Hello all,
Never let it be said that I won't jump into a fray......As some here
know who have read my recent posts (particularly those about the
recent debate over the MartianMaggot/Rick_in_Boca boxes)- I started
letterboxing only in the last year. I am not an "old salt" at the
letterbox water cooler but then I am far from a green horn newbie (at
least that's the impression I've made on Rick - who's opinion I
value, as well as others on the MidAtlantic board). How did I learn
about letterboxing? An article in some magazine - I read it a couple
years back and then lost track of it. I found it interesting but was
dealing with too many things at the time to get involved in anything
new. Last winter I came across it again and this time read over it
and decided to investigate. I looked online, found LBNA & AQ, read
the FAQ pages (way to many that my eyes hurt) and then proceeded to
find my first box. I took to this this like no other hobby that I
had come across in the past. As I soon learned, it was to become
more involved in my life to where I planned to hit boxes based on
areas I was going to go to for one reason or another (I'm sure that
sounds familiar to alot of you). I took the "code" seriously and
have always hid boxes better than I found them, carried extra
baggies, paper towels etc.. to try and do minor re-habs to boxes in
need. I have e-mailed all placers whose boxes I find (some of course
who never respond) and above all - I do my best not to get 'muggled'
while re-hiding. I recently hung around an extra 30+ minutes until a
family that stopped to look at some ducks had walked away before re-
hiding a box. In some cases, I find that the last person to stamp in
before me was someone who's been around alot longer on LBNA than me -
but I find the box not sealed as well as could be etc.. So it's not
just newbies that err at re-hiding a box. And I've gotten rather good
at finding tough boxes and some-time assumed missing boxes (**Item of
note - MartianMaggot's "Crabbing Bridge" Box still exists - it was
water damaged and had not been found since 2004 - So, I was happy
finding that one last month) Once again, I'm not here to take sides -
but offer an opinion. So here goes, I appreciate the view that
Letterboxing be shared 'one on one' among those with a common
interest or who would be more likely to maintain the integrity of the
game. However, I certainly see the other side of having articles
that talk about the hobby - so that others who are not surrounded by
clans of letterboxes in their developments can learn about it also.
If there was no article - I may have never learned of it - And I do
my best to take it as seriously as anyone I've talked to or met from
LBNA or AQ. Now, that being said, cheesey fluff articles in news
mags with incorrect facts or those that 'out' letterbox locations are
a disgrace - but a well written piece with some general info should
be welcomed. I am currently approaching the 100 mark for boxes found
(Not all listed on AQ cause I'm too cheap to pay the money - but I
will probably buckle under eventually)and may hit the mark within the
next month or so (If I get to hit Cyclonics 14 box extravaganza at
WCSP - that will easily do it and then some).....So what's the point
here? (I forgot already..) Oh yeah, whether you find out from a
friend or a magazine - the type of person you are will dictate how
you treat Letterboxing overall. Case in point: I have a friend who
is a big outdoors hiker guy who was interested in letterboxing when I
mentioned it briefly - I took him and his wife on a hunt, upon
finding the box they were anything but discrete and started posing
for pictures like they were standing at the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon. Although I tried to enlighten them further, they did not
take it seriously and figured no one would mess with a box that they
found by mistake. The really did not understand the concept at all.
I quickly became annoyed to say the least. The final outcome, I told
them I will not go letterboxing with them again (they could not
understand why???) and since I had never told them about the sites
relating to Letterboxing - they simply moved on to other
activities. So, is it better to learn of Letterboxing from a friend
or from a news article...that depends on the person in
question ...and as Forrest Gumps' mother told him..."life is like a
box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get". -John
---------------------------------
"..Jesse, frankly many of us DON'T want Letterboxing spread around in
this way, so please don't add another article that
attracts "infatuation" to the hobby. The majority of these folks who
read the articles don't bother to *really* learn about Letterboxing
before jumping in to go on this exciting-sounding "treasure hunt",
often jeopardizing our 'boxes. It is a game of stealth, and they
usually just don't get that...
