Politics and ham raido

[AD7TO]

I will not comment on my political views here.
I just want to say that it seems to me that talking about politics over the ham radio is in bad taste. I don't think it is illigal in the FCC's view. But its to bad when I listen on the HF bands. And I hear US hams talking about politics. I don't think this talk belongs on the air.

Wich makes me wonder this is a ham raido website. Why is there a political forum here? Yes I know this is the internet and we are not talking about our political views over the air here. Just wondering thats all.

[KG4JYD]

I will not comment on my political views here.
I just want to say that it seems to me that talking about politics over the ham radio is in bad taste. Then don't do it.


Why is there a political forum here? Yes I know this is the internet and we are not talking about our political views over the air here. Just wondering thats all.Entertainment value? Because there is a demand? Because it's fun? Because it's insightful. Because it creates ad revenue for the owners of this site.

[K3XR]

This is not ham radio, it is a ham radio site that happens to have a political forum, it could have a fishing forum, if there was enough interest, so what.

I do not bring up politics or religion, on the air, avoid it, if possible, that's why it's nice to have a spot on QRZ. That is the way I approach it, however, if it is in good taste, and, of course, within the rules, no one should be prohibited from dicussing any subject on the air, you are free to listen or not, to participate in the conversation, or not. just as those who are free to discuss their topic, or not.

[W3MIV]

It would seem to me to be in bad taste for someone to attempt to intrude his or her narrow-minded, censorious notion of what everyone else should or should not enjoy doing. If you don't like reading political posts, go away and do whatever it is that satisfies your priggish fancies and leave us to our enjoyment.

In short: Butt out.

[ad4mg]

I do not bring up politics or religion, on the air ...

Of course you don't, you can't post a link there ... :D

[kc2orw]

Of course you don't, you can't post a link there ... :D
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ROTFLMFAO
He could do it via winlink :D

[NL7W]

I will not comment on my political views here.
I just want to say that it seems to me that talking about politics over the ham radio is in bad taste. I don't think it is illegal in the FCC's view. But its to bad when I listen on the HF bands. And I hear US hams talking about politics. I don't think this talk belongs on the air.

Which makes me wonder this is a ham radio website. Why is there a political forum here? Yes I know this is the internet and we are not talking about our political views over the air here. Just wondering thats all.

To each his own... if you don't like it, don't click on the "politics" forum button. Spin the vfo, change bands, or turn off the rig if it bothers you.

It's really that simple.

73, OM.

[KD8HMO]

I thought the only rules were no profanity and no music.

[ad5mb]

No talking about politics or religion on the air.

Seems like that was done before...

Oh, yeah. RussiaChinaCubaAlbaniaRumaniaPolandYugoslavia... ( you get my point ) did that.

[N9MOQ]

Imagine if someone had written it like this...

It seems to me that telling other people what they shouldn't be talking about over the ham radio is in bad taste. I don't think it is illigal in the FCC's view. But its to bad when I listen on the HF bands. And I hear US hams talking about what other people should not talk about. I don't think this talk belongs on the air.

Wich makes me wonder this is a ham raido website. Why are there people here telling others what they shouldn't be talking about? Yes I know this is the internet and we are not talking about what not to talk about over the air here. Just wondering thats all.

I would rather hear people talking about politics than talking about how no one should be allowed to talk about politics.

But in a way, isn't bringing up a discussion about if people should talk about politics, a political discussion in itself?

I guess so, since this was placed in the political forum.

If it wasn't for this political forum, where would one be allowed to post a thread about not being allowed to talk about politics?

[K8YZK]

I always heard you shouldn't talk about politics or religion on the air, but there is no law against it. Besides it make for some interest talks, as long as you don't take things personal, just like here on QRZ.

[wb7dmx]

Imagine if someone had written it like this...



I would rather hear people talking about politics than talking about how no one should be allowed to talk about politics.

But in a way, isn't bringing up a discussion about if people should talk about politics, a political discussion in itself?

I guess so, since this was placed in the political forum.

If it wasn't for this political forum, where would one be allowed to post a thread about not being allowed to talk about politics?
say what ?:D

[AD7TO]

Look I know this is the intertnet and this site is on the internet. This is not over the air over via ham raido. I said that in my post.
So if you need to talk about politics etc then this is fine. But do you guys think its ok over the air?

