When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
hitch hikers...
http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
person who found it and moved it on.
This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
Rarely, have I heard a peep from finders of my hitchers. Recently,
I had one of my babies come home to me. Opening it up to see
where it had been, I learned that it had lain idle for nine months
in someone's backpack. Then it had gone to two gatherings in
succession, filling page after page with signature stamps of
folks that hadn't actually found it. It traveled around for a while
gathering stamps in the manner of a personal traveler. Finally,
it hit four letterboxes before it made it's way back to me after
nearly two years in the wild.
In addition, the log wasn't really "full" at all. It was made from blank
index cards, suitable for stamping on both sides. Only about a third
of the pages were used front and back. I'm feeling like the Hitch
Hiker Curmudgeon right now. Am I the only one who is
disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
HH etiquette
15 messages in this thread |
Started on 2004-09-15
HH etiquette
From: funhog1 (funhog@pacifier.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 17:17:01 UTC
Re: [LbNA] HH etiquette
From: (mjpepe1@comcast.net) |
Date: 2004-09-15 17:23:06 UTC
I agree with the Hog. Things have gotten out of control where a basket full of these babies are placed in the center of a picnic table for everyone to stamp and pass along - far from the original HH intent.
If the placers don't mind, like most of these we are taking to England, then that's a different story but an unusual circumstance, as these were mailed to me with the proviso that this would be their destiny.
Any other HH found on the trail should be treated with respect to the normal etiquette from "back in the day."
Don't worry Hog, I got your back!
Mark Pepe
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
If the placers don't mind, like most of these we are taking to England, then that's a different story but an unusual circumstance, as these were mailed to me with the proviso that this would be their destiny.
Any other HH found on the trail should be treated with respect to the normal etiquette from "back in the day."
Don't worry Hog, I got your back!
Mark Pepe
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: HH etiquette
From: cpascott (seh-letterbox@comcast.net) |
Date: 2004-09-15 17:25:44 UTC
My opinion for what it's worth:
If someone finds a HH but won't be able to re-place it within a
reasonable period of time (a few weeks at most), then they shouldn't
take it. Anjabanja and my philosophy regarding this is spelled out
on our website:
"... Hitchhikers found by us may not necessarily be placed in the
next letterbox we find, may be left in the letterbox in which we
found it, or may be included in a letterbox we plant. In any event,
we promise not to hold on to a hitchhiker for an unreasonable period
of time and will faithfully relocate it so it can be enjoyed by other
letterboxers."
Keeping the HH in a backpack for 9 months was irresponsible
letterboxing.
Taking it to a gathering was also irresponsible letterboxing. HHs
are not personal travellers, nor are they designed for the purpose
your HH was used for. None of the 'boxers who stamped the log at the
gathering should count it as a find. They probably thought they were
exchanging stamps with the person who brought the thing anyway.
Sending the book back to you with some pages not stamped is perhaps
part of the challenge of placing letterboxers. I've noticed that
many 'boxers don't always stamp in on the next page. We stamp in
order, so if a page or two has been skipped, it remains skipped.
This one you may have to deal with, place a new logbook in the box,
and send it out again (unless you intend to retire it).
But the other uses of your HH were improper, IMHO anyway.
CPAScott
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "funhog1" wrote:
> When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
> the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
> hitch hikers...
> http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
> Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
> have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
> letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
> person who found it and moved it on.
>
> This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
> eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
> and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
> reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
> Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
>
> Rarely, have I heard a peep from finders of my hitchers. Recently,
> I had one of my babies come home to me. Opening it up to see
> where it had been, I learned that it had lain idle for nine months
> in someone's backpack. Then it had gone to two gatherings in
> succession, filling page after page with signature stamps of
> folks that hadn't actually found it. It traveled around for a while
> gathering stamps in the manner of a personal traveler. Finally,
> it hit four letterboxes before it made it's way back to me after
> nearly two years in the wild.