Please reconsider, and if you like the hobby so much, just introduce
it to a few of your friends who you know will also enjoy and respect
it. Word of mouth is the only way Letterboxing should be "spread" in
my opinion! - sojourner.."
Seriously or Not - Looking for Letterboxers & the Media at large...
John...great insight....It IS a matter of the person that finds out about the hobby, and not the method they find out...never looked at it that way.
jerseytrailblazers wrote: Hello all,
Never let it be said that I won't jump into a fray......As some here
know who have read my recent posts (particularly those about the
recent debate over the MartianMaggot/Rick_in_Boca boxes)- I started
letterboxing only in the last year. I am not an "old salt" at the
letterbox water cooler but then I am far from a green horn newbie (at
least that's the impression I've made on Rick - who's opinion I
value, as well as others on the MidAtlantic board). How did I learn
about letterboxing? An article in some magazine - I read it a couple
years back and then lost track of it. I found it interesting but was
dealing with too many things at the time to get involved in anything
new. Last winter I came across it again and this time read over it
and decided to investigate. I looked online, found LBNA & AQ, read
the FAQ pages (way to many that my eyes hurt) and then proceeded to
find my first box. I took to this this like no other hobby that I
had come across in the past. As I soon learned, it was to become
more involved in my life to where I planned to hit boxes based on
areas I was going to go to for one reason or another (I'm sure that
sounds familiar to alot of you). I took the "code" seriously and
have always hid boxes better than I found them, carried extra
baggies, paper towels etc.. to try and do minor re-habs to boxes in
need. I have e-mailed all placers whose boxes I find (some of course
who never respond) and above all - I do my best not to get 'muggled'
while re-hiding. I recently hung around an extra 30+ minutes until a
family that stopped to look at some ducks had walked away before re-
hiding a box. In some cases, I find that the last person to stamp in
before me was someone who's been around alot longer on LBNA than me -
but I find the box not sealed as well as could be etc.. So it's not
just newbies that err at re-hiding a box. And I've gotten rather good
at finding tough boxes and some-time assumed missing boxes (**Item of
note - MartianMaggot's "Crabbing Bridge" Box still exists - it was
water damaged and had not been found since 2004 - So, I was happy
finding that one last month) Once again, I'm not here to take sides -
but offer an opinion. So here goes, I appreciate the view that
Letterboxing be shared 'one on one' among those with a common
interest or who would be more likely to maintain the integrity of the
game. However, I certainly see the other side of having articles
that talk about the hobby - so that others who are not surrounded by
clans of letterboxes in their developments can learn about it also.
If there was no article - I may have never learned of it - And I do
my best to take it as seriously as anyone I've talked to or met from
LBNA or AQ. Now, that being said, cheesey fluff articles in news
mags with incorrect facts or those that 'out' letterbox locations are
a disgrace - but a well written piece with some general info should
be welcomed. I am currently approaching the 100 mark for boxes found
(Not all listed on AQ cause I'm too cheap to pay the money - but I
will probably buckle under eventually)and may hit the mark within the
next month or so (If I get to hit Cyclonics 14 box extravaganza at
WCSP - that will easily do it and then some).....So what's the point
here? (I forgot already..) Oh yeah, whether you find out from a
friend or a magazine - the type of person you are will dictate how
you treat Letterboxing overall. Case in point: I have a friend who
is a big outdoors hiker guy who was interested in letterboxing when I
mentioned it briefly - I took him and his wife on a hunt, upon
finding the box they were anything but discrete and started posing
for pictures like they were standing at the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon. Although I tried to enlighten them further, they did not
take it seriously and figured no one would mess with a box that they
found by mistake. The really did not understand the concept at all.
