[UK-CONTEST] The Spirit of Contesting

[Paul O'Kane]

Was [UK-CONTEST] cqwwwpx:

On 30/05/2011 20:06, Bob Henderson wrote:

> Although I haven't heard you in Cyprus at strength adequate to allow me
> to be particularly critical,

We can all enjoy a good argument, except when red
herrings appear out of nowhere.


> You are quite right in that I have not said whether I subscribe to the
> concept of "the spirit of the contest".  I wasn't aware I had been asked
> to do so, until now.

> In short, yes I do; though I suspect not in the way you do.

This answer seems to be both "Yes" AND "No".


> In my opinion the spirit of the contest is the gap between the rules
> as they are written and the way they are from time to time
> interpreted by those who matter.  They being the adjudicators.

This definition isn't clear.  For example, do key
clicks from an unmodified factory rig contravene
the spirit of a contest and, if so, who decides?
It might help if you explain how the definition
supports your answer.


> What I suspect you mean, is more to do with what isn't enshrined in the
> rules but is in your own prejudice.

I'm happy to confirm that your suspicions are
unwarranted.


> Personally, I love these individual interpretations of "the spirit of
> the contest".  They are the equivalent of self inflicted bondage.  There
> is no advantage quite like the one you gain from the opponent who shoots
> himself in the foot.

I have yet to offer an interpretation of "the spirit
of the contest" other than to suggest that key clicks
are incompatible with this concept.  The practice of
minimising key clicks on factory rigs is not usually
considered to be the equivalent of "self inflicted
bondage".

The General Rules for RSGB HF Contests state "Points
may be deducted or entries disqualified or excluded
for any breach of the rules or spirit of the contest."

If we have all had enough of key clicks, we might
review the many other examples of sharp practice,
not addressed in rules, that contravene the spirit
of the contest.


73,
Paul EI5DI