wrote in message
ups.com...
Cecil Moore wrote:
John Smith I wrote:
No, the new generation of hams will make it obsolete and history!

Like AM?
--

The invention of the motorcycle did not make the bicycle obsolete. The
invention of the car did not make walking obsolete. Power boats did not
make all sailboats obsolete, although many sailboats were replaced by
power boats.

People still *run* marathons, even though they'd go a lot faster with a
lot less effort if roller skates were used.

AM did not become obsolete when SSB was invented. Morse Code did not
become obsolete when voice and RTTY were invented.

There will still be people who CHOOSE to use Morse if it's presented to them
as fun and they're allowed to make the choice without intimidation (and
without berating them)

Except for a few people who learned Morse Code elsewhere, most would-be
hams don't have any prior Morse Code skill.

True ...

The code test acts as a sort of Great Equalizer,

Absurd ... ALL that a code test does is indicate that you can copy Morse at
some specified speed. Nothing more, nothing less.

because almost
everyone starts out as a clueless newbie with the mode.

True ...

Morse Code cannot be learned by simply reading a
book, visiting some websites or picking up a little bit here and
there. A newcomer cannot cut-and-paste his/her way to a
new skill, or rely on past achievements or claims to get around it.

It's a skill that is easily measured and cannot be faked. And it puts
a Final Authority wannabe on the same footing as a Young Squirt.

It may be precisely this equalizing effect that makes some folks want
to get rid of it.

The implication above that everything about ham radio except Morse is
"cut-and-paste" is also absurd.

I was talking night before last with Ed Hare - remember the 3 page study
guide that he had for his novice test and compare that, as he does, to the
200+ pages of "Now You're Talking" - there has been NO "dumbing down" for
entry into ham radio. How anyone could assert with honesty and a straight
face that 200+ pages of material is "dumbed down" compared to 3 pages is
something that simply is unfathomable.

I think it's time to stop trying to attribute mythical powers to the soon to
be history Morse test. To continue only perpetuates the falsehood that
Morse skill is essential to being a good ham, capable of contributing, etc.

Have fun with Morse and promote it in a kind and polite way if you wish, but
please lose the attitude that Morse somehow is the measure of a "REAL ham."

73,
Carl - wk3c


73 es KC de Jim, N2EY