[W3GV] I just can't keep my mouth shut... Hahaha...

[Buddy Brannan]

Hey Patty,

The ham radio that you and I love is still out there. I really don't know what the problem is with the internals of the Erie club, but whatever it is, I don't think that John's picking up his toys and going home is going to fix it. That's probably just a sign of a larger problem, as Lee seems to suggest. If this is indeed the case, I reckon we'd better figure out what the deal is and fix it if the club's going to stick around. 

The larger issue though is that folks like yourself are feeling alienated by the unpleasantness brewing, which comes to the surface in exchanges like this recent one. And, indeed, that doesn't speak well for our hobby, nor does it reflect the spirit of ham radio that I've loved, and that you've loved, for so long. This is not the "adventurous crew who roam the world at will, a band of 
good fellows, happy convivial, carefree", and that's the truth. Is this the kind of thing that we think will welcome newcomers? Anyone remember that Email last year from the guy who was passing through from Canada? That guy who put his call out and no one responded, but some little bit later, a couple guys came on just to talk to each other? Not a welcome for the visitor though. Could have been one of those "wrong place, wrong time" things; after all, my friend KB5UJM, in San Antonio, has this theory that "no one's talking, because no one's talking, because no one's talking". Probably something to that, but anyway, here's the point. If we're having personality problems, can we please be civilized bout it? And, can we all just make an effort to be nice for goodness sake? There's not enough of that in the world anymore, and ham radio's always been one of the places where I've been so pleased to see it's still the rule rather than the exception. 

As for club things? Outsider looking in mind you, but it's a club. It's a group of people, and when you have a group of people, you're going to have some personality clashes sometimes. But it's not your club, and it's not my club, it's our club, so, like the We Are the World people said, leave your egos at the door. On the other hand, a thank you to people who volunteer their time and do things for the club, and thus for the ham population in general, wouldn't go amiss either. I think we all do what we can, or we should all be doing what we can anyway. 

Now, can we have fun with ham radio again and stop all of this nonsense, please? I recommend operating some cw. Preferably some QRP cw. Because most of the QRP cw people are throwbacks to that old ham radio. It's good fun. 

Vy 73,


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Aug 11, 2012, at 5:00 PM, "Don and Patty McMurray" <p.mcmurray1 at verizon.net> wrote:

>  Good evening, 
> Just in case anyone has wondered what happened to “PBD”, its stuff like this bickering and name calling that keeps me away from 2m FM.  Stuff like this that keeps me from attending meetings, etc.  Stuff like the apparent paranoia with the local hams (ie. I don’t wanna ragchew on 2m FM cause everyone is listening to me and will talk about me, OR, Stay off 2m FM because it is only for emergencies and someone might yell at me....).  I always thought 2m FM was a good place for local hams to exchange thoughts and ideas about ham radio or just to say “howdy” to your local buddies, along with the emergency stuff.....
>     I keep going back to the fact that my Dad was a ham, and yes he died 35 years ago and the hobby has changed immensely, but I remember all the great times he and I had in the shack while he was on HF.  I haven’t had the will to get my general for fear that all of the hobby has become like this but lately I do find myself missing the hobby.  So last Monday my Gordon West General class license manual arrived in the mail and I am studying.  By the way, I will take my test in Meadville...  (Where aside from a trouble maker or 2, they are all very nice and welcoming folks.)   Enough said....
>    Very Sincerely and 73,
>        Patty McMurray   N3PBD
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