Diving for discs- do you call the owner?

[kerplunk]

I always make every attempt to return marked discs that I find on the course, but I wonder if people think that this rule holds true for discs that you "dive" for. My personal feeling is that losing a disc in the water is way different than losing it in weeds or woods, because you knew the risk was high when you threw it with the water in play. Thus, I don't think that there is an obligation to call for discs that you find in the water, but if I am in the minority about this maybe I will change my mind. Any thoughts?

BTW, not an issue yet, but I figure if I get a wetsuit and go diving on a warm day I might hit a gold mine:)

[Texconsinite]

Wetsuit? Thats hardcore.

I'd say I generally call the owner of a disc, but it depends on the disc. If its a brand-new flydied champ eagle, I'll call several times, because you KNOW its somebody's baby, and they are missing that disc. On the other hand, an old DX disc beat to smithereens, I'll call once and then throw it in my car trunk and probably forget about it. Also, OOP discs, or ones w custom stamps, Ill call several times, since their owners def want them back.

My reasoning is, most the time I reach someone about one of their lost discs, they just say Oh well, you go ahead and keep it, I live too far away to drive out there and get it back. Unless its a custom stamped, dyed, or premium disc, most ppl just replace the disc and forget about it. Its still worth calling, tho, just to ease your guilt if nobody returns your call and the disc ends up in your bag.

[ejvogie]

I might charge a dollar or two for the inconvenience, but if there's a name or number on the disc, I'd be obligated to call.

[ERicJ]

Any disc that you find, no matter where, if it has a name/number on it you should call.

This should not be a debate. Add a poll to your thread here and see how people vote.

ERic

[Huckster]

I call 3 times, no matter what. If no response after that, then it's mine. But I really make an effort to get found discs back to their owners. It's a part of the DG culture that I like. That said, if I were to go diving for discs, I'd still return 'em, but I'd accompany delivery with my best Bill Murray in Caddyshack: "How 'bout a little something for the effort?" Who knows, perhaps someday _I'll_ have Universal Enlightenment banked for my death bed.

[Disc Chainy]

I found a beat DX Valkerie at my home course. Called the guy and he was stoked like it was his favorite disc or something. We keep missing each other, its a pain in the ass. I've had his disc for like 2 months. :( I should have just left it.....But yeah, always call! there should be no debate

[Greg Layton]

Call. There's no debate.

[DiscChainBasket18]

If you're diving, that's pretty involved & you should get something in return for your efforts. I would expect a buck or two or maybe a cold beverage at the local pub as a reward for your efforts. As stated here before, if you call them they'll probably not want the disc back or the phone number is no longer in service, etc. So you'll get to keep most of the discs anyway. I'd like to search the lake at Winthrop Gold after a USDGC long distance drive contest!

[kerplunk]

I added the poll, but my own opinion on this subject is beginning to change...

[Omega SuperSloth]

if its not an ace disc or a tournament disc or someone you knows disc or maybe a tye dye then dont call them those disc are yours if someone sees you playin with one and says something take an even trade but if you dont want to trade its your disc do what you want , and any you return they owe you something some kill,a couple brews , descent trade. maybe not money but something now if you wait till they leave and jump in there then thats a different story thats disc jacking

[garublador]

Finder's keepers, looser's weepers is not a good moral standard to live by. It's a justification for stealing. Definitely call.

[Joshua1972]

Call twice... But if no reply after a week or so I consider the disc mine and go on... It still amazes me how many people don't mark their disc's...

Josh

[ZMan44]

This is an interesting twist...I am one that would always call. I am also one who will not wade into the water unless the disc is on the edge or close enough to where I can see it. If I throw one in the drink, it's gone. Again, if I find one with info I would call, but the odds of me pulling one out of the water are pretty slim considering I rarely venture forth. If I throw one into the water on my home course and I see some guy playing with it a few weeks later, I'd go up to him and tell him congrats on the find and I hope it brings him more luck than it brought me.

[solomon.trenton]

Any disc that you find, no matter where, if it has a name/number on it you should call.

This should not be a debate. Add a poll to your thread here and see how people vote.

ERic

couldnt agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ZMan44]

On a side note, at one of our local courses there are a group of about 5 middle school kids who sit around a small pond. (15 feet in diameter...not really even a pond) Anyway, if someone throws a disc in, they jump at it like a swarm of pirhanas. This happened to me once and I made them give it back. They weren't too happy but we need to train the younger generation better than we have. Otherwise when we are older, writing info on the back will be useless because the young ones typically have the mindset of "I found it, it's mine!" Just a thought on the future of our society and their general personality.

[Texconsinite]

I agree. Its not a question of if you call, just how many times you call.

[Omega SuperSloth]

water is different than layin in a field or in the woods you ever been bit by a crab?

[MrDger]

After losing plenty of discs throughout my time playing with plenty of water hazards, I know I appreciated it when people actually put forth an effort.

I always call/e-mail now, realizing how much I use some of my discs.

[kpc2004]

when you throw in water, you know it is in there, you just make the choice to leave it cause u dont wanna get wet. you can just as easily get in there and root around til you find it just like the guy who actually does. i dont think you should have to call, although it does reflect nicely when you do. and if you get a call about a lost disc, especially if it was in the water, you better offer a reward for the finder. i search for discs all the time, and i do call the owners just because i choose to, but my opinion stands that the finder should not feel obligated to call. if you find one laying on the fairway my opinion changes entirely. everyone is entitled to their opinion or interpritation of others opinions. some may think im an ass, but thats just how i feel. i do call though because even though i dont feel i have to, i do think it is the nice thing to do

[blang]

At Claystone Park in Macon, GA the lake levels are lowered s once a year so the home owners can do any needed repairs to their docks or water walls. Literally hundreds of discs were found by locals, park staff and home owners. Many discs did not have names on them and these were the discs that were considered the prizes of the scavengers. If the discs had a name on them they were either directly returned to the owner or turned into the Ranger Station/ Pro shop. I am sure that out of the many discs with names and numbers returned there might have been a few not returned, but everyone in our community did what was right. I found about 4 discs and returned them all. I also had 4 of my old discs come back to me in the process.

[nicfit]

For me it comes down to karma. I hate losing discs and hope that I get a call when I do, so I make calls when I find discs. The last disc I found was unmarked, but on the flipside I got an ice bold can of beer for returning a disc that I called about. Meeting on hole #8 at Beaver Ranch to return the disc... well if you know that course you know that there really is no better place to receive/drink a beer. Karma feels good.

[t i m]

I guess it depends on your personal understanding. Back when I first started playing disc golf, I didn't know the culture. I lost discs. I found discs. Other people lost discs. Other people (presumably) found my discs. I thought that losing/finding discs was just part of the game... I didn't keep found discs out of malice; I kept them out of ignorance.

We used to play that if you found a disc, it was -1 from your score. So there were a few times, when scores were tight, when someone would throw into a pond on purpose for the excuse to jump in and get a stroke or two off of their score by finding a few extras.

And back at that point, discs were fluid -- if someone needed a disc, it was freely given. Name or no name. Finding/losing discs was part of the game, and none of us were good enough to see much difference between discs. And none of us were knowledgeable enough to know that some discs were worth a lot of money (this was back in 1997, so there weren't many valuable discs being thrown at that point).

I think a lot of people new to the game still have a similar mindset. They probably think of discs as just a flowing commodity of the game. It always made sense to us that we lost one or two and we found one or two and their was a cosmic, karmic balance to the game.

Since then, of course, I've gotten to know disc golf etiquette and understand the literal value of different discs as well as the intangible value that certain discs can have to their owners. Because of that, I find that it should be a good idea to call, or in lieu of a phone number, to post on whatever disc golf forum board is local to the area you are playing in.

However for me, I don't think that -- to this day -- I have ever gotten a single disc back that I have lost. And I have been playing since 1997. Granted, I don't lose too many discs, but the numbers do add up. I've gotten one phone call, back when I first started playing, but it was a DX Shark and not worth the trouble to meet up and track it down or pay for postage.

But I'm also a careful golfer. Ever since losing my favorite 2nd run Valk in a pond at Buffumville Dam back in 2003, I haven't thrown anything I can't replace near water. I figure it's my fault if I throw in, and I bring something I can part with on all water courses. That way, if I go in. I don't have to worry about it -- someone else can find it and I'm happy for them to have it.

I've found it's all a matter of mental game. The best way for me to keep my mental game is to not do anything radically stupid. For me, throwing a favorite/expensive disc next to a body of water is a radically stupid thing to do. If everyone subscribed to this philosophy, people would be a lot less upset over lost water discs...

[kpc2004]

I've found it's all a matter of mental game. The best way for me to keep my mental game is to not do anything radically stupid. For me, throwing a favorite/expensive disc next to a body of water is a radically stupid thing to do. If everyone subscribed to this philosophy, people would be a lot less upset over lost water discs...

well said sir

[ERicJ]

water is different than layin in a field or in the woods you ever been bit by a crab?

Different only in the disc is covered by water instead of air... :confused:

Have you ever been stung by a swarm of bees while climing a tree? Even been bitten by a colony of fire ants in a wide open fairway? Even gotten a case of poison ivy rummaging through the leaves? Even been sprayed by a skunk searching in the woods? Ever been impaled by thorns getting a disc back from the brambles?

