They put the clues in the article!?!?! WTF? Wonder how the planter thought about that, and how long they'll stay there now.

Well, I am from this town, and I don't think that this is a good thing either. I am very angry about this article.I believe that many of these boxes and others in the area will go vandalized. I hope that I am wrong. I had a feeling that something like this would happen when i saw those boxes posted. It is a very small town. Regretfully, the "other" surrounding boxes are planted in Forests and and small wilderness areas. These are beautiful places. Personally, If I were back home visiting, I'm not sure that I would search for a box out in back of the McDonalds by a dumpster, or what ever the clue is. I don't believe that is the way to have someone come to visit your town.
We can't keep this wonderful hobby to ourselves, but I am worried about how it is introduced to future boxers. I started after reading an article in "Family Fun" magazine a few years ago. I am so glad that article was published. I think there is an element of control there, however. I enjoy bringing people into letterboxing, but I spend a great deal of time on boxing ettiquette and respect for both the box and the surroundings. There has been many discussions on the appropriate way to promote this hobby, and I know views vary greatly.
I hope Patriotic Girl monitors these boxes closely and sends out an alarm if boxes start to be vandalized. If one goes, I believe others will follow. Time will tell.
I bid you all safe trails. KOYOTE

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We can't keep this wonderful hobby to ourselves, but I am worried about how it is introduced to future boxers. I started after reading an article in "Family Fun" magazine a few years ago. I am so glad that article was published.

We got started after reading an article in Roam Magazine:

http://www.roam-magazine.com/archives/2005/09/raiders_of_the.html

It was really good and sparked our interest, in fact we found our first box, Fourth Creek Cemetery, that very day! But it didn't say anything about the "rules" of letterboxing and respecting the environment. While on the internet, we read a lot about getting started which included those basic rules. I'm glad we researched before barreling out there (not that we wouldn't have taken care in the first place).

Plus, this article makes it sound as if geocaching and letterboxing were one in the same. They are close, but not the same. It was some time later that we learned what geocaching really was.

I hope that article in Laurel City will introduce people to letterboxing without inviting vandals.