On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 7:02:34 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
Even OLC produces arguments about rules and fairness. I love it!

This is the problem with OLC and this is why I stopped contributing my flights regularly. It's fairly meaningless. I have lost interest. Comparing flights in two locations has zero objective value. Comparing flights on the same day (same location) in which one pilot tries N and the other S (for example) is meaningless. Comparing a flying site with a ridge or a "big air" western location vs a midwestern flatland location is meaningless. Pilots who launch early are going to get more miles obviously. Pilots who have a motor-glider can take more risk with potentially less hassle and fly father, later, no doubt.

But who cares?

This is why organized contests are so nice. Contest are the only means available to "level set" the many variables and make the flight comparisons between pilots valuable. Contest come in many flavors of objective value (FAI, US rules, Grand Prix). OLC is quite counter to the idea of objective measurement. It was fun for me a season or so until I realized that it was fairly pointless. No I almost never bother to upload a flight. What is the point? What is the value of uploading a flights to OLC? What does it prove. The only value for me was a logbook really. For me, just knowing for myself how the flight went (what went well, what I missed, what was learned) is enough. To share it on OLC or compare it with a pilot in TX or "wherever" (even a pilot flying at my home site on the same day) means little to nothing.

In terms of technical issues, I have never had any issues adding a flight or with my account although I do support the site with the recommended annual donations (smiley). Maybe that helps...

I think OLC is fine (a form of soaring social media really) but the comparisons made between individual flights or comparing annual "flying site mileage," etc are fairly (leaning towards completely) meaningless.

Online Contest? Not really. Not at all in fact. Online NON CONTEST. Or Online "not objective in any way." These are more fitting names. I have heard OLC referred to as "online pointlessness." Yes, I laughed.

I think a new, improved website that has better rules and requirements (such as a set task each day for each location and with a set or coordinated start times) would be much more interesting and far more valuable to the sport of soaring.

OLC has always felt intellectually lazy to me. I think so much more is possible. I'm many ways OLC has done damage.

Sean
7T

Sean - First, great job in Benalla under very difficult conditions! I also appreciated your various updates from the contest.

Second, I agree with many of your thoughts on the OLC. Just one question, I have also thought that there were some real negative effects of the OLC that people do not talk about and I was wondering in what ways you believe it has done damage. Please tell us your thoughts on this!
Thanks again - Renny