Unnecessary Class Conflict

I was in the middle of whipping up a small list of caches because [REDACTED].  For this list, I needed to ensure that none of them were Premium caches.  That was no big deal; pulling Premiums off the list is easy enough.  And then I noticed something: among the Premium caches, there was a Virtual and an EarthCache.

Believe me when I tell you that I understand the reasons someone would want to make a cache Premium only.  While I think Premium is more than worth it, both for experience and to support Groundspeak, I’ll also be the first to say it’s probably not worth it if you’re only going to find a cache or two a month.  I make a point of hiding non-Premium caches because I want beginning or more casual cachers, the most likely not to have Premium, to have things to find.  I’ve also seen really interesting caches vandalized not by random ruffians who come across interesting things and get their jollies by destroying them but by newbie cachers who think they’re being clever.  Sure, you’re supposed to solve the puzzle box to get to the log, but some people just pull out the nails to get inside—despite the labor involved in creating the cache.  So, yeah, if I had a cache that required a lot of work to create, I’d totally make it Premium. 

But why on God’s green earth would you make a Virtual or an EarthCache Premium?  There’s nothing physical to break!  Is there a fear that too many cachers are going to flood the area, destroying the intrinsic value of the location?  I highly doubt the number of visiting cachers will compete with the number of muggles visiting such a site.  Even further, why would you deny someone the educational opportunity of an EarthCache?  I won’t lie; I rarely remember their lessons because my talents don’t point toward the geologic.  Even so, because of EarthCaches, I know what weirs are and what they’re for.  I know a little about coastal erosion and remedies.  I know something about how marble wears down.  And I know that much of Central Texas sits on the karstiest karst that ever karsted a karst.  Why would you keep that from someone? 

Some caches do not need to be Premium.  Some caches do not need to be guarded from the unwashed hoi polloi that didn’t plunk down their lucre to have Premium access.  Sure, these were probably just an unthinking oversight.  Yes, I am being hyperbolic about it!  But I like to think that when I see something dumb, I’ll say it’s dumb!