>
> In addition, the log wasn't really "full" at all. It was made from
blank
> index cards, suitable for stamping on both sides. Only about a
third
> of the pages were used front and back. I'm feeling like the Hitch
> Hiker Curmudgeon right now. Am I the only one who is
> disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
> letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
If someone finds a HH but won't be able to re-place it within a
reasonable period of time (a few weeks at most), then they shouldn't
take it. Anjabanja and my philosophy regarding this is spelled out
on our website:
"... Hitchhikers found by us may not necessarily be placed in the
next letterbox we find, may be left in the letterbox in which we
found it, or may be included in a letterbox we plant. In any event,
we promise not to hold on to a hitchhiker for an unreasonable period
of time and will faithfully relocate it so it can be enjoyed by other
letterboxers."
Keeping the HH in a backpack for 9 months was irresponsible
letterboxing.
Taking it to a gathering was also irresponsible letterboxing. HHs
are not personal travellers, nor are they designed for the purpose
your HH was used for. None of the 'boxers who stamped the log at the
gathering should count it as a find. They probably thought they were
exchanging stamps with the person who brought the thing anyway.
Sending the book back to you with some pages not stamped is perhaps
part of the challenge of placing letterboxers. I've noticed that
many 'boxers don't always stamp in on the next page. We stamp in
order, so if a page or two has been skipped, it remains skipped.
This one you may have to deal with, place a new logbook in the box,
and send it out again (unless you intend to retire it).
But the other uses of your HH were improper, IMHO anyway.
CPAScott
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "funhog1"
> When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
> the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
> hitch hikers...
> http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
> Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
> have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
> letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
> person who found it and moved it on.
>
> This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
> eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
> and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
> reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
> Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
>
> Rarely, have I heard a peep from finders of my hitchers. Recently,
> I had one of my babies come home to me. Opening it up to see
> where it had been, I learned that it had lain idle for nine months
> in someone's backpack. Then it had gone to two gatherings in
> succession, filling page after page with signature stamps of
> folks that hadn't actually found it. It traveled around for a while
> gathering stamps in the manner of a personal traveler. Finally,
> it hit four letterboxes before it made it's way back to me after
> nearly two years in the wild.
>
> In addition, the log wasn't really "full" at all. It was made from
blank
> index cards, suitable for stamping on both sides. Only about a
third
> of the pages were used front and back. I'm feeling like the Hitch
> Hiker Curmudgeon right now. Am I the only one who is
> disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
> letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
RE: [LbNA] HH etiquette
From: Pam Kleingers (pam@kleingers.net) |
Date: 2004-09-15 14:47:54 UTC-04:00
As a (relative) newcomer to letterboxing--just over a year--I appreciate
this thread. I was unaware that many would prefer their HH to not be
shared at gatherings--in fact, I would have thought the opposite until
reading Funhog's post. This is a good reminder to double check with the
placer first!
Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci
>
> You can be sure that when I send these HHs back out, the new logbooks
> will feature a "No gatherings, please" request quite prominently. Then
> I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope my request is followed.
>
>
this thread. I was unaware that many would prefer their HH to not be
shared at gatherings--in fact, I would have thought the opposite until
reading Funhog's post. This is a good reminder to double check with the
placer first!
Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci
>
> You can be sure that when I send these HHs back out, the new logbooks
> will feature a "No gatherings, please" request quite prominently. Then
> I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope my request is followed.
>
>
Re: [LbNA] HH etiquette
From: MaryAnn Lockard (mizscarlet731@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 11:48:28 UTC-07:00
--- funhog1 wrote:
Am I the only one who is
>
> disappointed by this change in the identity and
> etiquette of HH
> letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
>
I love the idea of HHs as you put forth. My son
launched one a month or so ago, heard from the FF but
not a peep since. I hope maybe people will take a
little more care. There are alot more people out
there boxing now, how many are carving? I think if you
take the time to carve a stamp maybe you are more
careful with stamps in the wild.
Mizscarlet
P.S. I'm from PA but found your Saguaro Sunset a few
years ago.
>
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Am I the only one who is
>
> disappointed by this change in the identity and
> etiquette of HH
> letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
>
I love the idea of HHs as you put forth. My son
launched one a month or so ago, heard from the FF but
not a peep since. I hope maybe people will take a
little more care. There are alot more people out
there boxing now, how many are carving? I think if you
take the time to carve a stamp maybe you are more
careful with stamps in the wild.
Mizscarlet
P.S. I'm from PA but found your Saguaro Sunset a few
years ago.
