But it is an award scheme based on points!
All part of the fun, we’re all at some point on our own learning curve…
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It isn’t a competition as such, but these chasers working towards their own goals are competing with other chasers to get the points that contribute to their goals. DXCC isn’t a contest, but do you think that matters to the hords competing to attract the attention of the latest DXpedition? Don’t you think that the DXpedition operators know just what they are letting themselves in for? Competition isn’t in the design of the award scheme, its in the minds of many of the participants, its the thrill of the chase, that thrill is still there for those who have achieved their goals but now just chase for fun. Its human nature, you can’t cure it so you just have to live with it or withdraw from it.
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We can state this until the cows come home and it’s true for many of us who don’t care about league tables. But the fact is, the world is full of very competitive people and some SOTA activators and chasers do treat it like a competition, which is why one sees - or rather hears - some unruly behaviour on air. And no amount of ranting (or polite conversation) here is going to change them even if they read this thread.
For example, some activators maximize their points by carefully choosing mainly high-points summits just inside the winter bonus cutoff dates. Many have activated fewer summits than me but have a higher average points-per-summit. They certainly don’t re-activate a summit in the same year as I do just for the pleasure of it. But I say, good luck to the competitive ones providing they work within the spirit of the SOTA rules.
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Should we recosider the rules and chaser gets only one point regardless of the summit? Activator gets points as they are at present.
Not sure if that wasn’t discussed in the past.
73 Marek
I suspect that reducing chaser points would be counter productive, they would have to contact more activations to gain points and so would compete harder for contacts. Also a sudden change diminishing scores may well drive them away - and the activators need them!
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I totally agree with everything you say Andy, but the fact remains that the prime factor in operating SOTA (well as far as I am concerned) is pleasure. The joy of being outside on the hills operating radio does not need not be spoilt by the antics of those only chasing points… “great that’s another 4 points in bag, onto the next activation”.
As regards competitiveness in Activating, we all came into the scheme on different dates, have different constraints and, as you say, different ways of accruing our points. We can only compete with ourselves. Having a points system is a way of providing some kind of reward for the effort we have put in. Mind you, I have done some single point summits in Scotland and wondered why I didn’t go up an easier higher point summit… then that was my perogative. 
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Eric,
I have worked you a few times on your activations and can say you handle the crowds well and work to give everyone a chance to reply. You are spot on regarding patience for chasers; I am sitting on a comfortable chair indoors unaffected by weather and not plopping my rear end on cold ground.
73,
Howard KE6MAK
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There are many irritations in SOTA:
Activators who only use bands or modes I can’t get them on.
Chasers who don’t seem to listen (I can understand not hearing another chaser; but not hearing the activator!).
Eejits who tune up on the activator’s frequency (or chant inane “olas”).
Activators who don’t time their activations to suit my availability.
An absence of chasers.
Chasers who engage other activators in long conversations when I’m waiting to try and get a S2S.
I could go on. But such is life and I can’t expect everyone to cooperate with my own high standards and expectations. If possible I will always work my way through the pile up and give everyone a chance. (If I don’t then sadly it was not possible!).
73,44 & 88 
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You didn’t mention the weather, or even summits that haven’t had a SOTA mast support (fence post) installed yet. This is one the MT need to sort out. I’m fed up with guying.
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maybe we need another thread - “support/features needed from SOTA MT”?
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This opens a rich vein of possibilities.
It’s probably too big a job for the existing MT which is very modestly sized. It requires an infrastructure team of probably thousands, that will install suitable facilities at all summits, including steps on the steeper climbs, shelters at the half way marks and ideally a solar panel powered shelter as well as the mast supports. With a powerpole socket readily to hand.
Then there’s the propagation management team. Whoever they are, they are falling down on the job. I don’t think its the unpaid propagation fees as suggested by Mark @ZL3AB some time ago. There would be an even higher authority than the MT (gasp, I know this is heresy) who is responsible and takes the blame for this appalling situation.
You’ve really got me thinking now Fraser @MM0EFI. That’s always dangerous.
73 Andrew VK1DA/VK2DA
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So the MT would need a legal team to negotiate the necessary permissions from land owners, national parks and the like, we would need a logistics team to organise work parties and materials, we would need fund raising teams, maintainance must be organised, the necessary full time teams for the larger Associations or groups of Associations would need headquarters buildings and devolved teams, all this will need greater resources than the various national ham radio organisations. Then, of course, we will need the necessary resources for the ionosphere sculpting team, perhaps even an artist to design the sculpture - after all it should look good as well as perform to our satisfaction. Also there is the resources for the solar modification team, and a necessary representation in the UN to make sure that all conflicting interests can be resolved peacably. Finally for the MT we would need a luxurious headquarters building with plush offices and hot and cold running secretaries* who would also provide company in the bar with its collection of a couple of hundred single malt whiskeys and a similar number of brands of craft beers/real ales.
Sounds good to me, when do we start? 
*They would need to be red headed to keep Andy under control!
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Whatever you do, don’t invite @ZL3AB along to HQ… There would be chaos (and no scotch left).
Hmmm a bit rich from a bloke who would drink all the warm beer (yes I know a lot of you are English on here but Geoff @ZL3GA as a Kiwi should know better).
Andrew @VK1DA I understood the MT had a propagation payment kitty but the cheque bounced in VK?
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No wine? … then I’m not in…
73 Armin
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Well I’m glad you’re taking this seriously Brian. Personally I think more needs to be done in GM. The Germans have a picnic bench on every summit and every second summit has a pub. In the USA, all summits seem to be drive on and they all get Just Eat deliveries. So, if we could add that to the list, that would be great.
The Australians have man eating spiders, deadly snakes and killer kangaroos on their summits. Have the MT got a private medical care package for our OZ friends? And a good lawyer for when someone gets mauled by a Kangaroo and sues?
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