[Johnson] Woufhong

[Roy Morgan]

At 10:16 PM 4/10/2002 -0400, John L. wrote:
>Can anyone enlighten the list as to what the "Woufhong" really was and 
>what became of it.

I remember in college psychology class the definition of "IQ" was given:
"That quantity which is measured by the Sanford-Benet IQ test."

In the same manner:
The Whoff Hong is that article that The Old Man says it is.
(The Old Man was Hiram Percy Maxim, President of the ARRL for so long.)

The stories of it's appearance at League Headquarters are many. The 
explanation as to what is was or is are even  more numerous.  There is one 
more or less authoritative story that goes something like: "Someone gave 
the thing to The Old Man who kept it in his office. Later on, he used it in 
articles to threaten bad operators.  No one knows what it was in real life 
before The Old Man got it."

What became of it? Why, it is at ARRL Headquarters, I assume.

>  Is it possible to revive it and use it
>effectively in todays ham radio enviorment?

In my opinion, that depends on what you mean by "use it".

If you mean refer to it while threatening bad operators in articles 
published in QST, I doubt it.  Political correctness and good sense would 
seem to prevent such threats.  To say nothing of the lawyers.

If you mean to actually use it in a physical way upon the person of any 
ham, operator, lid, or other enemy of good operating, or of hamdom in 
general, no.  It would seem even more unwise to use it insuch a way as was 
stated or implied by The Old Man.

>  Do you get one for discussing it on
>the list?

No one "gets" a Whouff Hong.  There is only one.  It is not now in use, as 
far as I know. Niether in literary reference nor in actual physical 
use.  It is possible that it can be seen by going to the ARRL headquarters 
in Newington CT (or is it West Hartford).  If you did that, you may become 
so frightened by the sight of it that you begin to police the airwaves, 
write articles beseeching hams to operate properly, or even to report your 
experience on the air or over mailing lists.  In this sense, you might be 
termed as having been "Wouff Honged."  May the ether comfort your tormented 
soul.

Roy




Roy Morgan
K1LKY since 1959
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