A Nice Touch
Andrew Roos (ZS1AN)
on
November 13, 2003
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I am fortunate to live in, and operate from, the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa. Although ZS isn't exactly rare DX, there are enough operators who still need ZS (especially on CW) that I often attract a mini pileup and can easily "run" 20 or 30 stations in succession.
A couple of days ago I was doing just that after getting home from work on a lovely spring evening. I was operating on 15-meters CW, working mostly European stations but with a few US stations reporting unexpectedly strong signals from my 100 W and dipole.
I was working in a condensed QSO format -- not just signal reports, I like to swap names at least to make it more personal, but I was trying to keep the rate up so I could work as many of the waiting stations as possible.
I quite enjoy this -- not all the time, I also have my own country-hunting to do, and also enjoy more relaxed ragchews. But "running" is still enjoyable, despite the occasional idiot who tunes up dead on frequency or can't stop calling while you're in the middle of a QSO.
Anyway after 45 minutes or so, having worked about twenty stations, my wife ZR1SC called me. I always like to tell stations waiting to work me if I have to stop operating, so when I had finished my next QSO I sent "XYL CALLING ME FOR DINNER MUST QRT NW 73 ES CUL DE ZS1AN".
Of course several of the waiting stations continued to call me -- either because they hadn't copied my last transmission, or because they were still hoping for a QSO before I shut down. But that wasn't about to happen -- when I say QRT, I mean QRT, gotta keep the discipline you know...
Then I heard "73 DE N9HT". Just that, no request for a QSO, a simple "thank you and goodbye" from an operator who had clearly been copying me and was polite enough not to continue trying to hustle a QSO.
I quickly scanned my last few contacts, saw that I hadn't worked him yet, and shot off "N9HT 599 BK" and he came back with "599 TU DE N9HT". That's all; 10 seconds and we didn't even exchange names.
The next day I received an email from him, thanking me for the contact and saying he needed ZS for his 15-meter DXCC. We agreed to exchange QSLs direct, and I posted mine the same day.
I've just finished reading W9KNI's excellent book "The Complete DXer", which is full of operating tips for DXers. It is a superb book that I happily recommend to all aspiring DXers. But N9HT taught me a technique that isn't mentioned in the book. He simply listened, and was polite and friendly. And that was enough to get him the QSO and the QSL he wanted. And leave me with a pleasant memory of the session.
Nice touch OM.
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A Nice Touch
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by ZS1AN on November 13, 2003
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Just subscribing myself to the article - unfortunately I can't see any way to subscribe without posting a comment.
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by LNXAUTHOR on November 13, 2003
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- very, very good...
- thanks for posting this missive and passing on a valuable lesson... i can see that you're a great operator... i only wish many more like you and your last contact that evening were on the air more often...
- and you are correct: there is a great need it seems (nowadays) for more courtesy and etiquette 'education' for new (and old) hams... and you've just contributed a great tip...
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A Nice Touch
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by K5DVW on November 13, 2003
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I enjoy seeing stories like this. I'd have done the same thing. I like to see courtesy rewarded. Thanks.
K5DVW
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by NI0C on November 13, 2003
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Andrew,
Nice touch on your part, too. In these forums, we hear many complaints about thoughtless and rude operators. So it is indeed a pleasure to read about the exchange of courtesies between you and N9HT.
About a dozen years ago, I was chasing 9X5HG for a new country. Hartmut did not "run" stations, he wanted to get to know something about every one he contacted. As a consequence, he was difficult to work, especially by myself who was running 100 watts to a mobile whip outside my apartment. Although I heard him dozens of times, it took me over a year to work him. However, I got to know him in the process. I learned how to identify his signal and fist, and where he was likely to be listening (he detested pileups). When I finally worked him, I caught him on his first CQ, and we had a ten minute chat. It was my turn that day! A new country was in the log, but more importantly, a new ham friend met!
73 de Chuck NI0C
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A Nice Touch
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by MY_OPINION on November 13, 2003
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Thank you for a pleasant article. Your contact is a refreshing example of simple civility on the air. Chasing a contact for a piece of paper took a backseat to a mere person to person contact, exhibiting the comraderie and respect for which amateur radio should be known. Thank you for sharing your vignette.
