View Full Version : Dilbert and Ham Radio
KI4HAS
10-05-2007, 12:21 AM
Saw this on Google.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2021369175979347037
W2ILP
10-05-2007, 02:42 AM
This Dilbert video cartoon was shown in a QRZ thread more than a year ago. #It received mixed comments from those who have the knack...and goosebumps from others.
BUT seriously...
I don't especially like what Scott Adams has to draw about Ham Radio..It is usually a sarcastic negative point of view. #When contacted by e-mail for his first Ham Radio mention in his "Dilbert" strip (where an engineer asks a female if he would be more sexy if he got a Ham license and the female replies [I think rather sarcastically] "It #would give me goosebumps"); Scott Adams was asked what he meant by the cartoon. #Adam's answer was, "It means whatever you think it means"....He would say nothing as to how he had come to know anything about Ham Radio.
Well ...I always thought that it was an insult to Ham Radio...but that strip was reprinted in "QST" and in many ham club newsletters. #It seems that Hams will reprint anything that mentions Ham Radio without any reasonable concern as to what it may mean. # This shows a lack of understanding of the kind of negative PR that is now labeling the hobby as only a wealthy old excentric nerd's obsolete passtime. # This video shows that a kid who builds ham gear is not as innovative as he is a psycho case.
Scott Adams is not a ham radio operator. #He is a cartoonist who pokes fun at life in professional management offices. #I wish he would stay clear of us amateurs.
w2ilp (I Liked Pogo)...He never said anything about hams.
kf4vgx
10-05-2007, 04:02 AM
Scott Adams was asked what he meant by the cartoon. #Adam's answer was, "It means whatever you think it means"....
He would be, and is correct ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Smart man.
W1GUH
10-05-2007, 04:20 AM
Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ Oct. 03 2007,20:42)]This Dilbert video cartoon was shown in a QRZ thread more than a year ago. #It received mixed comments from those who have the knack...and goosebumps from others.
BUT seriously...
I don't especially like what Scott Adams has to draw about Ham Radio..It is usually a sarcastic negative point of view. #When contacted by e-mail for his first Ham Radio mention in his "Dilbert" strip (where an engineer asks a female if he would be more sexy if he got a Ham license and the female replies [I think rather sarcastically] "It #would give me goosebumps"); Scott Adams was asked what he meant by the cartoon. #Adam's answer was, "It means whatever you think it means"....He would say nothing as to how he had come to know anything about Ham Radio.
Well ...I always thought that it was an insult to Ham Radio...but that strip was reprinted in "QST" and in many ham club newsletters. #It seems that Hams will reprint anything that mentions Ham Radio without any reasonable concern as to what it may mean. # This shows a lack of understanding of the kind of negative PR that is now labeling the hobby as only a wealthy old excentric nerd's obsolete passtime. # This video shows that a kid who builds ham gear is not as innovative as he is a psycho case.
Scott Adams is not a ham radio operator. #He is a cartoonist who pokes fun at life in professional management offices. #I wish he would stay clear of us amateurs.
w2ilp (I Liked Pogo)...He never said anything about hams.
Scott Adams is not a person to aspire to personally communicate with. #He's a young(er) guy that's basking in the noteriety. #And, given that, any personal response is going to be like that.
I congratulate him on his success, and on the enjoyment of reading his point of view. #Albeit, the success means he's going to be, personally, quite the AH for some time.
But about the ham radio video that's playing...I forgive him what I said above for his vision and his perspicuity in not only his seeing...
"Will he lead a normal life?"
"No, he'll be an engineer"
but expressing that in an unbelievably creative way.
Those two lines define what it's like for some of us.
So...would I like to be a buddy of Scott's now?
No...he's way too much into his success.
(And well he should be)
But do I appreciate is awesome talent?
Absolutely!!!
Quote[/b] (kf4vgx @ Oct. 05 2007,00:02)]Scott Adams was asked what he meant by the cartoon. Adam's answer was, "It means whatever you think it means"....
He would be, and is correct ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Smart man.
I think it means that Scott Adams is a brilliant illustrator with a gross misconception of Amateur Radio based on ignorance fostered by conflicts with authority figures.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
K0RGR
10-05-2007, 11:08 AM
I think it's hilarious.
We always thought Adams must work for our company - so many times, the topic of his strip matched what was happening to us exactly. But it turned out that he worked for my brother's company, instead.
W4HAY
10-05-2007, 01:34 PM
He's pretty much nailed the bureaucratic mind-set. I used to have a department head like the little pointy-haired boss. Funny thing is that turkey used to laugh at the antics of PHB!
My daughter gave me one of his books-on-tape. His voice was so irritating I never finished it -- reminded me of that guy on "Prairie Home Companion".
K7KBN
10-05-2007, 02:56 PM
Mention Dilbert all you want. Even Asok, Wally and Phil. Just don't badmouth the PHB. (Pointy Haired Boss).
Patrick Henry Bailey http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
W4MAJ
10-05-2007, 06:03 PM
The comic is hilarious. I work for a close version of the PHB; the exception is mine prefers a crew cut. Remember, everything is funnier when you don't take life or yourself too seriously.
