"Kim" wrote


You speak for their mission, but is that what members of this organization
would say of themselves?


There is no "mission". The group does not exist, except in the fertile
imagination of Danny "QRP is for Sissies" K7SS who first published this humor in
NCJ several years ago.


What honor and pride?

Honor and pride among non-existant fictional characters in non-existant.


Ah. It seems you've answered some of the first questions I had.

I've tried to.


One of my points exactly. If someone really is such an awful amateur radio
operator, they'll disappear from the airwaves soon enough

They didn't disappear. They never even existed.


Are you a member of this newly grouped organization?

The organization does not exist.



I've found that most of those who are labeled "appliance operators" at club
gatherings already know each other real well because they are the most
involved in the amateur community.

"involved in the amateur community" means what? Most of us are hobbiests,
loosely connected by common interests like contesting, DXing, experimenting,
repeater support clubs, public service interests, etc., etc. I derive great
enjoyment from my experimenting and contesting, and I have a half a wall of
"recognition" for various public service activities, but I don't consider myself
part of any "community" of amateur radio.

And, while the solderers have been busy
yakking and impressing each other with all that stuff (truly important for
the heritage, yes, but not necessary knowledge in today's world),

Are you suggesting that technical curiousity and experimentation is no longer
needed? That everything has already been invented, so no new knowledge in
electronics/radio communications is needed?

"appliance operators" have researched the internet for the best of the best,
have saved their money up and equipped themselves for most emergency
situations and are ready for public service with the touch of a few buttons
and the attachment of a few connections.

I disagree. There is a small and very valuable cadre of dedicated hams in ARES,
RACES, DMCS, AERO, SATERN, and similar public service/disaster recovery groups.
By and large they are above average in their technical qualifications, and they
take their roll very seriously.

Then there is a larger group of "fair weather volunteers" who are eager to grab
their handheld and rush to provide public service communications for the
marathon or the walkathon, but only so long as their 2 batteries hold up. They
impress each other by the number of T-shirts they've gotten from the local
chamber of commerce for these outings.

73, de Hans, K0HB