>
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Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today!
http://vote.yahoo.com
Re: HH etiquette
From: Alafair (lkazel@mindspring.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 20:12:43 UTC
I also had the same experience with a HH. It had gone to two
gatherings after being found on the trail and, with the exception of
the first stamp, the entire logbook was filled with stamps from both
gatherings. I was not a happy camper. In addition, many of the pages
had only one stamp with plenty of room for more.
I agree with Funhog that HHs do not belong on tables at gatherings
being passed around like a bowl of Doritos. That seems to be not in
the spirit of the game at all.
I also agree that more care and consideration should be taken when
stamping in to conserve space. Many logbooks are now hand-made and
take considerable time to create. It is just simple considerataion to
be as economical as possible.
Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
Alafair
gatherings after being found on the trail and, with the exception of
the first stamp, the entire logbook was filled with stamps from both
gatherings. I was not a happy camper. In addition, many of the pages
had only one stamp with plenty of room for more.
I agree with Funhog that HHs do not belong on tables at gatherings
being passed around like a bowl of Doritos. That seems to be not in
the spirit of the game at all.
I also agree that more care and consideration should be taken when
stamping in to conserve space. Many logbooks are now hand-made and
take considerable time to create. It is just simple considerataion to
be as economical as possible.
Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
Alafair
Re: [LbNA] Re: HH etiquette
From: (teamking@entouch.net) |
Date: 2004-09-15 16:29:27 UTC-04:00
Your note about putting it on newcomers list is great. I would also recommend that it be listed on individual websites - the main ones that list information and how-to. I don't recall seeing that stated so obviously anywhere before.
TeamKing
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Alafair"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:12:43 -0000
>
>
>
>
>
>I also had the same experience with a HH. It had gone to two
>gatherings after being found on the trail and, with the exception of
>the first stamp, the entire logbook was filled with stamps from both
>gatherings. I was not a happy camper. In addition, many of the pages
>had only one stamp with plenty of room for more.
>
>I agree with Funhog that HHs do not belong on tables at gatherings
>being passed around like a bowl of Doritos. That seems to be not in
>the spirit of the game at all.
>
>I also agree that more care and consideration should be taken when
>stamping in to conserve space. Many logbooks are now hand-made and
>take considerable time to create. It is just simple considerataion to
>be as economical as possible.
>
>Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
>experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
>insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
>
>Alafair
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Re: HH etiquette
From: The Family (lynnieth2003@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 21:01:23 UTC
Well said Funhog! I totally agree. We released a HH early in the
Summer. We purposefully put it in a box we knew is often visited so
that it would be found quickly. We were thrilled when we received
an email saying it was picked up the next day & travelling elsewhere
in the US. Since then- not a peep. I've sent notices on this list
& the traveller's list asking if anyone's seen it (my kids are dying
to know) & nothing. I even emailed the person who found to ask them
if/where they planted it so that perhaps I could "direct" someone to
it & never heard back from them.
I'm not holding out much hope of seeing my first HH again. BUT, I'm
going to try again & this time I think I'll take someone else's
advice & add a "no gatherings" clause on it just in case. I agree-
travel is the intention; it's not a party favor.
The Family
Summer. We purposefully put it in a box we knew is often visited so
that it would be found quickly. We were thrilled when we received
an email saying it was picked up the next day & travelling elsewhere
in the US. Since then- not a peep. I've sent notices on this list
& the traveller's list asking if anyone's seen it (my kids are dying
to know) & nothing. I even emailed the person who found to ask them
if/where they planted it so that perhaps I could "direct" someone to
it & never heard back from them.
I'm not holding out much hope of seeing my first HH again. BUT, I'm
going to try again & this time I think I'll take someone else's
advice & add a "no gatherings" clause on it just in case. I agree-
travel is the intention; it's not a party favor.
