Why are some hams so hostile?

I got my 2 meter license just a few weeks ago. #So far since I picked up the mike, I have not had too good of luck. #A lot of people don't want to talk to me. #I ran CB for many years, and 10 codes and things like rogeo just slipped out of me at first. #I didn't mean to, but some guy yelled at me for almost an hour!

So I reformed myself. #Some guys I talk to once and a while were talking one of the repeatoors, and I said break. #Jeeez!!! #THey yelled at me like hell. #I had forgotten that it was only to be said for an emergency.

Why do some hams hate XCB'ers so much?!?!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif #

I'm trying to reform myself, trying to get into a better radio hobby.

Should I try using more Q codes??

This reply hopefully will get you to laugh, "Some hams believe they are GOD MADE and the rest of us are just born."

Your doing the right things, it most likely will take awhile to use the amateur way of radio, don't let the inconsiderate GOD MADE discourage you.

Q-Signals on phone, don't, they are used for CW and RTTY.

I personally use only 1 repeater in this area and that is 80 miles away, in Tucson, to chat with a friend of mine in Green Valley, Arizona. Friday we chatted for 5 minutes, THEN, 1 fellow started telling another fellow about me and my website. Never talked to them and for that matter don't even know them. The one fellow said, "I heard he is a retired cop." Me, a retired cop, where is the money for all these years?

They yell at you and make up stories about you with their own private dossier on you.

I stay on simplex frequencies and attempt vhf weak signal.

An Old Codger I am, however, I enjoy talking to anyone. I learn something new each day and I make mistakes each day for I'm not, " GOD MADE ".

K7PIG, hence a retired cop?

[KA8NCR]

Because they have the disposition of a rabid pitbull with a bad case of jock-itch. Their personality is like that in everything, and it makes no sense to let them run you down.

[n6hle]

HotRod,

I was lucky enough to have a co-worker who was a ham for a couple months before I got my ticket. #I was fortunate in that he introduced me to a nice group of hams and the repeater that we all use. #I have ventured around and talked on other repeaters here and found that most hams are very welcoming of new hams and understand that mistakes can be made. #Sure there are some alpha-hotels out there that will ream you for something as simple as saying "10-4" but you can't let them get ya down... They aren't worth your time if they aren't willing to teach you rather than scold you. There's bound to be a nice bunch of hams in your area for ya to talk to... #Just scan the bands and find them.

73,

Harry - KG6PTD

[KB1GYQ]

Jerks will be jerks <more colorfull words omited for decorum>! They tend to be so on the air and the net much more than in person because they don't have the intestinal fortitude to do so face-to-face. Ignore them. I'm sure you're run into that type on CB... That's what a VFO is for. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

From time to time I like to use CB lingo to get their goat... after all, the CBers copied it from amateur and public service radio in the first place, I'm just reclaiming what is rightfully ours! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KD7UKT]

Short answer, HotRod:

Because some hams have NO LIFE other than sitting on the repeater, and they are bitter about it, and they take that bitterness out on everyone they encounter (even the poor check-out person at the grocery store).

Short-term solution, either change frequency till the bitter no-life ham moves on, or use the power switch to shut them up.

Long-term solution, get your General or Extra license and get out on HF! Sure, there are still no-life hams out there, but there are a lot more frequencies, making it easier for you to avoid them.

[w3sy]

What's "out of place" about 10 codes on a 2 meter repeater?

[KB1IPK]

HotRod,
settle down a bit. Don't you think you are exagerating the story some? Come on.... you will encounter some jerks on the air, but you will also make some very good friends (if you prove to be friendly yourself). Encountering jerks is something that happens everywhere, everyday and if you thought that there would be only angels on ham radio......THINK AGAIN!
So, get on the air, make new friends, except some correction when it comes your way, and most importent of all have fun and remember there is more to life than radio.
(If the jerks and morons become too much of a probelem.....you could always take up chess! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )
73 and enjoy, kb1ipk...Jonathan

[kd5icr]

I bet there has to be other repeters in you area. Just tune in to one and leave those other people behind.
As far as 10 codes go as I read different publicatios it seems to be poor operating practice.As far as Q codes go I quote
" Common abbreviations on the ham bands are perfectly acceptable" (ie.. qsl,please qrz and 73) This quote is from the general upgrade book by Gordon West. FCC Rule [97.113a4] seems to say the same thing.So just ignore the people who just seem to be mad at the world.

73
kd5icr
Bill

[WA7KKP]

Don't feel bad, I've run into people like that for years. Most of them are too lazy/cheap to do anything else but complain about the weather and other people anyway.

Two Meter FM is widely considered to be the "CB" of ham radio. AS the other posts have said, there's other bands, modes, and of course upgrading to General to get on HF.

I've found 6 meters a nice diversion. 223 mHz has been known as the 'gentleman's band' for obvious reasons. And there is simplex operation on FM, or weak signal SSB. You'd be amazed how far 2 meters goes on SSB, with a good antenna.

Let the fuddy-duddies have their own audience.

Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP

[k3who]

Yeah, I think sometimes people get a little to up tight about the hobby. Also, I think some people just plain don't tolerate newbies. That's the way it goes I guess. I was lucky to have a bunch of real easy going hams here in the area when I first got started in the hobby.

[AG3Y]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">some guy yelled at me for almost an hour!
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Gee whiz, I sure hope you found out from someone else that he had been yelling at you for almost an hour, because if someone had been yelling at ME for almost an hour, I would have had the radio turned off for at least 59 minutes of that time, and never known about it unless someone else had told ME ! # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Seriously, the same type of person cuts you off on the interstate, and you call it &quot;road rage&quot;! #

&quot;Illigetimi Non-Carborumdum&quot; #Don't let the B**t*rd wear you down!

When you come across that type on the radio, switch to a different repeater, try simplex in one of the different modes, or even better, go hit the books and the code key and work up the ladder to a higher grade of license. #The more, exotic and challenging modes you can use to communicate to others, the less likely you are going to be to find the vermin that, unfortunately, seem to want, so much, to discourage the newcomer from settling into the ranks! # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

73 and if we can help you to advance in the hobby, feel free to ask us! #That's why we're here! #( I'm sure I am speaking for Walt, Irv Glen and a bunch of others, although I know I don't have to! #) #Jim #AG3Y

[K3DAV]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Guest @ June 09 2003,05:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">, but some guy yelled at me for almost an hour!

Why do some hams hate XCB'ers so much?!?!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif #[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
After the guy finished yelling for an hour, I wouldn't have been able to resist keying up and asking him, &quot;I'M SORRY. I WAS ON THE PHONE. WHAT DID YOU SAY?&quot; There are still some ham operators that are still holding a grudge, for losing 11 meters to CB'ers back in the 50's. And now the CB'ers are invading &quot;THEIR&quot; territory.

I just got my license on May 20th. I have been on 11 meters since I was a kid. (48 now) It used to be a great band, until the FCC dropped the licensing. Now it's mostly fowl mouthed truckers, distortion, poorly tuned linears, and echo mics that sound like an empty footbal stadium. That's why I decide to give amateur radio a shot. So I'm a newbie too.

I have to say that, for the most part, the amateurs I've met on the air, have been nice to me. I hear a few of the bitter words from the self made &quot;elite snobs&quot;. I just laugh, and move on while they are in the middle of their preaching. And I go talk to the good guys who understand that, amateur radio is a hobby, and not a way of life. They'll get over it. And if they don't, TOUGH. WHO CARES what they think? If they refuse to be part of our fun hobby, it's their loss, and your gain.

That's my 6 1/2 cents worth.

Dave.

[KD7KOY]

&quot;, but some guy yelled at me for almost an hour!

Why do some hams hate XCB'ers so much?!?! &quot;

Simple..they don't have a life... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
You not only find them in ham radio..but business..politics and any club from bowling to baseball..
They know it..and now you know... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Ignore them...

[KD7WHQ]

Ok, I grew up with both a father and grandfather who were hams, and 25 years after my grandfather got after me, got my ticket, and he never saw it, as he died in 1992.
I was active on CB when it was at it's worst; guys planting jammers, and down the list. I tracked down as many as I could, but the FCC took care of the rest.
And the story could go on.
The point is, it is completely dependant on how you handle yourself, and to how you will be recieved.
Act like a CB'er, you will be recieved as same. Follow protocol, and there should be no problems..

[K9STH]

AG3Y:

Illigitimi is plural! You only indicated one! Illigitimus is singular. 2 years of high school Latin taught me that!

Now, for the rest of the comments by others:

There always have been a small, but vocal, portion of society as a whole (not just amateur radio operators) who can get very &quot;up-tight&quot; about all sorts of things. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong.

Now, I would like to know on what repeater that someone transmitted for almost an hour. Frankly, that repeater, if in automatic operation like most are, MUST have a time-out-timer which should have cut the transmission off at usually 3 minutes!

Whether or not the comments were deserved is rather &quot;moot&quot; at this point. If the station was operating in a manner that is not condusive to good amateur practice, then he/she needs to be educated. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do this education. Unfortunately, many newcomers cannot take any criticism at all and get their &quot;dander up&quot; at the slightest hint of criticism. Then, on the other hand, there are those who go off the &quot;deep end&quot; with their criticism. Both are wrong. Often the person offering the criticism is trying to help, but, since he/she is telling the newcomer that they are not operating properly the newcomer gets very defensive.

Frankly, if the person offering criticism is &quot;heavy handed&quot; but correct, then two things should be done: The first is to take note of what the criticism is and make the necessary corrections. The second is to ignore the tone of the criticism and don't take the attitude of that person personally.

If the person offering the criticism is both correct and offers the criticism in a non-offending manner, then make note of what the criticism is and make the necessary corrections and then thank that person for trying to help you.

Glen, K9STH

[K2WH]

I looked at all the previous postings and I must say, I am proud of you guys.

I was sure I would find at least one reference to:

&quot;Old Farts&quot;
&quot;Fat Guys&quot;
&quot;CW Forever Guys&quot;

etc.

I am amazed.

K2WH