Hate the word "ham"

[k4elv]

I certainly agree with Jozef.  There is something called tradition.  We are
"hams," and should be proud of that title.  It took much effort in days
past, unlike today.  When I recieved my Extra class license it meant
something other than the fact of successfully memorizing some answers.  We
now have Extra class "operators."  The FCC changed "ham radio" in order to
get more numbers.  Never mind quality, let's have numbers.  Never mind the
traditions.  By the way I do remember my Elmer from 1956. Mike K4ELV
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[W2AGN-2]

K4elv@bellsouth,net wrote:
> I certainly agree with Jozef.  There is something called tradition.  We are
> "hams," and should be proud of that title.  It took much effort in days
> past, unlike today.  When I recieved my Extra class license it meant
> something other than the fact of successfully memorizing some answers.  We
> now have Extra class "operators."  The FCC changed "ham radio" in order to
> get more numbers.  Never mind quality, let's have numbers.  Never mind the
> traditions.  By the way I do remember my Elmer from 1956. Mike K4ELV
> ______________________________________________

Well Said! Unfortunately, you will now be relegated to the classification of
"old-fuddy-duddy" or worse by the "MCE" crowd.  (MCE="Multiple Choice Extras").




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[Ken Kopp]

The subject as it's being "discussed" here has two points
of focus ...

Some of us "Hams" understand and take "perverse" pride
in the "ham" title ... all and well and good, as we know what
it means.

It means something entirely different to people who have
no knowledge of the hobby and hear us defined as "hams".
Ham: "A poor or amateurish actor" ... or ..."To exaggerate
or overdo".  It's the only defination for the word they know.

Of course those that we've helped  ... Katrina, etc. ... well-know
us and need no further explanation, but in the context of the
lighthouse visitor we should not be viewed as "hams", although
I'm sure that's how many/most see us.  To most it's a derogatory
label for an individual.

Now, it's time this thread should fade away ... (:-))

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
[hidden email]

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[Jozef Hand-Boniakowski]

Agreed.  Me too, by the way. My Elmer was W2FVB, Walter Muller.  In my
33 year high school  teaching carrier, not one student ever made fun of
the term ham.  I taught a ham radio class for science credit (for
graduation) that met daily, but you had to have acquired a callsign to
get the credit. No kid ever made fun of me being their Elmer, however,
many remember their Elmer fondly like I remember mine  As a 14 year old
know it all teenager, I had no problem telling my peers that I was a
"ham".  No one ever made fun of me.  Quite the contrary.  We are what we
think, and, what we think, we project.

Jozef WB2MIC

K4elv@bellsouth,net wrote:
> I certainly agree with Jozef.  There is something called tradition.  We are
> "hams," and should be proud of that title.  It took much effort in days
> past, unlike today.  When I recieved my Extra class license it meant
> something other than the fact of successfully memorizing some answers.  We
> now have Extra class "operators."  The FCC changed "ham radio" in order to
> get more numbers.  Never mind quality, let's have numbers.  Never mind the
> traditions.  By the way I do remember my Elmer from 1956. Mike K4ELV
>
>  
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[Julian, G4ILO]

Like it or not, the number of licensees was in decline before recent
changes in licensing. Without a sufficient number of hams, it's hard
to justify keeping our precious band allocations.

Many of the keenest and most enthusiastic members of the hobby are
those who were encouraged to join by the new licensing policy. Instead
of sounding like grumpy old members of a gentlemen's club, you should
be welcoming them.
--
Julian, G4ILO
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
K2 s/n: 392  K3 s/n: ???
www.Ham-Directory.com: the best ham resources on the net
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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-2]

Mike K4ELV wrote:


I certainly agree with Jozef.  There is something called tradition.  We are
"hams," and should be proud of that title.  It took much effort in days
past, unlike today.  When I recieved my Extra class license it meant
something other than the fact of successfully memorizing some answers.  We
now have Extra class "operators."  The FCC changed "ham radio" in order to
get more numbers.  Never mind quality, let's have numbers.  Never mind the
traditions.  By the way I do remember my Elmer from 1956. Mike K4ELV

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree with you and Jozef.

