John Smith wrote:
I think most of those groups progressive and open to change--this alone
would make classification as a cult difficult...

Try selling the NRA on the idea that the Second Amendment should be
repealed.

Try selling NCI on the idea that *some* code testing is OK.

However, the ARRL with un-moving devotion to its "principles" and the
staunch "unwillingness" to change is what makes it more appropriate to
such classification...

The ARRL is as "open to change" (if not more so) as any of the
organizations named.

Is devotion to principles a bad thing? Or are principles, traditions,
and
standards to be tossed aside merely because they're old?

rather bizarre really--when at its core is
technology--and a technology which is RAPIDLY changing and adapting to
new discoveries, methods, devices, etc...

Such as?

The ARRL has been pushing for a revision of the rules to classify
signals by bandwidth rather than content, and to free up old
technical limitations. What other group has put forth such a
proposal?

While I don't agree with all the proposed revisions, the general
concept is a valid one. Why should an FSK signal of 900 Hz bandwidth be
permitted on a frequency because it's RTTY, but an FSK signal of
500 Hz bandwidth be prohibited from the same frequency because it's
digitized voice?

US amateur radio is and has long been wide open for new discoveries,
methods, devices, etc.. Particularly on VHF/UHF, where there's lots of
bandwidth. You cannot blame the license requirements for lack of
innovation, because the requirements for full VHF/UHF privileges have
included no code test and only a minimal written test for 14+ years.

The real "cult" or "religion" to watch for is the mindset that all
change is good, new is better than old, ending is better than
mending, and similar marketing buzzphrases.

That mindset is geared to three goals:

- selling more product, regardless of whether it's really better
- attracting investment capital
- destroying the existing structure without an adequate replacement

The boom-dot-bust mess of 2000 proves the game doesn't last forever.

"new" and "remarkable" become "old" and "common" in only a matter of
months in this field...

Which field?

Radio broadcasting in the USA uses AM (developed more than a century
ago)
and FM stereo multiplex (developed a half century ago). Satellite radio
may
cut into their market but it's a long way from replacing standard
broadcasting.

TV broadcasting is only now beginning the widespread change to HDTV,
after a half-century of NTSC.

In any technology, there is usually rapid progress when the technology
is
new, then as the technology matures, the changes become more
evolutionary
than revolutionary.

Suppose FCC just dumps Element 1 tomorrow. Will we see a techno-
revolution in ham radio? Not likely - it didn't happen after the Tech
lost its code test.



wrote in message
oups.com...
John Smith wrote:
N2Ey:

I stand corrected, ARRL is NOT a valid religion...

Nope, more of a cult actually--"Cult of the ARRL." grin

Then the following are all cults, too:

- Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and similar organizations
- US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard
- AMA, ANA, and similar organizations
- IEEE and similar organizations
- No-Code International and similar organizations

And many others.