06-14-2003, 07:56 PM
(As Rod Serling used to say as he introduced the nights' episode of the 'Twilight Zone'http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif 'Consider the case of two hunters.
These two hunters decide that they want to go hunting. Doesn't matter WHAT they are hunting, they just decide it would be fun! They learn that they can get awards and recognition for bagging the target(s) that they have set out to bag.
They both get fairly common hunting gear. They learn what the basic rules are for hunt. They both have a common hunting ground to choose from.
Our two hunters take totally different courses in learning to hunt and capture what they seek.
#1 - Hunter #1 decides that the way to do is to go to the hunting grounds and learn about the lay of the land. #1 learns how to 'read' the landscape, 'read' the sounds of the various animals who live there, 'read' the environment, etc. #1 doesn't do too well - at first - BUT with each failure, increased knowledge comes. With increased knowledge comes better understanding of WHERE to go in the hunting grounds, WHAT types of hunting gear work best for the type of game being sought, and the rewards of success come with practice. Once fundamentals are learned, successes are built on successes until #1 hunter is recognized as a 'pro' by other hunters and is highly regarded because of the EARNED merits of the rewards of the hunt. The awards and rewards are apprecaited by #1 with a great deal of personal pleasure because it is KNOWN that they were EARNED thorugh the dint of desire, hard work, and learning.
#2 - Hunter #2 decides that the best way to go, and a time saver, money saver, and stress saver is to seek out other hunters and band together. Each hunter will help find game for the others. They dedice to ALL gather at one spot and encourage game (or seek game out) to come to THEM.
They all then take turns bagging game. They may even have help from the guide who solicts game for them and may.. also.. help them by passing along vital information to permit a 'successful hunt'
EQUATE THIS TO using nets and prearranged skeds for "awards hunting' (Be it WAS/DXCC, etc)
Ham #1 goes out and practices tuning and listening. He doesn't succeed much - at first - but as he learns to 'read' the band, learns the habits of the targets (States, Countries, Islands, COunties), along with operating skills he improves and his success grows. When #1 DOES get the results #1 wants.. the rewards are personally satisfying and (odds are) others out there have observed that #1 has done it 'without help' and they tend to view #1 as one to whom they will seek to learn from OR invite ot participate in activites.
Ham #2 goes out and joins a scheduled net. He spends all his time on that frequency. There is a guide (NCS) who coordinates ALL the activites on the frequency. NCS takes check ins of DX/States/Counties and also takes check ins of those who want to work the DX/State/Counties.
Ham #2 checks in, NCS gives a list of who's one and what's avaialble. NCS will have Ham #2 call station. If #2 does not 'quite copy it 100 percent' so NCS will help - either by getting info for ham #2 and relaying it OR having ham #2 guess what the information is and then QSL'ing it for them. Then NCS will announce "GOOD CONTACT!" or words to that effect and ham #2 will just have 'worked' another one.
Ham #2 learns no skills, learns nothing about how to operate effectively and gains rewards based on the spoonfeeding provided. Never grows out of 'childhood ham' stage. Gets the award, but the personal satisfaction is never ever quite the same.
So it is with DX NETS, WAS NETS, etc.. Spoonfeeding. Salting the hunting ground. No longer ANY need to LEARN to hunt.. LEARN to stalk.. LEARN to understand.
Just go to a frequency, check in and hang out! HEck.. even have the packetcluster alert you to when the desired station has checked into the net. Then you can check in, work him and move on your way.
CANNED HUNTS (regardless of nets, prearranged via EMAIL hunts or whatever are NOT DX'ing, County hunting, whatever.
PLEASE ! Before you flame.. I am NOT saying that having a common frequencyfor 'like minded people' to congregate is a good thing - it is a very good thing.
It is when the meeting place becomes a place where spoonfeeding occurs that it becomes out of bounds.
I expect MANY will be upset, will say 'So what?' or take umbrange at the post. That's fine. Just remember we're talking about a personal integrity issue here. YOU know how you 'earned' or EARNED your award and that's the bottom line.
