I'd like to add my .02 to this thread, as an observer.
There certainly are two sides to the story. The folks running "big gun"
stations on top band in the contest are out there trying to garner points to
win the contest, or at least their state/power level/section or whatever. So, I
can almost understand their reluctance to answer a domestic caller. But on the
other hand, maybe they ought to think about WHY that domestic station is
calling him/her. Lack of rule knowledge. Perhaps. But maybe, just maybe that
person calling has just gotten the station or antenna operational and is trying
to see if others are hearing him/her well enough to make a contact. Or maybe
the person is struggling to complete an award and needs your state or your
county. On 160 meters, that is certainly a possibility.
Is it going to kill you to answer the other person? Will the world come to an
end if you do? Probably not. Are you going to create a huge pileup if you
answer a domestic caller? Really.....? Sure, there are people operating in the
contest who don't know that the contact is worthless -in the contest- but maybe
that contact is NOT worthless to him or her.
Let's have a little compassion and understanding for others in ham radio who
are not operating exactly as you'd want them to.
Jim / W6JHB
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