From what I have seen, it is not just Internet and Cellular that has stolen some thunder from ham radio as an interesting hobby to pursue. It is also computer gaming. Both of my grandsons are into computer games (both in high school now) and both are involved in programming computers (some motivation from me as being a programmer for 50+ years) and they both want to pursue computer programming of games. I hope that changes but this has seriously diminished any interest in ham radio and they both have grown up known about my hobby, electronics, and such.
Computer Internet gaming offers some of the same features of ham radio of meeting people all over the world that you did not know before hand. Gaming is one of the Internet based activities that creates International friendships and cross culture exchanges. Surprising, who would have thought. I admit that if I were a kid growing up with today’s technology that I probably would not be interested in ham radio. 73, phil, K7PEH > On Dec 22, 2019, at 8:37 PM, Don Wilhelm <donw...@embarqmail.com> wrote: > > I think we need to be focusing on the personal aspect of one on one > communications with someone who we have never met - without the need for the > internet, Facebook or any other internet app. > It is a thrill to me to be able to have a conversation with someone new via > ham radio. > > Of course, even that element is fading out in ham radio with the emphasis on > quick DX contacts or contest points. Ragchewing with someone new to get to > know something about them personally or their location is what gives me the > thrill of ham radio. So sad to see that element being diminished. > > Bring ragchewing back, and I am not talking about the nets on 80 and 40 > meters, it is reaching out to someone new and telling a bit about ourselves > and getting the same in return. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 12/22/2019 11:17 PM, David Gilbert wrote: >> I think we already discussed that aspect, and the point is that young people >> with a technological inclination are far more likely to be interested in >> software, or robotics, or biomedical ... stuff that has more relevance to >> advancing the world and actually leading to a job. It might be a challenge >> to bounce a signal of the ionosphere but people were doing that 100 years >> ago. >> 73, >> Dave AB7E >> On 12/22/2019 6:52 PM, Robert G Strickland via Elecraft wrote: >>> There is a constant refrain about "communicating with far away places." No >>> doubt that has been one attraction of our hobby. For myself, I was never >>> particularly interested in "communicating." For me it was mastery of a >>> technical environment. Communicating was just the proof that the >>> environment had been mastered. Another way of saying this -maybe- is >>> technology versus sociology. There are many traditional activities that >>> have been replaced by more modern versions [eg, horses versus cars, walking >>> versus bicycling, bow/arrow versus guns]. Yet, there is still interest in >>> the "old way," because the earlier challenges remain in spite of more >>> modern solutions. Getting a signal from my radio, out into the ether, >>> bouncing it off the ionosphere, and back down on the other side is still a >>> challenge. Satellite links and the internet don't negate the ionospheric >>> challenge. Perhaps engaging prospective hams in the technical challenges of >>> the hobby will brings in those who like such challenges. Communicating may >>> be the benny on the other side of mastery. >>> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to phys...@mac.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