73
Chuck K3FT
These two hunters decide that they want to go hunting. Doesn't matter WHAT they are hunting, they just decide it would be fun! They learn that they can get awards and recognition for bagging the target(s) that they have set out to bag.
They both get fairly common hunting gear. They learn what the basic rules are for hunt. They both have a common hunting ground to choose from.
Our two hunters take totally different courses in learning to hunt and capture what they seek.
#1 - Hunter #1 decides that the way to do is to go to the hunting grounds and learn about the lay of the land. #1 learns how to 'read' the landscape, 'read' the sounds of the various animals who live there, 'read' the environment, etc. #1 doesn't do too well - at first - BUT with each failure, increased knowledge comes. With increased knowledge comes better understanding of WHERE to go in the hunting grounds, WHAT types of hunting gear work best for the type of game being sought, and the rewards of success come with practice. Once fundamentals are learned, successes are built on successes until #1 hunter is recognized as a 'pro' by other hunters and is highly regarded because of the EARNED merits of the rewards of the hunt. The awards and rewards are apprecaited by #1 with a great deal of personal pleasure because it is KNOWN that they were EARNED thorugh the dint of desire, hard work, and learning.
#2 - Hunter #2 decides that the best way to go, and a time saver, money saver, and stress saver is to seek out other hunters and band together. Each hunter will help find game for the others. They dedice to ALL gather at one spot and encourage game (or seek game out) to come to THEM.
They all then take turns bagging game. They may even have help from the guide who solicts game for them and may.. also.. help them by passing along vital information to permit a 'successful hunt'
EQUATE THIS TO using nets and prearranged skeds for "awards hunting' (Be it WAS/DXCC, etc)
Ham #1 goes out and practices tuning and listening. He doesn't succeed much - at first - but as he learns to 'read' the band, learns the habits of the targets (States, Countries, Islands, COunties), along with operating skills he improves and his success grows. When #1 DOES get the results #1 wants.. the rewards are personally satisfying and (odds are) others out there have observed that #1 has done it 'without help' and they tend to view #1 as one to whom they will seek to learn from OR invite ot participate in activites.
Ham #2 goes out and joins a scheduled net. He spends all his time on that frequency. There is a guide (NCS) who coordinates ALL the activites on the frequency. NCS takes check ins of DX/States/Counties and also takes check ins of those who want to work the DX/State/Counties.
Ham #2 checks in, NCS gives a list of who's one and what's avaialble. NCS will have Ham #2 call station. If #2 does not 'quite copy it 100 percent' so NCS will help - either by getting info for ham #2 and relaying it OR having ham #2 guess what the information is and then QSL'ing it for them. Then NCS will announce "GOOD CONTACT!" or words to that effect and ham #2 will just have 'worked' another one.
Ham #2 learns no skills, learns nothing about how to operate effectively and gains rewards based on the spoonfeeding provided. Never grows out of 'childhood ham' stage. Gets the award, but the personal satisfaction is never ever quite the same.
So it is with DX NETS, WAS NETS, etc.. Spoonfeeding. Salting the hunting ground. No longer ANY need to LEARN to hunt.. LEARN to stalk.. LEARN to understand.
Just go to a frequency, check in and hang out! HEck.. even have the packetcluster alert you to when the desired station has checked into the net. Then you can check in, work him and move on your way.
CANNED HUNTS (regardless of nets, prearranged via EMAIL hunts or whatever are NOT DX'ing, County hunting, whatever.
PLEASE ! Before you flame.. I am NOT saying that having a common frequencyfor 'like minded people' to congregate is a good thing - it is a very good thing.
It is when the meeting place becomes a place where spoonfeeding occurs that it becomes out of bounds.
I expect MANY will be upset, will say 'So what?' or take umbrange at the post. That's fine. Just remember we're talking about a personal integrity issue here. YOU know how you 'earned' or EARNED your award and that's the bottom line.
73
Chuck K3FT