There are hazards to disc retrieval everywhere.


when you throw in water, you know it is in there, you just make the choice to leave it cause u dont wanna get wet.

Why do you assume the owner chose to leave it there? How do you know they didn't just go home to get a swimsuit and are on their way back. Unbeknownst to them some unscrupulous diver has already taken their disc while they were gone and didn't call. They spend hours looking for their disc all in vain.

you can just as easily get in there and root around til you find it just like the guy who actually does.

How do you know he/she didn't try?

Though I was glad to read that you do call anyway Kevin.

ERic

[kpc2004]

most of the time i do my searching at night time, especially in my local park, and technically its illegal to be out there since it closes at dark, so i dont imagine too many people would be coming out there around 10 o'clock to find a disc they lost at noon. i do this to avoid encounters with park rangers/local police. in the woodlands they dont like it too much when you are in the water. one time the police came and made me get out of the water to prove i wasnt naked in a public park lol. if not night time its usually hours after i have been there and around sundown. very rarely do i go in during the day unless i throw one in and i have to go get it, then i go in immediatly after it goes in the water.

[solomon.trenton]

if its not an ace disc or a tournament disc or someone you knows disc or maybe a tye dye then dont call them those disc are yours if someone sees you playin with one and says something take an even trade but if you dont want to trade its your disc do what you want , and any you return they owe you something some kill,a couple brews , descent trade. maybe not money but something now if you wait till they leave and jump in there then thats a different story thats disc jacking

your so full of **** and a disgrace to the game. you always call no matter where you found the disc. if there is no response then you get to keep it. not before.

[Jimb]

...in my opinion, it's not a matter of being obligated to do anything. I don't have to call anyone when I find their disc. I always call, though, as a matter of courtesy.

If I lost a disc (and believe me I look for a long time to find my wayward discs) I'd hope that if someone found it that they'd call me. I believe that it just shows a basic respect for one-another in the dg community.

That's my two cents worth... don't want to get into my two dollars worth! :D

[blang]

I have personally gone diving for discs about 6 times. Each time was not in an attempt to cash in on a gold mine of lost discs, rather I dove in attempt to find one of my own lost discs. Of the times that I was looking for my own I did find some discs with numbers and they were returned.

By the way, I always went looking for my disc a least the day after I lost it. I had to come back with a change of clothes. If someone were to have dove for my disc, found it, and assumed I just left it there without trying to get it back, they would have been very much mistaken.

I often hear people justifying when it is OK to keep a disc but the truth of the matter is if you come across a disc while playing, you will never know how many aces that disc may have had, what sentimental value it has, or how long the owner might have spent looking for it. (unless you return it to them and ask) :)

[REDARMY]

your so full of **** and a disgrace to the game. you always call no matter where you found the disc. if there is no response then you get to keep it. not before.

seconded.

nevermind the effort required during retrieval.

Call.

Multiple times.

if noone answers, fine, its yours.

the one disc i found that had a number on it, i called, got the guy first try, he said thanks, I left it at the course's office, i thought nothing more of it after that. why should someone feel entitled to a reward for returning $15 worth of plastic that doesn't belong to them in the first place?

if someone does answer, you meet up, and you don't get a thank you/beer out of it, fine, that person may be an *******, but it STILL WASN'T YOUR PROPERTY TO BEGIN WITH.

now, if same said ******* loses another disc that you find, then by all means keep it. if someone can't even do you the courtesy of thanking you for finding their disc, they don't deserve it (the second one) back and are probably not the kind of folk you'd want to be playing with.

take the high road and equate a lost disc with a lost wallet. wouldn't you appreciate the extra effort someone went to to get your stuff back to you?

(i know that's not an apples-to-apples comparison, but the DG community and humanity otherwise would be better off if more persons followed that guideline.)

/you may saaaaaay i'm a dreameeeer, but i'm not the only one....etc etc.

those who give a **** get my point.

[Omega SuperSloth]

its just plastic you wanna be buried with it?

[_.-Dut-._]

I always call the numbers and leave messages if the person doesnt answer, but it seems rare that anyone wants the disc back.


Me and a friend hit a pond one day and found somewhere in the vicinity of 80 discs. I called every number on the discs I had gotten out of it, some of which was the nicer CE plastic from back in the day, and not one person returned my phone call.

To this day the there has only been two times I talked to the person whose number was on the back, and on one of those the guy still didnt walk back to the hole I was waiting for him at. :confused:

[borndasaur]

Trophy Lakes (a pay-to-play course) in Charleston, SC has a deal worked out with a local scuba diver to recover lost discs. They pay him $1 per disc to cover his time and expenses, recovered discs are returned to their owners for $2, and unclaimed discs are sold through the pro shop. This would be an unusual set-up since there is money available to do this (from the course fees) and its not like he goes out there every day. Some of the discs pulled out had been missing for a few years but the owners were still glad to get them back.

[magictenor1]

I don't generally go into water to get a disc that I can't see. If I left the disc there I wouldn't expect anyone to try to return it to me. Interestingly in ball golf nobody tries to return golf balls they find or even marks them so that it would be possible. when I 1st started playing i was suprised to see names on discs.

[Omega SuperSloth]

dont write your name on it unless it means something to you if you can buy a new one at the store just let it go you find some you lose some thats part of the fun

[blang]

I don't generally go into water to get a disc that I can't see. If I left the disc there I wouldn't expect anyone to try to return it to me. Interestingly in ball golf nobody tries to return golf balls they find or even marks them so that it would be possible. when I 1st started playing i was suprised to see names on discs.

Lets continue the analogy. If someone left their golf clubs at the course, would you expect them to be returned?

[brennan]

I'd say I generally call the owner of a disc, but it depends on the disc. If its a brand-new flydied champ eagle, I'll call several times, because you KNOW its somebody's baby, and they are missing that disc. On the other hand, an old DX disc beat to smithereens, I'll call once and then throw it in my car trunk and probably forget about it.

I'd much rather lose a brand new champion plastic disc rather than my perfectly seasoned Gazelle or Roc. "Oh, this thing is old, beat up and base plastic. They probably wouldn't want to go out of their way to get it back." can never be farther from the truth sometimes.

[Donovan]

Even our local Play It Again Sports will let you buy your disc back for what they paid for it, if you have proof it is yours.

Just return it when it is feesible and can...plain and simple.

[Lewis]

If you don't make an effort to return a disc that bears a person's name, it's petty theft, no matter what the circumstance. I don't even buy the written-on discs at Play-it-Again Sports, because they feel contaminated by bad karma.

[Geoffro]

/you may saaaaaay i'm a dreameeeer, but i'm not the only one....etc etc.

those who give a **** get my point.

Well said.

[kpc2004]

on a side note--about how much does a disc cost from play it again? are they reasonable prices for a used disc?

[Geoffro]

If I found a disc on the viewing deck of the Sears Tower, I would call. If I found a disc buried in the soil while digging up a new garden in back yard of my new house, I would call. If the waitress at my local bar gave me a "free" disc with my first drink and it had a number on it - I would call.

It doesn't matter where you find it, you should call. It's not a "have to" situation for you oppositional-defiant folks out there, it's just the right thing to do. Discs have history and attachment to many of their throwers - it's not about the seven or eleven or twenty bucks - it's about the history. Call it courtesy, call it karma, call it what ever you want...just call.

[Donovan]

on a side note--about how much does a disc cost from play it again? are they reasonable prices for a used disc?

They buy them for like 3 or 4 and sell them for 8 to 10 is my experience.

[valkyriefb11]

They buy them for like 3 or 4 and sell them for 8 to 10 is my experience.

My local play it again is outrageous ... the charge a flat rate of $15 for any disc any plastic. Not to bad for a star disc but outrageous for a DX disc

[Woodpecker]

If the disc has a name and a number, I call as many times as I think is reasonable. It amazes me the number of times I don't get a call back or someone just tells me to keep it.

If someone finds one of mine, it will cost them:

A round of disc golf with me and they can have up to 2 beers out of my cooler (well, they can have a few more if they've got a really nice set of boobers, LOL). Seriously, they can have up to 2 beers cuz I ain't going to put anyone drunk out on the road.

I guess I have a couple of weird habits. I'll carry someonelse's disc in my bag for a while, waiting for a call back, but never throw it. I have my discs in my bag set up in a certain order and having that extra disc or two just bugs me after a while. I can't throw 'em cuz they ain't mine. Weird, huh?

After a week or two and no return call, I'll give the found disc to one of my friends or if I see some young kids without many discs, I'll give it to them.

I'm got two discs in my bag right now that belong to other people. Does anyone know Jon Alvarez (150g camo dyed Flick) or Matt Braun (172g Champion Monarch)?

Woodpecker

[kpc2004]

They buy them for like 3 or 4 and sell them for 8 to 10 is my experience.

My local play it again is outrageous ... the charge a flat rate of $15 for any disc any plastic. Not to bad for a star disc but outrageous for a DX disc

i can see paying 8-10 for a good used one but yeah 15 is a bit much for every single used disc, especially if they sell the ones with other's names all over them

[kerplunk]

my local play-it-again buys them for $2 and sells them for $6. i'm always surprised there arent' more on craigslist

[_.-Dut-._]

You can find some real good deals. I have seen alot of newer champ and star plastic for 7-8 dollars. Ive also seen some plastic that looks like its been thru a wood chipper for the same price, so its hit and miss.

