Groundspeak Portal

I'm currently writing a beginner's guide for getting started with waymarking and would love to hear from new folks (and old) what they found confusing when they first started waymarking.  I think I've hit the main points, but want to make sure that I'm not missing something.  Thanks, guys.

- Hikenutty

I didnt understand the grid, until I posted a thread here.

• Reasons to log Visits on your own Waymark listings
• Stacking multiple Waymarks at the same location
• The importance of log images

These are a few of my favourite things...

Hit it Julie Andrews!

BQ

the blue quasar:

<snip>

• Reasons to log Visits on your own Waymark listings <snip>
  BQ  
  

I still don't get this, BQ, and I've been here awhile (and I log my own waymarks - peer pressure ) 

This is one of the things that I'll need some of the "old-timers" to explain to me.  I understand current functions, but don't understand why it was necessary to do this in the beginning because I wasn't here then.  I'm sure that digging around in the forums will give me some info on that.  I remember several threads about it. 

I didn't find waymarking.com until 2006.  I don't think I found very much confusing.  I've always logged visits to my own waymarks, regardless of peer pressure, because I believe the waymark should NOT include details of my visit, just the facts.  That's how I play.

I ignore the grid completely.

I have a personal favorite category: Texas Historical Markers. Those are getting hard to come by nearby, so I'll be fleshing out some other faves, like Town Clocks.  Recovered US Benchmarks are always handy.

I just created my own category...just went to peer review.

I do have some Things to Remember:

When waymarking, along with the coordinates, always get an original photo of the object PLUS a photo the object with your GPSr.
If it turns out that someone already created the waymark, great, you can log a visit. Otherwise, you have the info req'd to create the waymark.

When relying on other people for something, such as Officer Review of a new category, remember that some folks don't get on their computers during the week; other folks don't get on their computers during the weekend.

Great Idea HikeNutty!

I'm sure that you have already included this, but these are the headings I would like to see included:

What is an officer or group leader? I've only really now understood how that works because I created my own group.

How to find the appropriate category (Using the search function). This was very confusing at the start, I thought I would just submit a waymark and it will automatically be added into the right category.

The differences between Waymarking and Geocaching.

Steps in creating a Group / Category.

Using the Forums.

What is Peer Review? It made no sense to me when I first started.

I think that just about covers it.
Good luck with the brochure!

TeamTGF:

Great Idea HikeNutty!

I'm sure that you have already included this, but these are the headings I would like to see included:

What is an officer or group leader? I've only really now understood how that works because I created my own group.

How to find the appropriate category (Using the search function). This was very confusing at the start, I thought I would just submit a waymark and it will automatically be added into the right category.

The differences between Waymarking and Geocaching.

Steps in creating a Group / Category.

Using the Forums.

What is Peer Review? It made no sense to me when I first started.

I think that just about covers it.
Good luck with the brochure!

Thanks TGF,  this is exactly what I need.  I can create the step by step, but it's been awhile since I first started so I've forgotten which areas were confusing to me at first. 

One of my goals with the guide is to write it with the non-cacher in mind.  My feeling is that eventually there will be just as many, if not more waymarkers that come to the hobby from other special interest groups - history buffs, lighthouse nuts, artists, coin collecters and any of the myriad of other hobbies and interests that waymarking touches on.  There probably needs to be a special section helping the cachers understand the difference between locationless/virtual caching and waymarking, but I'm not sure if I'm going to take it on in this document or not.  We'll see.  I'm still trying to figure out how to structure it.  But it definitely helps to have ideas coming in.  Thanks!

the blue quasar:

• Stacking multiple Waymarks at the same location

Can ya give me a little more info on this one BQ?  I've personally stacked some waymarks at the same location, and have a few in my backlog that'll end up stacked, so if there's a better way of doing it, I'd like to know.

mr. 0:

the blue quasar:

• Stacking multiple Waymarks at the same location

Can ya give me a little more info on this one BQ?  I've personally stacked some waymarks at the same location, and have a few in my backlog that'll end up stacked, so if there's a better way of doing it, I'd like to know.

What BQ is saying is that stacking is allowed and encouraged.   There is no better way of doing it other than learning the categories over time and collecting the information  needed for each category.  The other thing I have done a few times is review new categories and see if any of my previously submitted waymarks fit in new categories also. (I find old NRHP submissions often end up in other categories)  I have stacked a few along the way  but my most at one location is 11 or 12.

mr. 0:

the blue quasar:

• Stacking multiple Waymarks at the same location

Can ya give me a little more info on this one BQ?  I've personally stacked some waymarks at the same location, and have a few in my backlog that'll end up stacked, so if there's a better way of doing it, I'd like to know.

