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Any way that we could set up a poll and have the top choice icons made available or something?

I'm not planning to add any of these as real options. Nobody would agree which ones are most needed, and having 50 attributes to choose from would be so intimidating, people would be much more likely just to skip it completely making it much less useful. And if you're looking for a particular icon, it would be a lot harder to find it mooshed in with 50 other icons.

So I don't plan to use it. Anyhow, some of them are redundant.

Steep terrain? Check the elevation gain compared to the trail length. That'll give you a good sense on how steep the terrain is.

Bonus box and WOM boxes? On the Advanced Search page, check the box that won't include boxes without clues.

Nightbox? There are SOOO few of those that it's not really practical.

Restrooms nearby? Many restrooms close for the season. Don't count on them. If you're in the city, there will likely be public restrooms SOMEWHERE you can use. If you're way out in the woods, you have plenty of trees and bushes to choose from. =)

Etc, etc. In a nutshell, they aren't really needed.

-- Ryan

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...having 50 attributes to choose from would be so intimidating ... ... people would be much more likely just to skip it completely making it much less useful.

alternate ending: ... people might be more likely to skip listing on AQ and list on LbNA instead!

Mwahahahahaaaaaa.... cough cough cough...

Well, instead of them being attributes, why don't you make a section after the location and clue. That way it wouldn't matter if they skipped it. It could be a section called "Helpful Hints" or something to that matter. I don't know. It just would seem helpful to have people tell you what is in the area. If I knew some locations were a high poop area, I would've known to look out instead of step right in it. Not to mention is was a good hour drive back home without a shoe and my car trunk filling with the lovely odor of dog poop 8-)



A bug causing trouble

ooh, I like that idea... not something searchable, not something required either, but optional icons that make it a little easier to display information at a glance for people without all that typing... =o) (says someone who types for a living ha!)

Rhea

And wouldn't it be so pretty if you could use them as smiley's too.

For example:

Follow the (poop symbol) filled trail to the (evil clown symbol) exhibition area. Turn left at the (restroom symbol). If you get to the (poison ivy symbol) filled valley, you've gone too far.

Just my 2 cents, especially since I am so visual.

I know this will never happen. Anyway, now can we have a "dare to dream" board as a sidebar to the suggestion box.

Sweet (but not today, just too tired) and Sour (cause I have been around way too many real people today)

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Well, instead of them being attributes, why don't you make a section after the location and clue.

Why would you need a section for this stuff when you can right in the clue all the info you want! You can explain forty different attributes in your clues if you so desire. A seperate area is redundant.
chadams

Well, you see, lazy people (like myself) don't think of these things until it is too late and when we remember, we forget to update the clue. Also, with so much to remember and read, I think people remember things if they see it. People could accidently skip over some words, but if they see a picture of a flashlight, a piece of poop, and a restroom sign, people are more likely to remember to bring a flash light, look out for little presents, and know that if their little hunters "gotta go", they can go. I don't know. I like it when things look busy. It's just me. I just like trouble!

Trouble Bug

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Well, instead of them being attributes, why don't you make a section after the location and clue.

Why would you need a section for this stuff when you can right in the clue all the info you want! You can explain forty different attributes in your clues if you so desire. A seperate area is redundant.
chadams

Having a set of standardized attributes/icons make it easier for the eye to locate and follow information. Plus it gives hiders some ideas about what to add to their clues. They may have placed the box on a outcrop with a lovely view of pastoral land but when they go to write-up they forget to mention it. But when they see the list of checkable attributes they may have a "oh yeah, I should let other letterboxers know that this place has a scenic view" moment. Or "oh yeah, there was a public washroom in that park".

I like the idea of being able to add standardized icons in the clue section (or between the location and clue).

Lone R

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oh yeah, I should let other letterboxers know that this place has a scenic view

Ohhhh I wish this was an option. One of the primary reasons our family got involved with letterboxing was the chance to explore new places and discover areas we never knew existed. Even though you can put anything you like in the clues, it would be nice. We usually look first at the icons posted with the clues to decide which boxes we want to find and have occasionally (due to time restraints and wanting just one more box) skimmed over clues for pertinent information ("just exactly how do we get to the box, anyway?") possibly missing scenic spots. We often skip boxes that are indoors or in urban areas, especially when traveling in unfamiliar territory, because we want to get a nice view, and I am sure we have missed some pretty things because we skipped over those boxes. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so an icon like this would be subjective, but I think would still provide a bit of insight. After all, we can mostly agree that waterfalls and canyons are great views, right?

