I don't belieeeeve it!

[The Hornet]

As many of you will know, I have "form" over at Groundspeak for daring to mention "Charity" in the forums and on a cache or two. I was idly browsing their forum this morning while waiting for my newspaper to arrive and I found this thread (https://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=237265)

A more blatant case of "Do as I say, not as I do" I could hardly imagine. Sigh!

[Lord Darcy]

In addition to the forum thread, there was also a "Weekly Mailer Addendum" about the subject sent out, further clogging my inbox with information I didn't want.
:ohmy:
Paul

[DrDick&Vick]

Looks like Jeremy strongly believes that Charity begins at home, well for him at least.

[choccymandm]

"If Groundspeak wins the challenge with your help, we will throw in another $10,000 of our own money"

Does that mean Jeremy and Co. with be stumping up the extra $10,000 from the own pockets or more likely from the funds we pay for premium membership!!

[DrDick&Vick]

Also noticed that the Abbreviations (https://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?act=ST&f=35&t=236127&st=0#entry4148505)thread has been very heavily moderated.

[border caz]

Frankly I'm not surprised - if I was a mod I'd have deleted half that thread too - a lot of it wasn't fit for a forum on public view and bore no relevance to the OP's question.

[thekennelat79]

As many of you will know, I have "form" over at Groundspeak for daring to mention "Charity" in the forums and on a cache or two. I was idly browsing their forum this morning while waiting for my newspaper to arrive and I found this thread (https://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=237265)

A more blatant case of "Do as I say, not as I do" I could hardly imagine. Sigh!


So who is going to "Bell the cat" by posting a question about it on the GC forum? :blink:

Should I be brave enough? Is it my turn to be banned? :lol:

[Simply Paul]

No one look at me. I know a no-win situation when I see one. "It's ours, we can do what we like with it" has been the mantra for a while now, and me or anyone else sticking their oar in isn't going to change that.

I was thinking about having a few hundred 'Extreme' coins made but that plan was scrapped when there's no GC-trackable system which doesn't line their pockets. Tis a shame but I get by very well as a non Premium Member now, showing Jezza et al what I think in the cold hard language of bottom-line income.

[thekennelat79]

Oh well. I've only been and done it!
This has just been posted on the main US forum............

"I wish the DARPA project well and am encouraged by the support shown by US cachers.
Many UK cachers would totally agree with your description of the research project, and its worthy motives.
Equally, many UK cachers are fully supportive of charitable organisations, both at home and overseas, and the undoubted benefits that they can bring to the community.
There are, therefore, quite a few UK cachers who are surprised at the ambivalent attutude displayed by Groundspeak regarding "charity" events and their promotion.
It would appear that encouraging support for a US based charity is acceptable on this forum, while any mention or support of a UK based charity is not.
I accept that, since Groundspeak owns/hosts this forum, it can decide on what content it allows to be posted here.
As a premium member, I feel that I am entitled to ask a polite and respectful question of Groundspeak.
Should Groundspeak be lucky enough to win the $40,000, Jeremy has indicated that "we" will add a further $10,000.
Does the "we" mean that Groundspeak employees will contribute this extra amount from their own pockets?
Or will the money come from corporate funds to which all premium members have "contributed" "

Now, how long do I have to wait before my ban arrives? :wacko:

[Happy Humphrey]

If the "charity" activity winds you up, then you really won't belieeeeeve this...
https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC21QTD&Submit6=Go
...a NEW VIRTUAL CACHE! :mad:;)

[t.a.folk]

If the "charity" activity winds you up, then you really won't belieeeeeve this...
https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC21QTD&Submit6=Go
...a NEW VIRTUAL CACHE! :mad:;)

We're not premium members so have been spared the opportunity to get wound up :lol:

[Happy Humphrey]

They had to make these virtual Premium Member only, or else they'd have given away possible locations to the Enemy.

[The Hornet]

I see it elicitated the expected responses from the usual apologistas for GS. I see little point in pursuing it over there.

[thekennelat79]

I see it elicitated the expected responses from the usual apologistas for GS. I see little point in pursuing it over there.


Or from over here, come to that.

Hopefully, there are a few US cachers who now know that the UK exists.
Judging by the 7 (so far) abusive e-mails that I have had from US cachers. they seem to regard the UK as "that cute lil district over in Europe".

Incidentally, it's my experience that some of them tend to get confused when I start using words of more than two syllables :blink:

[Guanajuato]

Judging by the 7 (so far) abusive e-mails that I have had from US cachers.

Isn't that against GS Terms & Conditions? If any were from GS employees or even reviewers, then that's even MORE out of order and I'd be seriously annoyed.

But to be fair, the charity bit was an aside. I'm not entirely sure providing GPSs to schools is THAT worthy a charity.

[thekennelat79]

[quote=Guanajuato;38038]Isn't that against GS Terms & Conditions? quote]


Ah, well, it's like this.
To the uninitiated observer, there appear to be two sets of Terms and Conditions.
One set is favoured by Groundspeak, and can be varied by them at any time.
The other set is simply imposed on us.

Do remember that Groundspeak own and control Geocaching.com and, as has been demonstrated, they are free to change all or any of the rules at any time without having to justify their decision.

BTW. All the abusive mails were sent direct, rather than through the GC.com messaging service.
The senders were able to do this because my e-mail address is shown on my GC profile.

[Brenin Tegeingl]

Isn't that against GS Terms & Conditions? If any were from GS employees or even reviewers, then that's even MORE out of order and I'd be seriously annoyed.

But to be fair, the charity bit was an aside. I'm not entirely sure providing GPSs to schools is THAT worthy a charity.

If sent through Groundspeak's Contact a Member Facility, please forwarded them directly to Groundspeak using contact@geocaching.com.

If any were sent from a Groundspeak Employee or Site Volunteer, then that person can expect disciplinary action off Groundspeak. In the case of Site Volunteers, that can be anything from a written apology, removal as a Site Volunteer or even Banning from the Site. If it was off a employee, they'd be action under the disciplinary section of their contracts.

Despite what appears to be inaction, Groundspeak do take breaches of the Sites TOU, very seriously! It's just that they do not make such actions public.

Deci

[thekennelat79]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pb_DkjUYw_I/Sxrr5crMBlI/AAAAAAAAABI/A3cbYnF_M_E/s200/jeremyballooncolorsm.png

A US cacher ponders whether to support the next UK Red Nose Day charity event.

[Bear and Ragged]

:applause: