Ron, that blows the thory of, just ask someone to slow down and they will, 
right out of the water. Doesn't it. You've been around a while. But imagin 
if that e-mail you got was sent to a new ham, young or old, taking part in a 
cw contest for the first time. That kind of conduct doesn't speak well at 
all for our hobby. 73. Doug, N6NFF

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2016 11:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CW contest this weekend

Regarding the CW activity this weekend, I am stuck with this old, but goody,
World War II straight key, and no way can I send 30 or 35 wpm with it, and
nobody will give me the time of day stumbling along at 15 wpm!! You guys
won't believe me about this, but honestly, I even received an email message
from a station who told me to stay off the bands if I couldn't run with the
big boys at least 30 wpm. My paddle went to Heaven with Justice Antonin
Scalia, and I am trying to do my best with this straight key. It is the key
I started with way back in my Novice days in 1957, and it is still a super
fantastic key, but it doesn't go like my paddle did! <lol> Plus, these old
hands aren't as fast and coordinated as they were when I was a teenager!

Ron, K8HSY