A couple of days ago, I had a contact that I could only describe as “macho CW.” We were both using keyers at 20+ wpm, and it was clear that neither of us was copying the other 100%, but neither of us would ask the other to slow down. The one doing that would be, of course, admitting that the other was the better operator.
Something similar happens in the cycling world. Sometimes two or more riders will be in a pack, cranking along at a pace that none of them can really sustain, but none of them wants to be the wimp that asks the group to slow down. What usually happens in that case is that the slower riders eventually just give up as they tire out.
Since operating CW isn’t such a physically tiring activity, what usually happens is that one of the operators says something like, “SRI OM, MUST QRT NW” or “XYL CALLING ME TO DINNER.” It’s a way of saving face. The contact ends with neither operator admitting defeat.
This is, of course, poor operating practice, and I won’t try to justify my behavior, except to say, that if it were an emergency situation, I doubt that I would have been so stupid. If the communication definitely had to be made, I would not have been too proud to ask the other op to QRS. At least I think so….
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