then the problem will just grow..It's obviously on a different scale and
technology (ie internet) in the USA but the same sort of problems arise
wherever boxing happens..
Eventually, unless some system is in place, then the "catalogue" (on
paper) or on a website becomes 'useless'..which damages the hobby..and
so...
so here's my two cents worth..
It may help in the control of
1. Real Lost boxes
2. "Maybe" lost letterboxes
3. Lost "letterboxers" !
4. Damaged Boxes .. eg wet books
5. Database Archive & Validity
The UK system is that a box is "live" for two years..after that it is
considered "off the moor" ..ok that's "Dartmoor speak" for "gone" or
"taken in"..
So its "automatically" deleted from the main catalogue (in LbNA case
'web-site') ...unless the owner re-registers it ..
There are a few 'green' and personal responsibility issues here too:
The owner must (if they are honest) check and perhaps re-site a box after
2 years (or whatever you chose) ..This protects the environment and boxers
nerves
As you say the owner can move it , pull it in , declare it missing etc !
at any time in those two year too...
Then the catalogue gets amended whatever the situation .
In the UK "polite" boxers are also expected to maintain their boxes ..ie
visit them once in a while (every 3-4 months maybe ?)..and fix the books
etc and report on any changes...
If a box is "not found" by hunters the catalogue can have an entry of all
"not found" incidences and the dates...
(In this LbNA hi-tech catalogue system maybe the owner can get an email to
"go check".)
...but even if the owner has vanished ..after 2 years the box expires and
the problem or query box vanishes from the catalogue..So nerves are
soothed..and adventurers get some warnings that things may not be quite as
expected !...
Messages about poor condition boxes and or wet books could also be
recorded..
OK this now shows how important and big this cataloguing can get ..We have
at least two issues a year of our catalogue in a "big book" and monthly
updates which includes messages about lost boxes / wet books/ found a
compass / found a collectors book/ found a lost letterboxer
arrangements for meetings and special outings / new trails etc etc
etc....but we've used paper based systems for a long long time so it's
sorta got organised that way...but that's why it's got to be such a big
hobby I guess..phew ..
Sorry my 2c worth sorta grew too
Hope that sparks some ideas...
Don't you just love this crazy ol' hobby !
Happy Letterboxing
The Moorland Wizard