Replying to my initial post in this tongue-in-cheek-titled thread...

On 10/20/2016 9:08 AM, Sean wrote:
Um, where to begin.

Snippage (for reasons of "posting brevity") of summary-overview of FAI/SSA
organizational relationship in general and how that relationship is alleged to
have been "an influencing force of the negative kind" (my words) at recent
FAI-sanctioned contests in the USA...

Thank you for that (snipped) information (both factual and alleged), some of
which I was priorly familiar (i.e. the factual bits relating to FAI's and
SSA's "official relationship"), and some of which I was entirely ignorant
prior to your post.

A coupla "for the record" bits of information before I get into the guts of
this post...

1) Relative to "USA contest rules", by way of trying to remain "RAS-informed,"
I've done the "fly-on-the-wall-bit, for a l-o-n-g time" (beaucoup years, he
sighs, referring to the passage of time, not the topic itself), "just because
I'm interested in most soaring-related topics."

2) I have no opinions regarding "which set of contest rules is better," even
though I'm genuinely curious of the opinions - both what and why - held by
those who fly contests. Further, I completely understand why competitors quite
naturally hold strong opinions regarding rules (cf: G. Moffat!).

I "get it" you were indulging (somewhat?) in hyperbole in claiming elsewhere
that you or anyone else could easily "hold a contest under FAI rules
tomorrow"...AND that if you did so "it likely wouldn't count" in FAI
sanctioning terms for pilot rankings because of the formal FAI/SSA
interrelationship likely (in your opinion) bollixing up the works.

What I remain somewhat unclear on is (believe it or not!) WHY you so strongly
hold the opinion that soaring can only be saved in the USA by way only of
"FAI-rules-based sanctioned contests." (Or am I getting even this wrong?) In
my original post I posed the (non-rhetorical) question: "Is soaring worldwide
(not to mention FAI-rules' contests) expanding?" I did so, because part of the
mental picture I form from your heartfelt posts on this topic strongly
suggests I should, as in (see below)...

Now that we have that clarified Bob, your response completely missed (I'm
sure this is a simple mistake on your part) addressing my key question
about the value US rules provide. I hope you return to address that
question. I'll repeat it below...

Bob, what "measured value" justifies the SSA maintaining its own unique,
custom soaring competition rule system?

Please cite the many areas of measured value that are a result of US rules
vs. using FAI (like the rest of the world does, happily, successfully and
safely).

Safety? Participation? Growth? Enthusiasm? Simplicity? Cost? Resources?

I look forward to your response.


Safety - What data exists ANYwhere comparing the two formats?

Participation/Growth (lumped because they're "closely coupled") - I'd welcome
data from (say) the "10 leading soaring countries" shedding light (of any
sort) on how contest participation/growth (or not)
correlates/affects/impacts/etc. soaring in general in each country.

Enthusiasm - good luck measuring!

Simplicity - color me ignorant on this one (and likely-by-personal-choice to
remain that way), though I'll posit that FAI as an organization likely devotes
not-inconsiderable time and effort "annually tweaking their rules" as they see
fit, for (likely) "similar reasons as does any rules-making sanctioning body."
Just because it's less obvious (public?) than similar "tweaking" by the US
Rules Committee/organization doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Cost - we've already established there are no-to-vanishingly-low U.S. DOLLAR
costs because everyone's a volunteer. True for FAI? (I "get it" your position
is there are BIG non-dollar negative-costs you link to the USA's approach.)

Resources - I suppose a person might argue that 100% of the "freed-up if-only
FAI rules were used" resources would transfer in equal measure "elsewhere in
SSA...to its and USA soaring's benefit," but (IMO) to do so would demonstrate
a serious lack of insight into human nature. When it comes to volunteering,
people do what they want to do, because they want to do it...and NOT because
they'd rather be doing some other form of volunteering. That's not to suggest
any volunteer might not have a "fallback volunteering list" but who's to say,
if they do, the next "target organization" is the same one for which they're
already volunteering? IOW, this is a dubious argument, in my view.

As to "value provided," I (think I) "get it" that the FAI is the "world
arbiter" of "internationally-recognized aerial records" along with being "the
800-lb international gorilla promoting air sports," and as such, an argument
can be made that failing to use their rule set in contests arguably
complicates/worsens things for USA pilots eventually making it onto our
various internationally-competing teams. What I "don't get" is how failing to
abide by their rules is killing USA soaring.

I also "get it" that you, personally, would much prefer to be flying contests
by FAI rules, and I "get it" that you choose to try and change SSA's
thinking/position on this front rather than "going it alone." For some reason,
though, the ostensibly-unrelated-to-soaring aphorism of "attracting more flies
with honey than vinegar" keeps flitting in and out of my mind!

Respectfully,
Bob W.