> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ev Tupis
> Sent: December 13, 2006 22:35
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] An attempt at a foundational
> understanding [was:Icansee the difference...]
>
> ----- Original Message ----
>
> > One final factor to consider: There is always the chance that the
> > adjudicator-of-the-month may interpret the rule on assistance more
> > stringently than you do. Sadly, you won't know until it is
> too late.
>
> VO1HE replied:
> Considering that final factor, if the contest adjudicators
> make arbitrary decisions about the rules of their own
> contests on a random basis, then what hope have we got? If I
> got DQed because someone suddenly decided that a practice
> considered 'de rigeur' since the inception of the contest was
> now prohibited, and did not make that change abundantly clear
> in the updated rules for that contest long before the contest
> was to take place, what would be my incentive to enter any
> more of that sponsor's contests?
> ---------------------------
>
> My "original message" comment was based on Tom's (K1KI)
> comment found here, in context:
> http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/CQ-Contest/2006-12/
> msg00175.html
>
> Note his first paragraph.
>
> He oversees the ARRL Contest department. I believe him.
>
Yep, seems to prove my point. If the rules are nothing more than one's own
interpretation of them, and this interpretation has been reinforced by them
having been enforced (or not) in a haphazard manner, do they have meaning?
In my reply noted above, I referred to practices considered acceptible, not
practices that were always unacceptible yet were never enforced. There's a
difference. Referrencing Tom's posting, the 35mph speed limit is the law,
defined and having penalties if broken. It is, however, not up to a new
police officer to determine that 35mph now means 20mph because "I say so".
Going back to radiosport, if something was not against the rules before, it
cannot now be declared against the rules without warning.
73 -- Paul VO1HE
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