Death and the ham...

[AE1PT]

We hams are a peculiar lot. Perhaps as a part of the hobby, we seem to venerate dead hams--and attach a curious provenance and value to the tools of our avocation. My thesis in this screed is our morbid fascination with dead ham stuff.

When I buy something at a fester or from a local, I always inquire as to ownership--past or present. Many times this info is proffered without solicitation, e.g., "this belonged to Sam, A1OF. He would be glad to know that someone (fill in the blank here...)." Opening up a rig or manual leads to looking for a call inked or graven somewhere. Dead ham stuff in which I knew the person has led to that call being put somewhere on the goods. Ultimately, who the fuck cares?

Certainly not the estate raider with plans of buying low and selling high. I know that I am not unique in wondering about this--or scrutinizing used gear for evidence of the previous owner. This fascination with the history of gear and its owners is unusual. Here is my point. If your neighbor drops dead, do you wonder what will become of his clothes or car? Yet the thought of what will become of his gear should he also be a ham will concern many. I always hear at club meetings "Billy loved his Icokensutenxon so much..." Well, he probably loved his internet porn collection as well, but no one is talking about that. :quiet:

In the alternate, many hams I know become obsessed with what will happen to their gear when they die. WTF? Perhaps a special missive detailing last wishes is called for--and don't forget to carve the call into the gear somewhere for future generations... :snicker:

[WØTKX]

I'm putting my porn collection in my will, just for you... dear.

[K7SGJ]

I'm putting my porn collection in my will, just for you... dear.

Yeah, but you still have 33 minutes of record time on the disk. Be sure to fill it with something, even if it's your dog humping the neighbor lady's leg, or something.

[ki4itv]

Sometimes the vulture-like culture surrounding the inquiry and acquisition of a recently SK hams gear is really shameful and I've personally witnessed some really disgusting behavior that totally caught me by surprise. Not any more...the total lack of social skills for a large percentage of hams is fast approaching legendary.
Expect to be embarrassed.

[K7SGJ]

We hams are a peculiar lot. Perhaps as a part of the hobby, we seem to venerate dead hams--and attach a curious provenance and value to the tools of our avocation. My thesis in this screed is our morbid fascination with dead ham stuff.

When I buy something at a fester or from a local, I always inquire as to ownership--past or present. Many times this info is proffered without solicitation, e.g., "this belonged to Sam, A1OF. He would be glad to know that someone (fill in the blank here...)." Opening up a rig or manual leads to looking for a call inked or graven somewhere. Dead ham stuff in which I knew the person has led to that call being put somewhere on the goods. Ultimately, who the fuck cares?

Certainly not the estate raider with plans of buying low and selling high. I know that I am not unique in wondering about this--or scrutinizing used gear for evidence of the previous owner. This fascination with the history of gear and its owners is unusual. Here is my point. If your neighbor drops dead, do you wonder what will become of his clothes or car? Yet the thought of what will become of his gear should he also be a ham will concern many. I always hear at club meetings "Billy loved his Icokensutenxon so much..." Well, he probably loved his internet porn collection as well, but no one is talking about that. :quiet:

In the alternate, many hams I know become obsessed with what will happen to their gear when they die. WTF? Perhaps a special missive detailing last wishes is called for--and don't forget to carve the call into the gear somewhere for future generations... :snicker:


Here's my take on it. When I die, I'll probably be dead and won't give a fuck. I don't care how much it brings, or if it's given away, or thrown in the dumpster. (Is it still unlawful to destroy radio equipment?) If my wife is still alive she can deal with it like she does now. "Just get rid of it". Which is why I won't care who is boning her when I'm gone, either.

[n2ize]

I don;t think this is unique to hams. It holds true for others with like minded interests. A stamp collector dies and other collectors wonder, will his collection be preserved ? Will it got to someone who appreciates them and who will share their history with others ? An RC enthusiast dies and other hobbyists wonder, what will happen to all the planes, boats, cars, etc that he built ? Will they just be discarded by some uncaring relative ? Will they go to someone who appreciates them, takes care of them, and uses them ? Or a great teacher or professor dies and his colleagues wonder, who will continue his research ? will they have the same interests and enthusiasm ? where will his notes, writings, papers, manuscripts, etc. end up ? I think the same is true for musicians, etc. Who owned this musical instrument before me ? etc. I don't think it's a ham only thing.