[SigmaChris]

My Play it Again near Cincinnati (Mason, OH)

First off 98% of the discs are new. Not everything in this store is used.

$15 for Star / Champ plastic

$8 for new DX and used higher class plastic

[crouchingwombat]

I love the guys who go out there with a rake and waiters searching for discs... I've even heard that some people go scuba diving in a lake in south Florida to get discs. I guess they're in it for the profit. On my local course if you throw a disc in the water and wait to get it after your 18 it will most likely be gone. It's great everyone here would make the call but I think it's pretty rare in the real world.

[trifocal]

It's great everyone here would make the call but I think it's pretty rare in the real world.

I lost 6 or 7 discs this year, all with my working phone #. I haven't had one disc returned.

[ERicJ]

My Play it Again near Cincinnati (Mason, OH)
First off 98% of the discs are new. Not everything in this store is used.
Ditto for the PiA in Sugar Land, TX. Not much DX stock, Pro is $12, Champ is $15 and Star is $17 IIRC.

ERic

[Fore]

Any disc that you find, no matter where, if it has a name/number on it you should call.

This should not be a debate. Add a poll to your thread here and see how people vote.

ERic


I agree with this 100%. In most cases if people take the time to write info on their disc that means they would like to hear something back no matter where it was lost at. Call 2-3 times over a period of time and if you hear nothing back it's yours.

[Lewis]

on a side note--about how much does a disc cost from play it again? are they reasonable prices for a used disc?

It sounds like the decision is made locally or by the store manager, but in my experience they give a discount for used discs, depending on the condition. Most of the discs at the store I'm familiar with are new, with a couple of handfuls of foundlings throw in.

[crouchingwombat]

I got lucky at a Play it Again once and got this http://www.discgolfcenter.com/main_displayProduct.php?p=7&PPQT1=18&PPQT2=188 for only $6. Usually the manager knows a bit about the disc's though.

[_.-Dut-._]

It's great everyone here would make the call but I think it's pretty rare in the real world.


^^ I have never had anyone call me with one of my lost discs either. So I agree that it seems to be rare. It wont be rare here however as noone is going to make a post saying "Naw Id keep it"

[ERicJ]

I have never had anyone call me with one of my lost discs either.

I've had at least 25 losts discs returned to me over the past year.


So I agree that it seems to be rare. It wont be rare here however as noone is going to make a post saying "Naw Id keep it"

Except this one:

if its not an ace disc or a tournament disc or someone you knows disc or maybe a tye dye then dont call them those disc are yours if someone sees you playin with one and says something take an even trade but if you dont want to trade its your disc do what you want , and any you return they owe you something some kill,a couple brews , descent trade. maybe not money but something now if you wait till they leave and jump in there then thats a different story thats disc jacking

[D.W.G.]

I have found 10 discs since I started playing in August, only one had a name/number on it... I called, left a message with my name/number and letting the guy know that I found his new Star Wraith... I have not heard back from him, and now have a nice new disc...

[_.-Dut-._]

I've had at least 25 losts discs returned to me over the past year.:

:eek: I couldnt afford to play disc golf if I lost that many discs.





if its not an ace disc or a tournament disc or someone you knows disc or maybe a tye dye then dont call them those disc are yours if someone sees you playin with one and says something take an even trade but if you dont want to trade its your disc do what you want , and any you return they owe you something some kill,a couple brews , descent trade. maybe not money but something now if you wait till they leave and jump in there then thats a different story thats disc jacking.:

I stand corrected^^

[Midnightbiker]

my local play-it-again buys them for $2 and sells them for $6. i'm always surprised there arent' more on craigslist

There are some good deals on Craig's List if you check around. I bought a pack of discs on Craigs list from someone who could not play anymore because of health problems. I got 17 discs for $30.

[DiscChainBasket18]

Karma says always call (at least a couple times) but let's get real here. There are no laws on the books saying that if you put your name on a disc it makes it legally yours. If you have a sales reciept, then maybe you can go after someone who intentionally steals your disc. But petty theft? We're not talking about someone coming up & stealing a disc out of your bag or car. I doubt the local police would go after the guy who found my lost disc in a pond & now won't give it back.
Personal property? Once I lose a disc, it's gone. It is no longer mine. If I do get it back, I consider it lucky. If it's my "special" disc then I am even more grateful. I don't consider it a legal obligation to the finder, but a moral one. Some people want to be nice & will call & make every effort to return a found disc. Others may not so considerate, but they are not breaking any laws.
**I believe this is the big confusion here. People get all attached to a disc & emotions take over. "It's mine. Give it back". Wah. As Omega stated: bottom line, it's a piece of plastic. This is a small detail. Don't sweat the small details. Buy a new disc. Let it go.

[thatguy]

If you find a disc in the water, the woods, or even the middle of the fairway you should call if it's marked. A few courses I play at have a lost and found bin and that system works well. At a tournament I played in November a guy checked the lost and found and a disc he had lost in the pond almost a year earlier was in there. It wasn't the nicest disc in the world and being lost in a pond for a year took it's toll on the plastic but he deffinetly was happy to get it back. I lost a disc to thorns a few weeks ago, my best roc. It's labeled and I'll never see it again.

Do the right thing. If you lost a disc you'd appreciate a phone call.

[discdogg]

I wright my name and # on all my disc and allways happy to meet someone for my lost disc.I also call if theres one on a disc.On a side note i played Blackhorse here in houston and a friend went down to his boxers to get his out of the lake and came back with 6 others was funny as hell( cant believe none saw and had us thrown out as we do not live there and its a private course ). We called if there was a number but in the end was able to keep all.

[kpc2004]

did you see any of the course marshalls? i went to go play it the other day and they were chillin in the parking lot so i didnt even get out of the car i just turned around and headed home disappointed

[bjreagh]

I am going to start putting my number AND e-mail address on my discs. I didn't realize so many people actually made an effort to return discs! I would gladly reimburse for postage too, especially since PayPal would make this super easy.

[bjreagh]

Would you buy a used disc from Play-it-Again that had a name and number on it?
If you bought it would you try to give it back?
If you sell discs to Play-it-Again, be sure to mark out your info.

What about if you get a used disc off E-bay and it shows up with a name and number on it (not the seller's)?

[JHern]

No excuses, always call. Also, many of us use e-mail addresses instead, since we might not have permanent numbers or we move a lot. Definitely drop a note.

I've lost many nice discs I know must have been found since, and received no response once they were recovered. I would gladly pay to have them back, if somebody would have done so. If I see somebody throwing them, I'll make a scene.

Many courses have a lost and found anyways, and I always dump found discs in there when I find them and one is available...it saves the trouble and puts the burden on somebody else.

[sub ceroh]

Question? I have heard from friends of mine that discs that have been in the water for a wile are no good? Any truth to this or is it a time thing like one year in the water no good or two months in the water still good???? P.S. YOU ALWAYS CALL IF THERE IS A NAME AND NUMBER!!!!!!!!!!

[tamahawk]

Question? I have heard from friends of mine that discs that have been in the water for a wile are no good? Any truth to this or is it a time thing like one year in the water no good or two months in the water still good???? P.S. YOU ALWAYS CALL IF THERE IS A NAME AND NUMBER!!!!!!!!!!


i'm not sure of any time frame or whatever on discs being in the water, but from personal experience, it seems like water really takes it's toll on discs, mainly the dx from what i've seen. i found an unmarked dx viper in water buried about a 1/2" or so in the mud, probably had been there a while, which is an extremely overstable mid-range disc. it would turn left (RHBH), but not nearly what i expected it to. i don't have any data to back it up, but i definitely think it has an impact on the flight characteristics.

[danhyzer]

Here in Canton, Ohio we have several people scouring the ponds for lost discs. One time I didn't have any of my discs with me but I was in the park just checking on the Jesse Buryj Memory Garden, when I noticed someone fishing out a couple discs out of the pond. After some small chit chat I asked the guy if he contacts the names on the back of the disc. He said he doesn't as he said... I go to the trouble to dig em out, they're mine. I clean them up and re sell em. I wanted to push the guy into the toxic water right there and then, but knew that wouldn't be good. So I explained to him that wasn't to cool and that you reap what you sow. He told me to blankty blank and I was out of there before any trouble could occur. Another time during one of our weekly scrambles I was sitting down on the ground chit chatting with the group I was playing with as we we're waiting for the hole to clear ahead of us and I noticed an old 86 softie in one of the players bag. I asked him if I could see it. and he handed it to me. I said, dude that's my name on the back and the disc is mine. He said that he found it in the water and it was his. So I purposed this question to him... If I found your car unlocked is everything in your car free game or if I found your home unlocked is everything in your home free game for anyone to take. Well of course not he said. Then why do you think that disc is yours when it's clearly marked with my name, I said. He said you could have it as he was pretty embarressed with the whole situation amongst our group and I gave him a couple bucks for his efforts as the disc meant something to me and explained to him the 'right thing' to do when finding a lost disc. I also find a lot of the newer players don't mark their new discs so when they lose them there's no way to contact them. I've found a few unmarked discs during my travels and usually find a good home for it elsewhere. We even had a very kind neighbor of the park donate a extended pole with a fishing net for the unfortunate DGers locate their discs. What happened... the idots threw the pole out in to the water for it to sink as that would put some people out of buisness (like they're actually making a living on it).