73,
MY_OPINION
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by K0BG on November 13, 2003
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Don't you just love those tuneruppers? I suspect I should ignore them and hope they go away. However, many years ago while operating mobile, there was one insistant operator who for some reason just couldn't stop his tuning which went on for 15 minutes or more. During one break I responded with something like "you're 5 by 5 in Denver." The operator turned out to be a very rare (to me) operator in Mainland China! I have the card and comments to prove it.
Alan, KØBG
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A Nice Touch
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by N2XE on November 13, 2003
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Obviously a CW contact. If it were phone I doubt you would have witnessed such courtesy.
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by ZS6AN on November 13, 2003
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Nice going Andrew. In response to N2XE's comment, I operate about 80% SSB, and have always found the USA operators to be professional, and courteous. Keep it up guys. 73 de John ZS6AN
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by K0OOK on November 13, 2003
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N2XE:
Oh really?
Well how about when I was sitting in the parking lot at work listening to a ZL calling CQ with a few stateside QSOs on top of him. I keyed the mic, IDd myself and asked if they'd mind holding off so that I could see if I could work him. There was dead silence on the band and we got our QSO in. I thanked them and started the drive home. This was on 10m SSB.
Good manners are a function of the person, not the mode.
Pat, K0OOK
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by N2OBY on November 13, 2003
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<<Obviously a CW contact. If it were phone I doubt you would have witnessed such courtesy.>>
John N2XE,
When are you going to learn? If you'd do your small part to close, rather than widen the chasm that's developed between those who enjoy code and those who either don't appreciate it or see it as an obstacle, you'll attract more folks to it rather than alienate them.
You're hurting your own cause with ridiculous comments like that.
Oh - as a follow-up to our conversation in the diner on Halloween, please see K0OOK's comment - it's a MODE...
-Ken N2OBY
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by K4CQY on November 13, 2003
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This story involves me. I got to be the "Good Guy" this time but there are a million people on the bands and there are a million stories, many of them good. This is one of them. The calls have been changed to protect the innocent. :)
During the CQWW SSB contest a few weeks ago I had been looking up high on 80M for some contacts later at night and I came across some poor rag-chewers who were complaining about all the QRM from the contest.
I listened for a while and sure enough not only could you hear the contest stations 1.5Kc (or less) away but at one point someone even started calling CQ on the frequency. Whether he could hear them or not I don't know.
Well, one of them had to step away from the mic for a few minutes to get some information the other needed but commented that if he did so they would surely lose the frequency and thus the ragchew QSO
I dropped my call on their frequency and one of them gave an exasperated "The Frequency is in use!" to which I came back and said "I'm just here to join the group and give you a chance to go get that info you needed"
That got back a pleasantly surprised "thank you!" and a round of introductions. One station was just about 45 minutes away from my QTH! So, off went the one fellow to get info and me and the other fellow chatted a bit...
I run 100W into a dipole and they were running 1KW plus. It was a thrill to have them tell me my signal was so strong anyways on 80M. On fellow was in Texas (They have laid waveguide down between VA and TX I think ).
The other fellow came back and rejoined the group which by now had added a mobile operating near FLA/GA border.
I told 'em I had better get back to the contest and this surprised them a bit more! They said I wasn't getting any points on their frequency and why did I stop by?
I said "This is the 'pleasant interlude' portion of the contest,where I make new friends. Thanks for the QSO!"
Do you think this was a useful act of diplomacy? I sure hope they feel like there are some contesters with broader vision than just looking for the next multiplier.
You're supposed to take breaks from contesting, I hope I didn't break any rules taking my break on the radio. A busman's holiday I think!
73 de K4CQY
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A Nice Touch
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by KD5ING on November 13, 2003
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Thanks for the great positive article.
Both you and your contact are examples to all of us.
Take care,
Tim Lewallen, KD5ING
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A Nice Touch
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by CWTITAN on November 13, 2003
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Very, Very, Very nice article. Both operators are to be commended. This is real ham radio. 73
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by KC7MM on November 13, 2003
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Like a breath of fresh air in a smokey room! Your story taught me a valuable lesson.
73 & DX!
Dale KC7MM
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by KX8N on November 13, 2003
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"Good manners are a function of the person, not the mode. "
Pat, why this one sentence can go so far over so many people's heads, I don't know. That right there is hitting the nail completely on the head. A plaque with those words incribed on it should be included with every radio. Thank you for pointing out the obvious.
