[CQ-Contest] PU2FAN, etc

[Michael Coslo]

On Feb 25, 2009, at 9:56 PM, John Warren wrote:

> David K1TTT wrote :
>
>> My way the peer feedback is direct and timely.  Hopefully he learned
>> a good
>> lesson and will be back in the next contest, sans packet.
>
> Hmmmm.   I think that attitude is very hard toward this young fellow
> David.  I'm a serious DXer and not a contest entrant, but if you had
> highlighted me in that way, I would have told you where to stuff your
> contest, and it would be years - if ever - before I competed again.
> It would have been magnanimous (and "contest-promoting") for an
> experienced guy like you to offer an apology, or at least an
> explanation,  to this young Brazilian.  There's a bigger picture to
> think about.


Suffice it to say that the young fellow did indeed need feedback.

Feedback to the Noobs is a delicate proposition in any endeavor, not  
just contesting. Whoever does it has to make a quick psych assessment  
of the person because what is just a friendly reminder to one person  
might be a insufferable insult to another. It isn't easy. I've seen  
some pretty diplomatic efforts rebuffed, and seen some fairly strong  
lectures taken with a "Thanks, I didn't know that." Some new folks are  
not secure in their lack of knowledge, so they don't react well.

As an example, I once turned the mic over to a fellow who was both  
inexperienced in contesting, and an Extra class who hadn't worked HF.  
I started to show him the format of the exchange, and before I could  
get a full sentence out he said, "With all due respect Mike, I don't  
need or want your help, so if you leave me alone, I'll get to work."

Dude made all of 6 QSO's for several hours seat time. Not bad for a  
decent contest station. heheh

-73 de Mike N3LI -