I quickly became annoyed to say the least. The final outcome, I told
them I will not go letterboxing with them again (they could not
understand why???) and since I had never told them about the sites
relating to Letterboxing - they simply moved on to other
activities. So, is it better to learn of Letterboxing from a friend
or from a news article...that depends on the person in
question ...and as Forrest Gumps' mother told him..."life is like a
box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get". -John
---------------------------------
"..Jesse, frankly many of us DON'T want Letterboxing spread around in
this way, so please don't add another article that
attracts "infatuation" to the hobby. The majority of these folks who
read the articles don't bother to *really* learn about Letterboxing
before jumping in to go on this exciting-sounding "treasure hunt",
often jeopardizing our 'boxes. It is a game of stealth, and they
usually just don't get that...
Please reconsider, and if you like the hobby so much, just introduce
it to a few of your friends who you know will also enjoy and respect
it. Word of mouth is the only way Letterboxing should be "spread" in
my opinion! - sojourner.."
---------------------------------
No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jerseytrailblazers
Never let it be said that I won't jump into a fray......As some here
know who have read my recent posts (particularly those about the
recent debate over the MartianMaggot/Rick_in_Boca boxes)- I started
letterboxing only in the last year. I am not an "old salt" at the
letterbox water cooler but then I am far from a green horn newbie (at
least that's the impression I've made on Rick - who's opinion I
value, as well as others on the MidAtlantic board). How did I learn
about letterboxing? An article in some magazine - I read it a couple
years back and then lost track of it. I found it interesting but was
dealing with too many things at the time to get involved in anything
new. Last winter I came across it again and this time read over it
and decided to investigate. I looked online, found LBNA & AQ, read
the FAQ pages (way to many that my eyes hurt) and then proceeded to
find my first box. I took to this this like no other hobby that I
had come across in the past. As I soon learned, it was to become
more involved in my life to where I planned to hit boxes based on
areas I was going to go to for one reason or another (I'm sure that
sounds familiar to alot of you). I took the "code" seriously and
have always hid boxes better than I found them, carried extra
baggies, paper towels etc.. to try and do minor re-habs to boxes in
need. I have e-mailed all placers whose boxes I find (some of course
who never respond) and above all - I do my best not to get 'muggled'
while re-hiding. I recently hung around an extra 30+ minutes until a
family that stopped to look at some ducks had walked away before re-
hiding a box. In some cases, I find that the last person to stamp in
before me was someone who's been around alot longer on LBNA than me -
but I find the box not sealed as well as could be etc.. So it's not
just newbies that err at re-hiding a box. And I've gotten rather good
at finding tough boxes and some-time assumed missing boxes (**Item of
note - MartianMaggot's "Crabbing Bridge" Box still exists - it was
water damaged and had not been found since 2004 - So, I was happy
finding that one last month) Once again, I'm not here to take sides -
but offer an opinion. So here goes, I appreciate the view that
Letterboxing be shared 'one on one' among those with a common
interest or who would be more likely to maintain the integrity of the
game. However, I certainly see the other side of having articles
that talk about the hobby - so that others who are not surrounded by
clans of letterboxes in their developments can learn about it also.
If there was no article - I may have never learned of it - And I do
my best to take it as seriously as anyone I've talked to or met from
LBNA or AQ. Now, that being said, cheesey fluff articles in news
mags with incorrect facts or those that 'out' letterbox locations are
a disgrace - but a well written piece with some general info should
be welcomed. I am currently approaching the 100 mark for boxes found
(Not all listed on AQ cause I'm too cheap to pay the money - but I
will probably buckle under eventually)and may hit the mark within the
next month or so (If I get to hit Cyclonics 14 box extravaganza at
WCSP - that will easily do it and then some).....So what's the point
here? (I forgot already..) Oh yeah, whether you find out from a
friend or a magazine - the type of person you are will dictate how
you treat Letterboxing overall. Case in point: I have a friend who
is a big outdoors hiker guy who was interested in letterboxing when I
mentioned it briefly - I took him and his wife on a hunt, upon
finding the box they were anything but discrete and started posing
for pictures like they were standing at the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon. Although I tried to enlighten them further, they did not
take it seriously and figured no one would mess with a box that they
found by mistake. The really did not understand the concept at all.