The Family
Re: HH etiquette
From: edwebbe (edwebbe@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 21:27:38 UTC
Alafair--
I think your point was well taken on the newcomers list. Maybe
nobody responded because few newbies have had any experience with
HH's. I have been doing this for a year and a half, have only seen
one HH, and have been to no gatherings. But I still learn from your
(and others') posts.
y-nought
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Alafair" wrote:
> Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
> experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
> insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
>
> Alafair
I think your point was well taken on the newcomers list. Maybe
nobody responded because few newbies have had any experience with
HH's. I have been doing this for a year and a half, have only seen
one HH, and have been to no gatherings. But I still learn from your
(and others') posts.
y-nought
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Alafair"
> Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
> experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
> insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
>
> Alafair
Re: [LbNA] Re: HH etiquette
From: John Chapman (john@johnsblog.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 17:58:02 UTC-04:00
It could also be that many newbies, like myself, subscribe to both lists...
Choi
P4 F8 X0
----- Original Message -----
From: edwebbe
Alafair--
I think your point was well taken on the newcomers list. Maybe
nobody responded because few newbies have had any experience with
HH's. I have been doing this for a year and a half, have only seen
one HH, and have been to no gatherings. But I still learn from your
(and others') posts.
y-nought
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Alafair" wrote:
> Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
> experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
> insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
>
> Alafair
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Choi
P4 F8 X0
----- Original Message -----
From: edwebbe
Alafair--
I think your point was well taken on the newcomers list. Maybe
nobody responded because few newbies have had any experience with
HH's. I have been doing this for a year and a half, have only seen
one HH, and have been to no gatherings. But I still learn from your
(and others') posts.
y-nought
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Alafair"
> Interestingly, I recently posted the above HH gathering/logbook
> experience on the Newcomer's list where I thought it might provide
> insight and a learning experience and there was not one response.
>
> Alafair
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [LbNA] HH etiquette
From: Kim Calcagno (hannahkat@cox.net) |
Date: 2004-09-15 18:43:13 UTC-04:00
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I want my HH's to TRAVEL...but I must say
that before I thought about the Golden Rule (Treat others as you would like
to be treated....etc) of letterboxing, I, too, was guilty of stamping into
the many HH's at gatherings. I don't think anyone would deny the terrible
temptation to go stamp crazy at a gathering when they are sitting on a table
right in front of you.
One solution to this, I have found, is to have a HH hostel at gatherings. So
that you can trade off a HH you bring to the gathering for a new one. The
one caveat is that you HAVE to police the hostel vigilantly, because there
are those who just don't get the concept and want to take one out, stamp in,
put it back and take another, stamp in etc. to maximize the stampage! For
those of you who do that....tsk tsk...that's a very inconsiderate loophole.
I don't doubt that it is cool to see a lot of stamps in your HH log, but to
find that your HH has only visited 4 places and that most of the stamps are
ones of people you know, that's no fun at all.
If I may give a personal example, my Pusmobile HH was planted in memory of
my late husband (in the image of his infamous electro green truck, the
Pusmobile) in the hope that it would travel to all the places he never got
to go. If it came back to me with most of its pages stamped on one day at
some gathering, I would be really disappointed and sad...not to mention
really irritated.
I know that I will bed putting a "no gatherings" request in any future HH's
I launch...I wish I had done it with the existing ones.
Respectfully,
-Kim (rustypuff)
-----Original Message-----
From: funhog1 [mailto:funhog@pacifier.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 1:17 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] HH etiquette
When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
hitch hikers...
http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
person who found it and moved it on.
This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
Rarely, have I heard a peep from finders of my hitchers. Recently,
I had one of my babies come home to me. Opening it up to see
where it had been, I learned that it had lain idle for nine months
in someone's backpack. Then it had gone to two gatherings in
succession, filling page after page with signature stamps of
folks that hadn't actually found it. It traveled around for a while
gathering stamps in the manner of a personal traveler. Finally,
it hit four letterboxes before it made it's way back to me after
nearly two years in the wild.
In addition, the log wasn't really "full" at all. It was made from blank
index cards, suitable for stamping on both sides. Only about a third
of the pages were used front and back. I'm feeling like the Hitch
Hiker Curmudgeon right now. Am I the only one who is
disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
click here
oups/S=1705065786:HM/EXP=1095355096/A=2128215/R=0/SIG=10se96mf6/*http://comp
anion.yahoo.com>
_____
Yahoo! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/letterbox-usa/
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
that before I thought about the Golden Rule (Treat others as you would like
to be treated....etc) of letterboxing, I, too, was guilty of stamping into
the many HH's at gatherings. I don't think anyone would deny the terrible
temptation to go stamp crazy at a gathering when they are sitting on a table
right in front of you.