At another course in Wooster, Ohio. I once had a professional diver go into the pond to scour the bottom with hopes of finding some plastic. He found 4 discs. And he said the bottom of the pond was perfectly clean to see any discs. Shoot, I know personally I lost at least 10 discs on this one picticular hole. But the hustlers had already beatn' me to the scene and my discs found their way into someone elses bag.

Be aware if you play DG in this area. you might not have even a couple of holes time away from losing a prized disc because of the hustlers. I was wondering has any one ever called the law on these people. As they are stealing?? Aren't they??

[ZMan44]

While I agree that it is immoral and it should not occur, it is not technically stealing. As far as I know every state in the US has an abandonment provision stating that if property is abandoned and recovered by someone else, it is not considered "stolen". Calling the law would not help. Unfortunately we will just have to let karma take its course on those that practice this disgrace.

The legal definition of abandonment is "the absolving of ownership due to to the willful leaving of property in a public place".

This definition leaves the possibility that if the course is private, the owner could press charges on that individual. If property (disc) is left on his property (land/course) it becomes his property. Then he could give it back to the owner. Most privately owned courses are built by guys who understand the etiquette of returning discs so it seems that it is possible to press charges on a private course.

And just for the record, if it ever went to court, any lawyer (even a stupid one) would be able to argue that leaving a lost disc, even if searched for, is willful abandonment.

It sucks, but there is really not much the law can do for you.

PS - I hate lawyers...I have to deal with them regularly in the insurance business...not exactly fun.

[valkyriefb11]

Dont know about the rest of you, but I dont usually "willfully lose discs and leave them on the course" ;)

[ERicJ]

Is trolling a lake for discs that you know don't belong to you significantly different than walking through a parking lot lifting handles on cars to see who left their unmarked CDs/IPOD/etc. sitting on the passenger seat...?

[kerplunk]

Yes, it is significantly different, but you would be a good politician Eric.

I have decided I will be calling numbers if I ever do decide to take a swim though, but I still think when you throw a disc when there is water in play you are basically saying you are willing to never see that disc again.

[ner02]

I don't mark any of my discs, but I don't lose many (Maybe 1 in the past year). I'm willing to jump in a river or fjord a stream to retrieve most discs though. If it's a disc I'm fond of, I'll spend 30 minutes wandering up and down a river looking, until the snakes show up.

But there's also times where I'll throw a disc I don't care about in the water where it's clearly visible, and the cost to me in terms of muddiness or wetness isn't worth the replacement cost of the disc to me. I make the decision myself as to whether or not the disc is valuable enough for me to take the necessary effort to retrieve it. I feel that if someone is willing to jump into neck deep water to retrieve my disc and I'm not, then it's worth more to them than it is to me. If a guy walked up at the moment I threw it in, I'd even tell him that if he wants to get it, it's his.

[Hamilton]

Is trolling a lake for discs that you know don't belong to you significantly different than walking through a parking lot lifting handles on cars to see who left their unmarked CDs/IPOD/etc. sitting on the passenger seat...?

yes it is different, because in someone's car would not be in the public domain...i am of the opinion that A)if you throw on a water hazard hole, you KNOW that there is the potential to throw into the water B)you may or may not have the means or desire to get it out if it does go in C)if you decide you can't or won't go in after your disc, and someone else later does, i say it's theirs

yes i like getting discs back, and you can make the argument that it should be returned, and it's def not a bad idea to call, but i'm MUCH more likely to tell someone to keep a disc they fished out of the water when they call than one that i may have not picked up after shooting...

[DiscChainBasket18]

Ditto for the PiA in Sugar Land, TX. Not much DX stock, Pro is $12, Champ is $15 and Star is $17 IIRC.

ERic
I went to a Play it again sports store in Las Vegas. I needed another disc so I could throw with my brother & sister at the local course. I figured P.I.A.S. would have a used disc or two. Unfortunately they didn't have any used plastic. So I'm lookin at the new Innova discs & I see a beautiful blue champ Wraith for $10.00:eek:. I grab that one & keep looking. Right behind the champ Wraith on the rack is a DX Wraith with a price tag of $15.99. Right there I knew that they had mis-marked the discs & I was getting a heck of a deal! Depending on the store you could get a good deal & they wont even know about it.;)

[ERicJ]

I went to a Play it again sports store in Las Vegas. [...] I figured P.I.A.S. would have a used disc or two. Unfortunately they didn't have any used plastic.
Yeah, the PiA in Sugar Land has almost no used plastic either. It's almost all new. They do usually have a pretty big supply of Champ X-Outs that go for $8 or $9. Not a bad deal if the bubbles are tiny.

ERic

[sidewinding]

Dont know about the rest of you, but I dont usually "willfully lose discs and leave them on the course" ;)

Risk vs Reward. If you take the risky shot around water, you are willfully seeking the reward of a lower score. If you mess up and lose the disc in the water, that is the "risk" you take. If you then abandon it and someone else does the work to get the disc back that you selfishly risked to better your own score then they deserve to keep it not You.

[Legend KILLer]

Here's a question. I found a beat up Eagle with 3 (yes I said 3!) names on it. There in no particular order just random. My first thoughts are that this disc is some sort of "traveling pants" thing. I guess I'm eventually suppose to lose it and someone else finds it and continues the legacy. What to do think? Continue the legacy? Call a number? If I call, which one?

MONDO

[trifocal]

Call all the numbers...maybe the disc has an interesting story

[Ishulebest]

Either make the effort to call, or at the very least turn it in to the lost and found, whether it be a ranger station at the park, or your local club's lost and found. I have actually had this discussion with a so called pro.I maintained that since I bought and paid for the disc, I had the right to get it back.I would glady offer something in return; a few $$, cold beer, a different disc ect. This jerk actually stood there and tried to quote "Florida salvage rights when it comes to finding things in public waters" Needless to say I wasn't the only one who rolled his eyes, shook his head and told him "your a @#$%#@ idiot" Give the owner a chance.

[blang]

Here's a question. I found a beat up Eagle with 3 (yes I said 3!) names on it. There in no particular order just random. My first thoughts are that this disc is some sort of "traveling pants" thing. I guess I'm eventually suppose to lose it and someone else finds it and continues the legacy. What to do think? Continue the legacy? Call a number? If I call, which one?

MONDO

Do whatever would clear you of having the knowledge of what a "traveling pants" thing would be :)

[swellerdiscgolf]

I lost a disc in a swamp while practicing near my house. I told my buddies about it and said if you want it there it is, I even showed it to them. I am not going to get it, because I've already replaced it.
If I lose a disc and don't find it, I will consider it lost and gone forever, even though I do have name and number on all of them, and if someone does call me on one they find, I will tell them to keep it and enjoy. If I find one that is marked I will call, if no mark I will enjoy.
Just thinkning about this...If I lose my own disc, oh well, but if my brother-in-law (who is using some of my beginner discs) loses any, he better buy me a replacement one, even though I don't, and won't use those disc anymore. Is this wrong????

[Omega SuperSloth]

just found 10 discs off #2 at mozola in h-town only one with name a dx eagle i left it in a pile with the other 4 crap discs, kept 2 tie dye wraiths,x-calibur ,jls, valkrie. all those discs had former owners so did i steal those should i have given another year till the water went down for them to come back for them. there is no difference from a disc with no name or one with name and email once you get in your car and leave you no longer have a right to that disc. just so you know i wasnt diving i saw several discs while i l was looking for mine, if you right your number on a quality disc ill call and leave it somewhere but im not going to meet a stranger

[borndasaur]

What do you do when you meet someone you don't know while out on the course?

[Ishulebest]

there is no difference from a disc with no name or one with name and email once you get in your car and leave you no longer have a right to that disc.

I hope I find your plastic on a course marked with your name, phone # address, e-mail, social security #, and mothers maiden name. I will gladly walk it over to the nearest plastic recycling bin and toss it in. You obviously have no "sportsmanship", or respect for others who play the game.When I find someones disc, I NEVER EVER THINK, hhhmmm they left the course without it they don't want it.Your logic is B.S.!!!!! How do you know that person did not spend an hour or more trying to find it? It's about respect for other players. You have shown you have none. Do us all a favor and quit playing ,before you pollute others with your selfish views.Can't wait to recycle your discs. Think Green!!!!

[Omega SuperSloth]

if your to lazy to climb a tree or find a stick or to good to get wet and smelly why should someone who puts in the work just give you your disc back remember people we are talkin about water discs not layin in the fairway. ive lost just as many as ive found but ive returned 15x what ive got back so i quit writing my number down, i love finding discs with no names as much as i hate loosing new discs its all part of the game if everyone only put their info on important discs more people would call.

[Ishulebest]

"SPORTSMANSHIP"!!!!! You just don't get it. I am 6'5". I am neither lazy or afraid. I go into trees regardless of snakes, I go into water regardless of gators. I use caution doing both. But I go and look.If I find a piece of plastic that belongs to someone else, then I turn it in to lost and found if I can't reach that person. Every disc golfer is not used to the hazzards that I have become used to. That does not mean they aren't entitled to their plastic. Like I said, I will gladly return any plastic I find. Well except yours, that goes into the recycling bin. WHY? Because I understand what it means to promote the game. IT IS NOT MY PLASTIC IF IT DOES NOT HAVE MY NAME ON IT!!!

