From: moisan@silver.lcs.mit.edu (David Moisan)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Codeless Flaming
Followup-To: poster
Date: 26 Jan 1993 13:09:24 GMT
Organization: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: silver.ai.mit.edu
Summary: Here's the REAL point

In the spirit of Messrs.  Deignan and Pellicio, I could generalize a 
bit about Extras.  Extra Class Hams: 
 
 * Spend all their life on the radio--complaining about their home 
   life. 
 * Say "I ain't buying no RICEBOX!"
 * Talk incessantly about their health especially excretory functions. 
 * Whine about the "good old days" (which weren't, but can't tell THEM
   that!)
 * Think their HT makes them an EMT, a cop, an electronics tech, fill 
   in the blank.
 * Consider 14.313 their favorite frequency
 * Flame newbies
 
I HAVE heard all these.  But don't bother sending examples.  That's 
missing the point.  It's bigoted. 

Deignan and Pellicio have demonstrated the worst in amateur radio. 
They believe--like many hams--their callsigns impart holy knowledge 
entitiling them to put down anyone not of their station. 
 
But there's something worse:  Too many hams, like society in general, 
treat tests like magic.  Just increase the number and difficulty, they 
say, and people will know EVERYTHING.  One thing I learned from five 
years of college is that even if *calculus* were on the test, people 
would still be intemperate. 

Hams are like parents who say, "Don't come back into MY house unless 
you have all A's on your report card".  They whine about their kids 
and their education and say "It's not MY <bleeping> job!"  I dare say 
if parents met teachers like Deignan and Pellicio, they'd be screaming 
for their heads. 
 
People hear young (and female voices) and say "Go SOMEWHERE ELSE! Go 
back where you came from!  Leave me in peace! (of the grave))" 
 
But Deignan and Pellicio have all the answers.  But they don't allow 
questions.  And they are the true ignorants in this debate.  The same 
people who rant about memorizing tests probably did the same 
themselves.  God forbid they should admit they are imperfect, and 
don't possess all knowledge.  Why, for all I know, those calls of 
theirs are their SOLE acheivement in life! 

I'm an Advanced, and as far as I'm concerned, the whole damned test is 
just a beginning.  All of it.  I don't know everything and don't even 
pretend to.  But I'm in this hobby because I love radio, and it gives 
me the great freedom to tinker.  (As a confirmed dumpster diver, this 
is no small thing! :)) 

I'm proud to say that I elmered my first student last summer, John 
N1NIG (a fellow Internet denizen).  It was, and is, frustrating, but 
there's no greater joy than to share knowledge with someone.  This is 
something, in a town where the local club won't give you the time of 
day if you're not one of their own.  If John asks me something I don't 
know, I find someone who does and we learn *together*.  I wouldn't 
have it any other way. (And if someone snubs my students, they snub 
ME.  I don't elmer people just to have them blown off by geezers-at-
heart.) 

Whether newbies follow someone's cockeyed conception of operating 
practice, or even equipment, is irrelevant.  Courtesy, and a
willingness to take risks and learn from mistakes, is MUCH more 
important than the brand of one's rig, or their antenna.  (As an
aside, Anli "fishing-pole" antennas do work better than the rubber
dummy load that HT's come with.)

People are, of course, entitled to form their own little cliques.
But they shouldn't be surprised to find themselves isolated when 
good hams refuse to tolerate their rantings.  

73's, N1KGH
 
P.S.  Mike, I used to think .sig's never indicated character.  I can 
see that I'm wrong. ("I'm not a bigot, I hate everyone!")
 
P.P.S.  People who say, "Screw them if they can't take a joke" should
never be surprised when others take them up on that.
 
P.P.P.S.  If the Usenet-reading ham population of RI does NOT speak
up against these guys, they're part of the problem.  Remind me never
to go there or contact them over the air.
 

-- 
| David Moisan, N1KGH    /^\_/^\   dmoisan@pro-angmar.alfalfa.com |
| 86 Essex St. Apt #204 ( o ^ o )  moisan@silver.lcs.mit.edu      |
| Salem. MA 01970-5225     | |                                    |
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