With an award winning smile like that, how can I refuse?

Actually, the right answer would be "Not really".  I was referring more to the concept of stacking as a practice.  A lot of people will be familiar with the Geocaching approach where each unique listing must be separated by a minimum distance of 0.1 miles or 161 meters.  This limitation does not apply in Waymarking, and in fact cross-listing a location in various exisiting Categories is promoted and encouraged.  So I was just pointing out that perhaps a section should be devoted to explaining how one location can be listed in multiple places in the Category Directory.

BQ

hikenutty:

the blue quasar:

<snip>

• Reasons to log Visits on your own Waymark listings <snip>
  BQ  
  

I still don't get this, BQ, and I've been here awhile (and I log my own waymarks - peer pressure ) 

This is one of the things that I'll need some of the "old-timers" to explain to me.  I understand current functions, but don't understand why it was necessary to do this in the beginning because I wasn't here then.  I'm sure that digging around in the forums will give me some info on that.  I remember several threads about it. 

Everyone has their option to play it either way.  However, it seems that the coding of the site is such that searching and filters are based around the concept of Visiting your own listings.  In Geocaching, they automatically remove your own caches from the nearest around you but the same is not true in Waymarking.  Unless you Visit your own, it gets very difficult to search out new listings around you that are not your own.  Or at the least your listings will keep appearing in your searches.

Since Nate, Bootron and Jeremy have indicated that they feel it is a good idea to Visit your own listings, to add your thoughts or whatever, and the appearance that all of the available tools lean towards improving searching by having your own listings removed by visiting them, whether people agree with the practice or not, it seems to be the most effective way to keep your local area clean when searching. {how's that for a run-on sentence?}

BQ

HikeNutty -

This page is supposed to constitute a beginnners guide I think. If you're writing one too, I guess it needs to have a different perspective than that page of topics that already exists.  Its headings are:

• Waymarking FAQ
• Category Creation Guide
• Group Management FAQ
• Waymarking Glossary

I guess your 'different perspective' is: [knowing the above information,] what is still particularly confusing.  In a way though, that just sounds like you want to add to the FAQ list.  I bet Groundspeak would be glad to add them if you came up with some good ones.

TeamTGF suggests:

• What is an officer or group leader?
• How to find the appropriate category (Using the search function).
• The differences between Waymarking and Geocaching.
• Steps in creating a Group / Category.
• Using the Forums.
• What is Peer Review?

I advise staying clear of The differences between Waymarking and Geocaching.  I believe that is a way to get immediately and uselessly wrapped around the axle.

BQ suggests (I changed the bullets into numbers for easier discussion):

1. Reasons to log Visits on your own Waymark listings
2. Stacking multiple Waymarks at the same location
3. The importance of log images

Number 2 is a technique/opportunity.  That's a good one.  Numbers 1 and 3 are personal ideals not shared by all, that, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, have never been officially incorporated by Groundspeak as Waymarking policy.  These are a couple more items that could wrap your project around the axle, as you can see has happened to this topic already!  (I could add my own pet thing which is that categories should be made using the maximum use of variables for people to checkmark as opposed to having waymark creations be essay questions.)

I don't know which you're wanting to move toward, among:

• A website that's a guide to waymarking (that's already been done in the Waymarking Help page)
• A further list of FAQs (maybe to go into the Waymarking Help page's FAQ someday)
• A website expounding on various 'wrap-around-the-axle' / 'confusing' subjects (maybe a wiki? )

My list of 'wrap-around-the-axle' / 'confusing' Waymarking subjects:

• What's the difference between Waymaring and Geocaching?
• Should waymarks require a picture of the establisher of the waymark or a team member?
• Should waymarks require a picture of the establisher's GPS receiver?
• Should waymarks require any picture at all?
• Should waymarks require that the waymark establisher go to the waymark to be able to establish it?
• Should logs be made based on a visit from 20 years ago?
• Should a new category idea be discussed in the Recruiting or Category Proposals forum or just developed in the background?
• Should variables be used in categories or should they be avoided?
• Should people log their own waymark?
• Should a leader pressure their officers to let the leader to be the one to decide whether to accept or decline all waymarks unless the leader is on vacation or something?
• Should waymarks be declined for any adjustment or should they be accepted and the establisher asked to fix minor things?
• Should category groups be open for enrollment or not?
• How many officers is too many?

My list of Waymarking Guide items:

• How to start a group and category
• How to design a category
• How to search for waymarks, use filters, etc.
• How to decide whether to Accept or Decline a waymark or start a vote if you're an officer or leader
• How to establish a new waymark
• How to log a waymark

 

TeamTGF:

Great Idea HikeNutty!