One solution to this, I have found, is to have a HH hostel at gatherings. So
that you can trade off a HH you bring to the gathering for a new one. The
one caveat is that you HAVE to police the hostel vigilantly, because there
are those who just don't get the concept and want to take one out, stamp in,
put it back and take another, stamp in etc. to maximize the stampage! For
those of you who do that....tsk tsk...that's a very inconsiderate loophole.
I don't doubt that it is cool to see a lot of stamps in your HH log, but to
find that your HH has only visited 4 places and that most of the stamps are
ones of people you know, that's no fun at all.
If I may give a personal example, my Pusmobile HH was planted in memory of
my late husband (in the image of his infamous electro green truck, the
Pusmobile) in the hope that it would travel to all the places he never got
to go. If it came back to me with most of its pages stamped on one day at
some gathering, I would be really disappointed and sad...not to mention
really irritated.
I know that I will bed putting a "no gatherings" request in any future HH's
I launch...I wish I had done it with the existing ones.
Respectfully,
-Kim (rustypuff)
-----Original Message-----
From: funhog1 [mailto:funhog@pacifier.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 1:17 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] HH etiquette
When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
hitch hikers...
http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
person who found it and moved it on.
This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
Rarely, have I heard a peep from finders of my hitchers. Recently,
I had one of my babies come home to me. Opening it up to see
where it had been, I learned that it had lain idle for nine months
in someone's backpack. Then it had gone to two gatherings in
succession, filling page after page with signature stamps of
folks that hadn't actually found it. It traveled around for a while
gathering stamps in the manner of a personal traveler. Finally,
it hit four letterboxes before it made it's way back to me after
nearly two years in the wild.
In addition, the log wasn't really "full" at all. It was made from blank
index cards, suitable for stamping on both sides. Only about a third
of the pages were used front and back. I'm feeling like the Hitch
Hiker Curmudgeon right now. Am I the only one who is
disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
click here
anion.yahoo.com>
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* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/letterbox-usa/
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: HH etiquette
From: Colleen (rick_l_george01@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 23:02:47 UTC
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "funhog1" wrote:
> When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
> the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
> hitch hikers...
> http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
> Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
> have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
> letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
> person who found it and moved it on.
>
> >
> I have found only one HH and it did take about 1 month for me to
replace it but that was because I was going to Cape Cod and wanted
to remove it from CT where it had been for its whole life. I hope
that was ok and did not upset the owner. I do agree that signing in
at a gathering seems inapproprate. I also feel placing it in a well
traffiked area seem like the best idea so what better then a
lighthouse!! Colleen
> When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
> the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
> hitch hikers...
> http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
> Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
> have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
> letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
> person who found it and moved it on.
>
> >
> I have found only one HH and it did take about 1 month for me to
replace it but that was because I was going to Cape Cod and wanted
to remove it from CT where it had been for its whole life. I hope
that was ok and did not upset the owner. I do agree that signing in
at a gathering seems inapproprate. I also feel placing it in a well
traffiked area seem like the best idea so what better then a
lighthouse!! Colleen
Re: HH etiquette
From: playschoolteach (playschoolteach@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 23:15:48 UTC
In my 8 boxes placed, only one is an HH. I've heard from time to
time about it (thank you, Von Der Insels) but definitely not as much
as I would have liked. Although Wanda and Pete's HH page usually
has more info than I do! It's sad too because it makes me not want
to place anymore and if we all felt like that then no one would ever
get that cool little thrill when you find one in a box!
As far as the holding on to it thing, I actually found one on my
first time out. I was going to Oregon about a month later and
thought that it would be really cool to be able to move it from
Massaschusetts all the way out there. So, I contacted the placer
and asked if the wait was ok. She agreed so I waited! But,
normally, I wouldn't do that.
I think it's really confusing for finders, too, when a HH has been
stamped at a gathering. I letterbox in three states and so I
usually like to see where it has been and move it somewhere else. I
can tell you that out of the 9 HH's that most of them have page
after page of stamps that have no indication of where those people
found them....can't tell you how many I've found that weren't
recorded in the parent box, too!