[Ishulebest]

Omega, let me extend an Olive Branch. Come down here to Fla. When you end up in the water, water that has an 11 ft gator lurking, lets see if you leave the course with your plastic.

[Omega SuperSloth]

sorry to disapoint but we also have big gators,and snapping turtles,water mocasins,spiders. ive never seen a gator while playin but ive heard them during night rounds and seen where the sleep on the courses. this part of texas dosnt look much different than florida and if you find my disc keep it maybe youll learn how to play better with some quality plastic,once i quit lookin that disc is dead to me so i really dont care :p:D:eek::cool:

[Omega SuperSloth]

IT IS NOT MY PLASTIC IF IT DOES NOT HAVE MY NAME ON IT!!! is it still your plastic if you dont put your name on it?:confused:

[Omega SuperSloth]

[QUOTE=Ishulebest;25985]Omega, let me extend an Olive Branch.

why dont you keep that olive branch to get your disc out of the water then we woundnt need to have this conversation:)

[ERicJ]

there is no difference from a disc with no name or one with name and email

I think most reasonable players will disagree with that.

once you get in your car and leave you no longer have a right to that disc.

You have the same lack of right to that disc as they do...

[blang]

I was at a Disc Golf tournament this weekend and was warming up with a lot of drivers and I turned over an under stable driver in the woods. It was about 5 minutes before the players meeting so I was unable to go look for it. I am friends with the TD and I casually mentioned what happened and told him that I did not have my name on the plastic because it do not use it. He is the head of the Middle School Disc golf club where the course was located and confidently said that if one of the kids find it, I would get it back regardless of my name was on it or not. He teaches sportsmanship along with technique.

Sure enough my disc was recovered by one of his students in the second round and the little boy smiled as he returned it to me. I am glad that so many youths are learning disc golf in the way.

[Omega SuperSloth]

i dont have any discs with numbers on them or my name so do those discs belong to me can someone just take them out of my bag how does writing something on it change ownership should someone who finds my disc hire a psycic i mean if they still technicaly belong to me. moral and legal are two different things, most of the courses in houston dont have lost and founds or offices and if you put a disc with nothing on it in there someones gonna take it, personally i try to make every effort to return lost discs with numbers no matter where i find them but do i think you should or have to no. by the way if any buddy lost an x-caliber at mozola with the name nate blair on it let me know i dont want it no number on it dont know if thats two names or one and a last if u know them let me know

[borndasaur]

GTFOYS, DB

[Omega SuperSloth]

gsabd, drse

[zud00]

YGRNTSTS, BAOS

[Legend KILLer]

A while back I was attending a field trip in Berkeley, CA for my architecture class and, unfortunately, my car got broken into. I lost my stereo, and all of my cds but what hit me the most was that my bag with ALL my discs were in the trunk. Sadly to say, they took them too but I did have my name on them and phone number (which hasn't changed). There's a possibility that the bastard(s) did erase my name but if they didn't, where is my phone call? Now, I don't let my discs out of my sight.

Now I have a question to ask all of you: what would you do if someone tried to sell you some discs with the name scratched/blanked out? Would you pass it up? Buy it and say it's yours? Buy it and try to read the name or number? Would you say anything to the individual trying to sell the disc?

Personally, I would buy the disc and try to find the owner.

MONDO

[harr0140]

Any thought that the person with the name on it sold it to someone else?

I have bought used discs and have tried to remove the sharpie with carb. cleaner and it doesnt get it out all the way, so their name and # MAY STILL BE SLIGHTLY VISIBLE, while mine is fresh and new. Do you think that people will assume I found someones disc and never called, or will they assume the most fresh writing is the correct owner???

[Legend KILLer]

Good point harr0140, but obviously you would tell them that this was your disc. I'm coming from the point of view of some dude with a bag trying to pawn them off at your local course, or in my case, probably at some random street corner.

MONDO

[ShaZaun]

It is more of a moral thing.....if you don't mind burning in hell don't call.

[valkyriefb11]

It is more of a moral thing.....if you don't mind burning in hell don't call.

LOL! thats one way to look at it ...

[discflinger]

It is more of a moral thing.....if you don't mind burning in hell don't call.

Yeah, karma's a bitch, but so is that MF with my disc.

[harr0140]

Thinking like a criminal . . . why wouldnt they just sharpie over the info, that would disconnect them from the actual owner.

[scarpfish]

While I agree that it is immoral and it should not occur, it is not technically stealing. As far as I know every state in the US has an abandonment provision stating that if property is abandoned and recovered by someone else, it is not considered "stolen". Calling the law would not help. Unfortunately we will just have to let karma take its course on those that practice this disgrace.

The legal definition of abandonment is "the absolving of ownership due to to the willful leaving of property in a public place".
The thing is, for property to be truly considered abandoned, there has to be willful intent by the person who put it there to not recover it. Nobody intends to throw their disc into a pond. In fact the primary rationale of putting your name and phone# on a disc implies that if it is ever lost, you're trying to leave some means by which it can be returned to you.

And there are a number of scenarios where you could make an argument that a disc lying in a pond is NOT abandoned. If I throw a disc into a pond during a tournament, I just can't stop and hold everyone up to retrieve it. Even playing casually, if I throw a disc in, and after attempting unsuccessfully to retrieve it for half an hour, I decide to head home and get some waders, a rake or a net, even if its a few days after I threw it in, the fact is I'm still attempting to recover it.

Such property would be legally considered lost or misplaced, not necessarily abandoned until a certain degree of time has passed, and with lost or misplaced property there are legal distinctions on what the finder's rights are versus abandoned property.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost,_mislaid,_and_abandoned_property

And just for the record, if it ever went to court, any lawyer (even a stupid one) would be able to argue that leaving a lost disc, even if searched for, is willful abandonment.
Yes, but considering what a lawyer services cost in relation to a golf disc, I don't think any party would be stupid enough to take this to court (at least I hope not). That really underscores the reason most players don't make any super effort to go after their waterborne discs. Its simply easier in terms of time, money and elbow grease to replace them.

And I really don't understand the motivations of people who fish discs out and either keep them for their own use, or to sell them to random strangers. That disc you find in the water may very well not be a good disc for you. Similarly, the person whose name is on that disc likely chose that specific mold and weight for a reason. They are going to probably going to give you a better reward for its return than eBay or Play It Again Sports will.

And just as I think its bad karma not to return found discs with names on them, I think its equally bad karma for the owner to not offer a reward to "fishermen" who make an effort to get it back to you. I will gladly pay $3-6 for a returned disc, or let the finder keep it.

[Hamilton]

LOL at quoting wikipedia for legal issues...

[bjreagh]

What would happen if we started this discussion on a ball golf forum? People don't put their name and number on golf balls as far as I know. Is it because golf balls are cheaper? However, the price of some of them are getting to be a couple of dollars each now. (The list price for a Titleist Pro V1 is about $4 a ball, not too far off from the price of a DX disc!!!) Or is it the average ball golfer has more money than the average disc golfer and doesn't care about losing them?

Is there anything else in the world similar to putting your number on something, losing it, knowing that there is always a chance of that when you throw, and then hoping somebody else will find it and give it back?

The problem is that this concept is so rare that most people in the world just follow the "finders-keepers" rule, especially in the realm of a sports where items can get lost. I find baseballs and tennis balls at parks all the time, none have ever had a number on them, because nobody puts numbers on them. Same with a $5 spinner bait stuck in a tree at the lake.

Has anybody picked up money off the ground before? It doesn't belong to you. But there is no phone number on it. Do you just leave it there thinking the true owner may come back in a few days looking for it?

[bjreagh]

Next time I find an unmarked disc in a pond I am throwing it back in to avoid the bad karma that might occur if I keep a disc that is not mine. But what if I get bad karma for putting it back where I found it instead of placing it on shore in an obviously visible location only to have somebody else take it...

(And if anybody has lost their sense of humor in this discussion- hopefully you labeled it too, so if I happen to find it in a pond I can call you and make sure you get it back!) :)

[Donovan]

10 more votes and we just may have an actual statistic here.


I am a firm believer that you should be making an effort to get a disc back to a person.

HOWEVER,
It should not cost you anything except a little time. If the person wants the disc, they should come get it, have put somewhere for them to get it, or pay to have it shipped.

I also don't think you should have to spend hours trying to contact the person either. If their info is easy enough to get hold of them, then by all means you need to try!

BUT
I am not about to ask every player I run into if they know who this stupid looking logo or first name belongs to. You either care enough to put an email or phone number on it or not. The PDGA # thing is irritating to me, due to having to go look crap up....it would have been just as easy to put an email or phone number on it if this disc means that much to you.

SO
Some of this responsibility belongs to YOU who mark your discs.

Like I have said before, I really do care and want to get a person's disc back to them...but don't make me work at it...otherwise, you can GO spend another 15 bucks and buy another disc.

[scarpfish]

LOL at quoting wikipedia for legal issues...
I realize not everything on there is Gospel (neither is everything on non-wiki sites for that matter), but if you want to provide a link to concise information in one place, explained in layman's terms, its the quickest place to go. One can always investigate further and go read the dry legalese for their specific jurisdiction.

[Hamilton]

my point was that wiki is fine for a casual definition, but it is user-created...and i have seen loads of mis-information on there...

[lewisville150]

If there is information on the disc that would allow me to contact the owner of the disc, I would make an effort to contact the owner. Most of the discs I have ever found have little or no owner info. So far, I have never had enough information to track anyone down. What ya gonna do?

