What Stuey says is largely true. I would like to add that getting into this game now is a lot easier than it was a few years ago. The usual route was either via a caving club or knowing someone in the game already.
Today the internet has to a great degree, shown people that there is another world besides the one they have on the surface.
So now all they have to do is get on line and look for good looking places to go. Pick up some lighting and some other rudimentary kit, and off to Wales or wherever, with no knowledge of the unspoken rules and protocols that the Bona Fide ME endeavours to abide by.
I've taken countless people on their first trip underground and regardless of intelect, the number of people wanting to touch delicate formations is amazing, and it's not untill you point out the consequences of doing so that they pause and consider their actions.
Now if there are a bunch of newbies with no guidance stanking around in a mine there will be damage done and oftimes quite innocently. Unfortunately that innocence can last an awfull long time untill they aquire the knowledge from someone in the know. The last time I was in Bedford United in Devon, I lost count of the number of beer cans and crisp bags lying around. I've found mineral collectors in Cligga smoking weed and drinking beer.
Considering all of the above, it's little wonder that secrecy trust have become part of an ME's equipment.
A sad state of affairs I agree, but if we are to maintain anything like an underground heritage then so be it.
It would hardly be worth having a museum if people kept nicking the exhibits. Same goes for underground.
Keep the surface on the surface! :thumbup:
"You Chinese think of everything!"
"But I''m not Chinese!"
"Then you must have forgotten something!"