War of the Roses. Well, one rose that is. A compass rose to be exact. I have been trying to spot a compass rose ever since I started waymarking and this last weekend I found not one, but 20 plus compass roses. Do I get to waymark said roses? No. See, I forgot to lay my gps on the floor of the Capitol so I could submit a photo WITH GPS in the shot. Lame. Oh so very lame. I was obviously there. It's not like there's a huge amount of photos of Washington State Capitol's floor that I could steal off the web and claim as my own.I know I just recently ranted about this but it's my blog and so I'll rant again. What is the point of the gps in the shot? How does that make the waymark a better waymark, I ask? This category lost a great waymark.
The Capitol's floor is inlaid marble. Beautiful craftsmanship. A hall encircles the rotunda, and the entire length of the hall are compass roses. Inside the main entrance is a larger compass rose and in the center of that one is a stone that is engraved and tells of the time capsule buried beneath it. I was able to waymark it in the time capsule section at least. Other waymarks on the Capitol campus included the WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Vietnam POW/MIA, and Law Enforcement memorials, the Capitol's moon tree, the cast bronze doors of the Legislative Building, Temple of Justice (courthouse), the Olmsted designed campus grounds, and many others that I'm forgetting right now. There were enough great finds that it took the sting out of losing that sea of compass roses. Oh well, maybe someone else will visit and put their gps on the floor so they can post the waymark, but not me.
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4 comments:
I'm totally with you on this one. I personally believe the GPS in the photo should absolutely only be used to prove that you VISITED a waymark, it should not be required to post a waymark. No one wants to see the GPS when they are looking at the actual waymark itself. It's clear that people who are stuck in the geocaching mindset are the culprits here. It's very difficult to get them to think like a waymarker.
We've been discussing the topic for several months at Groundspeak. Basically it comes down to the fact that we don't want to tell people how to run their categories. But we're also hoping that the general Waymarking population will put pressure on category managers who don't get it to change their ways. I think blog entries like yours are good positive steps towards that goal.
Keep fighting the good fight!
I truly wish that the folks that want to hold waymarking to geocaching rules would just quit. I suppose that most of them have, but there are a few hold outs that stick around just to be contrary. I find that these gps requirements are damaging to the category. They lose some great waymarks because someone chose not to ruin their shot with a gps. Of course, I know I'm preaching to the choir here. :)
As I watch the game slowly evolve, it is less and less like geocaching, and that's a good thing. I'm glad that the changes seem to be adding flexibility and an increasing emphasis on tour guide style of write up and photos. It is coming into its own as a hobby and will pull in a whole new group of players.
I agree with you too Janell. And you know what I noticed? Several recent submissions to that category do not appear to have a GPS in any of the pictures.
Quick funny story, to me at least. I've also been trying to find a compass rose in my neck of the woods but couldn't find any. It turns out I've been walking over one for nearly 10 years on the floor of the building I work in!
I'm sad to say that I'm an officer in a category that requires a GPS shot to create the waymark. We've had to turn down so many waymarks because of it. Awhile back, us officers asked the leader if he'd consider removing the requirement, but apparently he didn't like the idea so it still stands. So if you're ever in Tacoma and are going to waymark Cheney Stadium for the Minor League Baseball Stadium category, remember to take a GPS photo.
Yeah, those compass roses turn up where you least expect them. LOL.
I'm glad to hear that you guys at least tried to get the leader to change his mind on this. Thanks for the heads up on Cheney Stadium. I think that it's already waymarked so I guess I would need a gps shot for the log anyhow. I don't mind the gps shot for a visit quite as much, although I still think it's unnecessary. No need for waymarking police. :) It's a game. If someone wants to cheat, it's not hurting me any, only themselves.
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