I quickly became annoyed to say the least. The final outcome, I told
them I will not go letterboxing with them again (they could not
understand why???) and since I had never told them about the sites
relating to Letterboxing - they simply moved on to other
activities. So, is it better to learn of Letterboxing from a friend
or from a news article...that depends on the person in
question ...and as Forrest Gumps' mother told him..."life is like a
box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get". -John
---------------------------------
"..Jesse, frankly many of us DON'T want Letterboxing spread around in
this way, so please don't add another article that
attracts "infatuation" to the hobby. The majority of these folks who
read the articles don't bother to *really* learn about Letterboxing
before jumping in to go on this exciting-sounding "treasure hunt",
often jeopardizing our 'boxes. It is a game of stealth, and they
usually just don't get that...
Please reconsider, and if you like the hobby so much, just introduce
it to a few of your friends who you know will also enjoy and respect
it. Word of mouth is the only way Letterboxing should be "spread" in
my opinion! - sojourner.."
---------------------------------
No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, BullDawg wrote:
>Hi,
Normally I just read the emails, Im still fairly new to the board. I
have lbd for about a year now. I too found this hobby in an article
in my local paper. I did not tell about a box and clues and all but
gave the LBNA website instead. This made me investigate and read the
FAQ's as well.
I thank whoever wrote that story in the paper because Im not sure I
ever would have found this great new hobby of our families. Through
this we have been places that we didnt know about and that is the
best part, discovering something new in an area you have lived almost
your entire life. Then the icing is of course the box itself.
I will say Im glad the article gave the website not a box and clues
because I then went to see what this was all about and only those
really interested will do read the rules and then of course follow
them.
Good luck with the article and I hope this helps as someone who
learned about lb through an article. I did send the author a great
big thank you, by they way from me and my kids.
Vanessa
> John...great insight....It IS a matter of the person that finds out
about the hobby, and not the method they find out...never looked at
it that way.
>
> jerseytrailblazers wrote: Hello
all,
>
> Never let it be said that I won't jump into a fray......As some
here
> know who have read my recent posts (particularly those about the
> recent debate over the MartianMaggot/Rick_in_Boca boxes)- I started
> letterboxing only in the last year. I am not an "old salt" at the
> letterbox water cooler but then I am far from a green horn newbie
(at
> least that's the impression I've made on Rick - who's opinion I
> value, as well as others on the MidAtlantic board). How did I learn
> about letterboxing? An article in some magazine - I read it a
couple
> years back and then lost track of it. I found it interesting but
was
> dealing with too many things at the time to get involved in
anything
> new. Last winter I came across it again and this time read over it
> and decided to investigate. I looked online, found LBNA & AQ, read
> the FAQ pages (way to many that my eyes hurt) and then proceeded to
> find my first box. I took to this this like no other hobby that I
> had come across in the past. As I soon learned, it was to become
> more involved in my life to where I planned to hit boxes based on
> areas I was going to go to for one reason or another (I'm sure that
> sounds familiar to alot of you). I took the "code" seriously and
> have always hid boxes better than I found them, carried extra
> baggies, paper towels etc.. to try and do minor re-habs to boxes in
> need. I have e-mailed all placers whose boxes I find (some of
course
> who never respond) and above all - I do my best not to
get 'muggled'
> while re-hiding. I recently hung around an extra 30+ minutes until
a
> family that stopped to look at some ducks had walked away before re-
> hiding a box. In some cases, I find that the last person to stamp
in
> before me was someone who's been around alot longer on LBNA than
me -
> but I find the box not sealed as well as could be etc.. So it's not
> just newbies that err at re-hiding a box. And I've gotten rather
good
> at finding tough boxes and some-time assumed missing boxes (**Item
of
> note - MartianMaggot's "Crabbing Bridge" Box still exists - it was
> water damaged and had not been found since 2004 - So, I was happy
> finding that one last month) Once again, I'm not here to take
sides -
> but offer an opinion. So here goes, I appreciate the view that
> Letterboxing be shared 'one on one' among those with a common
> interest or who would be more likely to maintain the integrity of
the
> game. However, I certainly see the other side of having articles
> that talk about the hobby - so that others who are not surrounded
by
> clans of letterboxes in their developments can learn about it also.
