[CQ-Contest] ARRL Rookie Contest

[Edward Swynar]

Interesting points, all...

My personal observation on all this...? If the Ham population roughly
follows general demographics, here in Canada some 70+% of us have computers,
or access to the internet. That means that about 30% still do not, and go
about life "...the old fashioned way", i.e. communicating via the telephone,
paying bills in person or via snail-mail, etc.

To creat a system---any system---whereby access is "exclusionary" is wrong.
For maximum success & impact, one must appeal to the lowest common
denominator---always.

Can you just imagine the howls that would arise if they held an election
someplace, & said that only votes cast via computer would be eligible...?
That would be elitist AND exclusuionary, both, and no different than
excluding Ham radio contest entries via the traditional "..paper route."

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ


*********************************

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nate Bargmann" <n0nb at n0nb.us>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 7:58 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] ARRL Rookie Contest


> * On 2010 13 Feb 21:48 -0600, Idle-Tyme wrote:
> > I've been cob=ntesting for since 75,
> >
> > and the last years WI QSO Party was my first entry using a computer to
> > log and submit my entry.
>
> And I've been using a computer logger of some sort for every contesting
> event ever since my second Field Day participation in 1987.  What's
> your point?
>
> > Now here is someone that has been contesting for a LONG time and with
> > that rule, i would have been disqyualified,  for it took me a LOT longer
> > to figure out how to make the cabrillo log , and send it to the correct
> > location.
>
> We should not straight-jacket the new contest based on our veteran
> issues.  I say that we should allow this contest to evolve based on the
> feedback received from the participants and those who found it
> difficult to participate.  My guess is that some changes will be made
> before the second running of this event.  If the submission deadline
> proves to be too short, it will be lengthened.  If Internet logging
> proves too ornerous, it will be modified, and so on.  I recognize that
> this is an event that is not aimed at me, so what I want in a contest
> isn't important here.
>
> Let's allow the hams this event is designed for determine if the rules
> and format are appropriate for their event.  If and when requested, we
> can provide our feedback as well, but I'm optimistic enough to not
> pronounce it DOA before it ever has a chance.
>
> 73, de Nate >>
>
> --
>
> "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
> possible worlds.  The pessimist fears this is true."
>
> Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://n0nb.us/index.html
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