[VHFcontesting] Why we participate [was: REMINDER:...CU2QSO Pioneers]

[Ev Tupis (W2EV)]

Tree wrote:
> Well, I think a distinction needs to be made between "the hobby" and "the
> contest".
> 
> A contest is intended to be some kind of competition and most people who are
> in them seriously would like it to be some kind of indication of the ability
> of the operator - particularily in the single-op, unassisted category.

Tree has shared with us what he thinks is fun about contests.  His connection is
"not necessarily the opinion of the management or staff". <smile>  A contest is
many things to many people including:

A way to...
... work new Grids (VUCC)
... test equipment (hardware maintenance and experimentation)
... pass time (socialization)
... combine Road Rallye with QSO making (Rovering)
... experiment with new strategies (Pioneering)
... score well and see their call in QST (highest-tier competition)
... hone skill in any number of areas
... feel like part of a group heading in the same direction (multiop and club)
... etc.

One person's reason for participating in a contest should not be used to
restrict other peoples fun-factor in that contest...as long as no rules are
broken.  When rules and fun don't mesh...people can do one of two things:
participate, but don't submit a log (you can't DQ an unsubmitted log) -or- don't
participate.

This is very much the same issue as "the reason people participate in contests"
thread: 1. It's fun -and- 2. There's a valued reward.

We should be careful to not feel compelled to define what "fun" is for
everyone.  Doing so will restrict the number of participants and lower the
numbers (hmmmmmm...have we stumbled on the correlation we've been searching for
all along?).

Ev, W2EV