> If there was no article - I may have never learned of it - And I do
> my best to take it as seriously as anyone I've talked to or met
from
> LBNA or AQ. Now, that being said, cheesey fluff articles in news
> mags with incorrect facts or those that 'out' letterbox locations
are
> a disgrace - but a well written piece with some general info should
> be welcomed. I am currently approaching the 100 mark for boxes
found
> (Not all listed on AQ cause I'm too cheap to pay the money - but I
> will probably buckle under eventually)and may hit the mark within
the
> next month or so (If I get to hit Cyclonics 14 box extravaganza at
> WCSP - that will easily do it and then some).....So what's the
point
> here? (I forgot already..) Oh yeah, whether you find out from a
> friend or a magazine - the type of person you are will dictate how
> you treat Letterboxing overall. Case in point: I have a friend who
> is a big outdoors hiker guy who was interested in letterboxing when
I
> mentioned it briefly - I took him and his wife on a hunt, upon
> finding the box they were anything but discrete and started posing
> for pictures like they were standing at the North Rim of the Grand
> Canyon. Although I tried to enlighten them further, they did not
> take it seriously and figured no one would mess with a box that
they
> found by mistake. The really did not understand the concept at all.
> I quickly became annoyed to say the least. The final outcome, I
told
> them I will not go letterboxing with them again (they could not
> understand why???) and since I had never told them about the sites
> relating to Letterboxing - they simply moved on to other
> activities. So, is it better to learn of Letterboxing from a friend
> or from a news article...that depends on the person in
> question ...and as Forrest Gumps' mother told him..."life is like a
> box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get". -John
> ---------------------------------
>
> "..Jesse, frankly many of us DON'T want Letterboxing spread around
in
> this way, so please don't add another article that
> attracts "infatuation" to the hobby. The majority of these folks
who
> read the articles don't bother to *really* learn about Letterboxing
> before jumping in to go on this exciting-sounding "treasure hunt",
> often jeopardizing our 'boxes. It is a game of stealth, and they
> usually just don't get that...
> Please reconsider, and if you like the hobby so much, just
introduce
> it to a few of your friends who you know will also enjoy and
respect
> it. Word of mouth is the only way Letterboxing should be "spread"
in
> my opinion! - sojourner.."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>![]()
src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/BullDawg717/sigstamp.jpg"
border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
> with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>Hi,
Normally I just read the emails, Im still fairly new to the board. I
have lbd for about a year now. I too found this hobby in an article
in my local paper. I did not tell about a box and clues and all but
gave the LBNA website instead. This made me investigate and read the
FAQ's as well.
I thank whoever wrote that story in the paper because Im not sure I
ever would have found this great new hobby of our families. Through
this we have been places that we didnt know about and that is the
best part, discovering something new in an area you have lived almost
your entire life. Then the icing is of course the box itself.
I will say Im glad the article gave the website not a box and clues
because I then went to see what this was all about and only those
really interested will do read the rules and then of course follow
them.
Good luck with the article and I hope this helps as someone who
learned about lb through an article. I did send the author a great
big thank you, by they way from me and my kids.
Vanessa
> John...great insight....It IS a matter of the person that finds out
about the hobby, and not the method they find out...never looked at
it that way.