A example of how I think is is a bad idea is this. If you are on HF and make a contact to ... Cuba or China for example. Would it be right to start telling this Cuban Ham how bad his Government is or how corrupt it is? And if he risks talking to you about what he may really feel. He can be in a world of trouble not just losing his ham station and license. But many more things can happen to the him or his family. This is why my personal view is why politics don't belong on the air (Yes the Forum here is differnet).

I know as others have posted here I can just turn it off and I do. But I don't do it for that fact that (that I personally dont care for it). We are free to talk about anything at anytime. I do for that fact its disrespectful to start a QSO about politics with some from a country that its banned to talk about that kind of thing.
Becasue I think its neat that someone from those ####ries become hams and make it on the bands to talk to us. And it gives us some pretty neat DX to work. But if I did not care and started to get them to talk politics as I said they will in trouble. And also the government of the country will work extra hard at who can become a ham. Or even ban ham radio from the country.

That is my main reason why I think politics and ham radio should not mix.

[wb7dmx]

its ok to talk about anything over the air as long as you follow the FCC rules
foul language is not allowed.

[N7RJD]

Limit power and censor conversation. Sure, sounds like the America I want to live in. What's next, taking away the right to bare arms and require everybody to wear long sleeves? :rolleyes:

[AD7TO]

Limit power and censor conversation. Sure, sounds like the America I want to live in. What's next, taking away the right to bare arms and require everybody to wear long sleeves? :rolleyes:

You live in America today I'm sorry its already censored here today.. Your name is compared to list etc when you travel. Also take for example the wire tapping going on. So don't come on here and act like all US citizens are free and the government does not watch us in someways.
You sound like someone who does not like to follow the laws or rules. Maybe we should get rid of police and fire depeartments too. People can be there own police... Yeah count me in I want to live in that hell hole.

[N7RJD]

You live in America today I'm sorry its already censored here today.. Your name is compared to list etc when you travel. Also take for example the wire tapping going on. So don't come on here and act like all US citizens are free and the government does not watch us in someways.
You sound like someone who does not like to follow the laws or rules. Maybe we should get rid of police and fire depeartments too. People can be there own police... Yeah count me in I want to live in that hell hole.

So because we are watched or censored to some extent this is a reason to go for broke?

You say I sound like one who doesn't like to follow the laws or rules? Actually you are far from the truth on that one and I fail to see how you came to that conclusion.

The fact is you are running around these forums proposing new rules/laws/regulations. Your proposal on new power limits is pointless when you consider that the law today requires using the lowest power needed for the communication. It's another case of enforce the current law before you run around implementing new laws.

Your proposal of no politics or religion to be discussed on the air? Well let's just say I would be perfectly happy not to hear either but does that mean I have the right to tell others they can't discuss the topic of their choosing? I believe to do so would be to encroach on their right to free speech.

The two proposals I have seen from you tonight seem to be more self serving on your part than anything. You try to make a case for these being the salvation for amateur radio when in fact imposing your wants and wishes as law would likely do more harm than good.

I find it funny that you go right to accusing me of being against police and fire depts. Once again you are far from the truth and I don't see where you came up with that other than to try and divert attention from your flawed opinions.

[AD7TO]

The two proposals I have seen from you tonight seem to be more self serving on your part than anything. You try to make a case for these being the salvation for amateur radio when in fact imposing your wants and wishes as law would likely do more harm than good.


I don't think you get what I was saying in my other posts. These proposals are not self serving to me. I wrote these ideas for the good of all Amateur Radio operators not just me. And maybe there is a better way than what I have suggested it just seems what going on now is not working. So for example how would lowering the FCC power limit output to 500 watts hurt? And would enforcement of the laws including the power limt hurt?

Having deregulation is bad for the average folks. It only fuels the interests in making money not for how good a hobby is.

I'm sorry for my comments about you and not following the laws etc. I just thought from your post you seemed like not really wanting rules... I was wrong on that. And for my comments I'm sorry.

All of my post have not been just about me. This about our hobby in general and for the new guy or the guy that does not have thousands and thounands of dollars to throw at it.

[KI6ADA]

Hi just want to say I agree politics can get interesting over the air. What kind of politics do you mean? Politics can be something discussed about work, about the last club meeting,about the FCC, about the ARRL. But like another reply. It's entertainment. How many times do you spin the dial and here the same Daytime nets talking about the weather at each other QTH? I am sure there are other discussions still found on the air. I seem to be lucky and participate in radio theory and how to make your radio work with the computer. Politics is more than American Government or our international readers and operators the respect of their local governments.

