[UK-CONTEST] rules apply even when they can't always beenforced?

[Paul O'Kane]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul pasquet" <g4rra at hotmail.com>

> but I do notice that many of the contributors to this
> thread are not even registered on the KST system so are
> clearly talking about something they have not experienced.

You don't have to be an actor to be a critic :-)

> Personally I cant see any problem with using KST to increase
> contacts as long as contest information is not exchanged on
> the system,as another contributor said earlier its not exactly
> hard to police that aspect.

And I can't see any problem with using engines in sailing
competitions, as long as they are not used to make the
boats go faster.  

> At the moment we have the nonsense that it can be used in
> this contest but not in that contest,or can be used for
> contacts on one set of frequencies but not on another.

The "nonsense" lies in the fact that KST is permitted in
any contest.  It should not be, because it is a separate
communications technology.

> Should we ban mobile phones just in case groups ring each
> other to get points?

Yes, because they represent a separate communications
technology.

> KST and similar systems are here.

The clear implication is that any new technology can, or
should, be used in any competitive event - simply because
it exists.  Now that's what I call nonsense :-)

> The technology has arrived to take us out of the 70s and
> 80s contesting world, so get over it, and move on because
> its not going to go away.

Engines arrived to take us out of the 19th century, but
are banned in sailing competitions.  Traction control is
not going to go away, but is banned in Formula One.

The issue is not whether something is going to go away,
but whether it is appropriate.  In all competitive human
activities, it is normal for certain technologies to be
banned when their use might change the nature of the
activity.

I know this is getting tedious, but no supporter of KST
has yet answered the question - are you an amateur radio
contester or an amateur internet contester?

73,
Paul EI5DI