Scott Adams pokes fun at engineers in such a way as to deprecate everyone who is not an engineer. I love his work!
W2ILP
10-06-2007, 01:38 AM
I guess that I'm being a hypocrite because I don't mind when Adams pokes fun at CEOs, accountantants, secretaries, office managers...and even engineers...but I draw the line when he insinuates that kids who want to build ham gear are not being INNOVATIVE...BUT they are, according to Adams, INSANE.
It may be sour grapes but We don't need no Scott Adams to influence our youngsters. For us old timers Mickey Mouse was good enough.
w2ilp (insane Little People?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif) I don't know if Adams ever read the biography of Philo Farnsworth.
"Philo Farnsworth" - - - hmmm that reminds me that the Chief Engineer of the little UHF station on the edge of town, in Wierd Al's movie "UHF" was named "Philo". I wonder if that was just coincidence? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Naaaa - - - couldn't have been ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
73, Jim ( who was once a CE himself, once upon a time )
Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ Oct. 03 2007,20:42)]This Dilbert video cartoon was shown in a QRZ thread more than a year ago. It received mixed comments from those who have the knack...and goosebumps from others.
BUT seriously...
I don't especially like what Scott Adams has to draw about Ham Radio..It is usually a sarcastic negative point of view. When contacted by e-mail for his first Ham Radio mention in his "Dilbert" strip (where an engineer asks a female if he would be more sexy if he got a Ham license and the female replies [I think rather sarcastically] "It would give me goosebumps"); Scott Adams was asked what he meant by the cartoon. Adam's answer was, "It means whatever you think it means"....He would say nothing as to how he had come to know anything about Ham Radio.
Well ...I always thought that it was an insult to Ham Radio...but that strip was reprinted in "QST" and in many ham club newsletters. It seems that Hams will reprint anything that mentions Ham Radio without any reasonable concern as to what it may mean. This shows a lack of understanding of the kind of negative PR that is now labeling the hobby as only a wealthy old excentric nerd's obsolete passtime. This video shows that a kid who builds ham gear is not as innovative as he is a psycho case.
Scott Adams is not a ham radio operator. He is a cartoonist who pokes fun at life in professional management offices. I wish he would stay clear of us amateurs.
w2ilp (I Liked Pogo)...He never said anything about hams.
Hm........ sounds like Scott Adams may have visited a ham fest or two.
kc9kow
10-06-2007, 02:45 AM
After viewing this video, I have to candidly say that I did not perceive it as a shot towards ham radio or anything electronic / mechanical related at all.
I saw it as a reflection on what parents often want their kids to be, and then they get upset when their kids don't choose what the parent thinks is "normal".
A perfect 1950's thru 1970's type situation when a parent dreamed of their kid becoming an everyday, hard working, non-degreed person versus a highly talented, genius type with "the knack" with a most natural curiosity towards the workings of everything.
Mom, in the video here...seems like a highly liberal leftist keep her head in the sand kind of parent. Hmm...could she be G.W. Bush's mother? Really sounds like her, the old sorry bag!
Heck, I'm just happy someone didn't ask Dilbert what type of Radio he was going to get --- where he would respond "Cobra"
kc9kow
10-06-2007, 02:57 AM
Don't mention Cobra! I was at an EOC the other day where I was introduced to the Comm room where they had a cobra 40 channel installed...made me wanna puke!
And get this, it was installed right next to a digital encrypted county system...what gives?
KC5CSG
10-06-2007, 03:10 AM
Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ Oct. 05 2007,18:38)]I guess that I'm being a hypocrite because I don't mind when Adams pokes fun at CEOs, accountantants, secretaries, office managers...and even engineers...but I draw the line when he insinuates that kids who want to build ham gear are not being INNOVATIVE...BUT they are, according to Adams, INSANE.
It may be sour grapes but We don't need no Scott Adams to influence our youngsters. #For us old timers Mickey Mouse was good enough.
w2ilp (insane Little People?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif) #I don't know if Adams ever read the biography of Philo Farnsworth.
Mickey Mouse is gay dude................
KC5CSG
10-06-2007, 03:11 AM
Quote[/b] (kc9kow @ Oct. 05 2007,19:57)]Don't mention Cobra! I was at an EOC the other day where I was introduced to the Comm room where they had a cobra 40 channel installed...made me wanna puke!
And get this, it was installed right next to a digital encrypted county system...what gives?
What is wrong with Cobra? Uniden makes decent crap.
I resemble Dibert in this short clip -- ever since I was Dilbert's age here.
This clip is eerily, utterly, and strangely accurate for the "back room" technical types -- especially us who make up the few and far between INTJ personality typeset, whose strong intuition, or "knack", really dominate said personalities.
This clip really hit home for many of us engineering types, describing us and our social ineptitude.
Wow...
I had some that I printed off N2YGK's page. I stuck it up in my cube...
K0RGR
10-07-2007, 06:28 AM
I remember another strip of his, where the female engineer he was dating thought it would make him sexier if he got a ham license.