I didn't see an announcement on this, but I've not been able to keep up on all the boards.

Now, for all letterboxes, it is showing all the finders of the box (along with the attempters).

I'm not sure if I like it; it's the way it used to be at one point, but I've gotten so used to just the last find showing that it's going to take some adjusting!

I know for sure I don't like it for mystery boxes--even though the dates aren't showing, the whos are, and I don't think they should be displayed.

Dewberry

I didn't realize this....so umm yeah, I could hound one of those people on the list to get the correct info for a mystery box(not that anyone would give in)....maybe it should be the other way around for mystery boxes, listing the dates found but not the finder? or back to just last date found like before. I do like seeing the list of who has found and the attempts on the other boxes...especially when I have attempted to find a box and couldn't but I can see others have found it/not. Let's me know if i should try again or leave it be.

Maybe I am just naive, but I don't see the problem with showing who has found a mystery box. Sure, you could hound someone into telling you where the mystery box is...but where is the fun in that? I mean, the person doing the hounding won't get much out of it if they ask someone where it is. And the person that can potentially tell them where the box is located won't have much fun knowing they gave info on a box they rightfully found out of pure intellect.
So, I see no problem with showing who has found a mystery box. If someone chooses not to make it fun, then that's their problem.
If that's not the reason of having a problem with showing who has found a mystery box....then forgive me I guess I am just naive. lol hehe haha..hmmm....meh.
Siobhan :) AKA Penguin

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I don't see the problem with showing who has found a mystery box.

Say all the finders of the mystery box are letterboxers from the NE corner of Idaho. Knowing that helps you narrow down where the mystery box is located pretty significantly. And unless the placer gave the NE corner of Idaho as the search area, you are getting a larger hint than the placer intended.

Dewberry

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Say all the finders of the mystery box are letterboxers from the NE corner of Idaho. Knowing that helps you narrow down where the mystery box is located pretty significantly

Playing devils advocate here. If you can find a Mystery based on this then more power to ya. I wouldn't even try without more info than that.Sure that's more info than the placer posted but it seems like that would just be using your rescources. Now if a previous find came right out and told where the box is that would be different.


Shiloh

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Say all the finders of the mystery box are letterboxers from the NE corner of Idaho. Knowing that helps you narrow down where the mystery box is located pretty significantly. And unless the placer gave the NE corner of Idaho as the search area, you are getting a larger hint than the placer intended.

There was a problem for some time on LbNA where you could see all the finders for mystery boxes just like this. During this time, I cheated and ran through all of the boxes listed as Mystery, Mystery to see if any of the locals were listed as finds. If they were, I read the clues, if they weren't, I figured it was far away. So, yes, it does give people like me an unintentional advantage that I exploited to the fullest.

I don't think I actually found any boxes by doing this, but I did figure out some that are on my "to get" list.

Say all the finders of the mystery box are letterboxers from the NE corner of Idaho. Knowing that helps you narrow down where the mystery box is located pretty significantly. And unless the placer gave the NE corner of Idaho as the search area, you are getting a larger hint than the placer intended.

'Round these parts, planters of mystery boxes at Stone Mountain often clearly state, "it's at Stone Mountain." The real trick is still figgerin' out where on or around that blasted chunk of granite the box really is!

Come to think of it, folks who live or work nearby have gotten so durn familiar with so many parts of the park that we don't even bother calling them Mystery boxes anymore. We just make the clues ridiculously hard or the starting point some obscure landmark a mile from any beaten path! ;-) And even if it's a photo clue, most of us know it's at Stone Mountain.

But outside the boundaries of this little place, I think that with the exception of a few out-of-the way places, such as NE Idaho, the log of finders of Mystery boxes and Traditionals with deliberately vague clues won't matter all that much, particularly if the state is given. You would expect all the in-state folks to find the box eventually.

But what if someone from out-of-town, say, from upstate NY finds that box in Mystery, Mystery (NE Idaho) first? That blows the logical assumption out of the water. People in upstate NY will be wondering what the heck is going on! But then, there could have been a freak gathering of out-of-towners from numerous different places that found the box along with the locals, and now it's people in upstate NY, southern IL, metro Atlanta, Los Angeles and NE Idaho wondering where the box is!

By thinking you can deduce the general location of a box by the finders, you're operating on an assumption, and like the old saying goes, when you "assume", you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me"! ;-)

Of course, I would totally disregard that and I'd operate on that assumption. Overall, I'm sure, it will make it a little easier to deduce where the box is, but... don't you want people to find your boxes? And, can't we make the same silly assumptions about box locations based on the planter and where we know/think/suspect their habitat is?

StarSAELS

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'Round these parts, planters of mystery boxes at Stone Mountain often clearly state, "it's at Stone Mountain." The real trick is still figgerin' out where on or around that blasted chunk of granite the box really is!

and you ain't just whistlin' Dixie! :->

say i have found 3 boxes in one day...one of them a mystery box...
if they all show who found them and the date etc then anyone can potentially see what area the mystery box is in because of where I had found the other two. If I were boxing in Arkansas that day ;) then it would be pretty obvious the mystery was there and not in my home state of NC

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say i have found 3 boxes in one day...one of them a mystery box...
if they all show who found them and the date etc then anyone can potentially see what area the mystery box is in because of where I had found the other two. If I were boxing in Arkansas that day ;) then it would be pretty obvious the mystery was there and not in my home state of NC

Ah, that is a good point... however, upon examining a mystery box, all that's listed under the DATE column is "???".