I have never been contacted for any discs I have lost. Not that I expect it since all of my losses are usually quite far out in the water on lakes. I'm talkin' scuba territory so I don't believe I will ever get them back.

I believe if you want someone to attempt to return your discs, you have to give them the opportunity. If they don't, they don't. I don't have my phone number on my discs but I am going to add it. I would hope someone would at least try to contact me and I would be appreciate the effort.

[ERicJ]

by the way if any buddy lost an x-caliber at mozola with the name nate blair on it let me know i dont want it no number on it dont know if thats two names or one and a last if u know them let me know
Nate plays in a lot of the local Houston tournaments:

http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=8200
http://ace.pdga.com/event?TournID=8193
http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=8406

[crouchingwombat]

I would like to see a bulletin board at my course where you could sign up lost disc on the hole it was lost and put you name and number. I do wonder if this would just encourage people to goto those holes to find the lost disc and keep it. OOO there's a disc on hole 5 lets go look for it! Maybe there could be a column for a reward amount, that might get you your disc back. As long as you give more than they could sell if for at play-it-again.

[ZMan44]

All I am saying about the law thing is simply this: If you throw a disc in the water and leave it. Late on some guy gets it out...you see him with it a few weeks later. If you ask for it back and he says "no, I found it". Sure, you're going to be pissed. But if you call a cop and the cop comes out there and says where did you find this, and the guy says "in the lake". The cop will ask you if this is true and you have to say "yes, I lost it in the lake". If you have left the scene at any point, whether giving up the search (most often the case) or going to find a way to try and retrieve it, the law will hold that you "willfully abandoned" the property in a public place.

Nobody is stupid enough to argue that one would "willfully" throw a disc into the water. That would be dumb. But once you have left the scene, said property is "willfully abandoned". No one forced you to give up the search. That was a self-made decision. And it may never go to court, but the cop is not going to, and cannot legally, force the person to give the disc back because there is a name on it.

I agree that you should always call, but you cannot expect that same courtesy unfortunately. The people who don't will have to deal with karma on their own. I was simply making the point that due to the legalities, calling a cop will not help you in the slightest. In fact, the cop would be within his rights to "comandeer" the disc since it was "abandoned" by one party and found on public property by another. The cop could then sell the disc on ebay and give funds to the parks and rec department of the city.

I am just having fun with the legalities because they are facts. Not because any of these situations would ever occur.

[ZMan44]

Also, many of us trade discs either here or on discaroo or another forum. Nearly 90% of the time the disc has a name on the back. How do I know that this person I traded with didn't swipe it out of a lake and it is someone's baby? Does this mean we should only swap discs with no names or numbers on them?

I just ask because I can think of 3 discs that I carry that have someone else's name on them. All came from discaroo...does this make me a target of evil karma? I really can't say.

[Omega SuperSloth]

Nate plays in a lot of the local Houston tournaments:

http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=8200
http://ace.pdga.com/event?TournID=8193
http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=8406

i sent you a pm if you read this

[ejvogie]

I think we've gotten a little off track with this discussion. I'm don't think this was intended to be a legal discussion as much as a moral one. If I were to dive into a lake and find someone's disc, no, I'm not legally obligated to return it. However, if there is any kind of contact information on it, I believe we should make a reasonable effort to call, email, whatever. Just seems like the right thing to do. Chances are the disc has already been replaced, but if the original owner wants it back, I don't see any reason not to give it back. Plus, there should be some sort of reward offered by the owner. I see no issue with unmarked discs, because if someone doesn't care enough about their disc to mark it, they are in effect saying, "I don't want this back if I lose it."

[blang]

LOL at quoting wikipedia for legal issues...

http://news.cnet.com/Study-Wikipedia-as-accurate-as-Britannica/2100-1038_3-5997332.html

[bjreagh]

If I happen upon a body of water I am thinking about catching a 5 lb. largemouth, not hoping I might wade in and find a waterlogged beat up DX Orc! My hope is that one day I catch a big fish and when I clean it I find a used disc inside. Now that would be sweet. I hope it would have a number and then I could call the owner. They would ask "where did you find it?" and I would say "in the belly of a fish, do you still want it!"

[kerplunk]

Next time I find an unmarked disc in a pond I am throwing it back in to avoid the bad karma that might occur if I keep a disc that is not mine. But what if I get bad karma for putting it back where I found it instead of placing it on shore in an obviously visible location only to have somebody else take it...

(And if anybody has lost their sense of humor in this discussion- hopefully you labeled it too, so if I happen to find it in a pond I can call you and make sure you get it back!) :)

LOL
I sometimes feel guilty for being excited when I find an unmarked disc, cuz I know some poor sucker lost it. I just hope it was a frat boy...

[kerplunk]

Also, many of us trade discs either here or on discaroo or another forum. Nearly 90% of the time the disc has a name on the back. How do I know that this person I traded with didn't swipe it out of a lake and it is someone's baby? Does this mean we should only swap discs with no names or numbers on them?

I just ask because I can think of 3 discs that I carry that have someone else's name on them. All came from discaroo...does this make me a target of evil karma? I really can't say.

Discaroo is the shiznit. Is there a thread about it? If not, I'm gonna start one, cuz everyone that plays a decent amount of disc golf should be on discaroo.

[zud00]

Discaroo is the shiznit. Is there a thread about it? If not, I'm gonna start one, cuz everyone that plays a decent amount of disc golf should be on discaroo.

I've made some trades through discaroo. I've traded plastic that I found in water!

[kpc2004]

i made 3 trades on discaroo last week, ive got 2 of the discs so far, and one has 2 names on it already....all 3 trades seemed really fair, and the discs ive already recieved are great

[Hamilton]

i've also used discaroo with success twice...if i get more to trade i'll def use discaroo again...

[frisbeeguy]

i dont have any discs with numbers on them or my name so do those discs belong to me can someone just take them out of my bag how does writing something on it change ownership should someone who finds my disc hire a psycic i mean if they still technicaly belong to me. moral and legal are two different things, most of the courses in houston dont have lost and founds or offices and if you put a disc with nothing on it in there someones gonna take it, personally i try to make every effort to return lost discs with numbers no matter where i find them but do i think you should or have to no. by the way if any buddy lost an x-caliber at mozola with the name nate blair on it let me know i dont want it no number on it dont know if thats two names or one and a last if u know them let me know

I love getting lost discs back! There is not much worse then losing your most trusted driver and then losing it's back-up replacement a few holes later!
I might have a hundred discs at home but I need THAT ONE that I was in the bag so please always attempt to return found discs.

Omega SuperSloth you have a private message with Nate's phone #...he just lost it the other day & would love to get it back.

Peace & birdies, frisbeeguy

[Glynis27]

A few weeks ago my friend through his day-old Champ Valkyrie into the lake. I came back a few days later with my net and kayak to fish it out for him. Got there and found that there was now 4" of ice over the lake. Spent 30 minutes walking on the ice looking for it. Eventually found it and chipped away at the ice with a stubby screwdriver (wasn't prepared for the ice). Took a good 20 minutes. He was glad to get it back.

Walking back to the shore I spotted another disc through the ice. Spent another 15 minutes with the screwdriver and then decided to go find something bigger. Ended up grabbing a 80lb log and smashed through. Grabbed the disc with my net and found that it had a name and number. Called the guy up and will be meeting up with him the next time he comes out to play. Getting that disc was a lot of work, the log was from halfway across the park and I had to lay on the ice chipping away for quite a long time. Will be totally worth it when I give it back to the guy.

Half of my discs were found in that lake at some point. Only 2 have had names, but they will both get back to their owners as will any others I find with names. I would want someone to bring back my marked discs and it can be a great way to meet other players.

Happy DGing

[ZMan44]

Discaroo is a cool site.

Also, I wasn't trying to make it a legal issue. Someone about 8 pages ago asked what would happen if you called the cops trying to get your disc back. I agree this is a moral issue and I only went that way because the question was asked.

In short...always call. Use discaroo...and DGCR of course. And always pack out your trash unless there are trash cans.

[cc0049]

If you find one lying around on the ground and it has a number on it, then you call and give it back. If you find it in the water, it's yours. I've thrown my fair share in the water. If I want it back, then I'll go get it. If I don't, then "happy trails to you disc; may you find a new owner and bring him/her many aces and birdies". If I go into the water and find a disc then it is mine.
That is how I feel about it. I've called lots of people to give them their disc back...but when you find a disc through much effort of your own, such as in the water, then it is yours...you earned it. It all balances out. I've even run into players on a course who had one of my old discs that they found. Of course I'm not going to ask for it back. It is their's now. That's just how it is.

[cc0049]

I want to know who the creeps are that will pick up a disc that has someone's name and number on it and was obviously left by mistake (like in the middle of the fairway or by a basket or something) and will keep it without calling. Those are the real piss-ants that need a good kick in the groin.

[Glynis27]

I want to know who the creeps are that will pick up a disc that has someone's name and number on it and was obviously left by mistake (like in the middle of the fairway or by a basket or something) and will keep it without calling. Those are the real piss-ants that need a good kick in the groin.

