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Message-ID: <Viq3iBAiun+7EwVc@pickmere.demon.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 15:49:54 +0000
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
From: "M.J.Powell" <mike@pickmere.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: LF: "Discussion" and the amateur radio spirit
References: <002701c171b6$735c4d20$049e7ad5@kevin>
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In message <002701c171b6$735c4d20$049e7ad5@kevin>, Kevin Ravenhill
<hdq@btinternet.com> writes
>Greetings all,
>
>Sorry if this post is a little off-topic for the list but I felt something
>needed to be said. Apologies if it sounds like a lecture, my intention was
>simply to offer some constructive criticism on the subject of list postings
>and I hope it will be seen as such.
>
>I rejoined this list very recently, after deciding to leave it many months
>ago due to what I saw as an unacceptably high level of "flaming" by one or
>two people in particular. This, coupled with an apparent reluctance on the
>part of some to accept that others may have different technical opinions to
>their own.
>
>Having received a couple of days postings since I rejoined, it has, sadly,
>become all too apparent that nothing has changed. I see that the sniping is
>still going on, and that some are still having to justify themselves in the
>face of the technical bigotry / pedantry / apparent unfriendliness of
>others. Unfortunately, this phenomenon does seem to be increasingly
>prevalent within the amateur radio "community" (I now use that term
>advisedly) in the UK in particular.
>
>Technology marches on, and with it the number of different avenues for
>exploration - all of which are equally valid, since this is meant to be a
>hobby. As such, individuals should be free to explore whatever takes their
>fancy without having to endure censure, disapproval or constraint from
>anyone else. Indeed, anyone who would seek to discourage such self-training
>and investigation does not deserve the privilege of a radio amateur licence,
>IMHO. There are many aspects of the hobby which do not interest me at all,
>but I would never seek to dissuade others from taking them up.
>
>My impression (somewhat reinforced by talking to one or two acquaintances
>who happen to be professional psychologists) is that this apparent penchant
>for sniping at others is a particularly British "disease". Our American
>friends in particular seem to suffer from it to a much lesser extent. This
>seems to be borne out by the nature of the postings to various US-based
>lists of which I am a member - even when discussions become heated, they are
>almost always carried on in a spirit of friendliness and good humour. Or
>perhaps it is just that I have missed something, or have simply failed to
>appreciate the subtleties of wit and "drier" humour in this list?
>
>Whatever happened to the spirit of amateur radio and the principle of
>accepting someone else's viewpoint or interest as valid even if not
>necessarily agreeing with it? IMO, if you can't offer constructive input to
>a particular discussion then you should not post at all. Of course, I
>realise that this post in itself may be seen as not very constructive, and
>that I have therefore immediately broken my own rule - fair enough. I did
>have reservations about posting it. Also, for that reason it will be my one
>and only post on this subject. I am happy to reply to direct emails (so long
>as they are reasonably constructive!) if anyone wants to continue this.
>
>I fully expect to get flamed by somebody for daring to say something. In
>such case it will simply reinforce my view and I will feel obliged to leave
>this list for good. Some may see this as advantageous, of course....:-)
>
>By way of some light relief, the following page is quite interesting:
>
>http://www.qsl.net/vk2zto/ExpModes/beware.htm
>
>(I put myself very definitely in the "Dreamer" category...)
>
>Best regards to all in the spirit of amateur radio,
>
>Kevin, G1HDQ.

Seconded.

Mike
-- 
M.J.Powell