[Fists] "The Correct Use of Metric"

Sun, 24 Mar 2002 09:35:47 -0700

It's all in the delivery and some people aren't aware of the negative
impacts even when they are trying to be constructive. A positive
approach for this fellow would have been to make a tiny cheat sheet with
examples and reminders of common mistakes. Thay way we all gain
something and feel good about a fellow Ham sharing a helpful tool. I
liked your comments. 73/Tim Logan KB7OEX

W2AGN wrote:
> 
> Ofen, I hear criticism of FISTS for being "snobbish" or "know-it-all." I
> dismiss such accusations....until now.
> 
> I just finished reading the article 'The Correct Use of Metric," in Keynote
> 2.2002. While I agree that many errors are made with Mhz, mHz, etc, the
> manner in which the author adressed this was patronizing and insulting.
> 
> He starts of criticizing a magazine which said a QRPer was using 5MW of
> power. He notes that this means 5 MEGAWATTS. Yeah, that's right, and I'm sure
> everybody who read it immediately said, "Wow, that guy was running 5
> Megawatts!"  Then he carries on about the KEYNOTE, saying MCW is legal only
> above 144.1 mHz. He manages to waste almost a half column showing how smart
> he is, figuring out the 144.1 mHz is actualy 0.1441 Hz.
> 
> He has to make sure we all appreciate our stupidity, by suggesting that
> "those of you who do not remember your Metric system from Grade School should
> keep a look-up card handy." Hey, when I was in grade school, it was 144.1
> Mcs, and the Metric sytem was something those people in Europe used.
> 
> Of course, he also has to remind us he is a physicist. Congratulations!
> 
> Anyway, I really don't think any normal person is going to think 144.1 mHz
> mean 0.1441 Hz, or a QRPer is running 5 megawatts.  So why waste space in
> Keynote with such a self-serving article?
> 
> --
>    --------------------------
>       John L Sielke   W2AGN
>        [email protected]
>  http://mywebpages.comcast.net/w2agn
>         Trustee: W3IYQ
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