For what its worth - the view of a fairly new cacher reading through this thread, which in responding may seem to stray off topic a bit.
When I first discovered caching I dropped in here alot for newbie type info. since then I haven't been back really until I had my email about voting & felt that as the organisation is representing my hobby I really ought to show an interest.
I was surprised at the extent of what appears to me - I admit an outsider - to be petty & also fairly disrespectful bickering between people, for whom as afar as i can see the main difference is the listing site they chose to select their caches from. All sorts of accusations flying around.
This was to the extent that i almost thought, you know what i'm just going to walk away from this & pretend the GAGB doesn't exist, then common sense prevailed & I voted - no vote no voice etc.
Today i went on the facebook page & saw a link to this discussion. I remembered the discussion on the page about it & thought I'd drop in to see how the discussion was going.
The same thing appears to be happening again.
Again as an outsider & a newbie - surely the important point here is that the caching community - it doesn't matter which 'branch' first contact was with! - has been made aware, by those who are in a position to know, that this type of cache has potential safety consequenses for the public.
Clearly since this type of cache has been placed in the past, this may occur again. Therefore it seems sensible to have some sort of guideline which makes those who may not otherwise appreciate it could be a problem, that this type of cache is undesirable.
Quite apart from simply addressing a potential safety concern, surely it makes sense in order to protect the reputation of the game as a whole by avoiding further similar complaints?!
I would agree with a previous poster that the guideline probably needs to be a bit broader than specifically fire hydrants, as there are undoubtedly similar scenarios which present the same problems.
Thats it, newbie had her admittedly long winded say for what its worth - please try to play nice!! h34r: & come to the best decision for the game rather than bringing politics into it!
Ruth
newly addicted cacher, usually accompanied by small cachette daughter.