|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
Middle School Looks to Start Ham Radio Club:
from
voicenews.com
on
November 26, 2009
View comments about this article!
Middle School Looks to Start Ham Radio Club:
See the full story here:
LINK
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
|
Middle School Looks to Start Ham Radio Club:
|
|
|
by WA4D on November 26, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
One of the great myths about Ham radio is that it is a vibrant garden of communications. The vast majority of it's active members are middle aged white men. Moreover, they know little or nothing of youth pop culture or of the all connected world kids live in.
Chuck Perushek's comment that Ham radio "is a great way to learn about other cultures and people" borders on a a flat out deception.
Tune any ham band any time of day or night. You will NEVER hear an informed literate discussion of film,literature, culture,history or contemporary technology topics, "grid networks, broadband specs, "social networks" and/or their role, or books people have read. Ham radio discourse is of the most pedestrian and mindless drivel. Perushek's claim that students exposed to ham radio will get "hooked" like he did is specious.
Middle school students will be far better served, engaged in music, language, the science club, or athletics than Ham radio. For those that do join this "club"....I predict it will be dead within 12 months. The kids will tune across the bands and hear little if anything that stimulates them.
|
| |
|
Middle School Looks to Start Ham Radio Club:
|
|
|
by KI4GKS on November 26, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I just love critics who, being devoid of creative ideas and, lacking the energy and initiative to do something positive, spend their time as all knowing critics. I will not spend a significant amount of effort in restating the positive aspects of Amateur Radio in middle and high schools but simply ask the question, "Why would a Ham find it necessary to set out on a campaign to diminish, interrupt or destroy the efforts other amateur operators to have a positive impact on the youth of our country?"
Curious behavior,
Ed
|
| |
|
RE: Middle School Looks to Start Ham Radio Club:
|
|
|
by N4CQR on November 28, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Frankly I could not agree more. I have heard this since my first exposure to amateur radio in the 60's.
With respect to shortwave radio (SWLing) this is actually true. With respect to amateur radio, it is not.
Craig
Quote: ....."is a great way to learn about other cultures and people" borders on a a flat out deception.
|
| |
|
Ham Radio discourse
|
|
|
by WA4D on November 28, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Craig...
Please don't come in here contributing actual facts to the discussion. It clutters the place up! :)
To your point.....the hobby could be a great place for cultural learning but few hams are interested in cultural discourse. As you note, SWL is far and away the medium for that. Still I have always sought to ask foreign hams about their daily lives. How much a radio costs in their country. What their community is like.
I had a friend in the early 80's that was a NASA Press officer at Goddard. I was working in the News business and asked her to send me the press kit for an upcoming Shuttle launch. (Remember in the 80's this was still a very big deal!). She sent me the full blown color glossy's of the astronauts with family bios. Full HUGE Wall sized orbital maps. Decals and Patches just like the astronauts wear. And all sorts of Mission data and specs and other NASA propaganda. I had a bi-weekly sked at the time with a Ham in a small town in New Zealand. He was interested in the Shuttle. I sent the big NASA Packet and they called a TOWN Meeting and posted the maps and had the Science teacher explain it and then they sent me a note of thanks from the local town council.
And on a more randy note in that same early 80's period I used to confront Russian and East German hams on the air and expose them to a dose of liberty challenging them to discuss more than location and sig report. Some called it being "an ugly American". I called it having a blast.
Still in either case, you seldom hear any cultural exchange on the radio. It can be lots of fun.
Cheers,
mike/wa4d
|
| |
|
RE: Middle School Looks to Start Ham Radio Club:
|
|
|
by W3DCB on December 9, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thank you! Amen and Amen. I have spent hours on ham radio discussing medicine with other medical professionals. I have debated religious philosophy and politics on ham radio. I have spoken about radio theory for hours with other hams. Sometimes, OM, a short contact with the mere exchange of nicities and climate, etc., IS the order of the day. Why would anyone think that human interactions would differ on ham radio as opposed to other circumstances? Do you involve yourself in deep philisohpical discussions on the street corner or on the bus between stops or in the waiting room? Of course not. Many times conversations do NOT get pas the meet and greet stage. Many times they do. It depends upon the circumstances, time, etc. Where is this dummy from? What a silly thing to say...
Daniel C. Baral
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to discussions on this article.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Other News Articles
VK5RJ Still Gracing the Airwaves at Age 101:
rec.radio.amateur.moderated -- 5 Yrs. Old:
Tune-In To The World -- Amateur Radio Gets People Talking:
Student Sends MIT Letter to Space:
Amateur Radio Club Talks to Hams Worldwide on Centennial:
|
|
|
