I couldn't agree with you more, Valerie.

The Orient Express
Braintree, VT
P19F133

"The game is afoot!"


----- Original Message -----
From: "Valerie Gilson"
To: "letterbox group"
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 9:31 PM
Subject: [LbNA] hitchhikers


> Said Jay Drew (quite diplomatically):
>
> "Also, there are some among us who (rightfully, I
> think) feel that spelling out all the details takes
> away from the aura of the game."
>
> Boy, you can say that again. I remember when
> hitchhikers were few and far between and a delightful
> surprise to find. After finding 4 of them
> consecutively of late, it seems that everybody and
> their brother wants to float one out there and then
> blab to the whole letterboxing community where it is,
> or at least the general area. Must one REALLY
> advertise it's general whereabouts? "I, uh, planted
> another hitchhiker in the southern half of somewhere,
> but there's a gazilllion boxes around there so you'll
> really have to look for it..."
>
> Why say anything at all? I don't get it. Wouldn't it
> be nice to plant a hitchhiker (maybe ONE, perhaps) and
> then keep your mouth shut and let it make people
> happy?
>
> Go ahead, slam away.
>
> -Valerie
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Got something to say? Say it better with Yahoo! Video Mail
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

Each time I have posted finding a hitchhiker, the planter of the
hitchhiker has written to say thanks for the update. How else would they
know if it is bringing others its intended joy? Hitchhikers have a boxing
life of their own. They go places you don't. It is fun to think of where it
will turn up next.
I have not planted any hitchhikers myself but if the secrecy of HH is
being compromised by web postings, I have 2 suggestions: 1) when you get
your mail, delete any postings with HH in the subject line if it offends you
and 2) include an e-mail address in the HH book. That way finders can update
planters without broadcasting it to the LB community at large.

LMV

Hi Coleen,

I only have 2 hitchhikers out but I have never been lucky enough to
find one of my hitchhikers in someone elses box. I have found a
total of 6 hitchhikers in 6 months. I seem to find 1 about every
month or so which is nice. Although I have never heard any protocol
covering finding your own hitchhiker, since I make my letterboxes for
other people to find I think I would stamp in, read the log book, and
leave my hitchhiker where it is so others could find it.

Janet
P6 F132 X55

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., Fireflylight@a... wrote:
> I was just wondering if anyone had ever found their own hitchhiker
in someone
> elses' letterbox....
>
> Coleen
> P5F6X2

funny - I have never seen a hitchhiker. Of course, it could be due
to the relatively few boxes I've found. I have found traces of them
though - reading the logs of various boxes in Northern Virginia, I
know a few have passed through - but, alas, all before my time.
I'll have to weigh in with my opinion after I've got a few more
boxes and HH's under my belt. But right now, I'd love to come across
one.

RangerCate

Ok what is a hitchhiker?

Locks of Silver




------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using Delmarva Online's Webmail.
http://www.dmv.com/

I was wondering the same thing, and sent a reply to an old post in
the archives were someone talked about picking up a hitchhiker.
Haven't heard back yet.

manda

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, carolynd@d... wrote:
>
> Ok what is a hitchhiker?
>
> Locks of Silver
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
> This message was sent using Delmarva Online's Webmail.
> http://www.dmv.com/

I figured some of the more seasoned letterboxers would
pick this one up, but I'll give it a shot. I'm sure
that if I'm off track, someone will point it out!

A hitchhiker is a traveling stamp - it doesn't have
its own box, but is created and placed (along with its
own log) in another box. When someone finds a box
with a hitchhiker in it, they take the hitchhiker and
its log with them and later drop it in another box.
The hitchhiker moves from box to box in this way.

When someone finds a HH, they stamp into its log book
and stamp its stamp into their own. I like to note in
my own logbook that it is a hitchhiker, when and where
I found it, and when and where I dropped it off again.
It's courteous to contact the creator and let them
know that you found the hitchhiker and what you did
with it.

I have a hitchhiker with me right now that is going to
find a new home this weekend in the Heart of Texas!

BarefootLucy





__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Movies - Buy advance tickets for 'Shrek 2'
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/movie?mid=1808405861

Thanks!!! I NEVER understood the HH!!!

