[Elecraft] Attitudes

[Stephen W. Kercel]

Dan and others:

Dan's insights are wise on a number of levels, and the ham community 
would do well to heed them.

When I hear all this hand wringing about "dumbing down" I am reminded of 
the Eqyptologist who after years of effort translated a document from 
the ancient heiroglyphics found that it was a diatribe bemoaning the 
fact that compared the author's own generation, "the younger generation 
knows nothing."

Fast forward 3000 years to about 100 years ago, and we come to the first 
radiotelegraphers exams. What was required to pass? A five minute 
transmission at 20+ wpm with no errors in the copy. I've been operating 
CW for 45 years, and it is no sure bet even with all that experience I 
could pass such a test on any given day.

To this day, I see occasional published comments to the effect that ham 
radio really started to go to pot when the Novice license was 
introduced. Stories are told of old crumudgeons who called "CQ no lids 
no kids no space cadets" as if their arrogance were something to be admired.

Despite having passed the commercial Second Class CW back when you still 
had to draw schematics, the Amateur Extra back when there were both code 
receiving and sending tests (back in the day, if you took the test from 
Angelo Ditty in the Atlanta FCC office you were more likely to fail 
sending than receiving), the Tennessee Registered Professional Engineer 
exam, and a PhD defense in electrical engineering, I find I am still 
learning new things about radio, and no small part of that from 
relatively newly licensed amateurs. We are all ignorant on different topics.

Browbeating the ignorant for their ignorance, either as a class or as 
specific individuals does nothing to advance ham radio, and a good deal 
to retard it. Instead, a polite explanation can work wonders.

73,

Steve Kercel
AA4AK



Dan Allen wrote:
> I was first licensed just three weeks short of my 11th birthday in 1958 (KN4ZZR), and I have been (more or less) actively involved in amateur radio ever since.
>
> I have seen a lot of change in that time, but the one constant that has always amazed me is the level of anger among a certain percentage of those involved in this *hobby*.  And it is a hobby.
>
> After all of these years, I am still amazed at what I don't know.  I maintain a list of people whom I am not afraid to ask any question arising from any problem that has stumped me.  The knowledge that I have gained, and the friendships that I have made, are priceless.
>
> I know from personal experience how off-putting it is to ask someone a question in good faith, and have them blow up, denigrate you, and launch into a rant.  I avoid these people at all costs, and I feel badly for them.  They are missing much of the joy that this very short life has to offer.
>
> I have been passionately involved in aviation since 1965, and I have never experienced this phenomenon in the flying community.  People in this community are both eager to help and teach, and to learn.  And they have always been uniformly friendly.
>
> I don't know what it is about amateur radio that causes (or attracts) this anger, but it is self-defeating.  If this hobby is in peril, and if our numbers are shrinking, we need to accept everyone who has an interest, and we need to nurture them and pass on whatever knowledge we have.  If they came into the hobby by memorizing the answers to a set of questions, that should be fine.  They have shown an interest, and some initiative.  It is up to us to make them feel welcome and accepted.  It is up to us to bring them from where they are, to where we want them to be.  Try it.  Some of them might truly surprise you!
>
> Dan Allen
> KB4ZVM (Advanced Operator Privileges - 13 WPM code)
> K2 S/N 1757
> BS Chemistry 1969
> BS Pharmacy 1974
> Private Pilot Glider
> Commercial Pilot/Instrument Rating Airplane Single-Engine Land
> Airline Transport Pilot Airplane Multi-Engine Land
> Certified Flight Instructor
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