Geoff
GM4ESD
A Ham since 1946



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[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

END OF THREAD - Please. (I thought I ended this yesterday... :-)

73, Eric   WA6HHQ
List Moderator

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[Bill Coleman-2]

On Jun 23, 2007, at 4:39 PM, W2AGN wrote:

> Well Said! Unfortunately, you will now be relegated to the  
> classification of
> "old-fuddy-duddy" or worse by the "MCE" crowd.  (MCE="Multiple  
> Choice Extras").

I'm not sure what you are implying. I took my tests in 1980 under a  
steely-eyed FCC examiner, and they were multiple-choice back then.

Frankly, I'd rather judge people by their actions after they obtain  
their license, then by the path they took to get it.

Amateur radio offers and incredible opportunity to learn. You  
couldn't possibly put it all on any test -- no one would ever be  
licensed.


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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[N2EY]

In a message dated 7/6/07 8:44:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [hidden email]
writes:


> I took my tests in 1980 under a  
> steely-eyed FCC examiner, and they were multiple-choice back then.

I took mine in 1968 and 1970, and the written exams were all multiple choice
then, too. Novice to Extra.
>
> Frankly, I'd rather judge people by their actions after they obtain  
> their license, then by the path they took to get it.
>

I agree 100%

Sure there are *some* hams today who don't know the basics, and whose
questions make you wonder. But I recall there being a similar variety of knowledge
and experience 40 years ago, too.

I don't think Elecraft has yet encountered a kit wired with real spaghetti,
for example. Or one where alignment was attempted by "tightening all the loose
screws"

73 de Jim, N2EY


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[David King-11]

As one of those asking what I'm certain are very "basic" questions  
which seem obvious to those with eon's of experience, I would like to  
present an alternate point of view to consider.

While the grizzled experts who can absently tap code on the bartop  
without realizing it may want to look down at others trying to  
learn...at least those asking those "basic" questions are trying to  
understand.

I may be "only a General" and when I took the test it certainly was  
only offered as "multiple choice"...  and yes, now that code is no  
longer required I have a curious interest in learning it....  At least  
those of us asking questions are trying to learn and aren't content  
with just whipping out the plastic, placing an order for the latest  
whizzbangyougottahaveitsoyoucantalktothemoonman  
withfivekazillionhonesttogodwattsofpureamplifiedpowerthatsplatterthewholeband,  
unwrapping it, plunking it on a countertop while wishing it came  
preconnected to a 500 foot tall spaceship-trapping antenna and pushing  
buttons wondering what they do and not willing to even read the  
instructions?!?!

If you really want to toss the cat into the chicken house and watch  
the feathers fly...suggest that instead of automatic renewals on your  
licenses..that you have  to retake it every three to five years AND  
Pass, multiple choice or not....that would really thin out the ranks  
and I'll bet a lot of 1x2 calls would free up when that happened!  I  
can't begin to count the number of Extra's I've heard saying they  
couldn't pass even 5 wpm now...let alone any higher speed.

David King
KE7EKA


Quoting [hidden email]:

Sure there are *some* hams today who don't know the basics, and whose  
questions make you wonder. But I recall there being a similar variety  
of knowledge and experience 40 years ago, too.


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[dj7mgq]

On the 23rd & 24th of June 2007 Eric declared an END OF THREAD for this.

<http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/>


toby

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[W2AGN-2]

Toby Deinhardt wrote:
> On the 23rd & 24th of June 2007 Eric declared an END OF THREAD for this.
>
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/>
>
>
> toby
>


Yep, for some reason Bill responded to this almost 2 weeks after my message. I
avoided further comment, knowing I would get blamed for it.....
--
---
  _    _    _    _    _
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( W )( 2 )( A )( G )( N )  http://w2agn.net
 \_/  \_/  \_/  \_/  \_/   http://www.blurty.com/users/w2agn
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[Bill Coleman-2]

On Jul 7, 2007, at 4:46 PM, W2AGN wrote:

> Yep, for some reason Bill responded to this almost 2 weeks after my  
> message. I
> avoided further comment, knowing I would get blamed for it.....

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the list moderator -- I must  
confess that I was reading old messages and responded before reaching  
the end of thread message.

If that is any explanation.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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