KG2V wrote:
> Thing is, I know a BUNCH of hams - guys who are good DXers,
> who won't play in the contests. Why? I'll quote one, but it
> pretty much sums up most of them
>
> "Why should I play in a contest - I have absolutely NO chance
> of winning anything, or even placing top 10, even in the
> section. I have a small vertical, and a space limited 80m
> antenna. There is no way for a guy like me to even 'show up'"
>
This is where things get difficult for me to understand. Who said
contesting was all about "winning"? When you look at serious contesters,
they do it because they love it. Contesting and working people is fun. Some
contests you work a lot of people. Some you don't.
I stink at playing golf, but I play any time I can because I enjoy it. It
is fun to see if I can make that one perfect shot or make par on a few
holes. Should I quit because I can't win the club championship or play on
the PGA tour? Of course not.
The 20,000+ people who run in the Boston Marathon each year don't expect to
beat the Kenyans, but they do know what personal goal they are chasing.
Contesting is about keeping score during a fixed time period. DXing is
about keeping score during your whole life. Some people just aren't as
competitive as we are, or choose to compete in a more leisurely pursuit.
Doesn't make them bad, just different.
My experience is that you can't make them enjoy contesting, but you can get
them interested in supporting a club or group effort. It defines a smaller
category for them to compete in and thus gives them a more visible and
friendly competitive goal.
Randy, K5ZD
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