So therefore I would have no idea when you found that mystery box. See... Ryan knows what he's doing!

StarSAELS

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however, upon examining a mystery box, all that's listed under the DATE column is "???".

So therefore I would have no idea when you found that mystery box.

Unless you are looking at the last finder. It still shows the date of the last time it was found and that would correspond with the finder that would be in the #1 spot down below. Not sure if that makes sense or not, but it did in my head;)

Although an interesting point is that I can see that date that the mystery box is found if I have found it also.

T;)

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I forgot I wanted to say that I like being able to see who else has found the box, and or who has attempted it. That way I know that I'm not totally nutzzzzzzzzz if I haven't been able to find a box, but other people haven't either:) I like not being the only odd one out;)

T;)

It is also nice to be able to see how often the boxes are found. In our area, those closer to Greenville are found several times a month. Those on the SC/GA line in the mountains are found every two to three months though I noticed that one that Sprite & Highlander had planted took months before it was found. This is wonderful to help us make the decision whether to chase after the box or not. But it is nice to know that the box that we couldn't find was atttempted by Amyrica :). It makes a newbie like us to feel better about our sleuthing.

Re: Mysteries. If someone can figure out where one is by putting together clues from the log list then that is part of the fun :)

Dwight of the J Walkers

Have any of you actually looked at a mystery box?

I just did. It shows dates and 'hidden' for the person (though your own name if you are one of them) so I guess that pretty much wraps up this entire topic as moot.

I find this conversation about mystery boxes rather amusing. Don't know why, but it's just cracking me up. "What if this? What if that?" All of this assumes, of course, that people are actually LOOKING for mystery boxes. Based on find counts, most people don't even bother. =)

But I digress....

I kept the dates a mystery since, as some of you pointed out, knowing when a box was found by someone could make it a lot easier to find if you know what other boxes they found on or near that date. Last found date.... I wouldn't necessarily assume that the first person on the list is actually the last person who found it. Making assumptions like that might get you into trouble. ;o) The dates are listed, so you can't be sure what order those people are listed.

Of course, if there's only one finder, that might give it away. Hard to randomize the sort order for a single person.

But I really wanted the last found date listed so people at least had some idea of how long its been since someone recorded it as a find.

It never occurred to me that I could hide the names of all the finders and list the actual find dates, though. I really like this idea even better. Even if you know the last found date, you still can't know who it was that found it. All-in-all, that's absolutely brilliant. Solves the same problem, but from a totally different point of view. So I've altered the code to reflect that.

Happy trails!

-- Ryan

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I like being able to see who else has found the box, and or who has attempted it.

Just my opinion: I would have no objections if the only thing people could see was the last date the box was found or checked on (verified to be in place), and how many DNF's have been logged since. And that goes for *all* letterboxes, not just the mystery ones.

Of course, if one was really determined, one could look up every letterboxer's log book and assemble the previous finders and dates anyway -- unless restrictions were put on that as well.

I do think the *owner* of the box should be able to see a complete listing of visitors. And maybe past finders of the box as well -- they don't need to cheat, they already know where it is.

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Of course, if one was really determined, one could look up every letterboxer's log book and assemble the previous finders and dates anyway -- unless restrictions were put on that as well.

You can't see the find dates on mystery boxes in the logbooks. (Except your own finds, of course.)

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I do think the *owner* of the box should be able to see a complete listing of visitors.

Not to worry--they can. *nodding*

-- Ryan

"It never occurred to me that I could hide the names of all the finders and list the actual find dates, though....All-in-all, that's absolutely brilliant"

Hey wasn't that my idea, umm I'm "brillliant" (didn't even know that I was making a suggestion)...Now I'm doing the HAPPY DANCE. I promise to not let it go to my head. No autographs please...

LOL

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I find this conversation about mystery boxes rather amusing. Don't know why, but it's just cracking me up. "What if this? What if that?" All of this assumes, of course, that people are actually LOOKING for mystery boxes. Based on find counts, most people don't even bother. =)

I look for them. When I'm traveling, I always check the mysteries listed for that state. I am thrilled to pieces that more mysteries are being planted in my area. I've got one particularly ornery one on my to-do list that is giving me fits--so I am enjoying it very much.

In general though, a lot of mine aren't listed as mysteries. But just because I often give you the starting city (Houston), it doesn't mean there isn't a lot of work to be done.

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from wiki:

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area has a total area of 10,062 square miles (26,060 km²)—slightly smaller than Massachusetts and slightly larger than New Jersey.

I'm of the school that the less said about mysteries, the better. I liked it when there was a button to check when you were listing a mystery box, that worked better for my planting style. But I understand that just because it works for me and the geographic area that I plant in doesn't mean that's the best method for the group as a whole.

