[Boatanchors] A short Vent

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

Amen, Drew!
  
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
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> Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 08:51:07 -0800
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] A short Vent
> From: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> 
> I don't think that new hams are any smarter or dumber than they were in the old days, its just that established hams have gotten smarter with passage of time, and so by comparison, the newcomers seem ignorant.  We didn't learn it all in a day, and we shouldn't expect newcomers to learn it all in a day. It's all relative. 
> 
> In the olden days, there was a much greater emphasis, for all practitioners in electronics, on practical hands-on knowledge.  This was essentially dictated by the then relatively high cost, lower reliability, and ease of service of electronics as compared to today. In this new age, however, hardware is much more complex, our expectations of its performance are much higher, and cost is relatively much lower.  Today's situation dictates a more modular, systems-based approach to most practitioners - now it's all in a "black box" which is a single field-replaceable unit. And those involved in the hobby have followed this.
> 
> So, then, we are in an era where ham radio needs a throwback to the hands-on, component-level old days, because ham radio is all about hands-on, practical knowledge. Who but to provide that much-needed throw back than us throwbacks ourselves! Have any of us ever talked in person with some of the newcomers?  I've talked so some who are brilliant theoretical engineers but couldn't tell yo which end of a soldering iron gets hot. They and so many other newcomers are positively thirsting for hands-on practical knowledge.  I've spoken in person with a number of CB "freebander" types and they have all been interested in amateur radio.  I've also helped a couple to get their ham tickets and they are fine operators, becoming more technically knowledgeable with each passing day.
> 
> Get out there. Speak with the newcomers. Guide them. You will find that they are eager learners and are every bit as enthralled with the technology of communication via electromagnetic waves as we are. Do it. You will be glad and the newcomers will be glad you did.
> 
> Drew