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Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Apr 30, 2012 5:27pm
Thread (disabled) Board
There is a privacy preference that gives you the choice to have your finds and attempts listed in others boxes to be hidden. I may be having a senior moment but I don't understand why I would choose to my finds and attempts hidden. Can someone kindly explain the purpose of this preference so I can make a good choice?

Thanks ever so!

Mini Mouse
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696547 by Mini Mouse
Apr 30, 2012 5:31pm
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the default for people new signing up is that finds are hidden plants are not.
There was some concern expressed a year or so ago about people feeling like their logbooks were being stalked. There was some concern expressed that people could figure out where a mystery or bonus box may be based on stalking someone's logbook.

you can choose to change these default preferences.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696548 by Baqash
Apr 30, 2012 5:47pm
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Thanks! That certainly makes sense.

Mini Mouse
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696548 by Baqash
Apr 30, 2012 6:07pm
Thread (disabled) Board
There was some concern expressed a year or so ago about people feeling like their logbooks were being stalked.

Find and attempts can show up in two different places on AQ--in one's own online logbook, but also in the box's logbook. Some people prefer not having them show up in their own logbooks but don't mind if it shows up with the listing of finders on the box, and others would prefer that nobody ever see their finds or attempts--not even on the logbook that goes with the box. *shrug*

There's no right or wrong answer here. It's just a matter of how much privacy you want.

-- Ryan
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696547 by Mini Mouse
Apr 30, 2012 6:44pm
Thread (disabled) Board
1) People watch where I've been finding things so they can figure out where Mystery boxes are.
2) People get upset if they find out I found something in their area and didn't look for their box.
3) If I make a comment (good or bad) about a box, people want to know what I'm talking about.
4) People see that I have recent finds on my ribbon but don't see all in my logbook so they know one of the recent finds may have a bonus box attached to it. (Which is silly because maybe I just found something that had a restriction and they can't see it.)

Can't think of any more reasons off the top of my head, but these are the reasons I have hidden my own finds.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696573 by Dizzy
Apr 30, 2012 6:55pm
Thread (disabled) Board
People watch where I've been finding things so they can figure out where Mystery boxes are.

Seems like most mystery boxes don't show the finder's names, right? If someone looks at your online logbook, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think mysteries will show up the way other boxes do. I think maybe the date is hidden to others?

I have noted that someone could compare info between LbNA and AQ and on occasion figure out a mystery, so I tend to log in a fake date on LbNA mysteries. Fake dates are a good way to mess with anyone's head who is trying to solve mysteries that way. They'll think you were in a completely different park on the day you found the mystery box and assume it's there.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696576 by Trailhead Tessie
Apr 30, 2012 7:01pm
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Seems like most mystery boxes don't show the finder's names, right? If someone looks at your online logbook, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think mysteries will show up the way other boxes do. I think maybe the date is hidden to others?

Yes, all true. Sadly, I've had someone that watched my finds so carefully that they knew exactly which days I'd been in areas and how many boxes I'd found. So if I had had 5 boxes show up on my trophy but only 4 showed in my logbook, they were questioning me. That's when I turned my finds off.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696579 by Dizzy
Apr 30, 2012 8:28pm
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So if I had had 5 boxes show up on my trophy but only 4 showed in my logbook, they were questioning me.

That's just creepy!
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696579 by Dizzy
Apr 30, 2012 11:27pm
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Sadly, I've had someone that watched my finds so carefully that they knew exactly which days I'd been in areas and how many boxes I'd found. So if I had had 5 boxes show up on my trophy but only 4 showed in my logbook, they were questioning me. That's when I turned my finds off.

Wow. I would have, too. Ya gotta wonder about the motivation there. Do they think they're ever so clever in figuring out where there are mystery boxes to be found? Are they proud of their skills?
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696600 by Trailhead Tessie
May 1, 2012 4:51am
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Yes, it was quite unnerving. Mind you, this is when my find count was much lower and I have no idea if they watch my count anymore. They certainly haven't said anything to me about it since I turned my finds off.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696579 by Dizzy
May 1, 2012 6:05am
Thread (disabled) Board
So if I had had 5 boxes show up on my trophy but only 4 showed in my logbook, they were questioning me.