Happy with AQ either way,
Padfoot Treehuggers :)

Okay, to help you all out, I've scoured the web for boxes with specific attributes you might enjoy:

Waterfall boxes: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gClue=waterfall;gCountryId=0
Restrooms nearby: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=restroom*+bathroom*;gCountryId=0
Views available: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=view*;gCountryId=0
Rest area boxes: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=%22rest+area%22;gCountryId=0
Steep trails: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=steep;gCountryId=0

Happy trails! =)

-- Ryan

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Okay, to help you all out, I've scoured the web for boxes with specific attributes you might enjoy:

Waterfall boxes: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gClue=waterfall;gCountryId=0
Restrooms nearby: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=restroom*+bathroom*;gCountryId=0
Views available: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=view*;gCountryId=0
Rest area boxes: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=%22rest+area%22;gCountryId=0
Steep trails: http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=steep;gCountryId=0

Happy trails! =)

-- Ryan

te he te he :-)

chadams

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So I tried it out. For those who want alerts to high poop areas, here's a search that could include those warnings:
http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/results.html?gTypeId=6;gSort=1;gClue=poop;gCountryId=1

I am not pleased that my box shows up first on the 'high poop' search - and I don't think it's funny. I am not sure how you guys are searching for these things, or if I have 'poop' in the clues, but this area/trail has no more chance of having poop on it than any other trail.

Between the negativity on the postal board, and now this, I'm disgusted.

~SHH :-(

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or if I have 'poop' in the clues,

I just re-read the clues for this box, and yes it references poop in the clue; however, it has nothing to do with it being a 'high-poop' area.

:-(

I guess I'm in the minority, but I like the icons the way they are now. Too many is too cluttered. List things in your clue if you want, but please, let the April Fool's joke stay just that.

Christie

It is because of the phrase "They seemed to poop everywhere..."

in your clues. But I certainly didn't wnat to irk someone such as yourself. :) I'll delete my original post.

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But I certainly didn't want to irk someone such as yourself. :)

Thanks - I appreciate that. :-)

~SHH :-)

Oh I completely agree with this. I don't want anymore icons. It's gonna get to the point where you have whole line of the things. Lets just stick with what we have.

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or if I have 'poop' in the clues,

I just re-read the clues for this box, and yes it references poop in the clue; however, it has nothing to do with it being a 'high-poop' area.

:-(

Yep, most of them were not about 'high-poop' areas....poop deck, the possibility of seeing bear poop, detailed donkey poop, a party poop, going to the bathroom (taking a poop), etc.

Lone R

So thankful for a delete button. Sorry, SHH. I was just amused that this is actually an icon that has been requested!

It's all cleaned up now, so to speak. Really sorry.

MC

I have to agree with my wife (wink). The symbols we have now work great though some people's idea of urban does not follow GT's definition. There is a box in Greenville that is listed urban but is in the woods. Not urban though in the city.
If you think Klingons are nearby then put it in your clue!

TD

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I am not pleased that my box shows up first on the 'high poop' search - and I don't think it's funny. I am not sure how you guys are searching for these things, or if I have 'poop' in the clues, but this area/trail has no more chance of having poop on it than any other trail.

Between the negativity on the postal board, and now this, I'm disgusted.

~SHH :-(

Your reaction bothers me a little bit. It is you clue, you wrote it. in your clue you say "they seemed to poop everywhere" . If you were worried then you shouldn't have the word poop in the clue. that most definitly implies it is a high poop area, Whether it was in the context of a story or not. People will infer they can excpect lots of poop.

All that was done to create this list is type in an advanced search of the clues, the word "poop" and it came up. It was listed first because it is first alphabetically. I see no problem.

The other thing that bothers me, you clicked on the link to read what clues had poop in them. If yours weren't there would you have been less disgusted? Would it have been ok then? I think you are overreacting. People could search for anything in the clues. Anything could be taken out of context when searching clues for one word. I don't see a problem here. If your box being pointed out as one of the 11 boxes on AQ that have the word "poop" in the clue that is YOUR fault not anyone elses. If it disgusts you that you are one of these 11 then change your wording. You are guilting others for someting that you did, and THAT disgusts me.

chadams

I was thinking about the high poop area search... and I realized "I bet my box is in there!" And sure, enough, Paul Frank Is Your Friend is one of the few listed in a poop area :)

Desi

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I was thinking about the high poop area search... and I realized "I bet my box is in there!" And sure, enough, Paul Frank Is Your Friend is one of the few listed in a poop area :)

Desi

That is obviously because you guys hide some disgusting boxes!!! As has been discussed by others [not me, of course], when it comes to planting or clue writing, you seem to have a thing for restrooms... *grin*

Wow...for once I agree with Chadams! LOL

D5 Mama

I wonder if cat pee would show up on anyone's clues. I've basically been told (in clues) to kneel in a high cat traffic area. Stinky!! Worst part...the box wasn't even there! Ugh!

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As has been discussed by others [not me, of course], when it comes to planting or clue writing, you seem to have a thing for restrooms... *grin*

hmmmm... now I must find a way to carry that over into our new state...so it will give you something more to talk about :)

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Wow...for once I agree with Chadams! LOL

D5 Mama

I agree as well. Maybe SHH (I think that's who it is) was just having a bad day, but it is technically the clue writer's fault. Anyway.

Trouble

I'm sorry, I forgot to remember to mention that I have a very strange sense of humor.

I also forgot that sometimes sarcasm doesn't come across so well in print.

Sweet n Sour (because real people are still getting on my nerves today)