[CQ-Contest] Let's move along, PLEASE

[k4oj]

I think I have learned a lot in the past few says.

One of the things I have learned is that maybe I should not use the 
internet and public postings to drag others into my personal 
business...it appears there has been quite a hornets nest generated.

I gather form N0FP that he has been sent numerous e-mails which are less 
than positive in their tone. To him I apologize for his having to endure 
this.

The original thread about how some ham could be "dissed" by a contester 
is an important thread.  I felt it important because I do not think any 
contester should ever turn down a QSO - only under extreme QRM/QRN/QSB 
type situations where you truly have tried to copy the other station but 
just plain cannot dig them out of the ether shouldyou say no.  I find it 
offensive that some guy could ruin another guys attmept to have some fun 
contesting by telling them to "go awy".

It appears we will never know who the offending station may have been, 
that is all I wanted to know as I wanted to try and set him, the "go 
awy" guy straight... to remind him that such behaviour is not just poor 
sportsmanship but a behaviour which can only hurt a sport which already 
has more than its share of "haters".

Contesting is truly an individual thing - and that in my opinion is why 
it has a following that tends have a long life span.  You improve on 
your station, your skills and consequently your scores, this takes time 
and dedication.  Nobody gets on for the first time and lands in the box, 
ever.  Becuase it is not a  fat wallet that is the requiremnt for a 
"winner" many persue contesting.  They know that the wineers are those 
that win every time they operate by their challenging their biggest foe 
- themselves.  If you keep doing better than you have done in the 
past... you  find yourself doing better than a whole lot of others, too!

It is good to push yourself, it is part of the human character.  In all 
portions of your life.

Again I am sorry that this got as ugly as it appears it did for Ford, he 
made a clean sweep last weekend, anyone who spends that much time in the 
chair clearly enjoys contesting - it is a shame he has to see it now as 
a two edged sword.

I repeat my request, should you know of the offending station let me 
know. He needs some education as to why contesting which we know as out 
and out fun is something others view as out and out crud and they do not 
need us adding to their flamage.

Let's talk about some positive things from this past weekend like the 
phenomenal QRP score of N6TR, or how N2NC (piloting N2NT) has made it to 
the top scorers in SS, from the Northeast, this is tough...jow about the 
midwest scores of W8RE and N9RV????   Anyone know of some newbies who 
were energized by their first real SS, and have any positive stories to 
convey here.  I think I could use some!

I promise to try to stop being quite as terse as it appears I was, and 
will try and reread my posts before hitting send... in its own way I 
suppose I am guilty of telling some to "go awy" -  and for that I apologize.

73,

Jim, K4OJ