Truthfully, I think some folks are offended at everything. There is no
reason that either of these people should feel threatened or be so rude,
especially as was the lady replying to Jena's kind offer. If she was really
diligent with the care and responsibility, why would she have not checked
the WEB SITE periodically to make sure her clues were still viable and still
listed? You can also bet that IF she did log on to the web site and found
that her clues were dropped and or her boxes listed as abandoned, she would
be the first to write a flaming letter to the web masters demanding to know
why. No matter what you do, you just can't please some folks! But, that
doesn't mean that your efforts were not appreciated by others.
On a side note, my suggestion for contacting the owners of such boxes would
include a note about why this caretaker role has come about and specifically
make mention of the changes to the web site. I'm sure many individuals don't
check in on the web site very often and hence, are not aware of such
updates. Perhaps the web master could put a note on the opening page that
changes have been made to the web site and boxes placed should be checked to
make sure that they are not listed as abandoned. I think the key in
contacting owners is wording of the letter, mainly because again some people
get easily offended. In the notes I wrote, I stated that I was offering my
assistance to the box owner in the event that they were no longer able to
care for their box. Further, I stated that if they did intend on maintaining
their box that they needed to visit the web site and update their box, as
that it was currently listed as abandoned because of the web site
modifications, and that the box would be removed if it was not updated or
assigned a caretaker.
Something else to consider is placing a timeline on leaving boxes
considered abandoned up as active on the web site, say 6 months. If the
owner has not contacted the web master or the list in that amount of time,
then the box is adopted or removed. I think this gives some backing to those
folks willing to adopt orphan boxes and puts a huge glitch in people
insinuating that caretakers are just out grab ownership of their box. Six
months seems a very reasonable amount of time for an owner to get in contact
and if they don't they really don't have a complaint.
All the best,
Sheila ( Puppylover)
PS.. Jena, I think I would have written a reply to this woman mentioning
that your offer was to prevent some really nice letterboxes from being
removed from the web site because of their listing as being abandoned. And,
that if she wants to prevent them from being dropped, she needs to visit the
website and update her information.
----- Original Message -----
From: "SpringChick"
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 8:49 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Re: Fw: Taking over ownership of other people's letterboxes!
> You are right Jena, it is very touchy with some folks. I had kind of
> an uncomfortable feeling when I stepped up for some of the Michigan
> boxes too.
>
> A while back a box just a few minutes from my house had its stamp
> taken and I tried unsuccessfully to contact the owner several times
> via this list and e-mail. Even though it appeared to be a valid e-
> mail address since messages were not being returned to me
> undelivered, I did not hear back from this individual. Finally after
> almost 6 months, I went and picked up the box and made a post here
> that I had done so and that I would be carving up a new stamp for the
> box. Wouldn't you know it, no sooner had I done this, than the
> original owner contacted me (using the e-mail address I had been
> sending to), asking where his box had gone, etc. I explained that I
> had tried to make contact several times, and that it wasn't a problem
> for me to carve up a new stamp since I had a copy of the original and
> the box was so close to my house. I got the feeling my efforts were
> not necessarily appreciated.
>
> So when I offered to take the responsibility for some of the
> unclaimed/abandoned boxes in Michigan, I was very careful to state in
> my messages to the original owners that I was just doing so as an
> interim measure to keep the clues from being deleted from the web
> site, and that hopefully I would be able to make contact with them
> and they would still be interested in maintaining their box, at which
> time, I would step back, unless they were not interested in
> letterboxing any longer, in which case I would be willing to maintain
> the box indefinately. Of the 5 people I contacted, I have heard back
> from 4, all of whom just were not aware of the new site/need to claim
> their boxes. They were all very pleasant and I didn't feel like I
> had stepped on their toes.
>
> Wouldn't you know it, the one person that I have not heard back from
> is the individual referred to in the scenario above.
>
> Unforunately, no matter how good your intentions are and how
> tactfully you communicate this, there are always going to be folks
> who get defensive and do not appreciate your efforts. Don't sweat
> it... it's not you.
>
> SpringChick
>
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Jena Marie Paolilli"
> wrote:
> > This is just an example of what is happening with this whole thing!
> I
> > replied and explained the whole thing, but perhaps we should put a
> red flag
> > up on the main site for those who don't read this list but *do*
> visit the
> > site?
> >
> > -Jena
> > blue dragonfly
> > P0 F3 (V3) X0
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From:
> > To: "jena"
> > Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 10:38 PM
> > Subject: Re: Taking over ownership of other people's letterboxes!
> >
> >
> > > Hi Jena!
> > >
> > > I am the owner of the two letterboxes in Estabrook Woods, and
> I plan
> > to
> > > keep the ownership of them - Henry's Sawmill Site and the
> Limestone
> > Quarry.
> > > I do check on them periodically, so I would not appreciate your
> taking
> > over
> > > their ownership!
> > >
> > > You probably are going to tread on people's toes by
> suggesting this.
> > > Why did you suggest this anyway? Why don't you carve your own
> stamps?
> > >
> > > Ginger
> > > Ginger Lang
> > > Ginger's Journeys
> > > 978-371-0337
> > > www.gingersjourneys.com
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>