[RTTY] Friend files

[Barry]

Here's my take on the friend.ini file:

I, too, have been a RTTY op and a contester for a long time (since 
the 70s.)  Prior to the advent of the friend.ini file, I certainly 
didn't mind someone making a personalized comment, and I often 
reciprocated.

However, the friend.ini file has removed the personal touch by 
automating it.  Guys I don't know say "Hi Barry" to me.  At first, it 
made me wonder if this is someone I do or should know, and I 
embarassingly forgot.  But, I know this is not the case.  I am just 
one of ~30K names in a computer database.  This is like getting one 
of those "Congratulations, Barry.  You've been pre-approved for a 
Citibank Visa card."  Does someone at Citibank know me?  In some 
instances, some ops don't even receive their correct name in their 
Hi, because they go by a nickname or their middle name.  How warm-
feeling is that?

I believe a contest is about maximizing score AND having fun.  An 
automated greeting accomplishes neither, in my opinion.  Therefore, I 
don't use a friend.ini file.  I DO exchange occasional, personal 
comments during a contest with those I consider friends, but do it 
manually, so it does have some meaning.
73,
Barry W2UP

On 21 Jul 2004 Roger Cooke wrote:

> 
> Hi.
> 
>   Just read some of the mail regarding the friend file.
> 
> 
>   As a RTTY operator from the early 1960's, I would like to think that
> RTTY is still a "gentlemans" mode. Obviously we cannot expect to know
> every other RTTY operator, as we indeed did in the early days, but
> let's not take this too seriously. Enter a contest to do well, winning
> would be a bonus, but personally I enter it for the fun, and like to
> greet and be greeted with a friendly "Hi Roger" - instead of "599 001
> bk".
> 
>   Some of the more serious contesters would say " Contesting is not a
> matter of life and death - it's more important than that!"
> 
>   Well, I have been a contester for decades and have always had fun,
> won a few, but entered far more than I have won! There is enough of
> the rubber stamp contacts on the bands these days, I have no time for
> them myself. I like to think that a few extra characters in the
> exchange will help to brighten somebody's day.
> 
>   The only grumble I have is that I am still using W98SE and it won't
> handle all the entries in the Friend file, so if I miss you out in the
> next contest, my apologies! I shall have to consider upgrading my
> operating system, and thereby give myself some more problems.
> 
> Just MHO's
> 
> 73 de Roger G3LDI
> rcooke at g3ldi.freeserve.co.uk
> g3ldi at amsat.org
> g3ldi at qsl.net
> g3ldi at gb7ldi.#35.gbr.eu
> 
> 
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--
Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up at mindspring.com
Newtown, PA                     Frankford Radio Club