Oh god, this happened to me last year. My friend threw a disc into the woods. I set my 4 discs down as a stack right on the treeline to help him search. We find his disc, come back out and my discs are GONE! We see some guy walking to the parking lot with my discs. "Oh, I didn't know" is all he said. Yea, sure you didn't dude. :rolleyes:

[bjreagh]

Discaroo is awesome. I have successfully traded over a dozen discs. I have only traded discs that belonged to me, and as far as I know I have only received discs that actually belonged to the other person. It only costs $2.19 to mail a disc in a normal large envelope!!!

I called to return 2 discs today. 1 guy said keep it, the other is compensating me. Both were very happy to get a call, and it was also kind of fun to tell the stories of how and where I found their discs. How many times have you finally given up on a disc that has seemingly vaporized? Wouldn't it be cool to eventually know what happened to it? Kind of like a message in a bottle!!!

By the way, Glynis27, that is pretty hard core chopping through a frozen lake!!!

[ERicJ]

I just don't see where this sense of entitlement to other peoples' property comes from....

Just because some guy expends a lot of effort with that coat hanger to pop the lock on your car doesn't mean he's entitled to take your stereo home with him.

:(

[solomon.trenton]

I just don't see where this sense of entitlement to other peoples' property comes from....

Just because some guy expends a lot of effort with that coat hanger to pop the lock on your car doesn't mean he's entitled to take your stereo home with him.

:(

a stereo is different than a disc Eric. I do agree that you should call no matter what. I also think that if you go swimming (*especially downing scuuba gear to do so) that you should get reimbursed; whether it be for gas or postage. If you have called 3 times and no response for a month then the owner of the disc has lost out in my mind. i know if someone called me for my disc i would be calling right back. it is the disc owners responsibility to make sure that accurate information is on the disc.:rolleyes:

[solomon.trenton]

Oh god, this happened to me last year. My friend threw a disc into the woods. I set my 4 discs down as a stack right on the treeline to help him search. We find his disc, come back out and my discs are GONE! We see some guy walking to the parking lot with my discs. "Oh, I didn't know" is all he said. Yea, sure you didn't dude. :rolleyes:

i hope you clubbed him like a baby seal!!!:eek:

[trifocal]

I just don't see where this sense of entitlement to other peoples' property comes from....

:(

....its a little boy thing, "finders keepers" or possibly a little cave-boy thing, " Ogg find something, look like Trogs club...hmmm, no Trog. Mine."

Or maybe momma didn't breast feed?

[ERicJ]

a stereo is different than a disc Eric. [....]Yeah, I know... I can't throw a stereo nearly as far as my TeeRex. http://hfds.org/vbull/images/smilies/humor.png

However, the point of the analogy was to try and point out the absurdity of the implied connotation that just because someone expends some amount of effort to procure something entitles them to keep it.

ERic

[Hamilton]

I just don't see where this sense of entitlement to other peoples' property comes from....

Just because some guy expends a lot of effort with that coat hanger to pop the lock on your car doesn't mean he's entitled to take your stereo home with him.

:(
Is trolling a lake for discs that you know don't belong to you significantly different than walking through a parking lot lifting handles on cars to see who left their unmarked CDs/IPOD/etc. sitting on the passenger seat...?

and i don't see why you keep comparing finding discs in a lake and keeping them to breaking and entering...the lake is public, inside of cars are not...

[ERicJ]

and i don't see why you keep comparing finding discs in a lake and keeping them to breaking and entering...the lake is public, inside of cars are not...
In both cases someone is taking something that doesn't belong to them without the owner's permission.

Unmarked discs are easier to rationalize as, in most cases, there is no viable way to discern the owner. However those are not the topic of this thread. We're discussing discs marked with the owner's contact information.

If you're out searching for your lost disc and dredge up someone else's, you call them and they say "keep it"... then great, it's yours. But to assume the mere fact that you pulled it out of the water it somehow now belongs to you is a leap over logic and common moral decency.

Perhaps I have been spoiled in my experience so far. My home course has a ton of water and I have had many discs returned to me by other players who've found my discs while searching for their own.

ERic

[trifocal]

...over logic and common moral decency

ERic

There's the rub.

[solomon.trenton]

Perhaps I have been spoiled in my experience so far. My home course has a ton of water and I have had many discs returned to me by other players who've found my discs while searching for their own.

ERic

that is awesome. however not always the case. i have a friend who has lost 9 disc in the water and has yet to receive a phone call back. it is sad that some people are that way but its how they are. for example if you were to see a hundred dollar bill on the ground while looking for your car at the airport and it had someones name on it how much effort would you expend to find the owner. or would you be like cool i just found dinner, a tank of gas and a new boss.

i do think thaty you should call the owner; i know i would. but i know thats not always the case. i think that if i dump a disc in the water if i dont have my wetsuit with me then im not expecting it back.

[ambroze]

If there's a name and number on the disc, just be considerate and call. You take a risk of losing your disc on a lot of your throws during a round and that disc ultimately belongs to whose name is on the disc. There’s nothing like running across someone on the course that has your lost disc in their bag and you happen join them for a round. How uncomfortable is that? I’ve been in that situation.

[cc0049]

I just don't see where this sense of entitlement to other peoples' property comes from....

Just because some guy expends a lot of effort with that coat hanger to pop the lock on your car doesn't mean he's entitled to take your stereo home with him.

:(

That's a laughable comparison.

[solomon.trenton]

If there's a name and number on the disc, just be considerate and call. You take a risk of losing your disc on a lot of your throws during a round and that disc ultimately belongs to whose name is on the disc. There’s nothing like running across someone on the course that has your lost disc in their bag and you happen join them for a round. How uncomfortable is that? I’ve been in that situation.

i completely agree with you. i just dont expect everyone to do it. as the poll says.

[trifocal]

That's a laughable comparison.

It wasn't a comparison...it was an analogy. They have different uses.

Here's another "laughable" analogy...just to take it to the limit of where people draw the line on whats mine, yours and up for grabs.

The United States of America is just one big Disc that the original owners had been using for a couple thousand years. Some fng "disc-covered" the country and claimed it for his own people and the rest is a trail of tears.
Of course, he had gun powder...which sorta tipped the scale of ownership.

So, yeah...plastic discs are low on the value scale..relatively. But things have other values or worth that are not so easily disc-erned by anyone other than the owner.

A disc, short changing the clerk at the check out counter, a cordless drill in the back of a pick up truck, a guitar on a front porch, a "lost" dog, a child, a country.

Where's the line?

[solomon.trenton]

It wasn't a comparison...it was an analogy. They have different uses.

Here's another "laughable" analogy...just to take it to the limit of where people draw the line on whats mine, yours and up for grabs.

The United States of America is just one big Disc that the original owners had been using for a couple thousand years. Some fng "disc-covered" the country and claimed it for his own people and the rest is a trail of tears.
Of course, he had gun powder...which sorta tipped the scale of ownership.

So, yeah...plastic discs are low on the value scale..relatively. But things have other values or worth that are not so easily disc-erned by anyone other than the owner.

A disc, short changing the clerk at the check out counter, a cordless drill in the back of a pick up truck, a guitar on a front porch, a "lost" dog, a child, a country.

Where's the line?


it all depends how long you have been with the disc

[JR Stengele]

Are you obligated? NO. SHould you? Without a doubt. I know that I have lost several and have never been called back but have found several and called. It is all about good karma in this sport and just being a good humanitarian.

[Omega SuperSloth]

if i find a stereo at the bottom of a pond im pretty sure it was abandoned and probally doesnt work

[zud00]

Are you obligated? NO. SHould you? Without a doubt. I know that I have lost several and have never been called back but have found several and called. It is all about good karma in this sport and just being a good humanitarian.

You must not have good karma seeing how you have made many calls but yet never received any.

[JR Stengele]

Well I have had two aces in the last 6 weeks including one about 200ft. and one about 300ft. so I think I am doing something right. It helps I have 103 discs... = )

[trifocal]

Well I have had two aces in the last 6 weeks including one about 200ft. and one about 300ft. so I think I am doing something right. It helps I have 103 discs... = )

Karma....works a wide range of angles. Congrats on your aces JR and if find a disc with your name on it.....I'll try it out for an ace run or two and then give you a call.

[ERicJ]

Are you obligated? NO. SHould you? Without a doubt.
Agree. I wonder how many of the "No" answers in the poll are because of the semantics of the question including the word "obligated". Would it be more of a landslide if it said "should" instead?

ERic

[harr0140]

If it was changed those that didnt feel obligated would certainly keep the discs. Even though they might think they should call, they still may not.

The question should be restarted. "If you found a disc anywhere on a course with a name and number would you attempt to return it to the owner?"

[ERicJ]

The question should be restarted. "If you found a disc anywhere on a course with a name and number would you attempt to return it to the owner?"
We've already covered that question in another thread:
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=663

I like this question because it specifies recovering discs from the water and for some reason the fact that the disc was in the water somehow gives people that extra feeling of entitlement.

ERic

[bjreagh]

A disc, short changing the clerk at the check out counter, a cordless drill in the back of a pick up truck, a guitar on a front porch, a "lost" dog, a child, a country.

Where's the line?


Good point and also funny that you got from disc to country in 6 degrees. Can you link a disc to Kevin Bacon now?

And if I find Kevin Bacon in a pond I am definitely not giving it back!

