Tom, you had a LECTURE going whether you meant it or not.

That happens every once in a while when someone feels like they
have to proctor morality or preach "good works."

No not preaching good works Len ...just in some small way trying to make
some people think about what they say and using cheap shots with unfortunate
situations. A number of years ago I called a radio station and complained
about the jocks using a lady and her breast cancer as a "joke". The fellow
I talked to brushed me off as if it was an OK thing to do ...... sort of
reflective of our society... unfortunately.


In truth, I posted a STRONG response..

No problem Len ...

..but that's because
I've seen a half century's worth of such LECTURES all about
HAVING to "help the young ones" or all about some deaf, blind,
dumb quadriplegic person "finally passing their ham test."

No Len just an example of courage ..... and my comment was in response to
moaning vs something positive ...

As
if the ham test is some Holy Grail to seek, the ultimate test of
one's life?

If only my salvation were dependent on that Len ..... lets see the big radio
club in the sky .... I'd have to think about that before I would step
through the gaits ....sort of like the 72 virgins or so that are promised
....could anyone go through eternity with 72 women on their case .... sounds
like the other place ...



Amateur radio is a HOBBY. De facto if not de jure. [that means
"in fact" even though it is not explicitly defined in some law
or regulation as such]

Some say yes and some no ...to be honest Len I let that quit bothering me
years ago ...it is what it is ... and besides thanks for the translation as
I haven't been in a Latin text since 70 or so ....


NO ONE "owes anyone" for something they
do when no money has changed hands. If someone feels obligated
to another, fine, that's a personal thing to that someone. But,
that is NOT in any rules or regulations, and its "requirement"
is just inside some folks' heads...besides the Sumner editorial
pages in QST.

I see the personal things to someone all the time ...that makes this veil of
tears a little more bearable for all ...





If you or anyone else has TRUE enthusiasm for some hobby, you
can PROJECT that to others and share the enthusiasm. If you
know more than they do, you can - if you are still enthusiastic
and want to share - help them out by increasing their knowledge.
Your enthusiasm for something will help you impart such new
knowledge to them. Even after over a half century of being
involved in radio-electronics, I'm still fascinated by it and
am still enthusiastic about learning more...

Good point Len ....

but that does NOT
mean that I "MUST" "teach others" or any of that false "good
works" stuff for THEM.

I'll let that up to someone else to determine if it is false or not ....


That's not any sort of "moral obligation"
that I "MUST" do in any hobby. Nor for anyone else with their
hobby. Hobbies are personal activities done for personal
enjoyment and recreation purposes.

I think Len, in all fairness, that this is a point that you are missing by
not being directly involved with this "hobby". The very essence when all is
stripped away is that you need someone to communicate with lest we would all
be shortwave listeners .... ergo help the other fellow or at best don't
interfere with his enjoyment.





As to the "service" word in Title 47, C.F.R., if you ask the FCC
they will tell you it is "a regulatory term denoting the type and
kind of radio activity being regulated." It does NOT imply some
grandiose "national service" at all. Ah, but "the FCC says so"
say many, not understanding what the FCC is saying...and then
they get all confused when I point out other services such as
the Citizens Band Radio SERVICE, the Radio Control Radio SERVICE,
the Family Radio SERVICE and so forth. It's in Title 47 in
nearly every Part.

Again no problem with description as mentioned before ...


Now, some folks seem to be tuckered out by all the lifting of
THEIR emotional baggage, at the use of "certain words" and
"certain phrases." In here lots seem to be carrying very OLD
baggage, complete with those stickers from olden times as if
they were there (even though they couldn't have) plastered all
over that "baggage." Sorry, the boat don't go there no more.
Time travel to "happier times" hasn't been invented yet.

Twern't no such place ever ....

FCC
rules and regulations apply to time NOW and there's lots more
citizens of the U. S. of A. who MIGHT be interested in a radio
license and have much more modern "baggage" without all those
old-time travel stickers on it.

I would have to agree especially with the MIGHT part ....

Old-timers do NOT "own" the
hobby despite what they think and shout and demand.

Na Len ....not an owner just a renter on the spectrum of life ....

Some folks get a big kick out of being "re-enactors" of every-
thing from midieval life to the American Civil War. Fine. If
that's what makes them happy, I say "have fun" and go for it.
But, trying to ENFORCE such "re-enactment" by keeping hard and
fast rules in LAW to freeze an activity in old, outmoded
standards and practices goes beyond the reasonable.

Resonable ...I guess that is dependent on whose ox is being tested for what
..... for now it is regs that exist ....as I have said before I will not rent
my clothes and pour ash on my head when 5 WPM goes .... there are a lot
better things to do ...


LAW applies
to ALL, not just a bunch of old-timers trying to re-enact a
time when most of them did not exist. The future cannot be
eliminated by mere legislation holding it static.



Take care Len .... Tom KI3R

In the world of toil and sin .....
your head grows bare but not your chin ...

Burma Shave