The Goddamn Pacman

It sounds like a very simple op, so I apologize if this has been brought up before. But however the case, I think this bears being discussed.

For those who know of GeoCache: It would be a pretty rad idea to help spread our cause by tracking down caches in our area and replacing the items inside (of any) with URL's or flyers. For caches that only have logs in them, write down one of our smaller URLs in the log. Badabing, Badaboom.

For those who DON'T know of it: GeoCache is a popular website designed to archive and organize little "treasure hunts" for small items or just for logging in on a piece of paper as proof that you were there. You type in your zipcode (or just your street address if you have an account, plus more options), find your nearest cache and follow the clues to find the containers.

The website is here: GeoCache

The ultimate purpose of this ongoing op is to expand our means of giving our word out to people in unexpected ways, hopefully in a manner that will persuade them to do research on Scientology.

What does Anon think? Did I do an ok job of describing it?

EDIT: One more thing I forgot to mention... a GPS is a very helpful guide to finding your cache. On the website, the precise coordinates of each item are on the page describing the cache, or the location will give you clues to ANOTHER location where the real cache is.

Basically, I'm saying ya'll should get one if you plan to do this.

"Beware of any individual or ideology that claims to have all the answers but does not tolerate any questions."

Mah JewTubes. Watch and rate for great justice.

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Anon1990.572

Down with this - getting caches in my area and adding stuff with URLs on them as of now.

Anonymous

There are probably more visible/accessible places to advertise our websites.

anmoyunos

Point being? People around the world geocache, there's good potential in this.

Personally, I've been thinking more along the lines of Anon/Sci related travel bugs, since they'd be more difficult for scilons to remove, along with being seen by a wider group of people. They'd also probably be more fun for the cacher if we made up some story and goal for the bug.

I've been trying to find an anonymous way to acquire travel bug IDs for a while now, does anyone know of brick & mortar stores that carry them?


That said, I've been going back to caches I'd found long ago and leaving YFTCs in them for pretty much ever now. So at the very least, that's something you can do.

Edweird

neat idea...
It would be fun to make a few new ones near the org and drop cosdox via small cheap usbsticks. Or rig the cache box to auto play LRH audio OT3 with a record your own greeting card chip.

The Goddamn Pacman

Only problem with this is that if they're near an Org and its publicly published of its location, they'll be gone in no time. The only way I can think of this to work is have it be a multi-cache where you discover the coordinates in a different location.

"Beware of any individual or ideology that claims to have all the answers but does not tolerate any questions."

Mah JewTubes. Watch and rate for great justice.

CA Southbay Stat-Crashers Crash Stats.

anmoyunos

Coordinates being published on a public site is irrelevant. They won't bother with that. If it's anywhere near an org, and they're aware of its presence, they'll just watch for someone grabbing the cache and know exactly where it is.

Again, I've got nothing against creating a cache for this purpose, but travel bugs will be far more reliable, I think.

Anonymous

I have been a geocacher for around 5 years by now. I know the sport completely.

Putting anti-scilon stuff inside caches can be ok... you'd have to do it right.

For instance, completely cleaning out all the items in a geocache and replacing it with Anon flyers and anti-scilon stuff is a great way to shoot our own cause in the foot. They would consider us "cache vandals" if we do that.

Every sport has it's "culture" - assumptions, preferences, expectations, rules, etc. Geocachers, as a group, are happiest with items in a cache which seem fun and generally neutral, not political, not religious, not pushing some cause, etc.

If an item in a cache seems to be obviously pushing some sort of agenda, cachers in general will often get annoyed enough with that item to quickly toss it out of the cache. Happens most often with religious, "cause" items or political stuff.

This means it's not scilons you need to worry about. It's the individual geocachers themselves trying to keep a cache "clean" of such obviously agenda-pushing items.

The folks who run the geocaching site itself would also have an interest in not getting themselves mixed up with Scientology's antics. They have not much control over what geocachers do, but what cachers do out in the field often means THEY catch the crap for it. And the folks in charge of geocaching.com don't deserve it.

We can promote our cause via geocaching, but we should do it right. We should do it with a stealthy approach. Be subtle.

