We recently had a discussion very similar to this on the Texas list
after one-too-many Contact the Placer email complaining about Poison
Ivy (can you imagine, Poison Ivy! In the woods! Who could have
imagined that it might be there?!).

The general consensus was that it was up to the FINDERS to assume
some responsibility for things like: PI, ants, mosquitos, hills,
sand traps, weeds, bunkers, water and mud, etc. Unusual and
unexpected hazards like sheer drop-offs over cliffs or things of
that nature should probably be noted in the clues. If Lucy would
like to share the "rules" she came up with, the rest of us found it
very amusing.

Dewberry

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Phyto" wrote:
> Howdy folks, as this pertains to more than just myself and/or boxes
> that are in Maine, I thought I'd share this thought with a larger
> audience than our usual regional talk list operatives.
>
> It has been brought to my attention that some of my boxes are in
> questionable locales. Now, this is not all of my boxes, and not
> necessarily in Maine, this is not specifically targeted at anyone
or
> anything recent regarding emails - so DON'T FLAME ME...ahem, moving
> on. These are observations that I've made based on placing a small
> quantity of boxes in new england.
>
> When you're handed a set of clues that are not for mass
consumption,
> aka - not posted on the internet database - clue listing - in
other words
> w o r d o f m o u t h ..... h a n d c r a f t e d with
CARE...that
> means that I think highly enough of your lowly existence to have
> bothered handing these clues out.
>
> If you have a problem with the location, please of course - always
> question the placer, you might not agree with the logic or lack
> thereof behind the location or placement, however, the person
placing
> boxes for you special little finders to buldoze, has taken great
> lengths to hand craft stamps and boxes just so you can enjoy them.
>
> This leads me to my next point. If there is a disclaimer on the
clues,
> then make sure you follow it carefully. Most likely, if these are
> "urban" boxes, then you're going to need to be stealthy and watch
your
> back. If these are in the middle of the woods, well you better pack
> yer bug juice and tick tweezers and perhaps some extra water and
> yadaydada. But, if the placer doesn't take responsibility for
warning
> you - then whose reaponsibility is it to know what they are doing?
> Where they are searching? And....most of all, what the clues say?
>
> Yup, that's right folks - it's the FINERS.
>
> Which brings me to an age old topic of dicsussion. The planter
places
> boxes with a particular audience and intent in mind, and the finder
> takes full responsibility for deciding which boxes to find and in
> which areas. If it's in an urban area and looks sketchy, then by
all
> means, drag your 3.5 younglings through the garbage heaps and trash
> pick like the bums, it's only the smart thing to do. But, if the
> placer has put these clues in your hands, then it's your
> responsibility to find or not to find.
>
> Nobody said you had to bother finding a box, even if it's a great
> hand-carved stamp by phyto - who cares - you may absolutely despise
> the thought of blood-thirsty mosquitoes, then you'd better be
warned,
> it's not going to be pretty.
>
> phyto
> singing off for a while
> and pressing the "D" is for delete button
>
> Please see paragraph 2 section 1 of phyto's handbook of placer
> responsibility article 1 of 1, sentence 2 in the statement
disclaimer
> of this post.

How charming!

Phyto wrote:that
means that I think highly enough of your lowly existence to have
bothered handing these clues out.


---------------------------------
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

We recently had a similar discussion in Texas. We
felt the need to create a legal document that needs to
be signed, notarized, and placed on file with the
placers of any prospective box on a finder's list.
Here is the result of our labor:

"Letterboxing must be considered a high-risk activity
and as such, the following warnings are provided in an
effort to alleviate liability of the placer:

1) Animals, plants, trees, insects, or spiders may be
found in the general area of the box. Any of these
could present possible harm individually or severally
and are often found in combination with one another.

2) Tripping hazards include holes, roots, and vines,
as well as detached limbs and branches cast aside by
above-mentioned trees. These hazards are often found
in and around box areas.

3) While every attempt is made to place a box in an
area with excellent air quality, the possible risk of
air pollutants is present.

4) Water hazards ranging from small puddles to oceans,
and even water droplets in liquid or frozen form
falling from the sky may be found unexpectedly and
without warning. An additional water hazard is found
during times of extreme heat and forms within the
body, forcing it's way out through pourous skin.

5) Beignet-eating aliens can often be found in areas
with high letterbox concentrations. Under no
circumstance should finders attempt to make contact
with such aliens while in possession of a letterbox;
however, if approached by BEA's, surrender any and all
boxes and stamps, as well as all bread products.

