[CW] Re: CW chuckles....

Tue, 20 May 2003 05:58:21 -0700

Pedro,

I will agree with you on some points. Statistics don't mean a thing. I have
been in law enforcement for over 30 years, and the statistics that state and
federal governments are touting pertaining to cell phone related accidents
are garbage. The problem with the stats is that no state kept records on
cell phone distractions as a contributing accident factor until about three
years ago, yet despite that fact, you were hearing people cite statistical
information related to cell phone distractions well before that. I would
suspect that the old saw applies here. "Figures lie, and liars figure."

Next, let's be reasonable. My agency, along with a consortium of all
agencies in my particular county here in
California, have now transitioned to computer aided dispatching. We were
warned from the very start that accidents would go up an average of 500
percent "initially," because officers would be looking at the computer
screen and not out the windshield. Well, so far those predictions have not
come true, and we are at eight months into the program. However, did we
decide not to use the technology just because accidents might go up? The
answer is no.

Pedro there are lots of distractions in a police car. Computer screens,
radios, and scanners. There is the distraction of driving and trying to look
for violations. You better believe that cops are in a lot of accidents
because of this. In some cases citizens are killed or injured. The question
is; do we terminate police patrols because of this?

Pedro I have never in over 30 years of law enforcement seen one accident
that involved someone, who was a ham radio operator, using "any" kind of ham
radio related device, whether a 2 meter rig, or a key.

Life if not safe Pedro. There are risks in living and if we try to eliminate
them all, life could not progress. I am constantly asked this question.
"Aren't you afraid of being killed in your job?" My response is. "No one
escapes mortality alive."

73
Patrick Lynd
AC6YD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pedro J. Santa" <[email protected]>
To: "Richard Phillips" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 4:52 PM
Subject: Re: [CW] Re: CW chuckles....

Statistics don't mean anything, when just one (1) person imperils his/her
life and that/those of others for this futile and silly penchant of carrying
a CW chat while driving! Is the QSO one that deals with life and safety
issues?  If it is, then I would be more tolerant; but if the QSO is
motivated by the same pure hobby-driven motivations which fuel my 30 meter
CW activity, then driving while engaged in that kind of action is just pure
idiocy!!!These comparisons with other daily threats to driving safety (such
as children in the car, dogs and the rest are inapposite, really!!)  I can't
believe how supposedly "smart" people can preach so much nonsense!!! I would
be ashamed if my kids were witnesses of a dad who likes to stroke a mobile
straight or Iambic while he drives his antenna rigged van!

Let's ban mobile CW; let's practice safe driving for our children and safe
CW; let's be children while and when we can; let's be adults when and while
we should!

73 Pedro KP3X..

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Phillips" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 1:33 AM
Subject: [CW] Re: CW chuckles....

>
>
> I would think it might be wise to not go "over the top" with tales of
> recklessness on mobile CW. Inevitably this brings out the "regulators" who
> seem to want to make the world in their own image.....The number of mobile
> cw operators would definitely be miniscule referenced to other real
hazards
> i.e. noisy/boisterous children in the vehicle, prescription medication
> inpaired drivers, alcohol impairment, aggressive driving etc. and, oh yes,
> lets not forget those folks who bring their marital woes, anger with their
> boss etc, and a generally hostile attitude overall behind the wheel. There
> are a myriad of activities, mindsets etc. that statistically represent a
far
> greater danger than our CW obsessed ham!!  Regards to all my fellow CW
> addicts!!!!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --...  ...--
>
>
>
> Richard Phillips VE3MFN  FISTS #6922  CFO #888
>
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