New Guidelines

Good Morning Folks and for a change from recent it looks like it is!


https://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/in...owtopic=193115

GC have just issued New guidelines. They seem quite a step down from the hard stance of late.

[Lactodorum]

Yes, I saw them earlier. I think they have come up with a very good change which will work well here in the UK and elsewhere around the world. I take my hat off to them and I think they deserve our thanks.

[sTeamTraen]

Having been involved with the drafting of the new wording of the "Commercial Cache" guidelines (less so the "Forum" guidelines), I'm pleased that they seem to have hit the spot.

You may have noticed the words "principal and substantial" in front of "intent of soliciting customers". These words are designed to allow you to say, within reason, that 'the Coach and Horses is a nice pub 200 yards from the cache' without having to pretend that you're just talking about the architecture of the building. On the other hand you probably don't want to list their full menu of organic bar snacks, or mention that they are affiliated with the CountryPubCo™ chain, an exciting new leisure concept combining traditional country pubs with underwater karaoke, etc.

There is also some wording which on the face of it looks pretty vague ("in some events, for example, it may make sense to do so"), but which will give the reviewers plenty of leeway to say, if you need to mention the name of an event venue, you can. The word "some" could be replaced by "pretty well all", but I like it the way Jenn wrote it. (Americans are not always the most prodigious users of understatement, but when they do it right it can be very effective. The line about "non-profit locations are often granted an exception" is another example.)

Both of the above have been in the works for some time, regardless of the current UK issues. They are subjects which have been intensively discussed among the volunteers. The paragraph in Jenn's post which mentions "jumping through hoops" gives an idea of what some of that discussion was about.

One of the intentions of the new guidelines is to allow the reviewers and moderators a set of guidelines whereby they can reasonably say to Groundspeak "this is allowed, this is not considered excessively solicitous where we are". Thus, regional flexibility is being given a sort of nod, but hopefully without the need for people in Nebraska to get too upset.

[Lactodorum]

I was surprised and delighted at the way the new guidelines are worded. All credit to those involved.

[amberel]

There is also some wording which on the face of it looks pretty vague ("in some events, for example, it may make sense to do so"), but which will give the reviewers plenty of leeway to say, if you need to mention the name of an event venue, you can. The word "some" could be replaced by "pretty well all", but I like it the way Jenn wrote it. (Americans are not always the most prodigious users of understatement, but when they do it right it can be very effective...)

I hear what you say about understatement, but I'm afraid I think they've chosen exactly the wrong place to use it. In this particular case they need to say what they mean. They appear to be vague in the guideline itself and then explain what they mean in the accompanying text. Why couldn't they just have made it clear in the guideline? Leaving it vague just gives scope for the whole thing to blow up again in a couple of years.

That said, I don't want to be too negative because it is a huge improvement over what they had been enforcing prior to the announcement, and it's just a crying shame that we had to lose Ecky and Lacto in the process of getting there

Rgds, Andy

[dodgydaved]

Yes, I saw them earlier. I think they have come up with a very good change which will work well here in the UK and elsewhere around the world. I take my hat off to them and I think they deserve our thanks.

What the Victorian looking copper said.

All credit to GSP that they were able to accept a change was needed and then make it.

[Muggle]

What the Victorian looking copper said.

All credit to GSP that they were able to accept a change was needed and then make it.

Rather a shame though that two respected reviewers and moderators had to fall on their swords in order to get things changed.

Any chance of a change of heart from the grumpy git and the short, fat one?

a.

[Jaz666]

Any chance of a change of heart from the grumpy git and the short, fat one?

a.

If I was in their shoes, I would be taking my time over such a decision.

Whilst is would be fantastic for the UK caching community to have the team back together again, we have to remember that this is now the second time that Peter and Dave have been let down by GSP (in public at least). Would we really wish to see them put in that position again?

I hope at the very least that both have received a private apology from GSP over the way the situation was handled.

One thought has struck me, as the new guidelines are pretty much "business as usual", the vast majority of UK cachers are probably never going to know that anything happened, beyond a new set of names publishing their caches (if things still are going down that road).

[nobbynobbs]

nothing could have made me happier outcome wise

[FollowMeChaps]

Good Morning Folks and for a change from recent it looks like it is!


https://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/in...owtopic=193115

GC have just issued New guidelines. They seem quite a step down from the hard stance of late.

Is anyone going to post this on the UK forum?