J. Mc Laughlin wrote:
Dear Group:

Words often communicate different things to different people - perhaps
because of their background. I would never describe a licensed radio
amateur as a "ham" unless his/her behavior justified that tag.

Obviously, each reader has a different background and thus their reaction to
the use of "ham" is expected to be different. Let us not reject outright
the interpretation of others just because their interpretation is different.

People get way too wrapped around the axle in in what they want
themselves called.

You see it all the time, as in say with developmentally challenged
people. For a while, we were supposed to call tehm "special" before that
it was "slow learner", at one point it was "retarded".

There is even a list of names that correlate to different IQ levels and
abilities, such as moron, imbecile, and other similar things.

But at the moment, it's developmentally challenged.

And those who would deride such folks will pick up the new term, and
eventually it will become bad to call people developmentally challenged.

Now as for the Amateur in Amateur radio, there is the idea of Amateur as
"devotee" or "admirer" and then there are others.

It's interesting that some folks would choose a descriptive term that
includes the synonyms:

Dilletante
Dabbler
Tyro

I especially like the Dabbler, that suggests desultory habits of work
and lack of persistence

or Tyro that implies inexperience often combined with audacity with
resulting crudeness or blundering.

All synonyms for Amateur. All right there in Merriam Webster's

But I don't give a good rat's patoot. Call me a Ham, call me an Amateur
radio operator. I'm comfortable with what I do, and don't need a name to
define it.

Others might be a tad more sensitive.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -