[Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"

[W2AGN]

Jeff Davis wrote:

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>
>
>
>You're right, there is nothing particularly "anti-CW"
>about this campaign. It's more "anti-sophisticated".
>It purposely paints a picture that amateur radio
>communication is simple and doesn't require much
>technical acumen. Just take a quick, easy test about
>some rules and regs then buy an off the shelf handheld
>and SHAZAM! Now you're talking!
>  
>
Exactly the problem!


>I have four children, the youngest is 13 and of that
>crew, only one had enough interest in the hobby to
>actually get a license. This despite the fact that
>they lived with me and were exposed to RF their entire
>life.
>
>Let's face facts and not stick our heads in the sand -
>ham radio is NOT for everyone. Some people see the
>challenge it offers and seize it. Most do not.
>  
>
This is NOT a bad thing! Those that don't want to make the effort 
probably would not be an asset to Ham Radio, anyway.

>Every attempt that's been made to "grow" the amateur
>service through trivializing it has failed miserably.
>The no-code technician license made lots of people
>happy--for awhile. Then they all moved on to greener
>pastures.  Ham radio was not as "easy" or as much fun
>as they had been led to believe.
>
>I asked my 13 year-old daughter to take a look at the
>"Hello" Web site and tell me if it would convince her
>or her friends to get involved in the hobby. Her
>response?
>
>"It's weird that they are using a WEB page to try and
>tell people how easy it is to TALK to others. I am
>chatting with three friends (using an instant
>messenger client) while looking at that Web site ... I
>can call any of my friends on my cell phone and talk
>to them or exchange text messages all I want. Why
>would I want to take a test, get a license, buy a
>radio and put up an antenna when I can already TALK to
>all my friends right now?"
>
>I'd say my daughter makes an excellent point, even if
>none of us like to hear it. Nobody needs ham radio to
>TALK to anyone. Free nights and weekends on the cell
>phone, instant messaging, text messaging, and voice
>over IP has COMPLETELY eliminated the need for ham
>radio--if all you are interested in doing is TALKING
>to someone else. There HAS to be something more to
>amateur radio than just TALKING to other hams because
>otherwise, you are looking at the final generation of
>the hobby.
>
>If we want to "save" amateur radio then we need to
>figure out what ELSE it's good for, because simply
>TALKING to others won't attract enough of a crowd
>these days to help pitch a Field Day tent...there has
>got to be a challenge.
>
>
>  
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Well, after 48 years as a Ham, I still get a real charge out of building 
a little QRP rig, firing it up, and making a QSO. Even more so if that 
QSO is made from out in the woods or on the beach, with a wire strung up 
in the trees or on a fiberglass pole. (And of course, on CW!).

Kids want instant gratification, and expect things to be given to them, 
hence the unwillingness to make the very small effort to get a license. 
Unfortunately, that's how kids are taught these days. ARRL's typically 
asinine effort will not get any good hams into the fold, but 
fortunately, I don't think we'll get many bad ones, either. ARRL and its 
primary support (Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom) will sell some HTs, that will 
end up in a drawer, unused.

-- 
   _     _     _     _     _  
  / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   John L. Sielke
 ( W ) ( 2 ) ( A ) ( G ) ( N )  http://w2agn.net
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"CRUSTY OLD CURMUDGEON - AND PROUD OF IT!"