have made alot of new friends thru this game. Scott Team Ropingthewind ____________________________________________________________ Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit: http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching Arizona's Geocaching Resource http://www.azgeocaching.com