[CQ-Contest] Re: penalty

[Rajiv Dewan, N2RD]

Barry wrote:
> To paraphrase a Seinfeld joke:
> You're driving down the road at 55 mph, you see a sign showing a
> list of speeding penalties: 0-10 mph over limit $60, 10-15 mph over
> $80, 15-25 mph over $125, etc. So, you decide to drive 69 mph
> thinking to yourself "I can afford that."

This is a good analogy, except let us take it to the next logical step.
Suppose that I dislike being ticketed so much that I drive at 45 mph and
slow down all the traffic.  Would this be good too?

A key point to note is that very high penalties effect not just the person
being penalized but every one in a negative way.  How about a hypersensitive
contester who deletes qsos that are even slightly questionable?  Uses
master.dta.  Tapes and listens.  Edits logs after contests.  Use the cluster
after the contest to check calls heard.  I could be more creative but we get
the drift.  Does this make the contest better?  I don't think so.

Further, if almost evey error arising from careless is caught by exhaustive
checking then the incremental impact of high penalties on modifying behavior
is very small.

So like other good things, there can be too much of a good thing.

Let me be clear.  I think that log checking and penalties are GOOD.  The
question is:  What should the level of penalties be?
I am arguing that because of greater probability of catching carelessness,
the socially good penalty level is lower than perhaps it has been
historically.

>Another analogy - if you know the IRS audits every tax return sent
> in, and charges a $3 penalty for every $1 disallowed, would you be
> more careful, and less "creative," before sending it in?

I have not even once suggested that there should not be penalties or there
such behavior, in the context of contesting, be condoned.  I am asking: What
level of penalties is OK?  Why not $1,000 for every dollar found incorrent
in the return?  Why not 100 qsos for every one found to be in class B?

Regards,

Rajiv, N2RD


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