Simply not true. While there are always idiots in any group, this phenomena isn't restricted to older ticket holders. There are just as many jerks who got their ticket last week. I was first licensed as a Novice in 1974. I taught third grade back then. Everyone else was an engineer. These guys (few women in the hobby then) for the most part were extremely helpful to me. I've taught many licensing classes from Novice to Extra. I always told my students that 95% of our fellow hams are great and will do anything to help a new person out. But, there is always that 5% that one finds in any social group who think that they have some special dispensation and should dictate what others do. To label a group "old guard" is just as discriminatory as the actions you are railing against. There is no "old guard". There are just a few nitwits who are vocal and love for you to give them attention. They could have been licensed for 50 years or 2 weeks.
Now, can some of you guys help me get started with these digital modes? LOL. Actually, I have had equipment for years starting with some TNCs back in the dark ages to work digital modes, but just made my first PSK contact two days ago. Although I have been using APRS for years and was one of the early packet users, most of the current modes are foreign to me. Be gentle with me, I have screwed up more than once trying to make everything work. Now that I have reached retirement age, I have more time to play with my toys and I'm exploring our digital modes as a way to expand my radio skills. Besides, living in an antenna restricted community, these modes give me a chance to keep up with the big boys with my more modest station. John KE4D Brackettville, TX --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Phil Williams <ka1...@...> wrote: > > Don't fear the 'old guard'. Don't let them push you around. In fact, push > back. > When it gets down to it, they're pretty harmless and really just fun to > watch. > > If you got the license, you have every right to be here as these they do. > > We must get beyond the technocratic caste system as it does no one any good. > > This practice of judging someone's character, based on what mode they do/do > not use > or how their call sign is formatted or worse, the class of their license, is > ridiculous! > > We don't need quiet bands. Unless we want the bands taken away from us. > Get on and operate. Be active. > > Explore all the aspects of this great hobby. > > Please, try out all these wonderful digital modes that the developers have > worked so hard to provide us with to enjoy. > > Don't about those who claim to have, "been here first". > These people have low self esteem and have a need to beat down others so > they'll feel > good about themselves. > > I had deal with the "old guard' when I first came in to this hobby. You > know what? > They all got old and died and the bands became a better place for it. > > We were shunned because we wanted to operate packet stations and heavens > forbid, > hook up a computer to it. This was the 80's and we were still living in > caves then. > > This hobby...this thing that we do, only gets better by inclusion and and > exclusion. > > We must welcome every new op to hobby with open arms and recognize that they > are the ones who will save us from our own narrow mindedness. > > philw de ka1gmn > > > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:09 PM, Brian Denley <b.den...@...> wrote: > > > > > > > You would think those 'old guard' guys would consider that we used to have > > to know binary and 2's complement math to use a computer at all. The > > technology got to the point where you didn't need those 'older' skills. We > > are better for it. > > Brian Denley > > http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html<http://home.comcast.net/%7Eb.denley/index.html> > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Dan Hensley" <kc9...@... <kc9ncf%40yahoo.com>> > > To: <digitalradio@yahoogroups.com <digitalradio%40yahoogroups.com>> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 4:33 PM > > Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Techs on HF digital > > > > Another problem is that the "old guard" who have an axe to grind against > > new > > amateurs due to the change in licensing requirements and other new FCC > > policies to go with that change which occurred back in Feb of 2007, are > > running new amateurs off in droves. > > > > Hazing or outright threatening behavior by hams licensed before Feb of 2007 > > > > is another reason new hams are not getting on the air. I went through this > > myself. A mentality has arisen that "amateur radio is only for listening > > and > > you're never supposed to transmit". Everyone wants the bands quiet and > > wants > > the next amateur to just stop operating. > > > > > > --- On Tue, 12/15/09, Glenn L. Roeser > > <hillbillietr...@...<hillbillietrace%40yahoo.com>> > > wrote: > > > > > > >
