I've noticed a disturbing trend of discussing clues and asking for
hints on the list. I think this is totally inappropriate in this
public space. It is likely to violate the intent of the clue
writer. If someone feels they truly need some assistance in finding
a particular box, they should make an inquiry OFF-LIST to the person
who hid the box. They should however be prepared to have their
request ignored if the box owner so chooses.
It seems that some are interested only in collecting stamps, and if
they fail, for whatever reason, they weren't succesful. Some of my
best letterboxing experiences include trips where I haven't found the
box. Maybe something about the journey not the destination...
While I'm at it... I notice a lot of recent boxes have rather
simple clues, what I'd call "drive-by" boxes: You drive up, follow a
trail and pick up a stamp. I feel there's room for these types of
easy boxes (I have children too, and they do like instant
gratification), but I see a couple of dangers. One is that since
these boxes are so easy to find, they are also much more likely to be
vandalized or dissappear (especially if there are no compass bearings
involved in solving them). Secondly, it seems to create an
expectation that all boxes should easily be found. There are many
boxes out there, particularly mapsurfer's, Orient Express' and Drew's
to name a few, that require some real puzzle solving to figure them
out. Having found some of these boxes, I can attest that they are
much more rewarding to find (and less likely to dissappear).
My $.02,
Lone Wolf
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, storrey@d... wrote:
> I went to look for this one but we couldn't find it. We made it all
> the way to up the hill and over the hurdle but, after that we
didn't
> know which tree to look at. There were many V's in the trees and we
> didn't know which one to check and we checked all the ones possible
> but didn't succeed at finding it. If you found this box, please
help!
Discussing clues on the list
7 messages in this thread |
Started on 2000-11-28
Discussing clues on the list
From: John De Wolf - PA (jdewolf@mail.icrsurvey.com) |
Date: 2000-11-28 12:55:56 UTC
Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
From: Richard Kaszeta (kaszeta@me.umn.edu) |
Date: 2000-11-28 08:01:40 UTC-06:00
John De Wolf - PA writes ("[LbNA] Discussing clues on the list"):
>While I'm at it... I notice a lot of recent boxes have rather
>simple clues, what I'd call "drive-by" boxes: You drive up, follow a
>trail and pick up a stamp. I feel there's room for these types of
>easy boxes (I have children too, and they do like instant
>gratification), but I see a couple of dangers.
Well, I don't always think the clues themselves should be hard, but
the combination of box placement and the clues.... some of the most
rewarding letterboxes I've found required (a) a *lot* of driving,
some more than a day's travel for the out-west boxes (b) long and
grueling (but beautiful) hikes to the letterbox (c) hard clues or (d)
a combination of the above.
The joy is in working hard to find the boxes, and often the travel
along the way. It doesn't just have to be hard clues. :)
--
Richard W Kaszeta Engineer and Sysadmin
bofh@me.umn.edu University of MN, ME Dept
http://www.menet.umn.edu/~kaszeta
>While I'm at it... I notice a lot of recent boxes have rather
>simple clues, what I'd call "drive-by" boxes: You drive up, follow a
>trail and pick up a stamp. I feel there's room for these types of
>easy boxes (I have children too, and they do like instant
>gratification), but I see a couple of dangers.
Well, I don't always think the clues themselves should be hard, but
the combination of box placement and the clues.... some of the most
rewarding letterboxes I've found required (a) a *lot* of driving,
some more than a day's travel for the out-west boxes (b) long and
grueling (but beautiful) hikes to the letterbox (c) hard clues or (d)
a combination of the above.
The joy is in working hard to find the boxes, and often the travel
along the way. It doesn't just have to be hard clues. :)
--
Richard W Kaszeta Engineer and Sysadmin
bofh@me.umn.edu University of MN, ME Dept
http://www.menet.umn.edu/~kaszeta
Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
From: Eric J. Eurto (enicltrbxr@netzero.net) |
Date: 2000-11-29 03:08:17 UTC-05:00
Well, in my opinion, it is up to the author of the box as to if they will
help with hints to the finding of their box(es). I would be more than happy
to help people with a small hint or two on finding a box of mine if it were
that difficult. I WANT people to find my boxes. After all, my stamps are
hand-carved and i want folks to marvel at my creative-prowess (UGH!). I do
only have three boxes placed at present and one of them being a mystery box
(that will take you forever and a day if you don't find the two boxes
before it, hehe).
I can't praise letterboxing enough for what it has done for me this summer.
Even though i have been playing outside since I was little, it has renewed
my drive for going out to play. Being a member of management for a huge
outdoor retailer that focuses on getting people OUTSIDE, letterboxing fits
in real well in just getting people off the couch and outside. Even if they
don't find the box the first time and need a helping hand, they still went
out to get it on their own the first time. That's what counts here in my
opinion.