Dave
KX8N
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by N2XE on November 13, 2003
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"In response to N2XE's comment, I operate about 80% SSB, and have always found the USA operators to be professional, and courteous. Keep it up guys. 73 de John ZS6AN"
If this scenario was commonplace, it wouldn't merit mention. The fact that you wrote it speaks volumes about on-the-air courtesy.
I find the vast majority of ALL Amateur operators to be professional and courteous. There are a few that unfortunately stain the entire lot. My experience is they have a modal concentration.
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A Nice Touch
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by VE3XDB on November 13, 2003
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Andrew,
You're article gave me goose bumps. This is what it is all about. Hope to work you someday.
Best regards,
Doug VE3XDB
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A Nice Touch
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by K4PIT on November 13, 2003
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Great read. This is the stuff that wiil insure CW will be around for a long, long time.
I honestly feel that when the code is not longer a requirement, it will become more alluring. It will become a goal for many to become part of an elite group.
I remember a pearl of wisdom about how to get a kid to eat something good for them, that they did not want to eat. The teacher said if you try to force green beans, for example, down their throats it would only make the situation worse. The solution was not to offer the child any and simply pass the bowl of green beans right under theit nose to someone else and if their was ever a chance that the child would ever eat a green bean, it would happen right then! They will want to have some of what everyone else is enjoying.
This article is not only great advertising for CW, but its the way that eham.net can shine, by getting hits and do something positive for ham radio at the same time. A win, win, win situation.
Thank you eHam, for posting an article that doesn't make us look like a freak show.
Thank you ZS1AN for the article.
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by WR8Y on November 13, 2003
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K4PIT has it right. If only the non-CW crowd knew what they were missing! But if you stuff it down their throats...
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A Nice Touch
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by K9VQ on November 13, 2003
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Very nice article and was very excited to see a friends call in it. The ham mentioned N9HT is Hutch Towner, a very nice man and a mentor to many. Hutch operates almost 100% CW and is a very avid Collins collector. I also work with Hutch in Pontiac Il, were he an electronic engineer for Caterpillar Fuel Systems Division. I don't where his finds the time for hamming because he is always on call to fix critical equipment. Great guy, great ham and I'm proud to know him.
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by KE6OUD on November 14, 2003
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"Obviously a CW contact. If it were phone I doubt you would have witnessed such courtesy."
Here we go again!
Anyway, nice story Andrew! Like to hear good things like that. 73, Charlie
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A Nice Touch
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by KB9RHA on November 14, 2003
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N2XE first says: "Obviously a CW contact. If it were phone I doubt you would have witnessed such courtesy."
Then he later states: "I find the vast majority of ALL Amateur operators to be professional and courteous. There are a few that unfortunately stain the entire lot. My experience is they have a modal concentration."
So, is it safe to assume the second statement is only about CW operators? I guess you might just be another one of those hams that makes this hobby look bad.
Chris
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by K2ACX on November 14, 2003
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K4PIT:
<<The solution was not to offer the child any and simply pass the bowl of green beans right under theit nose to someone else and if their was ever a chance that the child would ever eat a green bean, it would happen right then! They will want to have some of what everyone else is enjoying....>>
Yes, except the vast majority of hams- 'coded' or not- ARE NOT CHILDREN!!! :)
Now a few certainly act like it, but that's another story.
Brian K2ACX
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by N2XE on November 14, 2003
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My comment was obnoxious and inappropriate. I'd retract it but it's too late--I'll have to live with it.
Unfortunately, I had the displeasure of hearing the Klan net on 80 meters the night before and it left a burr in my saddle.
Forget BPL, if we all agree not to discuss sex, politics, religion and CW we would be a happy bunch.
------------------------------------------------------
N2XE first says: "Obviously a CW contact. If it were phone I doubt you would have witnessed such courtesy."
Then he later states: "I find the vast majority of ALL Amateur operators to be professional and courteous. There are a few that unfortunately stain the entire lot. My experience is they have a modal concentration."
So, is it safe to assume the second statement is only about CW operators? I guess you might just be another one of those hams that makes this hobby look bad.
Chris
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A Nice Touch
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by AC4RD on November 14, 2003
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A lovely story--and I run into such pleasant civilities rather frequently on the bands. There are a few jerks out there, but there are also a lot of goodnatured, courteous hams out there. But ZS _is_ pretty good DX for us in W-land, at least judging by the pileups I've heard the last couple of days to work Barry, ZS1FJ on 20 meters. I've heard him several times while I was in the car but my mobile setup can't compete. (I was hoping to thank Barry for his Pacific trip this summer--his operation gave me TWO new countries and a whole lot of fun!)
