Updating Cave Access Information

[whitelackington]

Yes.

All this info is contained on line you know.

One must assume if "All this info is contained on line" then it could be updated more often than once every eight years

 

[cap n chris]

Sorry, don't get you.

Why, just because something is online, should it be updated more frequently than, say, Mendip Underground or Selected Caves of Britain and Ireland?

 

[graham]

Sorry, don't get you.

Why, just because something is online, should it be updated more frequently than, say, Mendip Underground or Selected Caves of Britain and Ireland?

Becasue it can be. With books such as the the two you quote, the stock sits in unalterable form in a box just waiting to be sold & no cost-concious publisher is going to release a new (updated) version until he has offloaded all the old stock. Websites are not like that - especially non-commercial websites such as BCA & CSCC's. They can be updated just as soon as new information becomes available.

And should be.

 

[cap n chris]

Fair and fine comment.

OK, so how do I update access info online. I've got a fair amount of info here - I suppose for starters the CSCC access info should be updatable by the CSCC C&A numpty. Perhaps it's a case of "Easier said than done" (just like everything else to do with caving).

 

[Peter Burgess]

Perhaps it's a case of "Easier said than done" (just like everything else to do with caving).

Depends on how well-written and sophisticated your website is.

Our website is written so that any member with a teaspoonful of useful intelligence can add things to it, and those with several teaspoonful's of intelligence (which still isn't a lot) can change or delete things.


:tease:

 

[graham]

Fair and fine comment.

OK, so how do I update access info online. I've got a fair amount of info here - I suppose for starters the CSCC access info should be updatable by the CSCC C&A numpty. Perhaps it's a case of "Easier said than done" (just like everything else to do with caving).

How do you do it? You don't. You give the updated information to the CSCC webmaster and nag him until he does it.  8)

 

[cap n chris]

Although it'll probably never happen, a forum such as this fine esteemed one would seem like an ideal layout model for the purpose. Imagine:

Each area (D'shire, Y'shire, Somerset etc..) has its own heading. Each area then has an alphabetical list of cave/mine sites with their own individual entry. Each entry can be clicked on and any/every bit of info available can be viewed/updated without the need to hassle a third party. The moderator can erase any additions which are shown to be rubbish (i.e. people messing about with the system).

Each entry COULD include photo of entrance (so you know you've got the right one  ), survey(s), pics of dig sites, grid ref, downloadable GPS data, updated issues with access, pollution, instability, video footage, tape layouts, clean up schedules, working party info etc. etc..

Probably a load of bollocks like most of my suggestions though.

 

[cap n chris]

There is a problem, however.

Publicly accessible info re caves may cause (and has caused) problems if landowners are unhappy about it being in the public domain - the concern being that it generates trips to sites which people would otherwise not know about unless they joined a local club/group which had long-standing association with the site/owners. Such an idea as that outlined above could still be used on a limited basis for sites where there was no history of difficulties. However, there is ALWAYS a possibility that circumstances will change for the worse, re ease of access, especially now that people are more likely to try and sue and insurers and landowners are understandably paranoiac about it.

 

[Hughie]

I think it's a good idea, Cap'n. Any sites with tetchy landowners need not go on the list. After all, there are caves on Mendip not listed in the current guide books - mainly for archaelogical/environmental reasons, I believe. The idea is good, though. 

 

[Cookie]

Yes.

All this info is contained on line you know.

One must assume if "All this info is contained on line" then it could be updated more often than once every eight years

Are you using that well known antagonists trick of hyperbole, or can you show me a part of the CSCC website that is actually 8 years out of date?

 

[Cookie]

OK, so how do I update access info online. I've got a fair amount of info here - I suppose for starters the CSCC access info should be updatable by the CSCC C&A numpty. Perhaps it's a case of "Easier said than done" (just like everything else to do with caving).

I've been investigating ways of doing just this. The solution is probably a Wiki. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki for an explanation that is an example at one and the same time. (Love self-referential concepts).

Shouldn't be to difficult to do, since all the software is open source. Just need some free time ...

 

[cap n chris]

Yes.

All this info is contained on line you know.

One must assume if "All this info is contained on line" then it could be updated more often than once every eight years

Are you using that well known antagonists trick of hyperbole, or can you show me a part of the CSCC website that is actually 8 years out of date?

Whitelackington? Hyperbole? Dammit, he might just be using it, I suppose.

* I didn't know the CSCC website was over eight years old. If it is, surely there may even be parts of it which are bordering on antique!  8)

 

[whitelackington]

Yes.

All this info is contained on line you know.

One must assume if "All this info is contained on line" then it could be updated more often than once every eight years

Are you using that well known antagonists trick of hyperbole, or can you show me a part of the CSCC website that is actually 8 years out of date?

Example Large Chamber cave, actually not next door to Mangle hole it is near Axbridge, grid reference quoted wrongly by cscc website.
Example Lost Cave of Loxton now found, several years ago, now called loxton Cavern, doesn't exist as far as cscc website goes
Example Hunter's Lodge Inn Sink, fairly large cave by Mendip standards, it does exist cos I went down it three years ago.
got quite a few more beside
here's one Fishmonger's hole, just North of Bristol, featured on front page of Descent and been on the T.V.

 

[cap n chris]

Templeton's, Star Mine. Is Carcass Cave on there? Jay's Cave? Axbridge Rift? Brockley Pits?

 

[Peter Burgess]

Flint Jack's Cave?

 

[graham]

Yes.

All this info is contained on line you know.

One must assume if "All this info is contained on line" then it could be updated more often than once every eight years

Are you using that well known antagonists trick of hyperbole, or can you show me a part of the CSCC website that is actually 8 years out of date?

Example Large Chamber cave, actually not next door to Mangle hole it is near Axbridge, grid reference quoted wrongly by cscc website.
Example Lost Cave of Loxton now found, several years ago, now called loxton Cavern, doesn't exist as far as cscc website goes
Example Hunter's Lodge Inn Sink, fairly large cave by Mendip standards, it does exist cos I went down it three years ago.
got quite a few more beside
here's one Fishmonger's hole, just North of Bristol, featured on front page of Descent and been on the T.V.

So, are you offering to take over as CSCC webmaster?

 

[Peter Burgess]

The CSCC Access page says:

In this section are listed all of the major Mendip caves and a selection of less popular sites, along with access requirements.

It does not claim to be a comprehensive list. I suppose it's a question of how you classify 'popular sites'.

 

[Peter Burgess]

It does not claim to be a comprehensive list. I suppose it's a question of how you classify 'popular sites'.

Actually, this is nonsense. We don't know the basis on which the selection was made. The 'Major caves' are included, and a selection of 'less popular' caves, a selection made by unknown criteria.

Sorry, the pedantic streak is coming out again. :-[

 

[cap n chris]

Flint Jack's Cave?

More accurately described as Flint Jack's Rock Arch. Landowner is no longer Mr. Lund (as in Mendip Underground) - actually it was Mr. Lunt; it's now Mr. Sturmey. But hey ho it's not an enterable "cave" so you wouldn't want to go there.

 

[graham]

Flint Jack's Cave?

More accurately described as Flint Jack's Rock Arch. Landowner is no longer Mr. Lund (as in Mendip Underground) - actually it was Mr. Lunt; it's now Mr. Sturmey. But hey ho it's not an enterable "cave" so you wouldn't want to go there.

Ah, but I might.