Geez! Even my regular boxing friends don't do this to me! I'd be seriously creeped out if I knew that a non-friend was doing this.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696579 by Dizzy
May 1, 2012 6:25am
Thread (disabled) Board
Sadly, I've had someone that watched my finds so carefully that they knew exactly which days I'd been in areas and how many boxes I'd found. So if I had had 5 boxes show up on my trophy but only 4 showed in my logbook, they were questioning me. That's when I turned my finds off.

This is exactly why we had to lock up our finds too. It is sad when you cannot just play the game and be yourself. The worst part about it is though, recently, I had someone voice their opinion on how, by locking our logbook, it was us being out right sneaky, like we were hiding something or maybe not being honest with our finds. This was also frustrating as well as hurtful.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696547 by Mini Mouse
May 1, 2012 6:54am
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As others have said...some people have nothing better to do then express doubt on the boards and at events about what YOU (the royal you) are doing.
Some people even question whether you have actually found a box, or how many miles you have traveled to find a box. Or even what day did you actually find the box. i always make the dates i find boxes not the real date i find them so as to make it harder for those that have nothing better to do than try and figure out what i am doing. *sheesh*
Yes! It is just all so CREEPY.

deniserows
away from her logbook stalker
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696665 by 2 Irish Chicks
May 1, 2012 6:58am
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it was us being out right sneaky, like we were hiding something

Isn't that the whole idea of letterboxing? I would take it as a compliment instead of being hurtful.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696676 by deniserows
May 1, 2012 8:10am
Thread (disabled) Board
Some people even question whether you have actually found a box, or how many miles you have traveled to find a box. Or even what day did you actually find the box. i always make the dates i find boxes not the real date i find them so as to make it harder for those that have nothing better to do than try and figure out what i am doing. *sheesh*

I guess I think about this differently than most people. I don't care if you are concerned about where I may or may not have been. I don't care if you try to use my logbook to get a tidbit of information (good luck with that, my AQ logbook has over 900 unlisted and/or mystery finds). I don't care if someone knows I was in the area and didn't find their box(es). I letterbox for my enjoyment. If you want to know what I find, come spend a day boxing with me (if you can keep up). If you get upset because I didn't choose to look for your box(es), get over it.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696676 by deniserows
May 1, 2012 8:23am
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Wow that would make me sad. I always put the date I actually find a box. I love to look back and see 'oh yeah I got these _ boxes on this day. That was a good day.' or such like. I know I would have the correct date in my actual book with the stamps but still. Of course I don't have nearly as many finds as some people. Mostly because I 'can't' go boxing without my husband and darn it all he has to work. lol
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696693 by Eidolon
May 1, 2012 8:36am
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Amen....my thoughts exactly...could not have said it any better! Like you already!
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696665 by 2 Irish Chicks
May 1, 2012 9:51am
Thread (disabled) Board
The worst part about it is though, recently, I had someone voice their opinion on how, by locking our logbook, it was us being out right sneaky, like we were hiding something or maybe not being honest with our finds.

This is actually the main reason I made finds being off default for all new users. The sense of entitlement people have looking through online logbooks is disgusting, and I figured if it was normal for finds not to show, it might put a dent in that sense of entitlement.

It's also why the finds in my own logbook are private--to set an example that it IS okay to hide pages of your logbook. =)

And come on--this is letterboxing--you're supposed to be sneaky. That's practically a back-handed compliment. =)

-- Ryan
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696679 by Wronghat
May 1, 2012 10:48am
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Yeah, a good response would have been a courteous smile and "Thank you!"
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696731 by Green Tortuga
May 1, 2012 11:03am
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This is actually the main reason I made finds being off default for all new users. The sense of entitlement people have looking through online logbooks is disgusting, and I figured if it was normal for finds not to show, it might put a dent in that sense of entitlement.

Well, I can certainly understand this! However, I do wish there was an option for people to hide their *traditional* finds but still show their *LTC* finds. Pretty much the only time I look at someone's logbook is to see which of my LTCs they already have (so that I don't send them a duplicate) or which ones they have available to trade. It's much quicker to look at their list of LTC finds and sort by owner than to go through each of my own LTC listings to check the finders, so when someone's finds are hidden, I'm a little bummed.

Rocklun
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696752 by Rocklun
May 1, 2012 11:55am
Thread (disabled) Board
Pretty much the only time I look at someone's logbook is to see which of my LTCs they already have (so that I don't send them a duplicate) or which ones they have available to trade. It's much quicker to look at their list of LTC finds and sort by owner than to go through each of my own LTC listings to check the finders, so when someone's finds are hidden, I'm a little bummed.