Start a new hobby or read a new book and share with others on the air. There are plenty of operators who are willing to talk about personal interests.

73,Steve :)

[KI4BNC]

I thought the only rules were no profanity and no music.

and ID every 10 minutes or so(I try to do it about 9-9.5):D

[AD7TO]

What kind of politics do you mean? Politics can be something discussed about work, about the last club meeting,about the FCC, about the ARRL. But like another reply. It's entertainment. How many times do you spin the dial and here the same Daytime nets talking about the weather at each other QTH? I am sure there are other discussions still found on the air. I seem to be lucky and participate in radio theory and how to make your radio work with the computer. Politics is more than American Government or our international readers and operators the respect of their local governments.

Start a new hobby or read a new book and share with others on the air. There are plenty of operators who are willing to talk about personal interests.

73,Steve :)


Steve I mean talking about politics like this.
If you are on HF and make a contact to ... Cuba or China for example. Would it be right to start telling this Cuban Ham how bad his Government is or how corrupt it is? And if he risks talking to you about what he may really feel. He can be in a world of trouble not just losing his ham station and license. But many more things can happen to the him or his family.
This is what I mean by talking about politics over the air. I don't think ham radio and government politics should mix over the air. Its not a hobby when we start to think its ok to use are ham stations to become a mouth peace to shove our personal views to the world about what we think about other counries governments.
Also if hams are cought down talking or even talking about there governments over the air. Those goverments many times will ban ham raido from the country or make it very diffcuult to get a license in that country.
I think its mush better to keep politics off the air and lets keep having these really neat dx countires to work on the air. Other wise they might be gone and ham radio banned.

That is the politics I'm speaking about.

[KI6ADA]

Steve I mean talking about politics like this.
If you are on HF and make a contact to ... Cuba or China for example. Would it be right to start telling this Cuban Ham how bad his Government is or how corrupt it is? And if he risks talking to you about what he may really feel. He can be in a world of trouble not just losing his ham station and license. But many more things can happen to the him or his family.
This is what I mean by talking about politics over the air. I don't think ham radio and government politics should mix over the air. Its not a hobby when we start to think its ok to use are ham stations to become a mouth peace to shove our personal views to the world about what we think about other countries governments.
Also if hams are cought down talking or even talking about there governments over the air. Those governments many times will ban ham radio from the country or make it very difficult to get a license in that country.
I think its mush better to keep politics off the air and lets keep having these really neat dx countries to work on the air. Other wise they might be gone and ham radio banned.

That is the politics I'm speaking about.

Hi Ron
I agree with your thinking. It would be very rude to talk about any government in charge of political ideas of their countries. I love finding DX and yes, ham radio is one of those international hobbies most governments welcome with open doors. Lets help keep those doors open.

73, Steve :D

[kd8hho]

ok imma make the best politics post ever


take all the politicians and dump them in iran

then we can start over again with people who will uphold the constitution and put the u.s.a. back where it should be.

[w2amr]

I will not comment on my political views here.
I just want to say that it seems to me that talking about politics over the ham radio is in bad taste. I don't think it is illigal in the FCC's view. But its to bad when I listen on the HF bands. And I hear US hams talking about politics. I don't think this talk belongs on the air.

Wich makes me wonder this is a ham raido website. Why is there a political forum here? Yes I know this is the internet and we are not talking about our political views over the air here. Just wondering thats all.
Over the air, I don't even have an antenna hooked up to this thing.
BTW, the name of this forum is "The Political Junkie". Think about that.

[N7RJD]

I don't think you get what I was saying in my other posts. These proposals are not self serving to me. I wrote these ideas for the good of all Amateur Radio operators not just me. And maybe there is a better way than what I have suggested it just seems what going on now is not working. So for example how would lowering the FCC power limit output to 500 watts hurt? And would enforcement of the laws including the power limt hurt?

Having deregulation is bad for the average folks. It only fuels the interests in making money not for how good a hobby is.

I'm sorry for my comments about you and not following the laws etc. I just thought from your post you seemed like not really wanting rules... I was wrong on that. And for my comments I'm sorry.

All of my post have not been just about me. This about our hobby in general and for the new guy or the guy that does not have thousands and thounands of dollars to throw at it.