[bjreagh]

I look long and hard (sometimes obsessively) for any disc I lose. There are 2 places that if my disc goes in and I can't find it, I consider it lost and I feel I deserve to never see it again. Those places are when I launch it off a giant cliff/mountain or when I send her far out to sea. If I throw one in the fairway or off the fairway in the woods or weeds to where I can actually get to where it went, I feel I have a chance whether I find it or not. Sometimes the recovery is just not feasible (and usually it is a top 10 worst throw of my life) like the 2 places listed above.

Maybe this is the reason some people think water recovery is fair game. I used to think so, but have since changed my mind after discussing it on this thread!

But if somebody calls me and says, yeah "I found your disc in the Grand Canyon or the Great Barrier Reef", I will say "you earned it, so keep it, and thanks for the tale. Wow, that was a really bad throw!"

[ejvogie]

...And if I find Kevin Bacon in a pond I am definitely not giving it back!

If I find Kevin Bacon in a pond, I'm leaving him there ;)

[solomon.trenton]

If I find Kevin Bacon in a pond, I'm leaving him there ;)

im selling him on ebay

[trifocal]

Good point and also funny that you got from disc to country in 6 degrees. Can you link a disc to Kevin Bacon now?

And if I find Kevin Bacon in a pond I am definitely not giving it back!

1. I throw all my discs RHBH.
2. I rode an elevator in Chicago, circa '82 with Jay Leno. He was touring the country after his first appearance on SNL. We shook hands. ( his jaw is bigger in person than on TV )
3. Kevin Bacon appeared on the Tonight Show with Leno in Oct. 84. I assume Leno and Bacon shook hands.

I think thats 4 degrees of separation between my discs and Kevin Bacon. :cool:

[trifocal]

Good point and also funny that you got from disc to country in 6 degrees. Can you link a disc to Kevin Bacon now?

And if I find Kevin Bacon in a pond I am definitely not giving it back!

1. I throw all my discs RHBH.
2. I rode an elevator in Chicago, circa '82 with Jay Leno. He was touring the country after his first appearance on SNL. We shook hands. ( his jaw is bigger in person than on TV )
3. Kevin Bacon appeared on the Tonight Show with Leno in Oct. 84. I assume Leno and Bacon shook hands.

I think thats 3 degrees of separation between my discs and Kevin Bacon. :cool:

[Hamilton]

In both cases someone is taking something that doesn't belong to them without the owner's permission.

Unmarked discs are easier to rationalize as, in most cases, there is no viable way to discern the owner. However those are not the topic of this thread. We're discussing discs marked with the owner's contact information.

If you're out searching for your lost disc and dredge up someone else's, you call them and they say "keep it"... then great, it's yours. But to assume the mere fact that you pulled it out of the water it somehow now belongs to you is a leap over logic and common moral decency.

Perhaps I have been spoiled in my experience so far. My home course has a ton of water and I have had many discs returned to me by other players who've found my discs while searching for their own.

ERic

I'm not saying i wouldn't return the disc, i'm just playing devil's advocate and saying i don't think someone should feel obligated to return a disc they went WAY out of their way for...but if you walk up and find someone's disc that they obviously just forgot to pick up a shot on the fairway, i think its just plain effed up to keep it if it has the owner's info on it, like my champ valk that i loved...

[ChaseTheAce]

I truly believe in Disc Karma.
I pulled 32 last night and called everyone.
Due to good Karma, only 4 of those have to be returned and will put a few bucks in my pocket.
It's surprising how many people just let you keep the disc.

[kerplunk]

If it was changed those that didnt feel obligated would certainly keep the discs. Even though they might think they should call, they still may not.

The question should be restarted. "If you found a disc anywhere on a course with a name and number would you attempt to return it to the owner?"

That question is too long anyway- the space to ask a question in a poll is really short, I had to get a little creative just to fit this one in.

I do agree with the conclusion that there is no LEGAL obligation to call, but MORALLY you should. I still think it is about neutral karma to not call for a water disc, but I still will cuz I'm all about good karma.

And if I find Kevin Bacon in a lake I'm only keeping him if he's holding a stereo with no name on it...

[BENFTS]

about a year ago i was playing at my local course and found a disc with a number that did not work when i called. called every week for a month and never got through. so i feel calling is a must when you find a disc even if you try once.

well today while i was playing the same course a disc that looked like one i had lost flew past me head and landed 50' in front of me. i ran up to it and flipped it over and say most of my name and number still on the bottom. so i picked it up and said "thanks for the call" and walked off with my disc in hand. the gut who threw it said did it hit you is that why you are taking it? told him thanks for the call this is my disc i am the original owner of this disc. wish you would have called me. as i walked off he said don't be such a dick. i cant believe that someone in his shoes would say that.

[Omega SuperSloth]

you stole it from him so i guess you are one

[Omega SuperSloth]

that wasnt a smart move he could have traded or bought that disc maybe he did call or was told that number was no good its just a disc aint worth a beatin

[Flies to the Left]

I would have taken that disc also after pointing my name and number was on it. It's best to remove the ink if you buy a used disc.
If you found it and didn't call, you should expect to have it taken away from you and be listed as a disc thief!

[BENFTS]

turns out he had my wraith too. said he found them in a field but the day that both discs went missing i did not throw either of them. i text ed him and asked why he didn't call and he said what were the odds of the person that owns it would find it? i said good since this is the second time i have got a disc back from you. my wraith still said USMC Combat Vet, did my service for the country so please do yours and call me back, this was barely visible on my beast. i have only lost 6 discs since i have been playing and this guy had 2 of mine, maybe i should go through his bag and look for my others. he said in a later text that he would no call people because this was too much of a coincidence.

omega c'mon I'm a dick for getting my disc back? think about that.

[BENFTS]

its my money its worth a beating. straight up theft.

[I haz ur discs]

I am laughing at all the blogs who say there shouldbe no debate. There most certainly IS debate. First, let me distinguish between a disc left on the course or in a basket. I will absolutely call if there is a number on it and if there is only a name I will ask whomever else is on the course if they have lost a disc and happily return it (if they can tell me what they lost). Now, with that out of the way, let me say that discs found in the water are something else entirely. If I throw my disc in the water and decide to leave it there because I don't want to go after it then that disc is fair game for whomever is brave enough or dumb enough to go in and find it. I watched a guy throw his disc into the murkiest, muddiest, stinkiest, nastiest water and say "I'm not going into that sh*t to find it; that's why I threw that disc." and then walk away. As far as I'm concerned, he abandoned his disc. If I am willing to go into that water risking snakes, snapping turtles, crabs, sunken limbs, knee deep mud, and any number of underwater hazards and find his disc then that disc belongs to me even if he has his name and number on it. I love all the "karma" that get's brought up about this subject. I say that by retrieving that disc I have "rescued" it and it deserves a good home; mine. Avid DG'ers claim that this is a sport. Okay, I'll agree with that. Has anyone ever heard of a golf ball hawk? That's the guy who goes into the water and finds golf balls. Check out 'Dirty Jobs' and see what these guys do to find lost balls. If a golf ball has a name on it should they be obliged to contact the owner? I think not! Some of those golf balls are more expensive than any discs I've seen. (Personally, I don't sell any discs I find.) I've lost a few in the water and have been rewarded for going in to find it many times over even if I have don't find the disc I threw in. Good Luck to whomever found my Express. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I would rather it be in your golf bag than at the bottom of a swamp till the end of time.

[KNole]

let see how long until this is locked

[simpletwist]

This thread is too long for to read all of the responses. But I can get the flavor of the majority by the vote tally. I however disagree because of the word "obligated." No one is obligated to call the owner. That said, I don't dive for discs. I do however call 100% of the owners for discs I find in the water, weeds, trees, leaves, bushes... Most get back to their owner. I call once, maybe twice. Its not an obligation, but just seems like the right thing to do. And by that same token I never expect to get a call when I've lost one. But I usually do get called. I'll never charge a ffinders fee, and doubt if I'd pay one. Well maybe $5 if its a particularly good disc. But then I never throw discs I can't afford to lose. And almost every disc is replaceable.

Just my $.02.

[silverbullet]

I return discs in hopes that people will return mine . i also write reward if found on some of my nicer discs and will throw someone a another frisbee for returning it. i had someone return a CE leopard one time :D i ended up giving the guy a vibram putter

[okie_thumber]

No way, I jumped in the stanking a** creek and got "your" discs out. If you leave it, it's not yours anymore (especially in water). However, if i don't like the discs i have fished out, i give them to my FRIENDS or NOOBS for FREE.

[Mulligan]

I found 4 discs playing a course along a river this week. Earlier in the week I shanked a brand new Wraith in the river that I had just bought, and not inked yet. The river was moving way to fast (and cold) to try and get it.
So I came back on a muddy day with my rubber boots, which let me get at least a couple feet deep. Found 4, two with #s. Called both. One guy told me to keep it, no call from the other...
So I lost one, but gained 4.
Karma, y'all.

[silverbullet]

No way, I jumped in the stanking a** creek and got "your" discs out. If you leave it, it's not yours anymore (especially in water). However, if i don't like the discs i have fished out, i give them to my FRIENDS or NOOBS for FREE.

:\^^^

[silverbullet]

Karma, y'all.

exactly ;)

[bcr123psu]

Search the countless other threads for the answers on this question. Legally speaking, it falls under the realm of lost property. Possession of and failure to return said property is technically theft. Justify it to yourself however you'd like, but this dead horse has been beaten long and hard enough.