I have a solution!

It's obvious that not all cachers geocache for the same reason.  There are those who do it just for "fun"!  And there are those who think of it as a "hobby," or a "sport."  But there are a number of cachers who "play the numbers game" - and when you mix all of the above together when it comes to the number game, you are open to chaos.

Maybe it's time for seperate stats to be kept for those who enjoy going for the records.

Maybe we're getting to a point where records need to be verified!  (Much like Ripley's Believe It Or Not!)  If it's not verified, it doesn't count!  To get on the stat page for most caches found in 24 hrs, we could require the team or individual to register their intent first, then have observers follow along to verify the hunt!  For records such as "most caches found in a month," or "year," or the top spot for "most caches found in Arizona," we could have the team or individual sign a form stating that the individual or at least one member of the team was indeed present at every find.

We can even take the stats further!  We can seperate every record into categories of mosts for "teams" and "mosts" for individuals!

Rand  
(RandMan)


Okay - you can stop laughing now.  ;)  :D
  

----- Original Message -----
From: RopingThe Wind
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 10:34 PM
To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] Re: Been There, Done That

Scott Sparks (Sprocket) wrote:

A team that splits up to find caches is fine, as long as you're not trying  
to break a record in the process.
Scott (Team Roping The Wind) wrote:
Sprocket   
In my personal opinion, a team that splits up is NEVER fine. Not for a  
record breaking day, not for any day. If you are a top ranked cacher and  
working toward reaching the #1 spot, I sure hope, Sprocket, that you  
yourself was at each and every cache you logged as a find. I know I was and  
I got to #1 very legitimately. I hope that the next team that takes me out  
of the #1 spot will play it as fairly as I did. I know the stats are a big  
screwed up right now, but Sprocket, you are quite possibly in the #1 spot  
right now. If not, you are very close and will do so any day now. I sure  
hope you are playing it as straight up as I am. I have seen your logs all  
over the place and we have met up at caches many times. So, I am confident  
you play the game fairly. But, why would you suggest in your post above that  
you think it is ok to split up your team to find caches!? Have you done this  
in the past!?

Anyone can play this game any way they like... there really are no hard set  
rules. However, there is certain etiquette and rules that the top teams tend  
to maintain... in honor of good sportsmanship and respect for our fellow  
'competitors' (as we most certainly are sometimes!).  Splitting a team up to  
find caches in certainly NOT one of them. I know myself, I have been at  
EVERY single one of the 1,210 caches I have found and only I wrote my log in  
the logbook and then online. I have other teammates that go with me on  
occasion, but I am ALWAYS at every cache I find. I will not allow another  
teammate to take another GPS and split off to get other caches. If they want  
to do this.. they log those finds as another team. AZSaluki.... Jim is  
always at all of their caches they find. Kristen is at many of them, but Jim  
is at all of them. I believe that Wyle E has also stuck by this 'rule'.

Just my personal opinion. But, anything less is cheating in my book. In this  
game.. I guess you are just cheating yourself if that is how you have been  
doing it. Of course, you would also be cheating your fellow cachers who have  
worked very hard and legitimately to get to the top as well.

Scott
Team Ropingthewind