[ki4itv]

Here's my take on it. When I die, I'll probably be dead and won't give a fuck. I don't care how much it brings, or if it's given away, or thrown in the dumpster. (Is it still unlawful to destroy radio equipment?) If my wife is still alive she can deal with it like she does now. "Just get rid of it". Which is why I won't care who is boning her when I'm gone, either.

^^^ a healthy level of pragmatism never hurts :lol:

[AE1PT]

Sometimes the vulture-like culture surrounding the inquiry and acquisition of a recently SK hams gear is really shameful and I've personally witnessed some really disgusting behavior that totally caught me by surprise. Not any more...the total lack of social skills for a large percentage of hams is fast approaching legendary.
Expect to be embarrassed.

Yes, then there are those. A very good friend died last year--one who was the center of a small daily social scene here in the county. After he passed, I was advised by a couple other locals to give his widow--also a ham--a bit of space as the family was having a strange time of what the person wanted when they died. So a couple weeks later when paying my respects I took notice that the shack was completely empty. Seems that one of the hams that suggested a bit of time had been there several days after the death and hauled everything away under the 'consignment' rubric...

There are a couple vultures that roost at local hamfesters and are prolific ebayers. Their modus operandi is to scan DAILY local obituaries, club websites, and keep track of old sick hams awaiting their demise. SWOOP IN...


I'm putting my porn collection in my will, just for you... dear.

I really appreciate the thought, but I don't care much for fat lesbian videos...

Got any Mexican midgets?

[PA5COR]

Already made provisions for that, i have 2 hams i know very well, and they will have to sell the stuff off for my son.
Same goes for my weapons reloading stuff and other parts of that, done at the shooting club.
The rest is all for my son, he knows what i do and the different peeps that will take care of it, and the rough value of it all.
I have the boxes for all equipment all manuals sorted and in the proces after my divorce, to get rid of a lot of junk i kept.

Sold off already lots of stuff i kept making room and decluttering the shack and house.
I'm not planning to leave a lot of garbage for someone else to sort through when i pass.

[WØTKX]

Bi-conical.

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o354/wa4brl/Radio/CageDipole.jpg

Metaphorical tunnel.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4265425511_bb5ab302bc_o.jpg

La la la...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsQfjc4KRRc/UQay23XAfnI/AAAAAAAAHcY/PQBRrrLms_I/s1600/cast-of-teletubbies-5.jpg

[ki4itv]

Metaphorical tunnel.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4265425511_bb5ab302bc_o.jpg



Ahhh, I see you're trying to work St. Paul Island in the South Indian Ocean via short path. :mrgreen:

[N7YA]

I decided, as a ham, i better polish up the social graces so a woman would get with me. Maybe i could convince her to marry me so, in addition to love and companionship, she can make sure all my ham shit goes to a school club of my choosing beforehand...problem solved.

I dont think the personification of death is a purely ham related practice, its something we like to do in this country in general. We call anyone who sneezes in the vicinity of historically important events either a hero or a criminal, depending on any number of factors (skin color, religion, politics, attitude, appearance, etc...). I was reading today about the Boston bomber who hid in a boat and had a shootout with the cops...people are so starved for heroes that they are calling the boat owner a hero, and there is a national push for funds to buy him a new boat. Hell, the guy will likely be able to buy a converted oil tanker for what he will get! Im all for the charity, its nice...help the guy replace his boat, but why is he a hero?? Because his heard shots in his driveway and hit the deck? He got his boat all shot up, that sucks, but why hero?

I guess the definition of hero is set by the individuals leanings...to some, a hero is a war criminal, to others, its a guy who puts a camera in his glasses and goes into a slaughterhouse to film the cruelty, to others, its a simple man who taught science to middle schoolers...i could present one person and ask every one of you, and include my own opinion, if you consider them a hero, and why or why not...and get a ton of different answers. Interesting culture we live in.

