[CQ-Contest] Ham Radio in the Future

[Jeff Blaine]

One man's motivation is another man's distraction.  That's why freedom 
of choice is a wonderful thing.

As to temptations, it's always seemed to me that the general "using 
assistance while claiming unassisted category" and all the variants of 
that debate boil down to a personal character/integrity problem, not a 
technological one.  Short of the WRTC, there is no one standing over 
your shoulder in a contest so it's an honor system that you are 
compiling to the rules.  And the end of the day, it still ends up being 
a boy (or girl) and his radio.  And his conscious.

73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com

On 12/10/2025 4:57 AM, Richard F DiDonna NN3W wrote:
> I remember the days when it was considered risky business to be connected
> to the Internet during a contest (potential to cheat, peeking at packet,
> etc).  Now we're insisting on it.........
>
> 73 Rich NN3W
>
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM <john at kk9a.com> wrote:
>
>> I concur, why pressure those who are uninterested in being online comparing
>> scores during a ham radio contest to participate.  If you're behind in your
>> category it could be demotivating.  It is also a distraction and I highly
>> doubt many of the top CQWW CW single op scorers really had time to watch
>> the
>> scoreboard. I do enjoy reading 3830 scores and especially the stories
>> afterward but I would not say that should be a peer pressure requirement
>> either.  Why can't we just enjoy over the air radio contesting?
>>
>> John KK9A
>>
>>
>> kq2m wrote:
>>
>> Nonsense.  If "Peer Pressure" is deemed necessary to get someone to use
>> technology that they have no interest in and does nothing for them, then
>> the case for using that technology really is pretty weak, isn't it? !
>>
>> Or, as my friends mother used to say, "If all of your friends jumped off
>> the roof of the house, would you do it too?"
>>
>> Zealots of anything usually see and value only their perspective without
>> even thinking about anyone else or giving others the opportunity to
>> choose for themselves based on what they find useful or helpful.
>>
>> I choose not to use the scoreboard because I find it distracting, as do
>> others, but we also have no interest in mandating what other people use
>> or don't use.  "Live and let live" I say.
>>
>> If you find it useful then use it and be gracious about it and do not
>> attempt to inflict your myopic viewpoint on others.
>>
>> I say, use it or don't use it, whatever works best for you.  But "Don't
>> tread on me!"
>>
>>
>> Bob, KQ2M
>>
>>
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