[CQ-Contest] Log Checking in General

[DougKR2Q at aol.com]

Hello Contesters:

I can't but help wonder why the same discussions seem to take place over and
over again about log checking....like there is some sort of difference with
each discussion for each different contest.

As far as I know, only FIELD DAY logs are not checked...as this is NOT a
"contest."

A contest is a competition.  Competitions have entrants (competitors) and
judges.  Judges should use all the means available to them to rank the
entrants.  The "winners" expect to have their logs judged.  The "almost"
winners expect to have the winner's log checked  using the most scrutiny
possible.  All SERIOUS entrants want serious log checking.

Non-serious entrants are in it for the fun...but if they expect to add to
their club score, or get a certificate for their region, or get a pin or
coffee mug, etc., then they should expect that their EFFORT was worthy for
that cause, and SHOULD BE CAREFULLY JUDGED as well.

If you are just having fun, then having your log checked (and potentially
penalized) shouldn't matter to you because, well, YOU ARE JUST HAVING FUN.

But if you want to be a winner, or top ten, or get a pin, or add to the club
score, etc., then you should only expect that your effort is going to be
examined, judged, and if necessary, corrected.  It only makes sense IN ANY
COMPETITION that your final, published score should be REPRESENTATIVE of YOUR
ACTUAL EFFORT.

Every entrant is always faced with the decision of whether or not he/she has
accurately copied and accurately logged what the other guy sent.  The
potential for the sender to mess up is always present, and is EQUALLY present
for all entrants in any range of seriousness.  If you don't want to "lose a
qso" because the other guy didn't acknowledge a correction or question, then
don't log it.  YOU decide where the balance point is...how sure were you that
an accurate TWO WAY exchange was completed?  If you want to be safe, don't log
anything doesn't meet your own criteria for quality.  Afterall, you're only
supposed log COMPLETED qso's.  Anyone who runs knows that each qso logged is
really a crap-shoot because it is RARE to have the folks calling you give you
back your own call.  If you want to run and get high rates, then this is a
trade-off that you must accept.  Nobody forces you to run and nobody forces
you to log every qso.  But since the odds are in your favor that the other guy
got it right, most choose to log everything except in extreme cases....they
EXPECT to lose some of those qso's....at least they SHOULD expect to.

Okay...enough contest philosphy 101.  Enjoy.

de Doug KR2Q


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