Barefoot Lucy wrote:I figured some of the more seasoned letterboxers would
pick this one up, but I'll give it a shot. I'm sure
that if I'm off track, someone will point it out!

A hitchhiker is a traveling stamp - it doesn't have
its own box, but is created and placed (along with its
own log) in another box. When someone finds a box
with a hitchhiker in it, they take the hitchhiker and
its log with them and later drop it in another box.
The hitchhiker moves from box to box in this way.

When someone finds a HH, they stamp into its log book
and stamp its stamp into their own. I like to note in
my own logbook that it is a hitchhiker, when and where
I found it, and when and where I dropped it off again.
It's courteous to contact the creator and let them
know that you found the hitchhiker and what you did
with it.

I have a hitchhiker with me right now that is going to
find a new home this weekend in the Heart of Texas!

BarefootLucy





__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Movies - Buy advance tickets for 'Shrek 2'
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/movie?mid=1808405861

Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT


---------------------------------
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.




---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! - Internet access at a great low price.

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

Look here for the answer to that question (and many more)!

http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html


Peppermint Patti



--
___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm

Look here for the answer to that question (and many more)!

http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html


Peppermint Patti



--
___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm

I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
box for a year and not been found.

Just wondering.

aintnorock

Well, it's possible that they haven't. Depends on the box. But I have to say I don't always post about the ones I've found. Remiss of me.... I don't think I've seen your HH's. If you don't mind my asking, which ones are they?

Sheba

aintnorock19 wrote:
I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
box for a year and not been found.

Just wondering.

aintnorock





__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

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

well, from my experience, i have only 1 out there and i have not heard anything about it. i had to ask someone who lived in the area to check up on the box i planted it in, only to hear that it had been taken. i have left a note inside asking to email me of its travels and as mentioned before, i have heard nothing. i have always made it a point to email someone if it asks, but not everyone is like me. it is a win lose situation, but i wouldn't worry about it. one day you'll hear about the other.

rockin and rollin in the granite state
david (team new hampshire)
http://teamnewhampshire.blogspot.com


aintnorock19 wrote:
I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
box for a year and not been found.

Just wondering.

aintnorock






---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

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

That's not unusual from my experience. I found a HH with a full log book and only 3 claims on web sites. Some folks don't register them at all but seeing where they go is the main reason I post them.

-----Original Message-----
From: cdf19@comcast.net
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 10:23 PM
Subject: [LbNA] hitchhikers

I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
box for a year and not been found.

Just wondering.

aintnorock


________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free.


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

It seams to me that HHs are kind of like a message in a bottle. They're fun
to put out there and really fun to hear back about, but it's best not to
expect anything.

I recently found a HH that had been sitting in a box for over a year that
people stamped into, but no one had taken. I felt a little sorry for it, so
picked it up and moved it on. Emailed the planter, but never heard back...


On 8/8/06, RMORGAN762@aol.com wrote:
>
> That's not unusual from my experience. I found a HH with a full log
> book and only 3 claims on web sites. Some folks don't register them at all
> but seeing where they go is the main reason I post them.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cdf19@comcast.net
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 10:23 PM
> Subject: [LbNA] hitchhikers
>
> I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
> one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
> posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
> box for a year and not been found.
>
> Just wondering.
>
> aintnorock
>
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and
> IM. All on demand. Always Free.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


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

I put out 5 and have only heard about one. Sometimes
people don't take the time to post about them. It's
VERY possible that they've been sitting in a box for
awhile. I always like to go to out of the way boxes to
drop off a HH. I love finding a HH and seeing that
it's been there awhile. I like the fact that no one
has touched the box for a long time. It kind of adds
to the mystique of boxing. I don't care how long my
HH's sit for as long as they're still out there.

--- aintnorock19 wrote:

> I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've
> only heard about
> one of them. What's your experience - do people
> just not care about
> posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've
> been sitting in a
> box for a year and not been found.
>
> Just wondering.
>
> aintnorock
>
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

We have found 3 and I try to at least email the person to let them know we found it, and where we moved it to. It's really neat to look thru the logbook to see where it started and where it has been. On the LBNA website, before it went down, I logged our finds there about the HHs. 2 of them are listed there, and last weekend we found our 3rd, but with the site down, I can't see if it's listed on there.

