[Boatanchors] The Death of BA Civility

[arc5 at ix.netcom.com]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Todd, KA1KAQ" <ka1kaq at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] 73 Magazine pdf files


> .... But like so many other issues in amateur
> radio today, more and more seems to be based in feeding someone's ego
> and less in providing a helping hand to the amateur community.

It's our demographics, gents.  
You may have noticed, through this and several other threads, 
that our community has gotten less civil 
and/or tolerant over the last few years.
It isn't just the general decay of citizenship and morality 
that is common in any dying empire;
Our community is going extinct, being much older than almost
any other "hobby" community.  As a result, we're feeling the 
approach of those bony, icy fingers, and the inevitable loss
of our personal identity (at least, on this side of the veil).  
This leads us to cling to and defend desperately 
anything that might define us as a unique individual, 
such as our written words or innovative ideas.
This is normal and natural.  
The answer is to make allowance for 
our old-age crankyness, take a breath 
and not perpetuate the unpleasentness.
And yes- sometimes I fall into it, too.  I'm no saint.
All we can do is keep trying to be 
what we once were- forgiving.

Even more important:  
To quote an author whose name escapes me: 

    "The only sure immortality for any of us is
     in our published works.  Only the author 
     has a chance to ride the engine of eternity."

While we remain, we do perhaps have a right to
demand our 67-cents of royalties for our work;
royalties that, like us, will be forgotten dust and ashes in time.
But our written word- copied, passed on, 
preserved in many forms; that is our immortality.
Each time someone reads your words, 
you live again.
That's worth more than 67 cents.

73 Dave S. AB5S