[CQ-Contest] Observations of a young ham

[Stephen Bloom]

Given the big go around on this subject, I think WL7F and KE3X bring it down
to the essentials

Re:  KE3X (and related to something I had mentioned early about wondering
why EU continues to grow contesters), the ticket for young people is social,
*especially* young people who may still be at that awkward stage (that some
of us never grow out of!) of finding their social niche.  I run into a *lot*
of contesters who I remember from my teen days in the late 70s/early 80s in
W2 land with pretty much identical paths.  They got their licenses either
through family or a local elmer/club, played on the air some, and got
recruited or found by one of the major contest clubs or multiop stations.
As best as I can tell, a number of them are getting on 40 years of
contesting without significant breaks.  Not only that, but many of their
closest friends, confidantes, people who have gone through their lives with
them, have been together since then.  We can discuss technology changes,
gaming, "busy" user interfaces vs. spare etc. etc. but I've known enough
millennial and younger to know that the basic dynamics, "nerds and geeks
looking for a fun group to do geeky stuff" doesn't change.  

We have a very modern well designed station at the Anchorage Amateur Radio
Club (KL7AA).  With travel and now with the KL7RA station, I haven't had
much time in the last few years to do much with them, but, at least for SSB
and RTTY, we can count on some newly licensed or newly reactive ham getting
on to "just play around" in some contest, and, "get it."  Not all stick with
it, but more than you would expect.  I can tell you, that it is the #1
attractant to the younger folks, much moreso than the beer gutted guys
playing EmComm (not that there is anything wrong with beer or EmComm).  The
best thing anyone on this list could do for the future, is convince their
local club to become a "hackerspace."  A clubhouse, with equipment, where it
is comfortable to hang out, bs, and learn, will pay yuuuuge dividends.
Also, concentrate on fun, the younger guys and gals really don't want to
hear about how everything has gone to hell since the code requirement was
dropped, or how anything involving ip is "not Amateur Radio."  Our future,
as a hobby overall, is going to be first and foremost, radiosport, and
secondly, the permutations of RF and IP, with socializing being the glue
that holds it all together.

Re:  WL7F, Wes is on a similar path, plus he brings up the other point that
I think is center, regarding the two discussions going on right now, 1)  How
do we get new people  2) Why can't we change the rules for Contest <fill in
the blank>

We talk about winning.  What's winning?  One answer, and I think the
important one is ...if you had fun, you won.  If you had 5 people over, made
30Qs, and had more beer than points, but you had fun, I don't see the
problem.  Now, let's assume you are truly competitive, somewhat Type A and
"just being in the game" either leaves you cold, or you are bored with it.
Odds are, you have some idea what you want to be competitive at.  If having
a shot at winning in a SOAB category in CQWW is it, if you have the money
for it, you are keeping your passport up to date, and checking out the cost
of land in the Caribbean or EA8, if not, you are shamelessly kissing up to
someone who already HAS a place there and checking out fares on EasyJet.  If
you want a shot at winning a category in your section in SS, but have the
same big gun winning HP each year, you might decide to run low power, but
put up a gain antenna for 40.  Everyone has a contest or two, or twenty,
where the rules either actually disadvantage ones QTH or particular
operating preferences, but overall, change creates more agita, then just
taking each contest for what it is.  We also *can't* have rules existing
because of cheating.  Remember, first and foremost, this is not just
technical, this is social, anything beyond trust and verify if and only if
something seems way out of kilter, is as good as it can get, in maintaining
that balance.

73
Steve KL7SB








WL7F wrote

I have been reading these posts for a while now and wondering why I
continually see a trend of I can't win so ya need to change the rules so I
can. First off there is no such thing as Can't secondly what kind of a win
is it if you have to change the rules to do such. If you just want a plaque
go down and buy one the local shops will be more then willing to make you
one up saying what ever ya wish it to.


Sounds to me like it is not so much promoting the contesting but rather
showing the backsides and competitors that are sore they don't have the
wherewithal to actually compete. Now ya wana get youngsters in this well
quit trying to compete with video games and just get out and invite them in
to the shack for some of the contests and have them help from the get go. It
is not anywhere close to a video game so comparing the two as said earlier
is like comparing a apple to a orange .. not gona happen.


Now I am in one of them places, competing in a class that I have less of a
chance of winning then most that are reading this. I Spend the hours in the
chair in front of a radio to make myself competitive. It is called strategy
and decision making. Am I good at it .. naa I just put the seat time in as I
could always be better. Guess what I will get better I will do better and I
will at some point win a contest in North America at least. Do I wish for
there to be more overlays or what not NO and that is a resounding NO let
there be less of them so when I do it will mean that much more to me. This
is a mindset that is productive and not destructive!!!

KE3X wrote replying to K2WR

"There is something (or many somethings) that is failing to attract the
younger generation(s) that nobody has quite identified yet."

I think it's easily identifiable:  that 'something' is the social aspect.
Gaming is an excellent comparison.   Example:   My 18-year old was accepted
Early Decision to college last week and within 24-hours he was already
playing League of Legends with a group of his future Class of 2021's.  Kids
bond around an activity. Can you imagine one of them saying "Hi - hope to
work you in CQWPX CW next Spring!"

Yes - you will occasionally find a teenager with the patience to learn about
propagation, or (God forbid) learn Morse Code, and Amateur Radio may be
additive  to that kid's life.   

But what most kids really want is friends, fun, social acceptance and a
competitive outlet. Contesting may have satisfied some of those basic needs
in the 1970's but today there are more efficient outlets.   The technology
has moved forward - but human nature has not changed.

Disclaimer:   I have 3 kids (ages 22, 21 and 18) with General class licenses
and one who competed for Team USA in High Speed Telegraphy.   They all
started with Radio Merit Badge in Scouts.   If they do any contesting at
all, it's only because Dad invites them to help with a family Multi-Op.
They would never sit down at the radio themselves, mostly because none of
their friends are on the other end of the airwaves.    My 11-year old will
do Radio Merit Badge next year to learn the basic principles, and maybe
he'll get his Technician license, but I anticipate a similar outcome to his
brothers' after that.


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