Surely you realize that there are people that listen to things on radio.
Shortwave, VHF, UHF. Military comms, utilities, ect. You do actually
participate in the radio hobby, don't you?

No. I do not consider 'radio' a hobby. I appreciate the fact that others do.

Amateur radio is a service, for example.

I clearly do not understand that eavesdropping on the marine band with a
unidirectional antenna is a hobby. I invite Richard to expound its virtues;
tell us who does it; tell us how such hobbyists meet; discuss their fun info;
and so on.

This is a new one, relatively, to me.

BTW, I have been a ham since 1966; have won various contests; have DXCC honor
Rolls; 8BDXCC (equivalent); #1 DXCC Honor Roll; and so on.

I have also done various public service stuff as a ham, BTW.

I've been around the pike, so to speak.

73
Chip N1IR