VHFcontesting
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [VHFcontesting] Assisted Classes

To: Les Rayburn <les@highnoonfilm.com>,<vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Assisted Classes
From: R Johnson <k1vu@tmlp.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:45:52 -0500
List-post: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com">mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Well put Les !!!
73
Bob, K1VU

At 15:58 2/12/2010, Les Rayburn wrote:
>It reminds me of Oppenheimer's analogy about the Atomic Age. The "genie is out 
>of the bottle". Web clusters, spotting networks, Twitter updates, etc. are 
>here and nothing will change that. 
>
>The ARRL can't police these sites, because they don't own them. 
>
>It seems to be that retaining the notion of an "unassisted class" is wishful 
>thinking. Many of us long for days gone by, filled with comic books, and 
>pinball machines, and rotary telephones. But those days are gone. You can 
>surround yourself with mementos of those days, or stubbornly refuse to use 
>that new touch tone phone, but it won't bring that world back. 
>
>In any contest, people can and will use whatever means are at their disposal 
>to win. Yes, most of us will follow the rule and take pride in the fact that 
>we didn't act dishonorably to win 5th place or crack the Top Ten. But there 
>are others who "win at any cost" will always be the order of the day. 
>
>The ARRL has to be realistic about their ability to enforce the rules of any 
>contest, and try to make it as fair as possible for everyone involved. It's 
>clear that they cannot effectively enforce many of the rules that involve the 
>use of spotting networks. So why not just admit that Genie is out of the 
>bottle. Allow assistance in the form of spotting networks, and move on. 
>
>This levels the playing field, and operators add another tool to their shack. 
>In the end, the best operators will still prevail, as they usually do. Yes, it 
>changes the game--and we'll mourn the passing of a simpler time, when a 
>operator could sit alone in a room, disconnected from the outside world save 
>for their radio. 
>
>But life and technology marches on. 
>
>73,
>
>Les Rayburn, N1LF
>EM63nf
>
>
>
>
>Les Rayburn, Director
>High Noon Film
>100 Centerview Drive Suite 111
>Birmingham, AL 35216-3748
>205.824.8930
>205.824.8960 FAX
>205.253.4867 CELL
>http://www.highnoonfilm.com
>_______________________________________________
>VHFcontesting mailing list
>VHFcontesting@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting

_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>