Pity some reprobate has to spoil things.

Where I come from a contest without a small horde (pun intended) is unheard of.
The kids, and their parents are the current community and the future of gliding
- we should (and most do) encourage them.

Last contest I was at they erected a whole recreation area for them, and drafted
in a couple of young ladies to keep an eye... Happy kids are noisier than your
average glider pilot, but frequently less childish.

I know competing is a selfish activity but it can't be that much effort to
stretch your social skills to accommodate a couple of kids after flying. Someone
should point out to the said reprobate that if what he / she wants is absolute
solitude it can be arranged - as in "there's the gate. Please close it on the
way out" - If you let individuals alienate families, eventually all you have
left at these events will be the group of misfits with no family, and about as
many friends. But hell it WILL be quiet, except for them grumbling about the
decline in gliding.
/rant

As an example - we have one family that flies at our club - Mom and Dad share a
single seater, participate in the management of the club and generally are very
useful members. They have two kids, a pre-teen who will probably solo at sixteen
and an autistic daughter who can be a real challenge. If we had not accepted
her, and found ways to ensure her safety, and keep her from damaging the
equipment when her father started as a student we would not have the benefit of
their membership and friendship. We all grew from having her around. In fact her
self absorption is similar to some others, she just doesn't fly.


Tuno wrote:
My 2.73 y/o was in the mix and my wife was standing nearby. A kid
screaming in a temper tantrum is one thing, but kids having fun are as
innocent as the pilot landing out in Farmer John's field. My wife was
very upset too.

Don't know if it's the straw that broke the camel's back (it didn't
help!!!), but on the way home my crew told me that was her last
contest. (At least until the kids are growed up.) FS: 2005 Seabreeze
LX 32' motorhome, 9500 miles, 8L GM Workhorse, every factory option
but the sat dish, a screaming deal at $91,500. WTB: gently used Honda
Ridgeline. Wanted: hotel roommate for 15M Nats at Uvalde next August.

~ted/2NO