[CQ-Contest] Cheating

[David Gilbert]

20% MIGHT be a reasonable figure for a ham radio contest ... but only 
because it represents such a narrow slice of life.  Overall, though, the 
percentage of people who are inclined to repeatedly cheat in some facet 
of their lives is MUCH higher than that ... pushing 100%, I'd say.  
Things ranging from coasting through a stop sign, fudging on tax 
returns, having an affair, lying for personal advantage, etc.

My point is simply that radiosport is no different than anything else we 
do, and studies have shown that, if anything, the perceived lack of 
significant reward associated with winning a contest actually an enabler 
for cheating ... people feel it's OK to cheat because nothing of real 
value is being denied to anyone else.

The most significant enabler of cheating in radiosport, of course, is 
the lack of visibility.  People are FAR more likely to cheat in the dark 
... if nobody can see them do it and the chances of getting caught are 
slim.  I'd bet that the percentage of cheaters would skyrocket if the 
chance to win was there for everyone .. right now most people who might 
otherwise be willing to cheat probably don't bother because it wouldn't 
help them win anyway.

73,
Dave   AB7E





On 8/22/2016 7:13 AM, Zack Widup wrote:
> I think it's human nature for SOME people to cheat. I'd guess it's not more
> than 20%.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
>