On 2007-04-14, Dick wrote:
OK Guys. Let me lay it out for you so it is perfectly clear.

I think its me that has to lay it out for eberyone.

*I* said I had argued that Internet was actually a good thing
for Amateur radio:

"
I remember going to a radio meeting(probably the only meeting i went to!)
, dunno, about 7-8 years ago.
I argued that Internet was good for ham radio, while alot of people (waay more
experienced than I) argued the opposite. It'll kill DX, Packet etc.

I argued the opposite. It'll give people opportunity to find information, access
to other sides of the world, as if they were in their backgarden.

A little bit of both seems to have happened. Is that a bad thing?
"

"Nobody" then argued the counter, that in fact,
amateur radio was dead, and nothing more than an old guys hobby:

"
Actually, no that is not a bad thing for the masses. It is the end of
ham radio for anything other than talking about your guns, cars, or
aliments to other old farts. I am one of those old farts who has no
illusions about the worth of ham radio in this world of modern
reliable instant inexpensive world wide communications.
"

I then agreed completely with what Dick had said about the value of
amateur radio.

I did however disagree with him about the demise of amateur radio
when all communications go to satellite.

Now, to carry on with the conversation..
"Blue Box Thief" said that ham radio is ending because the internet
and cell phones have reduced it to an old guy's hobby, and it
contributes nothing of value to the advancement of knowledge or
humanity. He also said there is virtually no interest in ham radio by
the current generation of kids and young adults.


I hope this is now fixed.

I responded with the following points:

1. The internet cannot be relied upon in an emergency.

There will be times when the internet stops working, partially somewhere in the world.

2. Cellular telephones cannot be relied upon in an emergency.

Again, pretty much same as point 1.

3. The telephone system itself cannot be relied upon in an emergency.

This I might not agree with, but essentally correct.

4. Packet radio is losing favor for passing messages, but WinLink 2000
is taking its place.

I don't knmow much about winlink 2000 so i can't say.

5. APRS is not a waste of spectrum, and is very important for use in
tracking emergency vehicles.

Yes I agree. If this is a waste of spectrum, so is wifi, gps, etc..

6. Ham radio is still very important to the government as evidenced by
the millions of dollars being pumped into it by Homeland Security.

This may be the case in America. No idea.

7. Young people ARE getting into ham radio as evidenced by the number
in our area currently testing for a license.

8. Interest in ham radio is dependent upon how much work the local
hams are willing to expend on young people.

9. Ham radio will continue to be important for emergency
communications until satellite communications are fully developed.

Here I might disagree with you, as mentioned in my previous post.


Please point out to me which of the above are theories or involve
ranting.

I think :

a) yo got mixed up with me and the nobody guy. The "anti" ham radio comments
were his not mine.

b) the other got you and the nobody guy mixed up..funny that

Of course, it could all be a bad case of trolling

Dick - W6CCD

bernard