Eric Eurto
~The Ram~
----------
____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________
Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633
___________________________________________________________
help with hints to the finding of their box(es). I would be more than happy
to help people with a small hint or two on finding a box of mine if it were
that difficult. I WANT people to find my boxes. After all, my stamps are
hand-carved and i want folks to marvel at my creative-prowess (UGH!). I do
only have three boxes placed at present and one of them being a mystery box
(that will take you forever and a day if you don't find the two boxes
before it, hehe).
I can't praise letterboxing enough for what it has done for me this summer.
Even though i have been playing outside since I was little, it has renewed
my drive for going out to play. Being a member of management for a huge
outdoor retailer that focuses on getting people OUTSIDE, letterboxing fits
in real well in just getting people off the couch and outside. Even if they
don't find the box the first time and need a helping hand, they still went
out to get it on their own the first time. That's what counts here in my
opinion.
Eric Eurto
~The Ram~
----------
____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________
Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633
___________________________________________________________
Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
From: storrey (storrey@dnamail.com) |
Date: 2000-11-29 09:09:15 UTC-05:00
Eric
I agree wholeheartedly with your praise for letterboxing getting people
outside again. Seems like we need a goal as we get older (are we getting
older?) Actually, even my daughter is motivated by perhaps finding a box.
We are all highly entertained when meeting other people in the woods that
are clearly not letterboxing. Makes us chuckle to ourselves that we "have a
secret" from the better part of the world.
Sorry if people were offended by her asking about clues. She's only 12
and had read other peoples' requests, so added her own. We've since
discussed it and agree that it will not happen again.
On another note, we found the hitchhiker Home is Where the Heart Is at
Gillette Castle. Can't wait to plant it this weekend if the weather
cooperates. Our first hitchhiker, which caused great celebration. If we
weren't already hooked, this would have done it for sure! Happy
Letterboxing. Ann T
I agree wholeheartedly with your praise for letterboxing getting people
outside again. Seems like we need a goal as we get older (are we getting
older?) Actually, even my daughter is motivated by perhaps finding a box.
We are all highly entertained when meeting other people in the woods that
are clearly not letterboxing. Makes us chuckle to ourselves that we "have a
secret" from the better part of the world.
Sorry if people were offended by her asking about clues. She's only 12
and had read other peoples' requests, so added her own. We've since
discussed it and agree that it will not happen again.
On another note, we found the hitchhiker Home is Where the Heart Is at
Gillette Castle. Can't wait to plant it this weekend if the weather
cooperates. Our first hitchhiker, which caused great celebration. If we
weren't already hooked, this would have done it for sure! Happy
Letterboxing. Ann T
Re: Discussing clues on the list
From: John De Wolf - PA (jdewolf@mail.icrsurvey.com) |
Date: 2000-11-29 14:18:13 UTC
No objections here, as long as you're the owner of the box. I'd
prefer it be done off-list, but if it's your box, it's your call :-)
Lone Wolf
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, "Eric J. Eurto"
wrote:
> Well, in my opinion, it is up to the author of the box as to if
they will
> help with hints to the finding of their box(es). I would be more
than happy
> to help people with a small hint or two on finding a box of mine if
it were
> that difficult. I WANT people to find my boxes. After all, my
stamps are
> hand-carved and i want folks to marvel at my creative-prowess
(UGH!). I do
> only have three boxes placed at present and one of them being a
mystery box
> (that will take you forever and a day if you don't find the two
boxes
> before it, hehe).
> I can't praise letterboxing enough for what it has done for me this
summer.
> Even though i have been playing outside since I was little, it has
renewed
> my drive for going out to play. Being a member of management for a
huge
> outdoor retailer that focuses on getting people OUTSIDE,
letterboxing fits
> in real well in just getting people off the couch and outside. Even
if they
> don't find the box the first time and need a helping hand, they
still went
> out to get it on their own the first time. That's what counts here
in my
> opinion.
> Eric Eurto
> ~The Ram~
>
> ----------
>
>
> ____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________
> Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
> Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633
> ___________________________________________________________
prefer it be done off-list, but if it's your box, it's your call :-)
Lone Wolf
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, "Eric J. Eurto"
wrote:
> Well, in my opinion, it is up to the author of the box as to if
they will
> help with hints to the finding of their box(es). I would be more
than happy
> to help people with a small hint or two on finding a box of mine if
it were
> that difficult. I WANT people to find my boxes. After all, my
stamps are
> hand-carved and i want folks to marvel at my creative-prowess
(UGH!). I do
> only have three boxes placed at present and one of them being a
mystery box
> (that will take you forever and a day if you don't find the two
boxes
> before it, hehe).
> I can't praise letterboxing enough for what it has done for me this
summer.
> Even though i have been playing outside since I was little, it has
renewed
> my drive for going out to play. Being a member of management for a
huge
> outdoor retailer that focuses on getting people OUTSIDE,
letterboxing fits
> in real well in just getting people off the couch and outside. Even
if they
> don't find the box the first time and need a helping hand, they
still went
> out to get it on their own the first time. That's what counts here
in my
> opinion.
> Eric Eurto
> ~The Ram~
>
> ----------
>
>
> ____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________
> Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
> Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633
> ___________________________________________________________
Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
From: (bayletterbox@juno.com) |
Date: 2000-12-09 11:20:20 UTC-05:00
"On Tue, 28 Nov 2000 1 John De Wolf...writes: I've noticed a disturbing
trend of discussing clues and asking for hints on the list. I think this
is totally inappropriate in this public space. It is likely to violate
the intent of the clue writer. If someone feels they truly need some
assistance in finding a particular box, they should make an inquiry
OFF-LIST to the person who hid the box...
It took me a while at first to appreciate this. Some of us are still
novices (P1F2) even after following this for quite a while (other time
demands, jobs family etc.) I guess the differences among us reflect our
land, nation, and make this all more worthwhile and richer. I for one
appreciate comments like. It helps me to better understand ,a different
perspective. Of course it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
I spent a lot of time looking for Aztalan about a month ago, but was
unable to find it. The clues seem quite clear however. I'm hoping I just
missed it, but I won't get back that area for a long time. I do not
regret the effort. I never would have seen that park or the archeological
work of others without the clues on the map. So if anyone has actually
found Aztalan recently email me (off list if you wnat to clarify the
clues). LBF (letterboxing forever)
bayboxer
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
trend of discussing clues and asking for hints on the list. I think this
is totally inappropriate in this public space. It is likely to violate
the intent of the clue writer. If someone feels they truly need some
assistance in finding a particular box, they should make an inquiry
OFF-LIST to the person who hid the box...
It took me a while at first to appreciate this. Some of us are still
novices (P1F2) even after following this for quite a while (other time
demands, jobs family etc.) I guess the differences among us reflect our
land, nation, and make this all more worthwhile and richer. I for one
appreciate comments like. It helps me to better understand ,a different
perspective. Of course it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
I spent a lot of time looking for Aztalan about a month ago, but was
unable to find it. The clues seem quite clear however. I'm hoping I just
missed it, but I won't get back that area for a long time. I do not
regret the effort. I never would have seen that park or the archeological
work of others without the clues on the map. So if anyone has actually
found Aztalan recently email me (off list if you wnat to clarify the
clues). LBF (letterboxing forever)
bayboxer
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
From: Joyce Ames (Joyful_Enterprises@emailmsn.com) |
Date: 2000-12-09 16:41:42 UTC-08:00
I agree
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
> "On Tue, 28 Nov 2000 1 John De Wolf...writes: I've noticed a disturbing
> trend of discussing clues and asking for hints on the list. I think this
> is totally inappropriate in this public space. It is likely to violate
> the intent of the clue writer. If someone feels they truly need some
> assistance in finding a particular box, they should make an inquiry
> OFF-LIST to the person who hid the box...
>
> It took me a while at first to appreciate this. Some of us are still
> novices (P1F2) even after following this for quite a while (other time
> demands, jobs family etc.) I guess the differences among us reflect our
> land, nation, and make this all more worthwhile and richer. I for one
> appreciate comments like. It helps me to better understand ,a different
> perspective. Of course it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
> I spent a lot of time looking for Aztalan about a month ago, but was
> unable to find it. The clues seem quite clear however. I'm hoping I just
> missed it, but I won't get back that area for a long time. I do not
> regret the effort. I never would have seen that park or the archeological
> work of others without the clues on the map. So if anyone has actually
> found Aztalan recently email me (off list if you wnat to clarify the
> clues). LBF (letterboxing forever)
> bayboxer
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Discussing clues on the list
> "On Tue, 28 Nov 2000 1 John De Wolf...writes: I've noticed a disturbing
> trend of discussing clues and asking for hints on the list. I think this
> is totally inappropriate in this public space. It is likely to violate
> the intent of the clue writer. If someone feels they truly need some
> assistance in finding a particular box, they should make an inquiry
> OFF-LIST to the person who hid the box...
>
> It took me a while at first to appreciate this. Some of us are still
> novices (P1F2) even after following this for quite a while (other time
> demands, jobs family etc.) I guess the differences among us reflect our
> land, nation, and make this all more worthwhile and richer. I for one
> appreciate comments like. It helps me to better understand ,a different
> perspective. Of course it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
> I spent a lot of time looking for Aztalan about a month ago, but was
> unable to find it. The clues seem quite clear however. I'm hoping I just
> missed it, but I won't get back that area for a long time. I do not
> regret the effort. I never would have seen that park or the archeological
> work of others without the clues on the map. So if anyone has actually
> found Aztalan recently email me (off list if you wnat to clarify the
> clues). LBF (letterboxing forever)
> bayboxer
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>