Brat Pack
Big Brat


aintnorock19 wrote:
I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
box for a year and not been found.

Just wondering.

aintnorock






---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

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

First, I think it's a request made by the placer but I don't personally feel
that it's actually puts any obligation on a finder. A lot of finders don't
contact the placer to report problems with boxes either. It would be nice,
certainly, but folks aren't obligated.

There are a lot of variables that can figure in. If a finder is searching
for more than one box that day, they might not be taking the HH home with
them, but rather, leaving it in another box that day, and they might forget
to jot down the email addy of the placer. Or the HH's logbook might have
gotten wet and the placer's email addy isn't legible. Some folks I'm sure
always *intend* to contact the HH owner but time just gets away from them.
Some folks might find an HH but just not want to give out their email addy,
which the HH owner is going to have if the finder contacts them -- part of
the secrecy that some boxers like.

And yes, the HH *could* be languishing in a box somewhere for a year. Some
boxes get *much* less traffic than others. There are also a lot of people
that don't care much about HHs and don't take them to move them on. There
have been times when time has been short for me and I've found a box with a
HH in it and I didn't even open the HH bag up. I stamped the box's logbook,
sealed everything back up, and went on my way. By the time I made the hike,
figured out the clues, and found the box, there just wasn't all that much
time left.

It could also be languishing in somebody's backpack for a year. Someone
might have picked it up and lost interest in boxing before they sent the HH
on it's way. Or it could be in the bottom of a backpack someplace and the
person hasn't cleaned out their backpack in a long time to even realize they
still have it. (Maybe letterboxers should have a semi-annual "Clean Out
Your Backpack Day.") I see notes all the time in HH logbooks saying things
like "Sorry I kept this so long, family things came up." Stuff like that.
Or it's possible that someone could be carrying it around a long time
because, as boxes get smaller and smaller, it can be difficult at times to
find a box large enough to include the HH.

Another thing, and this is just my own personal opinion, but there seem
sometimes to be just too many HHs out there nowadays. They're not as
"special" as they once were when a finder comes across them. Maybe some
areas are much more saturated than others, but I'd say that around 50% of
the time this year that I've found a letterbox, I've also found a HH. It's
just not as exciting as it used to be. Finding a HH no longer gives me
that little "rush" that I got when I only came across one maybe once every
20 or 30 boxes or so.

~~ Mosey ~~
http://www.freewebs.com/moseyingalong


aintnorock19 wrote:
I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've only heard about
one of them. What's your experience - do people just not care about
posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've been sitting in a
box for a year and not been found.

My view as a mail artist:

Sounds like hitchhikers suffer the same kinds of vagaries as mail art projects. Mail artists and pen pallers send hundreds of things round-robin through the mail. They go missing all the time. "someguy" from 1000Journals released a thousand blank books, and years later only two have made it home; many have gone AWOL and some are still floating around, about ten times slower than everyone thinks they should.

I plant journals on airplanes. People always ask me, "Do you get them back?" Well, I hope to get them back, but I don't expect to get them back. It's not because people are mean or dishonest or anything. The phenomenon is so widespread throughout the mail art community--and so many good mail artists have admitted to losing track of or forgetting about or otherwise disrupting a project--that I can only think that it's quite normal for things to go missing, and quite exceptional for them to proceed as intended. There are so many variables in people's lives, in the process, that it really takes a daydreamer (like me) to even try. For me, that has meant that I have to be willing to let things go, to let what happens, happen. It's all part of the experiment in the end.

mejaka
jmauldinheiner@verizon.net
Simon says: stop breathing. ... You do realize you can't win, right?