[N2RJ]

Here's my take on it. When I die, I'll probably be dead and won't give a fuck. I don't care how much it brings, or if it's given away, or thrown in the dumpster. (Is it still unlawful to destroy radio equipment?) If my wife is still alive she can deal with it like she does now. "Just get rid of it". Which is why I won't care who is boning her when I'm gone, either.

I think that I want whatever I had to either be passed down if the kids are interested or sold for the best price possible. Money is the primary concern. If I pass away, I want them to get the most money for my belongings because my family will need the money... I don't really give a shit about sentimental value so much, except for gifts.

[WX7P]

I think that I want whatever I had to either be passed down if the kids are interested or sold for the best price possible. Money is the primary concern. If I pass away, I want them to get the most money for my belongings because my family will need the money... I don't really give a shit about sentimental value so much, except for gifts.

Yep, sentiment and feeling for fellow humanity (allegedly) outside your family is foreign to you, that's clear from your posts.

It's all about you.

[WØTKX]

http://bartblog.bartcop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cartoon-gop-money-lover.gif

[n6hcm]

I don;t think this is unique to hams. It holds true for others with like minded interests. A stamp collector dies and other collectors wonder, will his collection be preserved ?

well, for stamp collectors (and coin collectors) preservation of the items is part of the game even when the collector is alive. i sold off most of my coin collection when i started graduate school. i needed money and, in the end, it's just stuff. it might be different if i had one-of-a-kind items, but i didn't.

[kb2vxa]

"When I die, I'll probably be dead..."

[K7SGJ]

Nope, true fact. When the rest of my family died, they were dead, so I see no reason why my DNA should lead me elsewhere.

[N7YA]

Yeah, yeah, yeah...lets get back to the "i dont care who bangs my wife" part...with all due respect, of course. :)

[WØTKX]

Nice social graces, right there. :lol:

[N7YA]

Im kidding, of course...;)

[K7SGJ]

Yeah, yeah, yeah...lets get back to the "i dont care who bangs my wife" part...with all due respect, of course. :)

It's one of those reciprical agreement thingys. She's just pissed because I want to chase it now, don't want to wait. Afterall, I'll probally go first.

[N7YA]

Sounds like you guys have it figured so far. :lol:

[W3WN]

I think that I want whatever I had to either be passed down if the kids are interested or sold for the best price possible. Money is the primary concern. If I pass away, I want them to get the most money for my belongings because my family will need the money... I don't really give a shit about sentimental value so much, except for gifts.I think you've touched on the real issue.

I know the boss has no idea how much my gear is worth, even used. Quite a bit of it I've had for years. Some has been the results of trades, with or without additional cash considerations. A few pieces have been gifts. I even have had from time to time a hamfest prize (which have long since been sold or traded for other gear). Suffice to say, the working equipment, if put on a hamfest table tomorrow, ought to be worth a couple of pretty pennies.

Unfortunately, we have a few vultures out there. They will low ball a widow (or in some cases widower) and their family... if not outright lie... and then demand top dollar. When they resell the item(s), very often they will tell you who the SK was... partly to hope that said SK's reputation will be enough to justify the claimed condition of the equipment... partly to give them an excuse to defer why they know little of the equipment itself, so if it's not working, they have a fall-back to keep your shekels.

I've got no illusions about my gear. When my time comes, I don't expect anyone in my family to be interested (of course, I hope that may change, but I'm not counting on it). Outside of an item or two that I might want a friend to have for sentimental or other reasons, I'd prefer to see the estate liquidate the equipment and use the $$ for the family. But I too worry that some sleezeball will tell the boss a believable (but phony) story, and talk her out of everything for a song... or less.

What we should do is refuse to buy from the sleezoids. If there's no profit in it, they'll stop. Problem is, by the time you find out that Old Joe's shack was confiscated by a con man for snake oil, it's too late... the gear was moved weeks before.