Telamon ) writes:

I think the Sony did all right! (Unfortunately the Hams were talking
about Heat Pumps, which is not one of my favorite subjects. So after
my little "experiment," I turned everything off and went to bed!)

I find most ham conversations boring. That would change if some were my
friends and I was interested in their personal details but as strangers
talking about some thing that interests them is generally not
interesting. When I listen to hams I care about how well I receive them
and where they are located and maybe their equipment but that is about
it.

Of course, one big difference is that amateur radio is a two-way
form of communication, with broadcasting specifically prohibited.
So listening to it is like overhearing someone on the bus having
a conversation with a friend, which generally is uninteresting unless
you're part of the conversation.

Broadcasting is to address those listeners at home, so if they aren't
talking to that audience, they aren't doing their job.

Just as with utility listening and number stations, listening to ham
radio is often for the sake of testing one's ability to receive a weak
signal or to run up a score of something, with the contents being
secondary.

Michael