From: John Smith I on Sat, 27 Jan 2007
13:56:45 -0800

---Following was posted about two weeks ago and deserves
highlighting---

================================================== ====================
To Whom It May Concern:

Let us take a little bit better look at this "unwritten policy" here,
see if we can make any logical analysis about it-get the "feel" for
it,
if you will.

First, there are quite a bit of threads which make up the
rec.radio.amateur.??? "family of threads":
rec.radio.amateur.antenna
rec.radio.amateur.boatanchors
rec.radio.amateur.digital.misc
rec.radio.amateur.dx
rec.radio.amateur.equipment
rec.radio.amateur.homebrew
rec.radio.amateur
rec.radio.amateur.misc
rec.radio.amateur.packet

Do you see one which is close to say "rec.radio.amateur.new-
licensees?"
Or, "rec.radio.amateur.license .help?"
"rec.radio.amateur.recruitment?"

No, you will not find a one. Sorry thing ...

So, let us examine the existing threads, do any seem to be active in
new
recruitment/licence help? No, you don't see much of that either.

OK. So, examine them again, see may of these threads engaged in
dialog
about how to recruit and spark interest in potential-new licensees?
No,
not much of that either ...

Hmmm, so what do we see?

We see a bunch of protective, selfish, self-serving individuals out
to
protect their "turf!"

Now, why don't we have more "new-blood" here? What, speak up, I
can't
seem to hear you?

Well, I'll make one exception, Dee, she has expressed some desire,
willing to attempt and willingness towards the above.

What we really have is a bunch of these
"high-mighty-self-centered-jerks" attempting to get their new club
house
built and escape there firmly shutting the door behind them, so as to
BAR any of the above from occurring.
================================================== ============

As of 5 Feb 07 the above is unfortunately true in here.

With a couple of exceptions (Dee and Hans Brakob of
the past), and some mentions by a few "non-regulars,"
all the "regulars" have degenerated into their old
habits of putting themselves on their self-built
pedestals and sneering at others "not as good as
They." That's the self-serving selfishness John
speaks of. The best they can do is mouth old, trite
phrases used in the 1930s. The year 2007 is over
seven decades from that. Society and technology
has changed remarkably from that old time.

Most of these "old regulars" love to heap abuse on
me, a person who has been IN "radio" since 1952 but
has "failed" to get an amateur radio license. [my
Commercial First 'Phone granted in 1956 is somehow
cast aside in their personal vendettas and vitriol]
Hey, no sweat, I've heard all of that acidity long
before. Doesn't faze me.

I'm still undecided on whether or not to take
advantage of the NO-CODE-TEST regulations coming
up. Of what advantage would it be? For me or
anyone not licensed as an amateur? Our society is
fully engaged in using "radio" in many (and
remarkable) ways, usually without any need for an
amateur license. What "need" is it? Belonging to
an "exclusive community?" Dozens of ways to do
that anywhere in this country. To belong to a
"proud heritage" of pioneers? Sorry, but the vast
majority of actual radio pioneering was done by the
professionals, the entrepreneurs, the academics,
the folks in the electronics industry. Perhaps
to be able to "sign" an amateur station call sign
behind their name? That's a misuse of honors, a
copy-catting of pretend significance, of puffing
out enlarged egos. Passing any amateur radio
test is NOT any sort of academic achievement.

If you can't get into the electronics industry or
academia, then the Masons, Shriners, Elks or Moose
or similar fraternal orders can satisfy "belonging
to a 'proud tradition of fraternalism'" and they
probably have a nice bar in their local hang-out.
If you happen to just LIKE radio-electronics then it
is best NOT ever to mention that; olde-tymers don't
want to hear "fun" expressed unless it is to THEIR
"standards" of having fun.