I'm sure that you have already included this, but these are the headings I would like to see included:

<snip>What is an officer or group leader? I've only really now understood how that works because I created my own group.

Steps in creating a Group / Category.

Using the Forums.

What is Peer Review? It made no sense to me when I first started.

I plan on writing an "Premium Member's Guide" that will include step by step instructions for group/category creation and info on how to review waymarks.  The Beginner's guide is running through the last of its edits and then I'll move on to tackle these topics.

Hello Hikenutty !!
Can you send me your beginner's guide ?
Thanks

Christophe (Chris777)

Hi Cristophe,

Sure I'd be happy to send you a copy.  Just link to my profile and send me a message from there.  Check the box that says "Let this person view my email address" or something like that located at the top of the message form.  That way I can reply and send you the attachment.  It's  a Microsoft Word document, but soon I should have it in pdf format also. 

 - Hikenutty

It's a great idea, hikenutty, and obviously a huge amount of work. I just had a thought (I get them from time to time). Have you thought about perhaps doing it as a wiki? Maybe do the initial draft as a collaborative effort and when it's more-or-less complete, lock it down as a permanent document with only occasional updates.

Actually, I created it for my website, Wayward Waymarking.  It's a companion site for both beginning and veteran waymarkers and includes an info section with tutorials, along with features, a poll, a blog, and downloadable spreadsheets and other tools.  The tutorial can be found in the "wayinfo" section at www.waywardwaymarking.com  

If you know of new waymarkers, point them in that direction.  It's team Hikenutty's little contribution to the promotion of waymarking.

Hikenutty:

I did point someone to your site!  Geocacher DrUsual emailed me via geocaching because he'd read my profile and asked about waymarking.  I explained in my words, then sent him (or her) to your site.

So thanks!

Thanks, Occam!

Everything!

Hikenutty,

Thanks for putting this together. It was EXTREMELY helpful in putting my first category together (now out for officer approval).  Here are a couple of suggestions for improvement (in other words, blunders that I made):

1) CaSe Is ImPoRtAnT fOr MeMbEr NaMeS oN iNvItAtIoNs (i.e. WrightStuff is not wrightstuff) Who knew?

2) You CAN cancel an officer vote to rewrite your masterpiece of a category by clicking on the red "X" next to "Call for an officer vote".  But it's also a good way to tick off your officers by calling for multiple re-votes.

3) It took me a while to understand that different ranks are for controlling permissions, or providing individual officer titles.  I thought each officer HAD to have a different rank.

4) When is it best to turn on open enrollment?  I assume it is after peer review approval when you make the category visible.

5) There is a "Group e-mail" link on the member page. This saves sending individual e-mails. It's OK you can laugh at me for that one.

Thanks again.

S5280ft - SMILE if you get it 

Glad that it helped.  I have a lot of fun with the Website.  And thanks so much for the input.  I didn't know about the case sensitivity for user names.  Also, I totally forgot about explaining what the ranks are for.  I wrote the category creation tutorial super quickly and at the same time the site update happened so it is definitely in need of some editing.  The edit is on my to-do list for when I get back from vacation in a couple weeks.  BTW - don't feel embarrassed about the group email thing.  I did my share of copy and pasting messages to each member before I figured it out.  The group message thing only works for officers (other than the leader) if the leader grants them permission to send group emails.  This would be one of the check boxes in the rank settings.

 

HELP!!! I put in some coordinates in my garmin legend gps and the waymarks are showing up in a different state! Theyre WAY OFF! Why is this happening. Also, im indoors so I am entering the coordinates while gps is off . Will it right itself when i go outside? Why would coordinates be so off? -michelle-

mimi0674:

HELP!!! I put in some coordinates in my garmin legend gps and the waymarks are showing up in a different state! Theyre WAY OFF! Why is this happening. Also, im indoors so I am entering the coordinates while gps is off . Will it right itself when i go outside? Why would coordinates be so off? -michelle-

Did you try clicking the Google Maps link on the waymark page in question? Just to be sure they're where you think they are?

Otherwise, check for typos when you entered the coordinates.

I don't have a Legend, I have a GPSmap 60Cx...when I turn it off, it seems to sort of remember where it was if I turn it back on when it can't get a signal.  THAT will correct itself when it does get a signal. 

If you are saying the waymarks are in a different state just because of the distance that your Legend is telling you, then yes, that -might- correct itself when you go outside.

Thanks everybody for your help. I called  Garmin technical support and the who problem was the default unit coordinate readout measurements needed to be changed. That fixed it.