Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Propaganda Depository => GASM Command => Topic started by: Eater of Clowns on October 29, 2010, 03:09:56 AM

Title: GeoGASM
Post by: Eater of Clowns on October 29, 2010, 03:09:56 AM
Geocaching - A community-driven hobby wherein people input coordinates into GPS devices that lead them to small boxes in remote or hidden areas.  The boxes contain an assortment of small items, trinkets, or note pads.  Finders of a geocache are to place something of theirs into the box and taking something out in exchange.  They can leave messages on notepads, etc, then they put the box back where they found it.  There are communities online where people can report back if they found the box, if it was difficult, or if it was missing, etc.

The community started in the relatively early days of GPS devices, before they were as ubiquitous as they are now.  It's still a nichey activity, with lots of caches being on hiking trails, etc.  Recently, GPS devices are easily available in the form of our very favorite tools of Big Brother - smart phones.

I think we should target the GeoCachers.  By necessity, the community is tight knit, keeping track of existing caches and updating them.  That means recurring themes in the boxes could possibly be remarked upon in discussions.  The activity also attracts the curious - a cache might have any number of otherwise pointless items, but they're basically buried treasure troves.

Pope cards and meme bombs are the stand by for things like this, so maybe this is an offshoot of postergasm.  Here, though, they're placed where the individual is specifically looking.  And on top of it all, we can have some fun looking for geocaches.  Hell, if we learn enough about the community, maybe we can make a few of our own.

So, is this something people would be interested in?  Which meme bombs might speak best to this group?  Does anyone know more about the activity than what I've outlined here?

Props to Richter for prodding me with a polearm to post this.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Telarus on October 29, 2010, 06:29:11 AM
Interesting idea. I'll give it some thought.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Hanni on October 29, 2010, 09:14:24 AM
We go Geocaching as a family once a month- but usually one of us is off hunting for something. I think it's a brilliant idea. The caches don't necessarily have to be in a quiet location- they can be placed anywhere, we have several hidden along our main street that 'muggles' walk past every day unaware.

The only flaw could be that most of the containers I've come across are tiny, you'd have to check before setting off to a cache how big the container was.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Richter on October 29, 2010, 01:23:02 PM
EOC brought this up during the Lovecraft Tour last week, and I think it's a great idea.  You're grabbing the attention of folks who already curious and driven enough to go our searching for one of these in the first place, so maybe better odds than our usual propaganda.  It also gives us another thing to do in the midst of postering or going on reality walkabout. 

It could be just adding leaflets or pope cards to existing caches, or like EOC said, setting up our own with larger selections of writings  (hidden library of rants?)

Couple considerations in doing this:
-Do we want to direct the cachers back here?  Granted, no larger exposure than a poster, but this IS more attention grabbing, could backfire.  We could get a pissed cubscout leader whose kids found our site and saw a load of goatsee.  (I'm presently in favor of the "Pile of links to sites about our reality tunnel" route, not just plugs for PD.)
-KEEP IT CLEAN.  Kids find these things.  Printing a load of goatsees and packing a cache with them would be ugly.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Cramulus on October 29, 2010, 02:50:18 PM
I love this idea. I meant to start geocaching over the summer but then I moved and made new friends and I drank a lot of alcohol and you know how that goes.

I think geocaching is a great spot for memebombs, pamphlets, weird art, et cetera.. for a few reasons:

1) when you find and open the box, you are paying FULL attention to it. It's treasure. It's nothing like a poster you see on the way to work, or somebody's sig on the internet, it's something you actively sought out

2) geocachers strike me as the right kind of people. They like adventure and exploration and community. They also like leaving presents for others to find.


Maybe we could whip out a brochure encouraging geocachers to take it to the next level.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Triple Zero on October 29, 2010, 03:05:43 PM
Quote from: Richter on October 29, 2010, 01:23:02 PM-Do we want to direct the cachers back here?  Granted, no larger exposure than a poster, but this IS more attention grabbing, could backfire.  We could get a pissed cubscout leader whose kids found our site and saw a load of goatsee.  (I'm presently in favor of the "Pile of links to sites about our reality tunnel" route, not just plugs for PD.)
-KEEP IT CLEAN.  Kids find these things.  Printing a load of goatsees and packing a cache with them would be ugly.

Yeah. Although I have to say, we do take care to make our posts SFW, combine that with people expecting a random weird place on the Internet, I think it'll be okay.

We don't really have much "not for kids" stuff except in the "tools for tools" thread, do we?

Quote from: Cramulus on October 29, 2010, 02:50:18 PM
1) when you find and open the box, you are paying FULL attention to it. It's treasure. It's nothing like a poster you see on the way to work, or somebody's sig on the internet, it's something you actively sought out

absolutely! It's totally in line with that psychological principle that people attribute way more worth to an idea when they had to spend effort getting to it.

we could totally exploit that.

