[UK-CONTEST] Alienation

[cris at gm4fam.plus.com]

Very well said G3SVL, G4MJS (and G3RTE).

And the "older RAE fraternity" (what a divisive comment!) are no different
than the newcomers - we were newcomers at some point competing against the
even older timers; so nothing has changed, except we didn't have the
luxury and privilege of a reflector to air our views.


73 Cris
GM4FAM





> On 24 January 2011 15:36, Chris  G3SVL <Chris at g3svl.com> wrote:
>> The current top contesters were not born contesters - they started as
>> 'mike-shy' and 'key-shy' in just the same way as today's new
>> licensees.  Indeed until the introduction of the new license format
>> there was no practical element to the exam (other than the morse
>> test) at all.  So we were literally thrown in at the deep end the day
>> our license arrived.
>>
>> And we learnt our skills on-air by competing against the then great
>> contesters until we earned our place higher up the table.  I don't
>> see what is different today.  And as for '... they can actually
>> ACHIEVE something within a given event' - how about improving
>> themselves in each contest - that's what I'm still trying to do 46 years
>> on!
>
> Indeed, Chris. Or (which is the route I took) they find a local
> contest group and tag along. I've (almost) never contested from home,
> in fact it's over 15 years since I had a home station - but I've
> operated in almost all of the CQWW, CQWPX and IOTA events in that
> time. And a whole list of NFDs, AFSs and countless VHF events from all
> parts of the UK.
>
> Your friendly local contest group will welcome someone willing to show
> up and pull ropes / hammer in stakes / make tea in exchange for a bit
> of mic / key practice when it's not too busy - and while you're in
> their company you're learning all the time.
>
> Peter G4MJS (op MD4K, G6PZ, M2A, G8T, 9M6A etc etc)