"WA3IYC" wrote:

That 52,990 "increase" is not all new license
issues. (snip)

(snip) How "code proficient" any amateur is
cannot be determined from license class alone.


Of course, Jim. I clearly stated my numbers were a "rough estimate."


The important point is that the number of US hams
is growing at a slow rate. Restructuring did not
result in a big change in growth. (snip)


True. However, to make something out of that, one has to eliminate all
factors outside restructuring. In my last message, I hinted at factors such
as the attitude of current operators towards those new to ham radio. Today's
new operator faces more ridicule and harassment than perhaps any new
operator in the history of this activity. And lets face it, that new
operator is not likely going to invite friends or family members to join
after an negative exchange with Larry in this newsgroup (or someone like him
here or elsewhere). Clearly, the attitude of current operators has a role to
play in the lackluster growth of ham radio today, perhaps even far more than
restructuring at this point.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

Dwight Stewart wrote in message ...
"WA3IYC" wrote:

That 52,990 "increase" is not all new license
issues. (snip)

(snip) How "code proficient" any amateur is
cannot be determined from license class alone.

Of course, Jim. I clearly stated my numbers were a "rough estimate."

What I was getting at is that a test is just one data point. There are
hams who passed 20 per once-upon-a-time who would be hard pressed to
pass Element 1 today. And there are hams whose testing never exceeded
5 wpm who have gone far beyond 20 wpm. Etc.

And the same thing applies to the writtens.

They're all just one data point, often decades old.

The important point is that the number of US hams
is growing at a slow rate. Restructuring did not
result in a big change in growth. (snip)

True. However, to make something out of that, one has to eliminate all
factors outside restructuring.

Agreed! There are all sorts of factors - cost of equipment, antenna
restrictions, RFI concerns, even competing radio services. Not too
many years ago, it was common to encounter hams who had gotten
licenses for the express purpose of "honeydew" communications. Today
almost all of them have cellphones.

In my last message, I hinted at factors such
as the attitude of current operators towards those new to ham radio.

I hope you mean "the attitude of *some* current operators...."

Today's
new operator faces more ridicule and harassment than perhaps any new
operator in the history of this activity.

I don't know about that. Around here, and everywhere else I've lived
since becoming a ham 36 years ago, newcomers of all ages, sizes,
genders, ethnicities, etc., are welcomed and encouraged, as a general
rule.

Yes, there are a few sourpusses with negative addytoods. They've been
around forever. I can recall comments that Novices were "not real
hams" and that my homebrew CW rigs were "not real radios", etc., etc.,
ad infinitum. Ol' W2OY was well known for his misanthropic "no kids,
no lids, no space cadets" tirades. Oddly enough, most of those folks
are not hams anymore, but I am. bwaahaahaa....

If you look for and listen to the naysayers and sourpusses, it just
encourages them.

And lets face it, that new
operator is not likely going to invite friends or family members to join
after an negative exchange with Larry in this newsgroup (or someone like him
here or elsewhere).

Sure.

But are folks like that the rule or the exception?

Clearly, the attitude of current operators has a role to
play in the lackluster growth of ham radio today, perhaps even far more than
restructuring at this point.

True - but consider also the attitudes expressed by a very few
newcomers towards experienced amateurs. Should we welcome a newcomer
who says all hams are fat and that no EE with self-respect would use
Morse code? How about one who insults others' employment, technical
knowledge, education, ethnicity, appearance, age, and name?

73 de Jim, N2EY