[CQ-Contest] The"highandmighty"syndrome

[Gerry Hull]

Hank,

Lots of us hold a high standard for contesting.  Snarky remarks made on
this reflector don't reflect how the majority act on air.

Sure, we all get flustered with operating practices of some -- yet, there
are lots and lots of examples of outreach, both on and off the air.

Let's say we replace contesting with traffic handling.  If you're a newbie
on a traffic net, and don't follow procedure, their will be grumbling among
the so-called "elite" about the newbie or under-informed.  However, you can
bet that someone will take that newbie under their wing and "educate" them.

All the major contest clubs in the US have outreach, to educate new
contesters.   Webinars, major talks at conventions and large meetings,
etc.  Mini-contests for new members, etc.

All of us remember being the newbie, and being intimidated by hot-shot
contesters.   Yet, by listening to them, and following their standard, we
learned.    Bad operating practices lead to poor results, so even the
newbie can figure out what's a good technique and what's not.

Yep, we will continue to moan about stations signing /QRP ... it's
inefficient and tells us nothing we need to know.  They are proud to run
QRP -- which is very FN -- but to most contesters, it's a piece of useless
information.  It's not needed for a QSL, if that's what they are chasing.
Those types who like to sign /QRP are (typically) not interested in
contesting, and won't learn.

Yes, we all hold contesters to a high standard.  That's how we improve our
sport.   Here on CQ-contest,  whiners can complain about whatever.  Let's
just make sure that we are taking active steps to move things forward.  I
think the community is doing a good job in that regard.

73,

Gerry W1VE



On Sun, Dec 21, 2014 at 3:06 PM, Hank Greeb <n8xx at arrl.org> wrote:

>
> I see much friviology and snarkines about "The High and Mighty" syndrome,
> but little discussion of how we recruit and educate newbies into the
> "exclusive club." Members of this "club" don't seem to want to do much of
> anything to recruit newbiesl   It seems the majority of folks like to sit
> around and complain about the few who try to join the fracas, but make
> minor mistooks in protocol.
>
> At the rate we're going, the contest community will cease to exist within
> a generation or less.
>
> 72/73 de n8xx Hg
> QRP >99.44% of the time
>
>
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