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

We hear your frustration. We too have placed hithcikers, we know they
go, as they have been gone when we check and nary do we hear a word.
Well, not entirely true there are boxers who very graciously do let
you know about the hitchikers they pick up and where they [place them.
Speaking of which anone seen Zippy???
Pilgrims in this Land and Chocolate Bunny


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Gooble Gobble
wrote:
>
> I put out 5 and have only heard about one. Sometimes
> people don't take the time to post about them. It's
> VERY possible that they've been sitting in a box for
> awhile. I always like to go to out of the way boxes to
> drop off a HH. I love finding a HH and seeing that
> it's been there awhile. I like the fact that no one
> has touched the box for a long time. It kind of adds
> to the mystique of boxing. I don't care how long my
> HH's sit for as long as they're still out there.
>
> --- aintnorock19 wrote:
>
> > I put a couple hitchhikers out last year, and I've
> > only heard about
> > one of them. What's your experience - do people
> > just not care about
> > posting for them or what? I can't imagine they've
> > been sitting in a
> > box for a year and not been found.
> >
> > Just wondering.
> >
> > aintnorock
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>

looking at it from the other side
i have found several hh lately.
have emailed address they ask for and
never get a answer
how about listing hh here
>

What kind of answer are you expecting? You found a HH, it requested that you notify the placer. You notified the placer. Transaction done.

Although it might be nice for the placer to then contact you to tell you thanks for the notification, I wouldn't necessarily consider that a given.

As far as listing HH's on letterboxing.org... letterboxing.org is a clue site and since HH's don't have clues, I don't see how it is applicable.

Just the way I see it... you may see it differently and if you want to list your HH's on a clue site, that is your option. I wouldn't think of asking you or anyone else not to. I think those of us who choose differenly would only ask the same consideration -- for whatever reason, we have chosen NOT to list our HH's on a clue site and would hope that even if somebody doesn't agree with that, they can respect that decision and not make an issue of it.

SpringChick


----- Original Message -----
From: skier4444
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers


looking at it from the other side
i have found several hh lately.
have emailed address they ask for and
never get a answer
how about listing hh here
>





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

I think it's impolite to not write back to someone who took the time to let
you know they found your HH to thank them, especially if they are doing what
you requested.

Also, it seems to me that skiier was just making a suggestion, not making an
issue over anyone else's decision.

my 2 cents, for better or worse,
Kathy
Team Tysonosaurus

On 8/9/06, SpringChick wrote:
>
> What kind of answer are you expecting? You found a HH, it requested
> that you notify the placer. You notified the placer. Transaction done.
>
> Although it might be nice for the placer to then contact you to tell you
> thanks for the notification, I wouldn't necessarily consider that a given.
>
> As far as listing HH's on letterboxing.org... letterboxing.org is a clue
> site and since HH's don't have clues, I don't see how it is applicable.
>
> Just the way I see it... you may see it differently and if you want to
> list your HH's on a clue site, that is your option. I wouldn't think of
> asking you or anyone else not to. I think those of us who choose differenly
> would only ask the same consideration -- for whatever reason, we have chosen
> NOT to list our HH's on a clue site and would hope that even if somebody
> doesn't agree with that, they can respect that decision and not make an
> issue of it.
>
> SpringChick
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: skier4444
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 9:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers
>
> looking at it from the other side
> i have found several hh lately.
> have emailed address they ask for and
> never get a answer
> how about listing hh here
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/letterbox_travellers/

this is probably the best site to list or find out about hitchhikers.

smile
uneksia

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

I'd think basic courtesy would suggest that a thanks would be in order if someone notifies the placer of a hitchhiker. The person who found it owes the placer nothing--there is no obligation to follow the instructions simply because the hitchhiker happened to be in the box the finder visited with aj open request to the entire universe to notify the placer. No need to comply. But the finder went out of his or her way to let the placer know the hitchhiker had been sighted. Normally when someone goes out of his or her way for someone else, thanks would be in order.

Nobody likes to work in a vacuum.

I wouldn't consider thanks a given, either, because there are quite a few boors in the world (though the word has fallen out of favor). But I'd consider anyone who didn't offer even a brief thank you for the trouble of recording their email, the state of the hitchhiker, the new location if any, etc, and then remembering to follow up and actually send an email--well, the request to notify the placer is a fairly significant one, and not to thank someone for fulfilling it is boorish.

I've received email regarding my airplane journals, and I can't imagine not acknowledging them. Someone found the book, wrote down my email, kept track of it through an airport and a drive home or to a hotel, remembered to pull it out the next time they were on the net, and spent a couple of minutes of their time letting me know. I consider that a huge favor. If I could afford it I'd send them dinner vouchers! Thanks is all I can offer...I wouldn't dream of withholding it.

mejaka
jmauldinheiner@verizon.net
Simon says: stop breathing. ... You do realize you can't win, right?

