In article . net, "Dwight
Stewart" writes:

"Len Over 21" wrote:

Dwight, that's all too common in
computer-modem "communications,"
just as it is with morse code beeping
on ham band ragchews.

No real clues on a person, no human
data input, just a lot of imagination and
too much concentration on the writer
in a public forum. Those with an
agenda, a hatred of something/somebody,
living in a quasi-fantasyland, brainwashed
into a different reality, are all into their
own "reality of sight and sound," just like
a Twilight Zone.

To those too caught up in the unreality
don't have a hobby of ham radio anymore,
they have a Lifestyle and Belief. Any
puncturing of that fantasy will send them
off into paroxysms of rage, offense at
imagined slights, and the usual bigot's
demands of What is Right Should Be
Right. (snip)

Well said, Len. I often find it amazing to read some of the messages here
after being distracted from the newsgroup for a few days. The attitudes and
realities here seem far out of touch with the realities of the world.

Dwight, that's what I meant about the "fantasyland." With so few
clues on another person (especially with morse beeping), it's a
wonderful opportunity to imagine all sorts of things about the
other radio operator. :-)

Unfortunately, too many apply the same fantasy-imaginary things
to a computer screen.

Blend all of that in with: (1) A NEED to belong...to something...to
anything; (2) A need to VENT daily frustrations, take them out on
another who cannot possibly harm the venter...and you've got the
recipe for Instant Flame War. :-)

The League has constantly self-promoted itself and many have
allowed that self-promotion to brainwash them into thinking they
are this tremendous asset to the nation, are gifted radio operators
who stand ready to jump into action to save something whenever
called, and are better than ordinary people. Combined with an
honest-to-gosh Federal Certificate (suitable for framing) and they
start taking themselves sooooo seriously. They slip off reality and
enter the Twilight Zone of their imagination.

Amateur radio is a fun hobby, a recreational activity for personal
pleasure...but...a few NEED the status symbolism, the Titles,
all the pretty adornments to show off to others...instead of doing
an enjoyable thing with radio. As a result the U.S. got this
"incentive system" of professional-like rank-status (classes of
licenses) in an avocational amateur endeavor which is not a guild
or union or anything else but a hobby. Rank-status-privilege are
the thing, not the radio communication.

The League now wants to revisit all of that with Their Plan, complete
with emotional loading of the "Novice" name for "entrants." Gee suss,
are those 15 old men so out of touch with reality that radio is still
"new" or "mysterious" to the general population? Don't they under-
stand that radio is in widespread use in other radio services and that
there are hundreds of thousands of non-amateurs who have used
radio for years? Weird, wired apprentice-journeyman-master in a
still in a HOBBY activity!

It's like the Twilight Zone on a bad hair day...

U.S. amateur radio seems to be another
center for national misogyny. It is a hobby
activity engaged in largely by white males.

I've thought about that many times and don't really see a problem with it.
As long as there isn't a widespread effort to intentionally exclude, not
everything in this world has to be all inclusive (to each his own). While
some will obviously always want to exclude, it isn't more commonplace in
Amateur Radio than elsewhere.

I disagree but won't press the point.

Just think of before 1960 the Civil Rights Laws. The atmosphere
might refresh the memory. Look at the pictures of hams in the
US shown in the ham publications. Check out their legal names.

The various ARCs encourage members "like them" which means
white male adults. Women are categorized as "special," not quite
on par with the men; wives are always "EX-young-ladies" regardless
of their real age. In many places it is like the 1930s and 1920s in
attitudes. Sometimes with members' radio smarts to match...even
if they've memorized every single radio ad in QST for the last 20
years.

But, all must march to the same drumbeep, close ranks and cheer
the leadership. Keep those 1930s and 1920s feelings alive. Ham
radio is a SERVICE and every newbie (to hamming, not radio) has
to "learn their place" or the "NCOs" will have them "get down and
give them twenty." Lifestylers. Narrowed in focus almost to
tunnel vision.

It's not completely like that, of course...but there are just enough of
the Lifestylers to allow them to force an eliteness de facto if not
de jure. They don't see it even when looking in a mirror. :-)

LHA / WMD