I dunno, it sounds particularly suited for things concerning the law of fives, even in the original "23" form.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Richter on October 29, 2010, 03:31:28 PM
Quote from: Triple Zero on October 29, 2010, 03:05:43 PM
Quote from: Richter on October 29, 2010, 01:23:02 PM-Do we want to direct the cachers back here?  Granted, no larger exposure than a poster, but this IS more attention grabbing, could backfire.  We could get a pissed cubscout leader whose kids found our site and saw a load of goatsee.  (I'm presently in favor of the "Pile of links to sites about our reality tunnel" route, not just plugs for PD.)
-KEEP IT CLEAN.  Kids find these things.  Printing a load of goatsees and packing a cache with them would be ugly.

Yeah. Although I have to say, we do take care to make our posts SFW, combine that with people expecting a random weird place on the Internet, I think it'll be okay.

We don't really have much "not for kids" stuff except in the "tools for tools" thread, do we?

Not image - wise no.  Murphy's Law, a "Concerned American Adult" on the site WILL stumble into one of Dok's bits about weird sex with perverts, or an LMNO inspired discussion on the finer points of victorian figging.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Eater of Clowns on October 29, 2010, 03:39:39 PM
We're the first result when someone googles Principia Discordia.  Hell, it's how I found the site.  I think if we put some references in there that piques a person's curiosity, there's a chance they'll wind up here.

And Cram just made me realize that I posted this going into the cold months.  Ahah, oops, I wish I'd put it up when I first thought of it in Spring.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Hanni on October 30, 2010, 06:40:09 AM
Quote from: Liam on October 29, 2010, 03:46:53 PM
QuoteAhah, oops, I wish I'd put it up when I first thought of it in Spring.

Not a bad thing, gives us all winter to hide and plan crap :D

Some people see geocaching in Winter as 'more fun' (especially if it snow)... they're just weird though. All the caches are waterproof so even if you went out and put stuff in it would sit there until someone found it.

On the geocaching website you can track when and who found it and whether they took anything out.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Elder Iptuous on October 30, 2010, 02:34:02 PM
Liam, those are called 'multi-caches' if i remember correctly...  the geocaching website lists whether a cache is such.  it also lists the size range of the cache so that you know whether you are looking for a 20mm ammo can, or a film canister.

this is kismet for me.... i used to geocache with a friend of mine about 4 years ago, but he moved away, and i stopped.  now he's moving back!   geocaching: GO!
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Richter on October 30, 2010, 04:33:34 PM
OK, I jsut read that as "Multi - staches"

It is our damn DUTY (especially Cram) to fill some of these with 6 way mustaches.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Eater of Clowns on October 30, 2010, 04:39:12 PM
Quote from: Richter on October 30, 2010, 04:33:34 PM
OK, I jsut read that as "Multi - staches"

It is our damn DUTY (especially Cram) to fill some of these with 6 way mustaches.

Oh my, Richter, did you...did you just invent a 6-way mustache.

I'm picturing six large mustaches, connected at the tips by perhaps fishing line, forming a ring.  The users would each then apply the mustache and create...this is just too much to handle right now.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Elder Iptuous on October 30, 2010, 05:12:44 PM
no...
he's referring to the 'staches that Cram gets in bulk from his 'stache dealer that tout themselves as '6-way' because they can be fashion per the packaging in six, and only six, configurations.

the fake 'staches are a good idea, though.  perhaps accompanies by a small handwritten list of the people that have worn this particular 'stache (which should include some famous/semi-famous names)
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Richter on October 30, 2010, 06:05:50 PM
I like EOC's take better.  I am off to fashion myself a stache - mandala, and then to amaze the populace.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Cuddlefish on October 30, 2010, 08:30:22 PM
This is a great idea. My guitarist accidentally stumbled upon a geo-cache site, became curious about it, and even went out on a few searches. Ever since I heard about it from him, I was thinking of a way to incorperate some form of GASM or OMF into geo-caching. We could totaly leave some WTF moment stuff in there. EoC, I'm (more or less) in the area, and my guitarist is already into it, so maybe we could all go on a hunt for a geo-cache. I'd be totally down.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Eater of Clowns on October 30, 2010, 08:36:12 PM
Quote from: Cuddlefist on October 30, 2010, 08:30:22 PM
This is a great idea. My guitarist accidentally stumbled upon a geo-cache site, became curious about it, and even went out on a few searches. Ever since I heard about it from him, I was thinking of a way to incorperate some form of GASM or OMF into geo-caching. We could totaly leave some WTF moment stuff in there. EoC, I'm (more or less) in the area, and my guitarist is already into it, so maybe we could all go on a hunt for a geo-cache. I'd be totally down.

