[CQ-Contest] What else is lost?

[Edward Sawyer]

Charlie, I agree that if the reason to "prop something up" is good for
society, it's a noble cause and worthy.  My point is that its not an
efficient way to simply preserve the CQ WW Contests.

 

Also, in the arts, there is an expectation that the subsidized group is
non-profit.  Propping up a "for profit" enterprise for the good of society
is not a good idea.

 

73

 

Ed  N1UR

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Subject: [CQ-Contest] what else is lost

 

I am happy, like everyone, to see that CQ style contests may continue.

Congrats to the heavy hitters listed on the web site.

 

BUT, more is lost with the demise of CQ Magazine than contesting:

-alternative voice and view to QST....   just like the TWO newspapers in

cities of old, ham radio benefits from multiple voices... none of which need
be distinctively contending but plurality of ideas, contra web site
censorship, is good for the health of the hobby.

 

-cohesion and shared experiences and purposes... A group holds together via
shared experiences (the way squads of soldiers are trained) and shared
solving of troubles.  A real tangible magazine can help lots.  A real
magazine is under pressure to offer good, useful, entertaining and
promotional articles;  its goal is to include ideas, not exclude, and sell
to a broad readership.  That is not so true of narrow-topic and closely
censored web sites which live by servicing only those IN the IN group.  A
system that avoids lively debate and diversity will die.

 

I feel so sorry for those writing here who don't see the value of continuing
these services and simply wish to discard anything the market is too weak to
fully support.  I see no other substitute that will come onto the Web;
instead there will be even more insular sites, happily reinforcing each
others' opinions while condemning and excluding any reasoned alternatives.

 

A civilized society subsidizes the arts, for example, for good reasons.  I
see only good resulting from a subsidized CQ Magazine to help keep vibrant
life in this aging hobby.

73,

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Charly, HS0ZCW