[CQ-Contest] Phonetics

[Mark]

In 4Ø+ years of SS SSB -- (never did use the AM mode) -- I have learned that 
California hams have a sort of "disadvantage" in saying their sections by 
name..  Many . especially newbies . take pride in saying "San afopaoiutniuy" 
.. and then come the "overs" ... so .. I am in  'SUGAR FOX'  .. works the 
best overall .. and, since I am 25Ø miles north of the bridge, is seems 
silly to define my QTH using the landmark, but .. it is understood .. under 
extreme QSB/QRM/QRN,  "Golden Gate" often wins the day .. 73 .. CUinSS..
 You are xxxxx A -     AA6DX  - 64 - Sugar Fox

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stuart Santelmann KC1F" <kc1f at adelphia.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 3:58 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Phonetics


>> What I hate is when you simply say "Minnesota" and the guy on the other
>> ends says "OK, Minnesota, MI, right?". No, not right, it's MN. MI is a
>> different place. Now I've added at least one more go-around with this QSO
>> that's completely unnecessary and a huge waste of time. I've resolved to
>> say "Mike November" and be done with it.
>>
>> 73 Steve K0SR
>>
>
> I don't know if my perceptions have changed over my 36 years of 
> contesting,
> but I think people's ability to recognize state and section names without
> phonetics has definitely gone downhill.  It increasingly seems that DX
> stations in the ARRL DX contest need the two letter state abbreviation 
> said
> phonetically (two syllables longer for me than saying "New Hampshire"), 
> and
> can't recognize the state name said in plain English.  Maybe the
> dumbing-down of America and lack of knowledge of geography has spread
> worldwide.  The skill needed in the example above is the same skill 
> required
> to succesfully address a letter if someone told you the state name 
> verbally.
> Maybe we just have to be resigned to "loosing" this battle.  OTOH, maybe 
> "I
> could care less"...
>
> Stu KC1F  in New Hampshire, not "New Jersey".