So, if anyone finds "You Found Mail", please let me know!
Thanks,
Kerri
P8 F115 X10 HH9
time about it (thank you, Von Der Insels) but definitely not as much
as I would have liked. Although Wanda and Pete's HH page usually
has more info than I do! It's sad too because it makes me not want
to place anymore and if we all felt like that then no one would ever
get that cool little thrill when you find one in a box!
As far as the holding on to it thing, I actually found one on my
first time out. I was going to Oregon about a month later and
thought that it would be really cool to be able to move it from
Massaschusetts all the way out there. So, I contacted the placer
and asked if the wait was ok. She agreed so I waited! But,
normally, I wouldn't do that.
I think it's really confusing for finders, too, when a HH has been
stamped at a gathering. I letterbox in three states and so I
usually like to see where it has been and move it somewhere else. I
can tell you that out of the 9 HH's that most of them have page
after page of stamps that have no indication of where those people
found them....can't tell you how many I've found that weren't
recorded in the parent box, too!
So, if anyone finds "You Found Mail", please let me know!
Thanks,
Kerri
P8 F115 X10 HH9
RE: [LbNA] HH etiquette
From: Debbie Kotlarek (kotlarek@wi.rr.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 19:06:36 UTC-05:00
I personally like the thrill of finding a HH in a box, so would avoid any
general pile at a gathering. (Wouldn't even look at them because that would
spoil my future surprise if I should happen to find one in a letterbox.)
Similarly, I have no interest in a HH Hostel since it doesn't include the
randomness and surprise aspect that I think is one of the key components of
finding a HH.
When we started letterboxing a little over a year ago, I read a lot of info
on various websites and came across Pete & Wanda's HH page. It has
therefore always been our practice to notify the original launcher of the HH
(if the email address is still valid!) AND Pete whenever we find a HH. I
like to do this since we can then theoretically see where a HH we've found
has traveled to after we found it.
Wisconsin Hiker
-----Original Message-----
From: funhog1 [mailto:funhog@pacifier.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 11:17 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] HH etiquette
When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
hitch hikers...
http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
person who found it and moved it on.
This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
... Am I the only one who is
disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
general pile at a gathering. (Wouldn't even look at them because that would
spoil my future surprise if I should happen to find one in a letterbox.)
Similarly, I have no interest in a HH Hostel since it doesn't include the
randomness and surprise aspect that I think is one of the key components of
finding a HH.
When we started letterboxing a little over a year ago, I read a lot of info
on various websites and came across Pete & Wanda's HH page. It has
therefore always been our practice to notify the original launcher of the HH
(if the email address is still valid!) AND Pete whenever we find a HH. I
like to do this since we can then theoretically see where a HH we've found
has traveled to after we found it.
Wisconsin Hiker
-----Original Message-----
From: funhog1 [mailto:funhog@pacifier.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 11:17 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] HH etiquette
When I first started letterboxing, I carefully read everything in
the LbNA FAQs to learn about this wonderful hobby, including
hitch hikers...
http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html#027
Curiously, in the last couple of years it seems that hitch hikers
have taken on a new personna. Originally, they were travelling
letterboxes that moved from box to box, stamped only by the
person who found it and moved it on.
This seemed incredibly cool to me. I envisioned my little creation
eventually coming home to me filled with stamps from letterboxes
and boxers from all over the place. I thought I would get frequent
reports of their whereabouts as they traveled the world.
Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case.
... Am I the only one who is
disappointed by this change in the identity and etiquette of HH
letterboxes? whine, whine, whine...Funhog
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Re: HH etiquette
From: Peppermint Patti (peppermint.patti@mail.com) |
Date: 2004-09-15 20:29:29 UTC-04:00
Don't all give up hope on HH's yet. I released a HH last year in June (The Golden Snitch) and heard about it a few times in the beginning and then never again. I just got an email from a finder. The log book is full so they are sending that to me and replacing with a new one to release it again. The Golden Snitch has been to many places, including Hawaii, which was a real thrill for us! I had pretty much decided I would never hear from it again but you never know!
Peppermint Patti :)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Peppermint Patti :)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]