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

What is funny about this thread is that people are counting on other people
to take time out of their ever-so-busy lives to spend 1-2 minutes on an
email. Why would they email someone they dont really know? Maybe the
person is a mass-mail spammer and they will end up on some spam list. Maybe
they have one of those email tracking programs like the emails going around
helping people with leukemia have and the person on the other end will know
their identity. Maybe they will end up winning the UK Lottery. Maybe
theyll get a Trojan horse or virus from sending an email. Who
knows?!?!?!? LO-friggin-L. There are people who will look at this
paragraph and say to themselves, Yeah exactly. He knows just what I was
thinking!

What you have to realize is that some people just suck! There may be lots
of excuses, but sometimes its as simple as that.

On the other hand, they may be like me... I have a hitchhiker that I picked
up a couple of weeks ago. When I put out one of my planned letterboxes in
the next week, it will be attached. At that point, I will email the person
with when & where I picked it up and planted it. However, I did register my
find on atlasquest.

Tracy

Okie Dragon

PS. There is a hidden message in this email. If you have a colorful
imagination, it could be the highlight of your day.


--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/414 - Release Date: 8/9/2006



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/414 - Release Date: 8/9/2006



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

LOL... my message was not hidden in the html-free email that the group site
sent out...

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Tracy Edwards
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 11:27 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [LbNA] hitchhikers

What is funny about this thread is that people are counting on other people
to take time out of their ever-so-busy lives to spend 1-2 minutes on an
email. Why would they email someone they dont really know? Maybe the
person is a mass-mail spammer and they will end up on some spam list. Maybe
they have one of those email tracking programs like the emails going around
helping people with leukemia have and the person on the other end will know
their identity. Maybe they will end up winning the UK Lottery. Maybe
theyll get a Trojan horse or virus from sending an email. Who
knows?!?!?!? LO-friggin-L. There are people who will look at this
paragraph and say to themselves, Yeah exactly. He knows just what I was
thinking!

What you have to realize is that some people just suck! There may be lots
of excuses, but sometimes its as simple as that.

On the other hand, they may be like me... I have a hitchhiker that I picked
up a couple of weeks ago. When I put out one of my planned letterboxes in
the next week, it will be attached. At that point, I will email the person
with when & where I picked it up and planted it. However, I did register my
find on atlasquest.

Tracy

Okie Dragon

PS. There is a hidden message in this email. If you have a colorful
imagination, it could be the highlight of your day.


--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/414 - Release Date: 8/9/2006



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/414 - Release Date: 8/9/2006



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




Yahoo! Groups Links






--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/414 - Release Date: 8/9/2006


--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/414 - Release Date: 8/9/2006

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Janna Mauldin Heiner"
wrote:
>
> I'd think basic courtesy would suggest that a
> thanks would be in order if someone notifies the
> placer of a hitchhiker. The person who found it
> owes the placer nothing--there is no obligation
> to follow the instructions simply because the
> hitchhiker happened to be in the box the finder
> visited with aj open request to the entire universe
> to notify the placer. No need to comply. But the
> finder went out of his or her way to let the placer
> know the hitchhiker had been sighted. Normally when
> someone goes out of his or her way for someone else,
> thanks would be in order.
>
When planting a letterbox, a placer has gone out of their way for
other participants of the game, they have given their time and
creativity to the hobby -- they have in essence given a gift, a gift
to be freely enjoyed by anyone who participates in the hobby of
letterboxing. While receipt of a gift does not ever "obligate" one
to express thanks, most would agree that common courtesy suggests
that thanks might be in order. So while there is nothing
that "obligates" the finder of a hitchhiker to follow a placer's
request -- just as there is nothing that "obligates" a finder to be
discreet, repackage the box contents or even to move a hitchhiker
along to a new box -- it is a letterboxing courtesy to follow a
placer's requests. Contacting a placer after finding a box or a
hitchhiker, while not required, is showing appreciation to that
person for the effort they put into creating and placing the box.
After all, were there not those who created letterboxes, there would
be no game for others to enjoy.
>
>
> I'd consider anyone who didn't offer even a brief
> thank you for the trouble of recording their email,
> the state of the hitchhiker, the new location if any,
> etc, and then remembering to follow up and actually
> send an email--well, the request to notify the placer
> is a fairly significant one, and not to thank someone
> for fulfilling it is boorish.
>
And in the context of letterboxing I would consider a person who
found a letterbox or a hitchhiker -- a box that had been lovingly
created by another individual, often involving a hand-carved stamp
and sometimes even a hand-made logbook, and then set it loose for no
other reason than to provide enjoyment to others -- but didn't have
enough respect or gratitude to acquiesce the placer by sending a
note of appreciation for creating and placing the box so they are
able to play this game in the first place, to be quite boorish also.