>
> jerseytrailblazers
all,
>
> Never let it be said that I won't jump into a fray......As some
here
> know who have read my recent posts (particularly those about the
> recent debate over the MartianMaggot/Rick_in_Boca boxes)- I started
> letterboxing only in the last year. I am not an "old salt" at the
> letterbox water cooler but then I am far from a green horn newbie
(at
> least that's the impression I've made on Rick - who's opinion I
> value, as well as others on the MidAtlantic board). How did I learn
> about letterboxing? An article in some magazine - I read it a
couple
> years back and then lost track of it. I found it interesting but
was
> dealing with too many things at the time to get involved in
anything
> new. Last winter I came across it again and this time read over it
> and decided to investigate. I looked online, found LBNA & AQ, read
> the FAQ pages (way to many that my eyes hurt) and then proceeded to
> find my first box. I took to this this like no other hobby that I
> had come across in the past. As I soon learned, it was to become
> more involved in my life to where I planned to hit boxes based on
> areas I was going to go to for one reason or another (I'm sure that
> sounds familiar to alot of you). I took the "code" seriously and
> have always hid boxes better than I found them, carried extra
> baggies, paper towels etc.. to try and do minor re-habs to boxes in
> need. I have e-mailed all placers whose boxes I find (some of
course
> who never respond) and above all - I do my best not to
get 'muggled'
> while re-hiding. I recently hung around an extra 30+ minutes until
a
> family that stopped to look at some ducks had walked away before re-
> hiding a box. In some cases, I find that the last person to stamp
in
> before me was someone who's been around alot longer on LBNA than
me -
> but I find the box not sealed as well as could be etc.. So it's not
> just newbies that err at re-hiding a box. And I've gotten rather
good
> at finding tough boxes and some-time assumed missing boxes (**Item
of
> note - MartianMaggot's "Crabbing Bridge" Box still exists - it was
> water damaged and had not been found since 2004 - So, I was happy
> finding that one last month) Once again, I'm not here to take
sides -
> but offer an opinion. So here goes, I appreciate the view that
> Letterboxing be shared 'one on one' among those with a common
> interest or who would be more likely to maintain the integrity of
the
> game. However, I certainly see the other side of having articles
> that talk about the hobby - so that others who are not surrounded
by
> clans of letterboxes in their developments can learn about it also.
> If there was no article - I may have never learned of it - And I do
> my best to take it as seriously as anyone I've talked to or met
from
> LBNA or AQ. Now, that being said, cheesey fluff articles in news
> mags with incorrect facts or those that 'out' letterbox locations
are
> a disgrace - but a well written piece with some general info should
> be welcomed. I am currently approaching the 100 mark for boxes
found
> (Not all listed on AQ cause I'm too cheap to pay the money - but I
> will probably buckle under eventually)and may hit the mark within
the
> next month or so (If I get to hit Cyclonics 14 box extravaganza at
> WCSP - that will easily do it and then some).....So what's the
point
> here? (I forgot already..) Oh yeah, whether you find out from a
> friend or a magazine - the type of person you are will dictate how
> you treat Letterboxing overall. Case in point: I have a friend who
> is a big outdoors hiker guy who was interested in letterboxing when
I
> mentioned it briefly - I took him and his wife on a hunt, upon
> finding the box they were anything but discrete and started posing
> for pictures like they were standing at the North Rim of the Grand
> Canyon. Although I tried to enlighten them further, they did not
> take it seriously and figured no one would mess with a box that
they
> found by mistake. The really did not understand the concept at all.
> I quickly became annoyed to say the least. The final outcome, I
told
> them I will not go letterboxing with them again (they could not
> understand why???) and since I had never told them about the sites
> relating to Letterboxing - they simply moved on to other
> activities. So, is it better to learn of Letterboxing from a friend
> or from a news article...that depends on the person in
> question ...and as Forrest Gumps' mother told him..."life is like a
> box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get". -John
> ---------------------------------
>
> "..Jesse, frankly many of us DON'T want Letterboxing spread around
in
> this way, so please don't add another article that
> attracts "infatuation" to the hobby. The majority of these folks
who
> read the articles don't bother to *really* learn about Letterboxing
> before jumping in to go on this exciting-sounding "treasure hunt",
> often jeopardizing our 'boxes. It is a game of stealth, and they
> usually just don't get that...
> Please reconsider, and if you like the hobby so much, just
introduce
> it to a few of your friends who you know will also enjoy and
respect
> it. Word of mouth is the only way Letterboxing should be "spread"
in
> my opinion! - sojourner.."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
> with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>