Why are we still using OM, XYL and YL?

As my friend GraymanPOTA @NW9F over on Twitter/Youtube this morning mentioned (https://x.com/GraymanPOTA/status/1931024243103310069) Why are we still using these terms??

I had a fun group of women in Ham Radio on a livestream almost a year ago and we DISCUSSED this very subject!!

So QRZ forums, what say you to this subject? Shall we move away from OM, XYL and YL terms?? They are definitely outdated and brash

Full Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/mdxk-S3FRgE
Clip of OM/XYL/YL discussion: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZtANU2EWJ5Q

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

Because we have a lot of old men, young ladies and ex young ladies. Pretty simple.
And besides, I'm outdated and brash.

 

Understood but why not just use names and calls instead of shorthand? I'm not going to go "that OM over on 7.250" that could be ANY OM, I'm going to say "Oh yeah, Jim over on 7.250 who's there daily from 3-5 Central Time!"

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

Every hobby has 'inside baseball' jargon. Ham radio, auto racing, curling, etc. Odd that nothing is said about calling "CQ" as opposed to shouting "Hello out there" many many times....
____
Some see jargon as a way to exclude

Some see jargon as a nod to 'tradition' or as a way to quickly convey information relevant to a specific item/action.

OM on 7.250 is faster (in CW) that just saying the same thing - so, OM, YL do get some support for use in CW 'chats'.

Do as you wish - this is still (for now) a free country.

 

I do see the logic behind CQ CQ CQ DE, especially for morse code and I can understand the use there of OM/YL as well to a degree.

I do NOT think however we should be using it everywhere else too! I've seen social media posts (facebook, twitter, HERE even!) that say "Yeah my YL wants this done or that gone or ____"...I'm sorry but especially on social media, why do we need such terms? Perhaps these terms stay STRITCLY to CW use only. As Amanda and Sara said, "we don't need those titles anymore, just call me by callsign (or name in social media cases)"!

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

I don't use XYL, I call her my DW. Dear Wife has a better ring to it.

 

That's a good way to do it!

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

Why do we say SK for some people who never handled a key in their life? Tradition. Long may it live. I wonder if SKs roll over in their graves over when people want to mess with things that have always been, and that always should be.

 

Then you can say Delta Whiskey if you like.

 

Customs and traditions are an important aspect of any endeavor. No one is being forced to use any terminology as it relates to the hobby...do as you like.

 

A professional amateur will use abbreviations and Q-codes during in-person conversations, kinda like speaking "Pig Latin" with your friends in grade school. Makes a social statement.

 

I think what Frank is trying to politely say is that it is sexiest language from an era that no longer exists and should be put to bed. People complain about the lack of youth and female involvement in amateur radio while using objectifying language in the same breath. So yes, using abbreviations with Morse code makes it faster, but that’s such a small use case compared to everywhere else it is still openly used and not needed.

 

Thanks for your opinion, there may even be some who agree. I've seen zero justification to change the current use of terminology in the hobby.

 

Easier on CW

 

How can you call it a sexiest language?

My Wife and daughter both amateurs use it all the time.

And you can bet they use OM when referring to me.... ..