My own favorite "contesting courtesy" story: This spring I decided to try PSK31. (If you haven't tried it, it's a world of fun and very easy to set up if you've got a computer in the shack.) As I was blundering around learning PSK, I answered a CQ from Terry, W4TMM. It turns out he was in the middle of a contest at the time, but we had a nice chat and he told me about the "070 Club" for PSK fans, the sponsor of that particular contest. (GREAT people and lots of fun--check their website!) As we were clearing with each other, I apologized again for interrupting, and Terry replied something like, "In the 070 club, we don't usually let contesting get more important than meeting new people and having fun."
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A Nice Touch
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by WD8NBK on November 14, 2003
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Thank you for sharing a very nice article. Proves that politeness and courtesy can go a long way. This is something we all should strive for, no matter what the operating mode is.
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by OLDFART13 on November 14, 2003
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"Obviously a CW contact. If it were phone I doubt you would have witnessed such courtesy."
The truth hurts sometimes. Listen to a phone pileup and you will see this is true.
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A Nice Touch
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by W3DCG on November 14, 2003
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I've seen courtesy demonstrated on either mode.
Keep the Code.
Great story!
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A Nice Touch
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by KY6R on November 14, 2003
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Thanks for a very refreshing and positive story on eHam. I look forward to more in this "genre".
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by KL7IPV on November 15, 2003
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N2XE not with standing, I have found that most often when courtesy is offered it IS returned and results in a very good QSO as well. I learned a long time ago NOT to let someone else determine MY actions for me. I extend the courtesy and if it is not returned I haven't lost, the other person has. 73
Frank
KL7IPV
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RE: A Nice Touch
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by N8UZE on November 15, 2003
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A Nice Touch Reply
by K4PIT on November 13, 2003
I remember a pearl of wisdom about how to get a kid to eat something good for them, that they did not want to eat. The teacher said if you try to force green beans, for example, down their throats it would only make the situation worse. The solution was not to offer the child any and simply pass the bowl of green beans right under theit nose to someone else and if their was ever a chance that the child would ever eat a green bean, it would happen right then! They will want to have some of what everyone else is enjoying.
-----------------------------------------------------
As a parent, I can say from experience that either you or the teacher left out something in this process. Don't have anything more alluring on the table. i.e. Keep their favorite foods or dessert or whatever completely out of sight until all are done eating. If you don't, they won't try the unknown, they'll just go for what they already know they like.
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A Nice Touch
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by K4PIT on November 15, 2003
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I remember a pearl of wisdom about how to get a kid to eat something good for them, that they did not want to eat. The teacher said if you try to force green beans, for example, down their throats it would only make the situation worse. The solution was not to offer the child any and simply pass the bowl of green beans right under theit nose to someone else and if their was ever a chance that the child would ever eat a green bean, it would happen right then! They will want to have some of what everyone else is enjoying.
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>>>by N8UZE on November 15, 2003
>>>As a parent, I can say from experience that either >>>you or the teacher left out something in this >>>process. Don't have anything more alluring on the >>>table. i.e. Keep their favorite foods or dessert or >>>whatever completely out of sight until all are done >>>eating. If you don't, they won't try the unknown, >>>they'll just go for what they already know they >>>like.
.........................
Well, I disagree. What you are suggesting is a "take their favorite things away from them and leave them with what YOU WANT them to eat approach", which is pretty much the same as shoving it down their throats approach which, as pointed out originally, doesn't work.
If you don't believe me, perhaps you would agree with the opinion of Mr. Dale Carnegie expressed many years ago in his book, "How to win friends and influence people". To be successful at what the title suggests, you must instill in the other person an eager want and desire. Simply telling them what YOU WANT them to do will get you nowhere. THEY HAVE TO WANT IT FOR THEMSELVES.
I suspect that taking things away from them and leaving them with what YOU WANT doesn't work for you either. If it were that simple, people wouldn't struggle with this so often. Just tell people what you want them to do and they do it, right?
I think you missed the entire point of my post.
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A Nice Touch
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by 4Z1JW on November 16, 2003
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I just wanted to say that it is refreshing to see that basic courtesy is not dead everywhere. Kudos to N9HT and ZS1AN. Maybe many of our fellow hams can learn from this vignette.
73,
Joe 4Z1JW
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