6) The placer has made every effort to eradicate
hazardous micro-organisms in the vicinity of the box,
but such organisms may have found their way back into
the area between monthly sweeps, so the potential
finder must exercise appropriate caution.

7) In addition to the above mentioned dangers, there
may be other individuals found on the trail who must
be misled and/or misguided, so any finder with an
aversion to executing subterfuge is cautioned and
should plan to box during off-peak hours.

8) Intense exposure to sunlight has been known to
cause cancer, so finders must take proper precautions
to avoid excessive exposure.

9) While letterboxing after daylight hours may
alleviate some of the above-mentioned hazards
(specifically #7 & #8), please be aware that it
increases some of the other risks (#1, #2, & #5).

9) Finally, loss of direction is a constant risk so
every effort should be made to maintain a means of
communication and backtracking. Cell phones and
compasses are highly recommended, as are homing
pigeons. Leaving a trail of bread crumbs, while
effective, can be hampered by hazards previously
mentioned, specifically #1, #5, and #7, as well
as by the homing pigeons.

Placer shall only be responsible for the failure of
the finder to secure the stamp image and shall not in
any way be liable for monetary, emotional, or other
damages incurred by finders while letterboxing.

In the event legal action is required, every effort
must first be made to resolve differences through
mediation. If court action is required, please file
necessary paperwork no later than January 31st for
consideration at the annual meeting of the
letterboxing court, held at a predetermined location,
usually in the month of March. At that time, evidence
will be heard and a determination will be made. If
unsuccessful in his/her defense, the placer will be
ordered to provide a stamp image of the box in
question.

If cause is found to be unsubstantiated, the finder
will be ordered to place no less than three boxes of
their own, each one of which much be in a county with
5 or fewer boxes."





--- Phyto wrote:

> Howdy folks, as this pertains to more than just
> myself and/or boxes
> that are in Maine, I thought I'd share this thought
> with a larger
> audience than our usual regional talk list
> operatives.
>





____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

I know of some posted clues to boxes that live in some questionable
(nay even verboten) areas.

For some, one must have a waist size equal to, or smaller than, Lady
Prisspott (uncorseted) to approach.

I don't advise anyone to go look for them. Because the locations border
on Extreme Letterboxing. Certainly not an area to which one would push
the pram containing young boxers.

Ivy if you dare to publish my waist size I'll snatch that ratty wig
off your pointy head and stuff it down your throat before you strike
the 2 key on your keyboard.

And that goes double if you share it with anyone privately!

Now then;

Her Ladyship, while she would never be considered an old-timer in
letterboxing or otherwise, longs for the days when most everything
about letterboxing was surreptitious. I can't agree more with you,
dear Phyto. When her Ladyship was introduced to the activity it was
assumed that all activity and actions were to be discreet and
clandestine. Then suddenly articles are being published in major
magazines and newspapers from Podunk to Poughkeepsie and we have
people demanding that clues be easier, boxes be easy to find and in
open easily accessible areas. People are going out in large noisy
packs and walking up to NPS rangers and demanding that they show them
where the box is. Corporations are placing boxes in their attempt to
have advertising in every possible square inch of real estate in the
nation. Gone are the glory days! Of course people are going to go
underground and plant in "questionable areas" because the public
landscape is lousy with Tupperware and their "public" boxes are
repeatedly mishandled. The secretive nature of this hobby seems to
have been lost, seemingly due to demanding, lazy boxers who just don't
get it, or, like so much of our society want every step they take and
every breath they draw to be totally risk free. The sort that take no
personal responsibility for anything that happens to them or because
of them. The sort that think that their entire lack of common sense or
even the tiny amount of brain power needed to negotiate a world full
of hazard should be mitigated by everyone else in the world. The sort
that will sue the pants off of someone because they spilled their hot
coffee or ate a cheeseburger. Sure there were people like that from
the beginning but because there were far fewer boxers there was a much
smaller number but since the number of boxers has increased
exponentially the number of those types has increased to a rather
annoying level. How many of us have gotten messages that our box was
too hard to find (duh, that's the point) or the clues too hard to
solve (hello, wake up and smell the coffee) or the hike too far (I've
been told "it's about the hike") Now we have to warn everybody about
every potential hazard and instruct them to be respectful of the
environment and rehide as it was found and be careful in high traffic
areas and leave not trace; all things that seemed to be understood in
the past. I can sympathize and if people want access to great boxes
like those created by great carvers like Phyto that are word of mouth
only they're going to have to show some respect and common sense
because the current box mortality rate is terribly frustrating.