[Fists] What does CQ FISTS mean?

[n8ie at woh.rr.com]

Hi Cory
 
Don't let it get you down. Like N8IE said, Maybe the op you called had
some problem, malfunction or whatever. Or maybe the op you called had a
mental malfunction resulting from some moral deficiency. We even have an
unfortunate few of those in Fists.
 
For that matter, I am far from perfect and still owe some ops some very
late qsl cards. Nobody's perfect and not answering a card is certainly a
downfalling for a ham. If you're out there folks, still waiting on a
card from me, even if it's really old, it's on my list. I'm an OTR truck
driver and your card is in my ever shuffling pile of stuff I intend to
get to at some point. My apologies to anyone I owe a card. If you see
this and I owe you one, it wouldn't hurt to send me an email reminder.
So there's my confession.
 
Back to the subject at hand. Again, don't let it get you down. Fists are
"courteous at all times" and if the op you called, say, looked you up
and saw you were not a Fists member and decided not to reply to you,
shame on him. Not only does accuracy transcend speed but courtesy trumps
all the other rules because it is what all of them are based on.
 
Did you violate a rule? It's a minor concern compared to the lack of
courtesy shown by that guy if he did snub you but yes. For instance, if
I call cq Fists cq Fists de ac5sh, that means I only want to talk to
Fists members. Maybe I am desperately working on an award or for
instance, if I call cq ARTS de ac5sh, that means I want members of that
particular traffic net or at least stations who wish to check into that
net if I am acting as net control or doing a net call at the direction
of the NCS. Sometimes it's an emergency net call and you really don't
want to interfere with such a thing. On the other hand, if I call cq cq
de ac5sh/Fists, then I am giving an open call but simply identifying
myself as a fists member and want any station.
 
As far as your speed goes, the other stn should have at least answered
you anyway and it is common courtesy to slow to the slower op's speed.
It is advisable to not call ops who are sending beyond your capability
to receive but at the least, he should have answereed you. Funny thing
about this, sometimes when driving, all I have available is a straight
key strapped to my leg. In the big truck, this is what works due to the
rough ride and it slows me considerably. I can easily copy 20 wpm in
good conditions and sometimes faster. It's not uncommon for me to call a
station who is sending way beyond what I can manage with the straight
key/mobile and I'm actually hoping they stay qrq, only to have them slow
to my struggling 15 wpm, 18 wheel interstate motocross speed. But you
can't complain when another op shows you the courtesy that is the
hallmark of a good operator. Again, if the guy snubbed you based on
speed, shame on him.
 
Oh and here is my pet peeve of the year. Most of us think we are pretty
good on air and even if we don't act on it, there is a little delight
inside at the thought of telling someone else what they oughta be doing.
I wonder if the prosign police are out there on the reflector list
somewhere. I was cruising along one day listening to 30 mtr and there
was this fantastic signal calling cq. It was plenty strong so I knew I
could work him from my wimpy mobile station. I called the guy with
(obnoxious op's callsign withheld) de ac5sh AR. I did it this way in the
interest of speed, knowing he would know what I meant. AR by the way, if
the prosign police are out there, can serve as "over" in casual
operation. I know what it means in formal nets and in traffic work but
that was not what was going on here. Perhaps it was not the best
operation but it did not deserve what I got from the obnoxious op. I had
by the way, listened to him call cq repeatedly and thought I was being
kind when
 (small wonder) no-one else would answer his booming signal. Upon
answering me, the prosign police (not a Fists member) launched into a
very extended, demeaning lecture about what AR meant. I listened for a
bit and signed off. I doubt he heard me sign off as he was still
enjoying giving me and all else on frq the lecture when I twisted the
dial a bit and found a station that actually wanted a contact. Moral of
the story, don't let the dummies get ya down. There are plenty of us out
here who will be happy to work you regardless of speed or affiliation.
 
Consider yourself invited to join Fists if you like. www.fists.org .
Call me if you here me on air and I'll work you.
73 Tim AC5SH/Fists