Using YFTCs is a great place to start because the best way is via small things that are, non-obvious, creative and mysterious. Cachers love having a little sense of mystery. That would intrigue the cachers, attract them to what we have to say and not alienate them. That would be the most effective approach.

Anonymous

If you try to start a geocache with any "cause" type of theme, geocaching.com won't allow it to be featured on their site. They are allergic to any obvious pushing of agendas.

Now... if you start a cache with a neutral "cool-looking business cards" theme, and you just HAPPEN to have a large handful of YTFCs around...

The Goddamn Pacman

Very well spoken, I think I have a better understanding now. This should be approached carefully, but I think it can be done in this fashion.

As for the travelbug, we should've done this months ago and its a great idea. If anonimity is an issue for purchasing whatecver is needed, I'm sure we can find someone who is namefagged to help us with this, and collect whatever money is needed.

"Beware of any individual or ideology that claims to have all the answers but does not tolerate any questions."

Mah JewTubes. Watch and rate for great justice.

CA Southbay Stat-Crashers Crash Stats.

Anonymous

This has been mentioned before but it is a good enough idea to mention again.

JFawkeson

Reminds me of a hard core BookCrossing. If I ever get a GPS, I'm all over this. For now, I've got some books to release into the wild, with complimentary book marks.

His name was Jett Travolta.

You know there is serious brainwashing in Scientology when it starts at free "stress tests" and ends at a fortified "castle" with arrow slits, surrounded by cameras in the middle of nowhere. --Oinkertron9000

PAST LIFE IMPLANTS BODY THETANS

Anonymous

I live in the arse end of no-where and I did a quick search for caches within 5 miles of my place and it turned up around 8 so evidently this has potential. Hitting as many as I can with YTFCs.

The Goddamn Pacman

Precisely. GeoCache is a more popular pastime than I've ever imagined, and its amazing just how many are out there. I'd like to call out a challenge to have as many YFTC's as there are caches in our area.


Anymore updates on the travelbug idea?

"Beware of any individual or ideology that claims to have all the answers but does not tolerate any questions."

Mah JewTubes. Watch and rate for great justice.

CA Southbay Stat-Crashers Crash Stats.

anmoyunos

Pretty much. Doesn't matter if you're in the middle of a city, driving down an interstate or hiking a mountain- there is a high probability of a cache at a reasonable distance.

I think this idea might be better discussed with local cells, seeing as apart from someone informing us of a physical location to buy tracker tags, we'll be creating them and placing them locally.

By all means, share the ideas about what you're making a travel bug and how it will look. Are you laminating something on paper? Did you tear the head off an action figure in a suit or paint the head green with a mission to have people take their picture with it? Are you making a midget with David Miscavage's face?

On that note, I'm heading back to the local cell to bring the subject up with anyone that cares to participate.

anoncaek

There is also something called "letterboxing" it is highly similar to Geocaching, except there is not GPS and it uses stamp exchanges instead of "prizes". I have been leaving YTFCs in them for a few months now.

SP III

the_cloak

I think this is a great idea! For those who have this as a hobby, this is one easy way to help out and spread the word to the internet savvy. This is why we win. We come up with crazy ideas like this that help us out while being fun! You guys fucking rock for this reason alone if none others.

Watch the Epic Ballad of Chanology

HelenaKobrin

It is against the game rules for people to put idiot political or religious propaganda in geocaches. There are geocache game pieces that are specifically created for such stuff, but propaganda deposits like what's proposed here are against the rules. If every fuycktard did it Geocaching wouldn't be fun.

the_cloak

I did a few today. First time I've done this and it was fun as hell! Left Lil Laffy comics rolled up in a tube and YTFC. I think that should be the extent of it. You can also burn anon DVD's into there if you want but that might be pushing it. If the people don't like it, they will probably just toss it out and what have you lost? A little time and a couple pieces of paper, maybe a DVD-R that cost 5-10 cents. Don't rob the caches. Just add your shit and move on to the next one and keep whatever you put in there PG because little kids often get in on the sport.

You can also burn your own messages or vids. Or just put in a CD with web sites writen in sharpie on the front and that is 12 tracks of Rick Roll if you try to play it. Just fun stuff that will make them go WTF or "wow that was unusual, I should check these web sites out".

Watch the Epic Ballad of Chanology