When I find a letterbox or a hitchhiker, knowing and having great
respect for the effort that went into placing that letterbox, I
generally try to send a note to the placer to thank them for placing
the box which provided me with an enjoyable hike, perhaps introduced
me to a new location or provided me with a snapshot of the history
of a place or person. I do not have an expectation that the placer
will then thank me for my thank you. Although I certainly
appreciate it so that I can be confident my e-mail was received by
them, I do not consider them a bore if they do not keep the
correspondance alive by responding to my note of appreciation.

Just goes to show there are different perspectives on everything.

SpringChick

Yes, there sure are (different perspectives on everything.)

Boy, am I glad LbNA is back. :^ )
jmauldinheiner@verizon.net
Simon says: stop breathing. ... You do realize you can't win, right?

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

When I read this I wondered if it was a spoof. You ARE kidding aren't
you? As long as I've been letterboxing, it has been considered good
letterbox etiquette to inform placers of the find of one of their
hitch hikers. I do hope that any newbies who read this post read
sprinkle it liberally with salt. Funhog

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Janna Mauldin Heiner"
wrote:>The person who found it owes the placer
nothing--there is no obligation to follow >the instructions simply
because the hitchhiker happened to be in the box the finder visited
>with aj open request to the entire universe to notify the placer. No
need to comply.

Funhog, I was responding to something specific. No spoof. It's a considerable amount of trouble to take down an email address, keep track of it and what HH it belonged to, and remember to make contact, so while it is good etiquette, it really isn't an absolute obligation. Most of us would do it though--else why would we be playing this game? But if it's good etiquette for someone to go to all that trouble, it's hard to believe that--as was said in the post to which I was responding--similar good etiquette doesn't include a response from the placer--a simple thanks and acknowledgement of the finder's email. This is a multi-player game. The placer doesn't really place the HH or the box just for the enjoyment of strangers--she expects to get some personal pleasure out of it (regardless of what some may claim). She wants to hear it's been visited/spotted, she's showing off her artwork, she's adventuring vicariously through it. If we placed them without hope of ever hearing another thing, many would not bother to play. And the finder who goes to the trouble of reporting the find (particularly of a HH), to assume that the finder is obligated to report the HH because the placer requested it, but that the transaction is completed once that is done with no obligation on the part of the placer to thank the finder, seems absurd to me.

Boy...there sure is a different feel between letterboxing and geocaching. Letterboxing appeals to me much more for it's artistic history and the creativity it still retains, but the two communities feel entirely different.

mejaka
jmauldinheiner@verizon.net
Simon says: stop breathing. ... You do realize you can't win, right?

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

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Janna Mauldin Heiner"
wrote:
>
> Boy...there sure is a different feel between letterboxing and
geocaching. Letterboxing appeals to me much more for it's artistic
history and the creativity it still retains, but the two communities
feel entirely different.
>

Actually in my experience with geocaching, I have found that they also
are not real welcoming of newcomers who come in thinking they know how
it should be, particularly when that is contrary to the way things are
typically done.


> ... You do realize you can't win, right?
>

Is this part a spoof?

On 8/12/06, Janna Mauldin Heiner wrote:
>
> It's a considerable amount of trouble to take down an email address,
> keep track of it and what HH it belonged to, and remember to make contact
>
>


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

You have to wonder, yeh? In my opinion anyone who considers this to be too much trouble or effort shouldn't be letterboxing in the first place -- it's not just about finding the box, there is give and there is take. Although there is no hard and fast rule that places a finder under any kind of obligation, there certainly are implied best practices.

