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I received my 2003 SCCA rule book in the mail today. It's possibly the earliest I've ever seen it arrive, so kudos to the SCCA staff for timeliness.
Then I looked at the back page. Allow me to type, and hope my typing is correct: "Please note the 2003 Performance Rally Rules file is a read only file, [sic] you will not be able to print or select any of the text or images."
So, what's the purpose of a rule book?
If you're a regular sanctioning body, it's to encourage participation in your sport.
If you're the SCCA, it's to sell rule books.
Why would you want to prevent potential members from printing the rules for further study? Why would you want to prevent current members from being able to quote a rule correctly via cut-and-paste?
Yeah, the printed book is only ten bucks, but in contrast and more importantly, the electronic version is instant. You grab it while you think about it instead of having to find your check book or credit card, call or mail in an order, and wait. People will say "I'll order it later," then forget about it.... ding, another lost competitor. In today's 9-second attention span generation, we need to grab them quick and give them what they want, even if they haven't yet become members. Realistically, those who are really interested would buy the paper book eventually if for no other reason than because it fits nicely in the car.
Even if bootlegging a rule book was a serious issue (I find that hard to believe) you'd think that the advertisers would appreciate the extra value they get from extra copies that might be printed. You'd think the SCCA would welcome the extra competitors that readily-available rule books might bring.
Is there a fear that people might deliberately change something? Won't re-typing cause the same problem?
Perhaps it's just an oversight in the PDF creation process. (Actually, it takes extra steps to block printing and selecting, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt.) Fortunately the PRB can easily fix the problem if they choose.... simply re-cast the on-line PDF and post on-line. With a slow computer it might take 2 minutes. You could always put a footer or watermark saying "only the printed version, as amended by Fastrack, is considered official."
Of course, I made these same suggestions back in 1998, with equal success. (Come to think of it, when the first electronic, non-searchable, rule book came out, they refused to fix that one too.)
At least we have some flavor of electronic rule book now, and it is searchable. It's just too bad we can't share it with potential new members.
[hr]
[p align=right]John Dillon
John @ WidgetRacing.com
www.WidgetRacing.com
Then I looked at the back page. Allow me to type, and hope my typing is correct: "Please note the 2003 Performance Rally Rules file is a read only file, [sic] you will not be able to print or select any of the text or images."
So, what's the purpose of a rule book?
If you're a regular sanctioning body, it's to encourage participation in your sport.
If you're the SCCA, it's to sell rule books.
Why would you want to prevent potential members from printing the rules for further study? Why would you want to prevent current members from being able to quote a rule correctly via cut-and-paste?
Yeah, the printed book is only ten bucks, but in contrast and more importantly, the electronic version is instant. You grab it while you think about it instead of having to find your check book or credit card, call or mail in an order, and wait. People will say "I'll order it later," then forget about it.... ding, another lost competitor. In today's 9-second attention span generation, we need to grab them quick and give them what they want, even if they haven't yet become members. Realistically, those who are really interested would buy the paper book eventually if for no other reason than because it fits nicely in the car.
Even if bootlegging a rule book was a serious issue (I find that hard to believe) you'd think that the advertisers would appreciate the extra value they get from extra copies that might be printed. You'd think the SCCA would welcome the extra competitors that readily-available rule books might bring.
Is there a fear that people might deliberately change something? Won't re-typing cause the same problem?
Perhaps it's just an oversight in the PDF creation process. (Actually, it takes extra steps to block printing and selecting, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt.) Fortunately the PRB can easily fix the problem if they choose.... simply re-cast the on-line PDF and post on-line. With a slow computer it might take 2 minutes. You could always put a footer or watermark saying "only the printed version, as amended by Fastrack, is considered official."
Of course, I made these same suggestions back in 1998, with equal success. (Come to think of it, when the first electronic, non-searchable, rule book came out, they refused to fix that one too.)
At least we have some flavor of electronic rule book now, and it is searchable. It's just too bad we can't share it with potential new members.
[hr]
[p align=right]John Dillon
John @ WidgetRacing.com
www.WidgetRacing.com
