John Smith wrote:
Mike:

Yes, that is the crux of the matter, isn't it? What is the line you draw
between legitimate elmering and manipulation of the newbies in support of
ones personal wants, desired, goals, etc...

... newbies be warned!

The drawn line? The inexperienced Extra who refused advice on how to
work in a QSO party probably didn't have much fun in the contest.
Staying overnight, and making 6 QSO's probably wasn't much fun.

The other guy with the happy fingers on the keyboard did eventually
calm down enough to make a few QSO's, but still blamed his problems on
the antenna.

I doubt that either of these guys will go on to have much fun in
Amateur radio. Who knows why some people are so reluctant to take a
little advice. Perhaps they are sensitive, and don't want to be thought
of as not knowing everything (like who does)

OTOH, I did indeed treat my Elmers with respect, and learned a lot. Some
of them were old, and some were cantankerous. Big deal. Treat a person
right, and they are usually happy to share their knowledge with ya. I'm
happy to learn from anyone, even those who think I am a horses patoot.

- mike KB3EIA -


On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 19:39:11 -0400, Mike Coslo wrote:


Dan/W4NTI wrote:

"Carl R. Stevenson" wrote in message
...


"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
hlink.net...


There it is. Proof that "Incentive licensing" has caused hate and
discontent in Ham Radio. I've said it for years. And here it is.

Dan/W4NTI

Dan ... at last we agree!!!!!!

We *MUST* eliminate this "I'm better than you because (pick one of the
following, or any other reason ... "I have a higher class license." or "I
passed an xx wpm Morse test.") - class warfare.

We are ALL hams ... period. Some are more experienced. They SHOULD be
Elmering (and Elmering doesn't mean "browbeating them into your personal
preferences") the newbies and HELPING them to learn (whatever they want
to) about ham radio, rather than "dising" them and treating them like
dirt.

This stuff has GOT to stop!

73,
Carl - wk3c
http://home.ptd.net/~wk3c



Sure does......most of the newcomers are into learning. Most of the
newcomers do want to be Elmered. However......some of the newcomers need an
attitude adjustment. Most of them are here it seems.

You raise a good point, Dan. Elmering is good. Being a willing student
is good. You must have both for it to work. Many new Hams do not want to
feel inferior. I don't know if it is the first generation of "high self
esteem" students hitting adulthood or what. But there are a number of
newbies out there that bristle when offered advice. And I do know how to
offer advice in a kindly manner.

But I personally know of a case of an Extra who had no HF experience
who told me "If you don't mind, I'd like you to leave now, I don't need
your advice.", and then proceed to make 6 QSO's during a 6 hour stint
during a QSO contest. This guy made Extra without ever getting on HF.

Another case in which a fellow was working PSK31, and wasn't having any
success. I sat with him, and it was obvious that the problem was that
the guy had happy fingers, and was changing the modulation frequency way
too quickly. He'd call CQ, and then switch frequencies after only one or
two seconds.Couldn't hear people calling him back. Unfortunately, he
"knew" that the trouble was actually in the antenna I put up.

There are other stories, but I won't belabor you with them.

While most hams *are* accepting and eager for Elmering, there are a
number who have come into the hobby already knowing everything.

And there is some advice that I would offer to those who would set
themselves up as the shakers and movers of the Amateur radio world:

While it may not be palatable in this new "high self esteem" world,
there is a place for the Elmer, and there is a place for the student.
The Elmer must be willing to teach, and the most important knowledge for
the student must be knowing that he or she is getting a great gift.

It goes both ways.


- Mike KB3EIA -