I realize that there are a lot of casual letterboxers who never make contact after finding a box and that is just a part of the game -- it may or may not be a conscious decision on their part. But for somebody who is active within the letterboxing community (i.e .participates in the talk lists and purports to possess a knowledge of how the game *should* be played) to actually say it is too much trouble and effort to make contact is kind of a slap in the face to a planter in my opinion.

I sure hope this kind of attitude does not propagate among new letterboxers and for the most part I have not found this to be the case.

SC


----- Original Message -----
From: Clueless
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2006 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers


Is this part a spoof?

On 8/12/06, Janna Mauldin Heiner wrote:
>
> It's a considerable amount of trouble to take down an email address,
> keep track of it and what HH it belonged to, and remember to make contact
>
>

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





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

Unfortunately, it seems that mejaka's point has been missed here... I think
the comments were not really to gripe about it being hard to notify a placer
or to state an unwillingness to notify a placer - I think the comments are
really in response to some discussion about common courtesy and a nudge to
placers to send a quick email to acknowledge that they received the finder's
notification and that they appreciate the finder taking the steps to let
them know the status of their HH.

I hope this doesn't add fuel to any fire out there...


On 8/12/06, SpringChick wrote:
>
> You have to wonder, yeh? In my opinion anyone who considers this to be
> too much trouble or effort shouldn't be letterboxing in the first place --
> it's not just about finding the box, there is give and there is take.
> Although there is no hard and fast rule that places a finder under any kind
> of obligation, there certainly are implied best practices.
>
> I realize that there are a lot of casual letterboxers who never make
> contact after finding a box and that is just a part of the game -- it may or
> may not be a conscious decision on their part. But for somebody who is
> active within the letterboxing community (i.e .participates in the talk
> lists and purports to possess a knowledge of how the game *should* be
> played) to actually say it is too much trouble and effort to make contact is
> kind of a slap in the face to a planter in my opinion.
>
> I sure hope this kind of attitude does not propagate among new
> letterboxers and for the most part I have not found this to be the case.
>
> SC
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Clueless
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2006 11:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers
>
> Is this part a spoof?
>
> On 8/12/06, Janna Mauldin Heiner >
> wrote:
> >
> > It's a considerable amount of trouble to take down an email address,
> > keep track of it and what HH it belonged to, and remember to make
> contact
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


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

I hate to compare letterboxing and geocaching because they are two very different games. (In my opinion) But in geocaching the ultimate goal is to log in your find. Very few geocacher omit this part. The owner of the box gets a log of the find. Reading the logs becomes a way of helping to find difficult hides, some contain vague hints. In letterboxing, it seems to me that the real goal is to stamp our journal. period. Unless you are tracking your finds on line nothing else really seems necessary or important. The upkeep and availability of a box should be up to the planter. Yes it does help the person who has planted many boxes to keep track of their availability and it helps others to know it is still there. But I have been told that it is the hunt and not the find that is important (gag). Hitchhiker therefore fall in the same category. All the game "rules" seem to come down to how would you like it to be handled if it was your box or hitchhiker and that is what each individual should use as a guide for themselves.


----- Original Message -----
From: SpringChick
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2006 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers


You have to wonder, yeh? In my opinion anyone who considers this to be too much trouble or effort shouldn't be letterboxing in the first place -- it's not just about finding the box, there is give and there is take. Although there is no hard and fast rule that places a finder under any kind of obligation, there certainly are implied best practices.

I realize that there are a lot of casual letterboxers who never make contact after finding a box and that is just a part of the game -- it may or may not be a conscious decision on their part. But for somebody who is active within the letterboxing community (i.e .participates in the talk lists and purports to possess a knowledge of how the game *should* be played) to actually say it is too much trouble and effort to make contact is kind of a slap in the face to a planter in my opinion.

I sure hope this kind of attitude does not propagate among new letterboxers and for the most part I have not found this to be the case.

SC

----- Original Message -----
From: Clueless
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2006 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers

Is this part a spoof?

