I was first licensed just three weeks short of my 11th birthday in 1958 (KN4ZZR), and I have been (more or less) actively involved in amateur radio ever since.
I have seen a lot of change in that time, but the one constant that has always amazed me is the level of anger among a certain percentage of those involved in this *hobby*. And it is a hobby. After all of these years, I am still amazed at what I don't know. I maintain a list of people whom I am not afraid to ask any question arising from any problem that has stumped me. The knowledge that I have gained, and the friendships that I have made, are priceless. I know from personal experience how off-putting it is to ask someone a question in good faith, and have them blow up, denigrate you, and launch into a rant. I avoid these people at all costs, and I feel badly for them. They are missing much of the joy that this very short life has to offer. I have been passionately involved in aviation since 1965, and I have never experienced this phenomenon in the flying community. People in this community are both eager to help and teach, and to learn. And they have always been uniformly friendly. I don't know what it is about amateur radio that causes (or attracts) this anger, but it is self-defeating. If this hobby is in peril, and if our numbers are shrinking, we need to accept everyone who has an interest, and we need to nurture them and pass on whatever knowledge we have. If they came into the hobby by memorizing the answers to a set of questions, that should be fine. They have shown an interest, and some initiative. It is up to us to make them feel welcome and accepted. It is up to us to bring them from where they are, to where we want them to be. Try it. Some of them might truly surprise you! Dan Allen KB4ZVM (Advanced Operator Privileges - 13 WPM code) K2 S/N 1757 BS Chemistry 1969 BS Pharmacy 1974 Private Pilot Glider Commercial Pilot/Instrument Rating Airplane Single-Engine Land Airline Transport Pilot Airplane Multi-Engine Land Certified Flight Instructor ______________________________________________________________ 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