Yeah, I'm down.  I'll need to collaborate on some level because I don't have a GPS.   :lulz:
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Cuddlefish on October 30, 2010, 09:16:35 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on October 30, 2010, 08:36:12 PM
Quote from: Cuddlefist on October 30, 2010, 08:30:22 PM
This is a great idea. My guitarist accidentally stumbled upon a geo-cache site, became curious about it, and even went out on a few searches. Ever since I heard about it from him, I was thinking of a way to incorperate some form of GASM or OMF into geo-caching. We could totaly leave some WTF moment stuff in there. EoC, I'm (more or less) in the area, and my guitarist is already into it, so maybe we could all go on a hunt for a geo-cache. I'd be totally down.

Yeah, I'm down.  I'll need to collaborate on some level because I don't have a GPS.   :lulz:

My guitarist has one. I'll talk to him tonight and see if he's still into it.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Richter on October 30, 2010, 09:33:55 PM
I've got one too.  Simple model, but serviceable for hiking.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Triple Zero on October 30, 2010, 09:57:28 PM
You should use some kind of dungeon-esque location, maybe a sewer. At the entrance, there will be a cache with a bag of polyhedral dice ...

Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Elder Iptuous on October 30, 2010, 10:17:36 PM
Quote from: Triple Zero on October 30, 2010, 09:57:28 PM
You should use some kind of dungeon-esque location, maybe a sewer. At the entrance, there will be a cache with a bag of polyhedral dice ...


Ha!  that's excellent...
it would actually be a good way of getting someone into a game of sorts that they weren't anticipating.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Telarus on October 31, 2010, 12:09:03 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on October 30, 2010, 09:57:28 PM
You should use some kind of dungeon-esque location, maybe a sewer. At the entrance, there will be a cache with a bag of polyhedral dice ...

Great memetic signaling.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Cramulus on October 31, 2010, 12:39:10 PM
            MULTI-CACHE
                                \
(http://kestas.kuliukas.com/MultiPass/leeloo_multipass.jpg)
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: trippinprincezz13 on November 01, 2010, 08:08:57 PM
don't know how I didn't notice this one before. A few years ago, me, my boyfriend and some friends came across one by accident while out exploring at night. This year, he got me a gps unit with the intent of getting me into it, and it is pretty fun. Hell, it gets me out of the house and outside, and adds a "purpose" to walking or hiking, etc. A lot of them in urban areas are tiny - though some are still big enough to fit small papers/labels/etc. But out in the woods, a lot of the containers get a bit bigger, typically the size of ammo boxes or gallon tupperware containers.

There already a level of interest because it can get you out exploring places you didn't know existed, or discovering things that were right under your nose the whole time. It does make for a good atmosphere for including other little messages/whatever (though there is the emphasis on kid-friendly). They also have items meant to move from box to box "trackables", which could make for a good way to spread something to several people, rather than just one (not that either way is bad). It's a few bucks to buy an "official" one, but I'm sure there are unofficial ways to track as well.

At work, so not much more to say right now. But I'll be keeping my eye on this thread
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Cramulus on November 02, 2010, 03:30:45 AM
memes to use


there's a ton at http://principiadiscordia.com/memebombs

(and 000 just reskinned it, so everybody should go check it out and dump some votes into it!)



also

pamphlets, postergasm, the principia discordia or the black iron prison

we've got tons of printable stuff in the prop.depository. I've posted most of my posters and a bunch of my pamphlets to http://cramul.us

but if you develop something for a geocache audience, definitely post it ITT   :mrgreen:
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 15, 2011, 04:43:42 PM
BUMP

Because it's spring again!  I say we geogasm the fuck out of the warm months.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Luna on April 15, 2011, 04:50:31 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 15, 2011, 04:43:42 PM
BUMP

Because it's spring again!  I say we geogasm the fuck out of the warm months.

This sounds like a blast!
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 15, 2011, 04:51:24 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 15, 2011, 04:50:31 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 15, 2011, 04:43:42 PM
BUMP

Because it's spring again!  I say we geogasm the fuck out of the warm months.

This sounds like a blast!

Geohashing, Luna.  You find a cache, you memebomb it, then you get a beer and move onto finding the next cache.

GEOHASHING.
Title: Re: GeoGASM
Post by: Luna on April 15, 2011, 04:53:15 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 15, 2011, 04:51:24 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 15, 2011, 04:50:31 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 15, 2011, 04:43:42 PM
BUMP

Because it's spring again!  I say we geogasm the fuck out of the warm months.

This sounds like a blast!

Geohashing, Luna.  You find a cache, you memebomb it, then you get a beer and move onto finding the next cache.

GEOHASHING.

Gotta get a GPS.  :)