On 8/12/06, Janna Mauldin Heiner > wrote:
>
> It's a considerable amount of trouble to take down an email address,
> keep track of it and what HH it belonged to, and remember to make contact
>
>

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

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





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

While I agree that this was the intent of the original discussion, I
was disturbed when I saw the turn the commentary took and felt is
warranted attention. Personally, I choose to respond the each and
every email I receive from a finder. I do not bother to try to contact
anyone who merely logs their finds or attempts and doesn't bother to
write me a personal note.

In fact, this is one of the newer features of the LbNA website that
saddens me. Before the logging feature was instituted, I received many
more personal notes from other letterboxers. Nowadays, on Sunday
evenings my inbox is filled with status reports but not nearly as many
accounts of folks' letterboxing adventures. I greatly enjoy receiving
these. I used to get photos and movies from strangers on an
occassional basis as well. I haven't received a single one since Atlas
Quest and LbNA introduced the logging features. Progress isn't always
progressive in my dusty ol' book... Funhog

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kathy Norris"
wrote:

> I think the comments are
> really in response to some discussion about common courtesy and a
nudge to
> placers to send a quick email to acknowledge that they received the
finder's
> notification

As Funhog, I try to respond to every person who sends me an e-mail or contact the placer message about finding (or sometimes not finding) one of my letterboxes. I do not however feel I have been slighted if I do not hear back from a placer after I have contacted them to say thanks for the letterbox and the wonderful time I had looking for it. I really feel this part of the communication is an individual decision. I also regret the logging feature at LbNA for this reason as I see far fewer contact the placer messages and more folks that have just logged a status (to which I very rarely send a follow-up unless I have a specific question about a box).

I cannot however agree with a person who has the attitude that contacting the placer of a HH (or a LB) is a bother and there is no need to comply with a placer's request in this regard.

But, to each his own.

SpringChick


----- Original Message -----
From: funhog1
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] hitchhikers


While I agree that this was the intent of the original discussion, I
was disturbed when I saw the turn the commentary took and felt is
warranted attention. Personally, I choose to respond the each and
every email I receive from a finder. I do not bother to try to contact
anyone who merely logs their finds or attempts and doesn't bother to
write me a personal note.

In fact, this is one of the newer features of the LbNA website that
saddens me. Before the logging feature was instituted, I received many
more personal notes from other letterboxers. Nowadays, on Sunday
evenings my inbox is filled with status reports but not nearly as many
accounts of folks' letterboxing adventures. I greatly enjoy receiving
these. I used to get photos and movies from strangers on an
occassional basis as well. I haven't received a single one since Atlas
Quest and LbNA introduced the logging features. Progress isn't always
progressive in my dusty ol' book... Funhog

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kathy Norris"
wrote:

> I think the comments are
> really in response to some discussion about common courtesy and a
nudge to
> placers to send a quick email to acknowledge that they received the
finder's
> notification





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

Yes, I do too. I so appreciate them taking the time to update me, and as you said so many do not, that I make sure I say thanks for the contact. Just my way of playing the game. It also gives me a chance to start a dialog with potential local boxers I have not met and to invite to our regional list, LBMA.

funhog1 wrote: Personally, I choose to respond the each and
every email I receive from a finder.


Recent Activity

45
New Members

Visit Your Group
Y! GeoCities
Share Photos
Put your favorite
photos online.

Y! Toolbar
Get it Free!
easy 1-click access
to your groups.

Yahoo! Groups
Start a group
in 3 easy steps.
Connect with others.



.





---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

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

I try to reply back, but truthfully, I don't always.

Sometimes an email comes in when I'm overwhelmed and I think, I'll get
back to them later. But then I don't.

However, it is through this kind of dialog that I've made great
letterboxing compadres. I want to encourage new planters and finders
in my area.

And now, in another true confession, I have a little secret:
sometimes I don't take the HH! Lotsa reasons: I'm not sure when
we'll be back out, I don't want to fool with the stamping required, I
have two already sitting in my pack, whatever, sometimes I just leave
it for the next finder. So remember, if notifying the placer seems
like a hassle to you, just leave it in the box for the next finder.

DB

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Hikers_n_ Hounds
wrote:
>
> Yes, I do too. I so appreciate them taking the time to update me,
and as you said so many do not, that I make sure I say thanks for the
contact. Just my way of playing the game. It also gives me a chance to
start a dialog with potential local boxers I have not met and to
invite to our regional list, LBMA.