And for most of my local puzzle boxes, it doesn't matter if you know who or when it was found--I'm giving away more than that anyway.

Dewberry

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I like being able to see who else has found the box, and or who has attempted it. That way I know that I'm not totally nutzzzzzzzzz if I haven't been able to find a box, but other people haven't either:) I like not being the only odd one out;)

Yes, this can be very helpful and useful information.

Lone R

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I've got one particularly ornery one on my to-do list that is giving me fits--so I am enjoying it very much.

hehe, sounds like one of mine Dewberry.... are you planning a trip to my area?? LOL!

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It never occurred to me that I could hide the names of all the finders and list the actual find dates, though. I really like this idea even better

so do I, keeps the 'mystery' to it!! >:}

Chunna

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hehe, sounds like one of mine Dewberry.... are you planning a trip to my area?? LOL!

Would love it! You Capers seem to have some amazing boxes!

One of my latest series seems to be very confusing to people. I have gotten more emails and calls from boxers who want to know where the clue is! And the truth is, it's not hard at all, not like some of the ones I lie awake dreaming up. . .this one is easy-breezt and most people can figure it out when they stop a second to think!

Dewberry

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not like some of the ones I lie awake dreaming up. .

uh oh! are you dreaming up the same thoughts I am?? Now that's scary... and fun!!

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I just did. It shows dates and 'hidden' for the person (though your own name if you are one of them) so I guess that pretty much wraps up this entire topic as moot.

i think it has been changed...?!?

and yes..I too was used to only seeing the last finder of all boxes not just mystery ones...unless it was my own box
and it doesn't matter either way...as long as it can't now be seen who found it. the "when" will not help someone discover where it may be like the "who" can. The only way I see that it matters is if you get a box that is within a large series and alot of finders...the list of ALL finders displaying makes for a huge list and jumble of info...because it shows all boxes within the series and their find dates etc.

dixie

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Have any of you actually looked at a mystery box?
I just did. It shows dates and 'hidden' for the person (though your own name if you are one of them) so I guess that pretty much wraps up this entire topic as moot.

all the time and that is why I knew (or at least thought) in my last reply to you that something had changed...

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It never occurred to me that I could hide the names of all the finders and list the actual find dates, though. I really like this idea even better. Even if you know the last found date, you still can't know who it was that found it. All-in-all, that's absolutely brilliant. Solves the same problem, but from a totally different point of view. So I've altered the code to reflect that.

yes...see...I thought so.
I knew it wasn't like that earlier and here is where GT said he did change it.
you musta looked right after GT made the change and right before he announced it
:)

the "when" will not help someone discover where it may be like the "who" can.

Neither really matters with a lot of British mysteries, as it is often 'local' knowledge that is needed to find them anyway. You might be able to find a boundary stone on the map, but you need to have been there to know it has 1796, or a benchmark carved on it.

But then we don't get our knickers in a knot so much over helping others with mystery clues :-) The owners want people to solve/find them. Whilst we would frown on someone going around telling everyone the answers to all of them, we are pleased to help someone who is really struggling with how to work a clue out.

YT

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I like being able to see who else has found the box, and or who has attempted it. That way I know that I'm not totally nutzzzzzzzzz if I haven't been able to find a box, but other people haven't either:) I like not being the only odd one out;)

Yes, this can be very helpful and useful information.

True enough, but that doesn't mean you have the right to that information. The placer presumably had plans for how challenging this letterbox should be, and you getting hints or other benefits based on previous finders is not necessarily his intention. It's bad enough when you can make out a worn path to the hiding spot.

It's actually very similar to the idea of sending the placer an e-mail asking for more info -- sure, more info might be helpful, but that doesn't mean you're gonna get it!

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It's actually very similar to the idea of sending the placer an e-mail asking for more info

Now that's an idea... No, really, that would be almost like cheating, wouldn't it?

Six Ps

Any chance of being able to opt for the old system? I don't really care for searchers being able to see multiple attempts on some of my boxes. My Hidden Dragon baffles many (as you know, Ryan) and I would hate to see someone decide not to try for it because there were several attempts listed in a row and no finds. Personally, I would assume that if four letterboxers in a row failed to find a box, it was missing.

In fact, recently I had four attempted reports on on my Rookery box and assumed it to be missing. I made a replacement stamp and a new book. Before I got there to put it in its hidey hole, a couple of other boxers went and found it, safe and sound. If the new system had been in place those four reports might have stopped these searchers from trying for this letterbox at all. Anything that could discourage folks from looking for my boxes bums me out.

One other question is how long the lists will be allowed to get? I just had a look at a box that has ninety three finders listed. This seems as though it could get unwieldy over time. Funhog

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I don't really care for searchers being able to see multiple attempts on some of my boxes. My Hidden Dragon baffles many (as you know, Ryan) and I would hate to see someone decide not to try for it because there were several attempts listed in a row and no finds. Personally, I would assume that if four letterboxers in a row failed to find a box, it was missing.

If a box gets four DNF's in a row, I'd suggest checking on it. But if it's still where it's supposed to be, just log a "checked on" date and add an "update" to the clues listing saying it's still there, all those DNF's were logged just because all those weiners couldn't find it!