From: John Smith on Jun 12, 3:05 pm

Len:

Yes, they do look the part of ancient toothless bullies--the faint of
heart have fled in fear before their rants (as so have the women,
children, small animals and gays)...

They are at a loss when brave men stand their ground and question their
faulty logic... reduces 'em to personal attacks and gutter fighting
quickly...

Actually, not too much "reduction." When I first logged into
this din of inequity, the morsemen were already in full cry,
arrogant in their supposition that the code test would never go
away. El Jefe of them all (some nearly 8 years ago) was KH2D
and not hesitant to damn all "no-coders" in no uncertain terms.
joined in after I did and attempted those same
long, long postings wherein he was wont to yank out (almost)
individual words and argue their use (exaggeration, but you get
the picture). (who shall remain nameless) still
does that schtick.

Several others of the very-pro-code-advocacy came and went,
including a few ex-navy types who bragged over their wonderous
ability with morse (and who got trained at government expense).

Perhaps the worst blow of all to these stalwart Defenders of the
Archaic was FCC 99-412, the Report & Order that did the actual
regulation "restructuring" (for 1999, there have been other years)
as a sort of "Holiday Present" for all. ONE code test rate at
5 WPM, any class license having below 30 MHz privileges.

From about then on, one by one, the personal attacks and "gutter
fighting" became worse. The PCTA (Pro-Code Test Advocates) just
couldn't contain themselves. They popped their tops and vented.
More anony-mousies joined in, worse than the old PCTA, and the
personal attacks got worse and worse. The condition today may be
at a zenith, the Believers (of the code faith) trying to hold
back tomorrow.

A side problem are those few who think tangentially to the grope.
Those who think that THEY are the center of the newsgrop world.
Everything - in their apparent perception - revolves around THEM
and they cannot take anything that isn't gratuitous praise of
their heroic opinions. [we all know who they are...:-) ]

Absolutely fascinating to those interested in psychology aspects
of human beans...along with sociopathic and aberrant behavior.
Entertaining in one way. :-)

Long Beach Convention Center and the MTT Microwave Symposium calls.
Bye. :-)