[AMRadio] Comment to a comment

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 6:43 PM, Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo at gmail.com> wrote:
> We need to go back to fostering electronics education and
> building and starting new hams out on HF.

I agree Rob - 'we' need to do this. What are you doing now to
introduce, invite, or otherwise encourage new hams to join our ranks?
It really is our job to do, not the FCC's. The vast majority of hams I
know do nothing in this vein, choosing to instead blame cell phones,
computer games, the internet and other new technologies for the lack
of interest from young people. Keep in mind that most kids today know
radio only as internet radio. They don't have a set by their bed like
many of us did, or even know what a shortwave radio is. Most of us
learned about radio through hearing and seeing some form of it in
action. As my wife said recently when I mentioned that kids don't know
what radio is these days (she's a K-8 school principal): "They don't
know what a CD is either". Technology moves fast, and the technology
that brought the world to us isn't the technology they get their music
and remote social contact from. Only 'we' will change that.

> No test of any time can "filter out poor character and
> unethical behavior" and that was never the intent of any FCC testing
> in the past as far as I know.  But an examination of some level of
> rigor can serve to attract people with a passion and love of radio and
> a curiosity of the science of radio.

This was the main reason I hated to see the CW requirement leave. I
had some false sense of security in believing that requiring someone
to learn a particular part of the hobby that was of no interest to
them was a way of proving that they could or would apply themselves.
Clearly this was wrong, as proven by current comments about the
satellite and other obscure questions on the Extra exam. I happen to
believe that knowing the code is a handy thing, like knowing another
language that could save your life, basically. Unfortunately, many
others disagree with me as does the FCC. Pining for the good old days
didn't help me any, so I decided to move on with what we have and make
the best of it.

While the internet is a wonderful tool for moving information and
discovering things, I think it also fosters a false sense of
accomplishment for many, who vent their frustrations through email or
websites, then go on about life feeling they've accomplished
something. "Preaching to the choir" comes to mind. (o:

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4