Geocaching Australia

I usually visit this forum at least twice a day and agree with the comment that it is a quieter nowadays. My interest is in whats happening or what is topical. I am not a FB user and my expectation is that I will never be one.

I find this forum extremely friendly and very informative. it is not filled with useless and time consuming clutter and is organised so that if I am not interested in a particular topic (rarely) then I can ignore it easily. The support that is available is amazing . It is not just the Administrators but also the geocaching community who provide support when it is needed.

Thank you to all who make this forum enjoyable.

I visit almost daily...don't use FB for geocaching...

I check into the GCA forum a couple of time a day, but I'm also a regular on a geocaching facebook group (in WA).

I also dabble in Munzeeing but haven't been on their forum for ages .. only once been on the GC forum.

I think that like the cassette tapes, eudoramail and netscape, forums are becoming a thing of the past as 'social media' replaces/overtakes them.

I miss Eudora.

Month Unique visitors
Jan 2014 7472
Feb 2014 5164
Mar 2014 6095
Apr 2014 6003
May 2014 5312
Jun 2014 5303
Jul 2014 4755
Aug 2014 4786
Sep 2014 5813
Oct 2014 6401
Nov 2014 6031
Dec 2014 7261
Jan 2015 9051
Feb 2015 9991
Mar 2015 6796
Apr 2015 6775
May 2015 2337

I'm here most days, checking in, seeing if there's anything I can contribute to or such.... More often than not there isn't, sadly, but always happy to contribute to or start a discussion on a particular topic.

Forums are funny in the FB era. Some seem to be dying, but some others are still barrelling along. I lurk in the BNA (Bicycles Network Australia) forums and they're still hugely frequented, yet still must be facing the same FB pressures as anyone else. I'm not sure why they've so far been immune to it.

I must admit to not being the most 'social' cacher - Not so much that I wouldn't enjoy it (even though I'm a huge introvert), but rather the time-pressure of family and work and such means that I can rarely set aside big chunks of days, and if they can it's relatively short notice. So can't commit to the big group stuff, even though I might enjoy it. Do have to admit to a little envy when I see in logs about group gatherings...

I'm also trying to build some good habits in actually engaging with cachers who find my caches directly. If they write a nice log, especially if their a relative newbie, I'll drop them an email through the GC website. Just to say hi, thanks, and maybe start to build the social network around that.

Still love bumping into people in the field most though

Wow! Some great feedback, I seem to have got a few people thinking!

I think the thing that I have grown to appreciate the most was the GCA forums mantra that even if things got heated it was very rare to see a post deleted. It seems that these days if someone down't like a discussion on a FB group they delete it. And if they dont like the group they create another one. There are also so many closed and secret groups that you need to be one of the cool kids to be a part of.

GCA forums are like and old true friend. You've been away for a while but the same face(s) are still there welcoming you.

Usually check in daily. Am not a facebook user and find past posts on GCA forum most useful. Have no ideas about attracting users back to the forum. Just think its a sign of the times.

I drop by regularly. Not daily, like I use too, but I'm here multiple times a week.

Facebook is good because it's local. I know the places, caches and most of the people. Whereas most of the discussions here are of caches I'll never get too. The forums are a much better media for a discussion though.

(I really visit facebook to find out what my kids are doing. )

I check in here every now and then; at least once a week; usually more.

roundcircle wrote:(I really visit facebook to find out what my kids are doing. )

I have a feeling you are not alone in that regard!

Im on here a few times a week, but not as much as I used to. But my caching has dropped off massively as I spend a lot of my free time managing GCNSW stuff So I think i'll pop out and grab some boxes today, it's been a while!

Usually only in response to emails. But that is the same as before Facebook. I like getting the notification of a new topic or reply, but if you don't respond to a single email it stops emailing you until you come back.

Facebook is much easier to post photos etc when you are at the cache site. The immediacy of the transaction is the key difference IMO. I don't think it is more or less social than forums.

Maybe that makes the forums better... People need to make an effort instead of immediately posting whatever pops into their heads.

I check in here about twice a week, there is a lot less content then say five years ago. Facebook...I have an account, but rarely use it.

I pop in here most mornings to see what is happening.

I never, ever visit the forums. So I'll never, ever see the question!