[Boatanchors] Query about 73 & 88

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Cromwell" <wrcromwell at gmail.com>
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 5:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Query about 73 & 88


> On Tue, 2012-12-11 at 06:54 -0600, David Stinson wrote:
>
>> While the official definitions of "73" and "88" are
>> "Best regards" and "Love and kisses" respectively,
>> their proper use in this instance would depend upon
>> Korean standards of familiarity and affection.
>>
>> In Western custom, "88" would be reserved for lover,
>> close family or spouse, while "73" is intended for less
>> familiar relationships.   "Love and kisses" may indicate
>> a different sentiment in Korean society.
>> I respectfully submit that Korean custom for
>> these two sentiments should rule.
>>
>> GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S
>
> Hi,
>
> This is an appropriate place for me to attach to the 
> thread. What David
> said is spot on. The original post also mentioned 
> "international"
> communications. If we don't know for sure about the 
> customs where our
> international friends live, staying with "73" would seem 
> to be the best
> practice. In some societies men hug and kiss each other as 
> a routine
> greeting. In others that is very poorly received. In some 
> places where
> men hug and kiss each other it is taboo to offer those 
> "affections" to
> women (other than one's wife).
>
> So a different standard might apply in "international" 
> communications
> than within one's own society.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill  KU8H
>

     73, 88 and 30 all come from the system of abbreviations 
used for Morse wire telegraphy.  I think they originated as 
part of the Philips Code, a system thought up by Walter 
Philips, once chief engineer of Western Union. 73 means Best 
Regards, 88 Love and Kisses, and 30 means end of story or of 
message. 30 comes down to us as SK from wire Morse where 
..._. is 3 and zero is a five unit dash _____ .
     Like many other conventions the customary use has 
changed a bit especially because the history is not very 
well known.
     BTW, a puzzle to me is the term "elmer" to mean mentor. 
I never saw or heard this until about twenty years ago. You 
will not find it in any old handbook or list of ham radio 
slang.  I wonder where it originated and who "Elmer" was.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com