I can actually contribute here because I figured something out myself when I needed to do this. :) Go to Advanced Search and at the top right, choose type LTC. Uncheck *Hide my plants* then in the *Participants* box (lower right) put yourself as planter and the other person as Finder. I think as long as they are your own cards, they should come up. It worked when I tried it the last time unless something changed. I couldn't see their other finds but I could see the ones I planted.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696752 by Rocklun
May 1, 2012 12:11pm
Thread (disabled) Board
However, I do wish there was an option for people to hide their *traditional* finds but still show their *LTC* finds.

Programmatically, that starts getting a little difficult.

Pretty much the only time I look at someone's logbook is to see which of my LTCs they already have (so that I don't send them a duplicate) or which ones they have available to trade.

The Advanced Search page should still do this for you--at least in regards to your planted LTCs that they've found. But even if you do send a duplicate, who cares? Just means that they have a new card to trade! =)

It's much quicker to look at their list of LTC finds and sort by owner than to go through each of my own LTC listings to check the finders

Seriously, make friends with the Advanced Search page. It does a lot of what you're asking. *nodding* Normally, you can't see the finds in my logbook because I have them hidden, but if you search for only boxes that you own or planted--you can see my finds for those boxes no matter what. So you can run a search for your boxes that other people have found and get a list.

The one thing you can't get would be a list of boxes I've found that you did not own, plant, or carve.

-- Ryan
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696761 by System
May 1, 2012 12:15pm
Thread (disabled) Board
will you be able to see the LTC's you share show up under "ships in the night" if they have their logbook finds hidden?

The ships in the night involves either boxes you planted (and thus you can see all of the finds on it regardless of the settings) or boxes you've found (and you can always see your own finds), so restrictions do not apply at any time.

If there was a SITN such as "boxes we've found in common"--that would get tricky since the other person may have their finds hidden and as a finder of the box, it gives you no right to see all of the other finders on the box. Which is one reason I decided not to include those kind of passing ships. =)

-- Ryan
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696767 by System
May 1, 2012 12:39pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I know it isn't, but doesn't this just SOUND like a made-up word?

Actually, I think it might be a made-up word. My spell checker claims it is, at least. =)

That would be a lot of information to include!

Keep in mind--the Ships of the Night only shows the last 15 matches--not all the matches!

I was just wondering about LTC's that we've traded back and forth with each other, not LTC's in common.

Well, it does show that--the LTCs that you've found that were planted by someone else and the LTCs that you created that they've listed as finds. Well, it's bundled together with all of the non-traditional types of boxes, but that's what it does. =)

-- Ryan
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696762 by Green Tortuga
May 1, 2012 1:24pm
Thread (disabled) Board
But even if you do send a duplicate, who cares?

Raising hand, I would care! With ever increasing postage rates, I prefer not to receive duplicates if possible.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696781 by Lovebirds-NC
May 1, 2012 1:36pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Raising hand, I would care! With ever increasing postage rates, I prefer not to receive duplicates if possible.

Exactly! And some of my LTCs require a lot of effort, so I really don't want to send duplicates to the same person.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696760 by Dizzy
May 1, 2012 1:40pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Dizzy and Ryan, thank you so much!!! I tried it and was successful. I use Advanced Search all the time for traditional boxes, but it never occurred to me to use it for LTCs.

Rocklun
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #696783 by Rocklun
May 2, 2012 10:32pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I really don't want to send duplicates to the same person.

I've received a few duplicates. I figure that they are trading cards, after all, so out they go in the next potpourri.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #697277 by Oberon_Kenobi
May 3, 2012 6:53am
Thread (disabled) Board
I've received a few duplicates. I figure that they are trading cards, after all, so out they go in the next potpourri.

When I have received duplicates, I check with the card creator to see if it's OK to pass it on to someone else. I "gift" duplicates instead of trading them.
Re: Privacy preference to hide finds and attempts
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #697311 by Lovebirds-NC
May 3, 2012 7:08pm
Thread (disabled) Board
When I have received duplicates, I check with the card creator to see if it's OK to pass it on to someone else. I "gift" duplicates instead of trading them.

Good ideas, both with checking with the creator and gifting them. I've only had about 4 duplicates (of ones I already have) that I've sent out. But the card creator may not have wanted them traded like that.