Some will always cheat, regardless.
Some will "push the envelope" trying to bend -- but not break -- the rules
as much as possible. Whether or not this is technically considered
"cheating" might depend on the circumstances, and is open to debate.
As technology improves, some who were tempted but never had the nerve will
try it. Some get away with it, some won't.
Some may be tempted but will resist the temptation for any of a number of
reasons, including the simple fact that it is wrong and unethical.
Some will never be tempted.
How many are "some"? 'Aye, there's the rub.'
The problem is not that there are cheaters. The problem is that measures
that already exist to detect and catch (or at least suspect) them are not
fully utilized, if utilized at all. There's always the fear of law suits,
slander or libel (depending on the media used), and of accidentally tar &
feathering the truly innocent. So often, only the most blatant get caught.
I haven't had a chance to read May QST yet (that's the trouble with the
wife's new job, she now commutes at the same time as I do, so there goes
reading time on the "T" trolley car) so I don't know if the stations
referred to in Doug's message are identified.
THEY SHOULD BE.
If they are truly innocent, then they have nothing to worry about. But if
the allegation is true (and I strongly suspect it must be in enough cases to
make it worth mentioning) then those caught deserve to be publicly outed and
punished accordingly, both according to the contest rules and to peer
pressure.
In short: Employ the tools, techniques, and measures already at hand,
before imposing draconian measures that deter the honest and innocent from
participating from fear of the dishonest and guilty.
Otherwise, what was a small problem will continue to grow until it is the
big problem that Doug fears it already is.
73
-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Doug Renwick
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 1:40 PM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] More Cheating
Is cheating more common than anyone wishes to admit? Is it time to take
a reality check and acknowledge that cheating is a big problem instead
of down playing (head in sand) the possibility?
Quote from QST May, 2008, How's DX:
"The other, more serious finding was that some hams used remote stations
on the West Coast to get a contact on 160 and 80 meters under a European
call sign. Since we did not establish a pilot station in W6, it is
close to impossible to verify good contacts from the bad ones."
"What would you do? Either you just work all without hesitation or you
start to police the bands with a dozen friends around the globe. We
hereby encourage constructive debate on the issue. The credibility of
DXCC and IOTA hunting is at risk."
IMO it is a world wide down ward slide of morality which has infected
DXing and contesting.
Doug
The water jump is long and the barrier may be high,
you might break every bone, but it's so much fun to fly!
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