Recently, I received an email from a soaring pilot who describes himself as a “newbie”. He stated:
“I find it refreshing that you are asking for input from *all* soaring participants. The SRA poll is only available to folks that have previously competed, shame on them. If the SRA truly wants to see participation increase at all levels they must remove the elitism attitude and perception. While us newbie’s may not understand all of the background and nuances of the competition our feedback and opinions are equally important as the seasoned competitors.”
Therefore, I would like to address this issue in another poll question. Please refer to Question #6 at the bottom of the blog.
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7 comments:
Sam,
I think your question #6 is too black and white. I believe the SRA should probably have 2 polls. One, as it works now, for all ranked pilots. And then a second poll that is addressed either to everyone whether they have been in a contest or not, or perhaps just to those who haven't been in a contest. I'd love to say that this second poll would be limited to SSA members but that probably would be to contentious all by itself. At a minimum, it could then be a poll to help find out what it would take to get more people involved in some form of contest.
Later!
-Mark Hawkins
If we want ignorance to have a voice, then let those who have never competed take the poll. However, the results will skew and those who do compete will bear the burden.
Seems wise to have participants actually participate before sitting in judgment.
Even Karl Strideck was "ignorant", as you so eloquently put it, before he flew his first contest. But the real question is WHY did he decide to move himself from this state of "utter ignorance" to one of obviously "utter enlightenment" when he decided to fly in his first contest? And is there anything that could help to move more of those "ignorant" Stridecks or "ignorant" Moffats or "ignorant" Jacobs, etc., to take that first Xen-like step into the "true light" of contest soaring.
As I said, let the "enlightened" continue to provide guidance on the technical details of "enlightenment". But I, at least, would think we would want to do as much as we could to help the "ignorant" better themselves. If that means that the "enlightened" must lower themselves slightly to ask the "ignorant" their opinion on how best to help them with their first steps to "enlightenment", then so be it.
-Mark Hawkins
PS. At least have the courage to give your name if you are going to pass such judgment about the contest aptitude of those who choose not to actively compete.
Clarification: the SRA Rules Committee solicits input from organizers as well as competitors.
My question: Why should the SRA solicit input from non-participants?
I disagree with the statement that "[non-participants'] feedback and opinions are equally important as the seasoned competitors".
My personal opinion is that the current rules are pretty damned good (thanks SRA!).
I see no evidence whatsoever that the current rules are shutting anyone out of the sport and comments about "elitism" are just noise. The Sports Class is about as inclusive as we can make it and the fact of the matter is that all the "newbie" has to do to get help on any contest related subject is ASK a current participant.
Lunch at my place today, Red Herring sandwiches, all you can eat!
-T8, Evan Ludeman
I am surprised and disappointed at the attitudes expressed here. I am the ‘newbie’ that wrote to Sam with responses to the polls on blog. With my permission he published a paragraph I wrote and I stand by my thoughts, in fact they are enforced by your comments. I plan on competition participation in 2009, did not have my act together in 2008. I understand the rules as written and am very interested in what areas are being focused on. As it sits now I cannot even see what the SRA poll is comprised of let along the ability to provide any feedback. Why the barriers? IMO very few people will provide useless feedback; it is not worth the time or effort to draft responses.
Not that it matters but while I am a ‘newbie’ to gliding soaring and competitions I have more than 2000 hours soaring in hang gliders, served as USHGA competition chairperson, served as USHGA Rulebook chairperson, US Team Leader in 2002 for the US world teams, US World Team Member in 2004 and 2006 and have traveled to Europe, Australia, and all over North America competing and flying XC. I understand what it takes to commit to competing.
Erecting artificial barriers is not productive.
John Cochrane has opened the poll so that everyone can view. Responses are only allowed by people who have competed the last 3 years at the poll location but with the questions out in the open, us other folk can discuss on public forums like RAS and here.
Thanks Sam
Ron Gleason
There are lots of things about the rules that are very hard to appreciate outside of the context of having flown in competition. Recent rules changes such as "start anywhere" and "finish height penalty" are topics about which useful input is best informed by actual experience.
That said, there are other issues such as "what would it take to get pilots who don't fly in contests to give it a try?" which can only be answered by those who are not on the seeding list.
Therefore it would make the most sense to have a mechanism by which specific questions can be directed to the appropriate audience. That can be accomplished by separating respondents by experience or - better in my view - by a separate survey for non-contest pilots that focuses more on issues of participation rather than the more arcane aspects of the rules.
9B
Andy Blackburn
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