The reason I say self serving is because it sounds like you have decided that lowering the power limit would not put you at such a disadvantage. This of course is assuming you are not running higher power which is usually the case when someone proposes lowering power limits.

Personally I have no dog in this fight. I do not run high power and have turned down the opportunity to own more than one legal limit amplifier. I do not have room to put up an optimal antenna system but don't feel more power is the substitute I want. I would actually be more likely to run power given an optimal antenna system but with a ground mounted vertical and other people and animals able to come in contact with it I don't feel power is the safest option.

I have never understood new laws or regulations to try and clean up others that are failing. The failing of laws comes from a lack of enforcement. You would likely see that same failure in any new laws. All this would do is take anyone who is running 2000 watts from being 500 over legal to being 1500 legal. I suppose you could argue for higher penalties due to the amount they are over but I don't see that happening either.

Enforcement is the key to any law. In this day and age the agency responsible for enforcement has a finite budget. This budget does not increase by the number of bad guys they go after. This budget does not increase whether they collect $1 or $1,000,000 in monetary forfeiture. Given the same budget and likely more outlaw operators I don't see enforcement gaining strength.

Maybe there are ways to improve the hobby. I hope nobody ever stops looking for these ways. I just don't think limiting power or restricting conversation because some don't like the topic is the answer. As I said before, I would do just fine without political or religious talk, I would do just fine with power under 500 watts. I just don't think it would offer improvement to the hobby.

As for the misunderstanding regarding my concern for rules and laws, no problem. Just understand that I am not advocating abolishing any law. I am just one that believes that by stiffening a law that is already near impossible to fully enforce you will create more law breakers with little to no chance of improved enforcement. This is not to put down anybody involved in enforcement, quite the opposite, it is to offer understanding of the limits in which they must work. Creating more work on the same budget will only set the system up to fail.

[n3mqm]

People here discussing politics, no problem with me, 2 US hams still no problem but if I read it right politics with a ham from another country is frowned upon if not illegal.

§97.117 International
communica-
tions.
Transmissions to a different country,
where permitted, shall be made in
plain language and shall be limited to
messages of a technical nature relating
to tests, and, to remarks of a personal
character for which, by reason of their
unimportance, recourse to the public
telecommunications service is not jus-
tified.

[w2amr]

People here discussing politics, no problem with me, 2 US hams still no problem but if I read it right politics with a ham from another country is frowned upon if not illegal.

§97.117 International
communica-
tions.
Transmissions to a different country,
where permitted, shall be made in
plain language and shall be limited to
messages of a technical nature relating
to tests, and, to remarks of a personal
character for which, by reason of their
unimportance, recourse to the public
telecommunications service is not jus-
tified.
Good catch comrade.

[KB9YCO]

I think talking about politics, or any controversial subject, is fine as long as it is in a place where it is for the most part understood and tolerated. The local VHF repeater that I talk on most of the time is an easy place to discuss almost anything. The regulars understand that there is a diverse group on the repeater, and in amateur radio for that matter, and that as long as it is a discussion instead of an argument then there is no problem. The problems begin when people become intolerant and start the name-calling, insinuations, character assassination, and all that sort of activity. The same applies to QRZ.COM, the internet or anywhere else really. As long as the conversation is civil, and of course within the bounds of the rules, then I don't see a problem. Again, as long as it is with people that are equally willing to discuss and be tolerant of varying opinions. That's the real problem these days, and it's in almost every walk of life, too much polarization and intolerance by the perceived different "side" on any given topic.

[kf6rdn]

It would seem to me to be in bad taste for someone to attempt to intrude his or her narrow-minded, censorious notion of what everyone else should or should not enjoy doing. If you don't like reading political posts, go away and do whatever it is that satisfies your priggish fancies and leave us to our enjoyment.

In short: Butt out.

The same could be said when you run across the same on the radio. You have a VFO/Mouse to change the freq/thread, nobody's taping your eyes open to it.

[kk7ue]

I will not comment on my political views here.
I just want to say that it seems to me that talking about politics over the ham radio is in bad taste. I don't think it is illigal in the FCC's view. But its to bad when I listen on the HF bands. And I hear US hams talking about politics. I don't think this talk belongs on the air.

Wich makes me wonder this is a ham raido website. Why is there a political forum here? Yes I know this is the internet and we are not talking about our political views over the air here. Just wondering thats all.

You are joking, right?