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"Twitter is the Ham Radio of our generation". Saw that on Twitter this morning (I monitor all tweets containing "ham radio" or "amateur radio"). Of course, this isn't true.
Twitter is, fundamentally, a public instant messaging service. In that respect it does resemble one aspect of ham radio, the VHF repeater. But in this respect Twitter just as much resembles either CB or FRS, if not more so. And the inane chatter of your average local VHF repeater is only a tiny fraction of what ham radio is.
Fundamentally, what Mike Germano's comment really illustrates, to me at least, is the widespread lack of understanding in the general public of what ham radio really is about. While it's certainly true that some hams do little more than habituate on a local repeater and chatter inanely, most hams do far more than this. For the most part, ham radio is about exploring what can be done with radio. This covers such a huge range of possibilities that no one ham will likely ever do them all in a single lifetime. While modern technology (including many, such as the cell phone, which have origins in ham radio) have made available to the public communication methods that were originally only available to those with ham radio licenses, fundamentally that's not why most hams become hams. It's actually really hard to give a single reason why people become hams, because there are so many different things you can do with a license. For example, in Indiana it is illegal to have a scanner in your car unless you fall into one of several exception classes; one of the exceptions is if you are a licensed ham, and so we are getting people in Indiana getting a ham license solely so they can use a scanner in the car.
I can only assume that the attention to this idea is at least in part due to the Twitterati hearing about the noise related to HamFeed and the thread on QRZ about it (which contains some choice silliness, but the QRZ forums are good at that). It's clear that we need to do more to educate the public of what ham radio has to offer.
And, as Ben Jackson pointed out in reply to my retweet of Mike's tweet, "there's no license exam for Twitter". Imagine what that would be like.
(Update: See also Jeff Pulver's "twitter: The Ham Radio (two way radio) of Today", and a response to Jeff's article.)
(Second update: On reflection, I realize part of Mr. Pulver's problem is that he was likely a "communicator" ham, a style of ham that dominated ham radio through the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The "communicator" is falling by the wayside, however, so Mr. Pulver's problem is that he's just woefully out of date.)
Twitter is, fundamentally, a public instant messaging service. In that respect it does resemble one aspect of ham radio, the VHF repeater. But in this respect Twitter just as much resembles either CB or FRS, if not more so. And the inane chatter of your average local VHF repeater is only a tiny fraction of what ham radio is.
Fundamentally, what Mike Germano's comment really illustrates, to me at least, is the widespread lack of understanding in the general public of what ham radio really is about. While it's certainly true that some hams do little more than habituate on a local repeater and chatter inanely, most hams do far more than this. For the most part, ham radio is about exploring what can be done with radio. This covers such a huge range of possibilities that no one ham will likely ever do them all in a single lifetime. While modern technology (including many, such as the cell phone, which have origins in ham radio) have made available to the public communication methods that were originally only available to those with ham radio licenses, fundamentally that's not why most hams become hams. It's actually really hard to give a single reason why people become hams, because there are so many different things you can do with a license. For example, in Indiana it is illegal to have a scanner in your car unless you fall into one of several exception classes; one of the exceptions is if you are a licensed ham, and so we are getting people in Indiana getting a ham license solely so they can use a scanner in the car.
I can only assume that the attention to this idea is at least in part due to the Twitterati hearing about the noise related to HamFeed and the thread on QRZ about it (which contains some choice silliness, but the QRZ forums are good at that). It's clear that we need to do more to educate the public of what ham radio has to offer.
And, as Ben Jackson pointed out in reply to my retweet of Mike's tweet, "there's no license exam for Twitter". Imagine what that would be like.
(Update: See also Jeff Pulver's "twitter: The Ham Radio (two way radio) of Today", and a response to Jeff's article.)
(Second update: On reflection, I realize part of Mr. Pulver's problem is that he was likely a "communicator" ham, a style of ham that dominated ham radio through the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The "communicator" is falling by the wayside, however, so Mr. Pulver's problem is that he's just woefully out of date.)
You are absolutely correct that we need to better educate folks about amateur radio. I think there are still many who think it's not much more than rag-chewing on the local repeater. Most don't realize how many of today's communication technologies have come from hams who were looking for better ways to communicate.
ReplyDeleteAs amateurs, we all need to work harder at getting the word out about technology, public service, and those other things which make our avocation unique.
When I compared the two I didn't mean it was a perfect metaphor - and I meant it to reflect positively on both!
ReplyDeleteBut I would be curious as to what a Twitter licence exam would look like.
"Why must I be surrounded by frickin' idiots? I'm the boss... Need the INFO!" --Dr. Evil - Austin Powers, Intl. Man of Mystery
ReplyDeleteMy comment on twitter: "@obxlaw no... twinkle is the CB radio of the 21st century :) Twitter is unlicensed HAM of the 21st century :) Should we exch. post cards?"
ReplyDeleteClearly showed that I was talking about the chatter. Also, I clarified because Twinkle has a local aspect, you can watch the chatter, and like having a better antenna, linear, and radio, you can get the more distant areas without being friends with that person, and you meet people who are passing through as well (how I met and started following @obxlaw) hence my joke about exchanging post cards. Was the comment on the mark? Probably not, but it was a comical comment, not meant to be based in pure reality but a small part of it. The comment was by no means trying to relay what HAMs truly are. I have at least 2 books that I've read on getting the Novice No Code license, but never followed through to get it, had many friends that were into packet when I was a teen. Clearly there are a lot of things that HAMs are into, however what you hear about is not necessarily the whole story. The same holds true for every other subject that gets any wide spread notice. The only people who truly understand the subject, are those involved. Everyone else stays on the outskirts because it's not of interest to them, and even if you tried to educate them, they don't care to be educated and so your breath on the subject would be unfortunately wasted.
at least twitter doesnt require 4 grand worth of equipment. then im back at sqaure 1 as to why i picked this hobby, to get out of the house and meet people with likeminded hobbies. I love to hear stories from the older folks. being 30 hopefully i will have stories to tell youngins in 25 years.
ReplyDeleteNathan, ham radio doesn't require $4K worth of investment. There's a couple of teenagers that talk on repeaters around where I live that got into it for absolutely free. The licensing exam was free, and they got hand-me-down handie-talkies from members of their local amateur radio club.
ReplyDeleteNever underestimate how much radio equipment an older ham is able to accumulate.
Looks like i wasn't the only one who used the metaphor! You're right: tweets, right now, don't achieve as much as Ham. But they have so much potential... My first real introduction to HAM was when i wrote a story on how they helped during the tsunami http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/01/01/stories/2005010100350300.htm
ReplyDelete(As you can see, the ham sets i've seen are pretty enormous!) But it just seems like the twenty-somethings are more comfortable with twitter than Ham... twitter has the same potential to reach and mobilise, entertain and educate. And the short word count is an added incentive in these days of garrulous self-obsession!