[Rockhounds] "list where the knowledge of many is shared freely"

[Drew]

On Dec 20, 2007 9:33 PM, <OnyxCollector at aol.com> wrote:

> PawPawTiger  said Rockhounds is a "list where  the knowledge of many is
> shared freely". A furious debate is raging on the  LARocks discussion
> group about
> sharing the locations of places to collect rocks  and minerals at, and I'd
> like
> to see some opinions of the rockhounds on  this list.  Do you think
> rockhounds should share the location of collection  sites, or should
> people have to
> earn the right to this knowledge by going out  first with someone else?


This is up to the individual collector.  No one can say who is wrong or
right.  If I want to share my collecting locations with someone else, it
shouldn't be a problem.  On the other hand, if I don't want to share my
location, that shouldn't be a problem either.  But just because you found a
site to collect at, doesn't mean that you are the "exclusive" owner of that
site (unless, of course, you are able to stake claims... here in the east
that is a no-go).

Is the knowledge of a collecting site  "intellectual property", and thus
> should be
> paid for?


If the individual wants to charge for the information, and there is someone
willing to buy it, then so be it.

Is it wrong to post  GPS coordinates for others to use?  I'd sure like to
> hear what you have to  say.
>

I believe you can do anything, as long as you are not treading on a claim
owner or private property, or something of that nature.  I have some
locations around my neck of the woods that I will take people to, and once
they know how to get there, they can go back whenever they'd like.

There are always a few bad apples that will tear up the property or dig so
recklessly that they force the closure of the spot.  But I don't know if
this would stop, even if people quit giving out location information.

Drew


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