A fellow letterboxer brought up the following points about my post
which I think is very valid and I wanted to share my response/thought
with everyone.

They stated that for clues placed on individual websites, the creators
of those sites don't always think to or choose to place a link allowing
them to be contacted. Well, one easy solution (which this posted also
eluded to) may be that in the clue listings, a column is added to
included the placer letterboxing name and that links to an email form.
Maybe there is a way that auto reminders could be sent to members of
the LBNA site to check that their profiles and email addys are correct
or to check that emails are valid. If email are invalid, maybe there
is a procedure that can be established to try and track down the placer
or to have the box adopted, or marked with an unknown status due to
invalid email, etc, etc.

Another point this letterboxer brought up, is that even when there is a
way to contact a placer, they are not always willing or able to update
their clue info promptly. I think this goes back to being responsible
for the treasures you choose to release and/or enlisting the help of
others to maintain that info. At the same time, if you are a boxer for
whom it is important to have accurate info that a box is in place
before you attempt it I believe that you will figure out pretty quickly
which placers in your boxing area are quick and which are slower or
choose not to keep their info current. In that case, you keep that in
mind when you choose boxes to seek.

The main point here is simply to keep the responsibly to clue updating
and box info on the placers not the seekers. It is the placers
creation and their choice to release and maintain these. The way and
detail in which they choose to do that shouldn't be taken away from
them.

There are a lot of talented thinkers, problem solvers, programmers, and
web designers within our ranks. I am sure as a group we can find a
reasonable way and have an intelligent discussion about how to solve
this problem (if it really needs solving) without compromising the
charm and simplicity of the sport.

Yes, we can all get frustrated by hiking out to a box and not finding
it. At the same time, part of the charm of this sport for many is the
thrill of the hunt. If treasure hunting were easy and always
successful, wouldn't we all be out looking for the millions in lost
treasure and happily living the high life??

The point is to get out, to get moving, to enjoy nature, to discover
places you never knew existed or to share special place that others
hold dear. It is to teach our children there is life outside of the
TV. The box at the end is a nice bonus - and an purpose and incentive
for going. Yes, a string of MIA boxes can be frustrating - but what
have you lost? Would you have gone hiking or exploring in that
location if the box had not been there? Did you discover something
new?

If you don't like that point of view or have reasons why it is
imperative that every box you seek be found on the first try, only look
for boxes that have been recently reported on in the list or that you
know are regularly updated. If that isn't good enough for you, maybe
this isn't the right hobby for you.

Nothing we do will ever make everyone happy - but if it ain't broke,
why are we trying to fix it. Yes, our numbers have grown significantly
in the past couple of years. Still, with simple courtesies and
communication between seekers and placers the majority of this would be
cleared up and not an issue at all. We all have to get to the internet
somehow to get clues, for the most part, how is it that this simple
solution can be so difficult?!?!

Tig

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