On Feb 27, 2:29�pm, Leo wrote:
On 26 Feb 2007 17:44:22 -0800, "
wrote:
From: Leo on Mon, Feb 26 2007 3:38 pm
wrote:
From: Leo on Sun, Feb 25 2007 10:57 am
On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:15:28 -0500, Leo wrote:

* I disagree a bit based on my observations in one corner of
* a large urban area of the southwestern USA. *The interest
* of newbies here seems to be for the Technician class.
* Given an urban population of roughly 8 million in a 120 by
* 60 mile area, VHF and up works out very well for contacts
* that they can actually meet in-person. *Of course, the
* Greater L.A. Area is one where the auto rules what
* happens and that may not apply to other USA locations.
* Again, by direct observation, Techs seem to be younger in
* age than the other classes (discounting Novice) and prefer
* the company of those nearer their own age. *One could see
* the same thing two decades ago on the "social" BBSs (those
* that had regular in-person gatherings of members). *The
* "age" group is NOT necessarily just chronological...those
* who are bright, lively, alert, flexible with differing
* mores and opinions have a "younger" mental age.

Interesting perspective - I hadn't thought of that!

There's a parallel with the Clubs...usually a bit more than
fraternalism...some actually interested in learning about
new things. In my observation of the local scene, the old
Lockheed ARC tended to be a general downer...mostly
because the members were employed by Lockheed (in
Burbank, CA) and rather 'disturbed' because Lockheed
was abandoning Burbank, its home since the 1930s.

Several other ARCs in this area are of better attitudes
and actually go out and DO things...besides Field Day
and the "official" things. :-)

Think also of how the individual practices his/her amateur
radio: One control operator alone, connected only by some
electromagnetic thread to other similar creatures, also alone
in their "ham shack." In one way that is a "lonely" hobby
whose social intercourse is limited to reading about it. In
the beginning of BBSs it was that way with personal
computer users. Until some more aggressive BBS owners
got busy and had Gatherings of subscribers on a regular
basis. Those of us who went to those things got a MUCH
greater connection to their personnas on the screen and
could now communicate more comfortably with others.
The same is true of hams who go regularly to ARCs and
speak with others in-person; one can hear that on their
radio communications indicating a familiarity beyond the
usual formality of strangers.

* The stodgy olde-tymer will take umbrage to that since
* they maintain They are bright, lively, etc., but they
* overlook the fact that They are holding to thoughts of
* a bygone era, three to four decades ago when They were
* chronologically young. *Social mores CHANGE and They
* can't always adapt to that, preferring the company of
* those with like minds (or 'hive minds').

A favourite quote on that subject:

"A man must consider what a rich realm he abdicates when he becomes a
conformist." *~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good one! I'm tempted to laminate that and carry it in my
wallet!

73s, Len