One last shot and I'm dropping out of this thread. I have enjoyed both
hobbies for many years, and have gotten to know many fine people.
Passing a morse test again would be irrelevant. My worry is about the
future of both these hobbies.
There must be a reason that many long time amateur radio dealers have
folded in the past decade. And it wasn't from being overwhelmed with
business. Folks, the signs about lack of interest in the hobbies are
there. Whether enough people care to see those signs and change the
way the hobby does its business is at least open to question. Here's
hoping what I have heard today is a minority view.

-=jd=- wrote:
On Thu 03 Mar 2005 03:24:47p, "Jim" wrote in
message
news:joKVd.43465$s16.24950@trndny02:

Activity is not down on the bands. Propagation is down.
In 2000 at the peak of the solar cycle, the bands were packed. I
spoke
to young, old , male and female. I have my log to prove it. If you
want
something, study for it.
If I can pass the 5WPM code (not my favorite mode), anyone can. It
seems that today, people take the easy way out by sniveling that
the
system is not fair, rather than
sucking it up and working for their goals.

{snippage}

All good points!

I don't know that " couldn't pass the exams if he
applied
himself, but it sure looks that way. His complaint of the code
requirement
being "meaningless" is a matter of opinion - and opinions vary. It
leaves the
impression that he doesn't perceive it as meaningless as much as he
perceives
it as too difficult.

It sounds more like what the education system has been suffering from
for the
past few decades (maybe longer): Instead of improving his abilities
and
meeting the same standard that hundreds of thousands of folks have
before
him, he would rather ratchet the bar down to meet his lack of
ability. Here's
another opinion (mine): This is not a recipe for achievement!

Personally, I could care less if the code was required or not. My
point is
that I would not demand that an established system be adjusted down
to suit
*me*, because I couldn't cut the mustard. I'll leave that kind of
foolishness
to the public school systems and college campuses...

-=jd=-
--
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