One Reason "Normal" People Think Hams Are Weird

[NQ6U]

Moar power!

[kb2vxa]

Radio is a Russian inwention.

[K4PIH]

They invented nuclear wessels

[n2ize]

That is a good point. Does the "True" Ham still exist? At one time radio was it for an electronics fix. Then along came HiFi, TV, computers, Radio Control, Digital imaging, etc., etc. How many Hams today are in to computers, computer control, digital imaging, astronomy, radio control, drones and on and on. Calling ourselves "Electronics Geeks" might be closer to the truth.

I resent the words "geek" or "nerd" for someone who is interested in technology , or the sciences. To me it carries a negative stereotype. Does a person who likes to play the guitar call themselves a "music geek" ? Or is a person who likes sports a 'sports nerd" ? What's wrong with the simple old fashioned idea of an "electronics hobbyist" or a "person interested in electronics" ?

And as far as weird people go, well I think people who consider themselves "normal" in that their only interests in life are watching the ballgame, drinking beer, and mowing the lawn, or other superficial activities, to be weird. How can anyone go through life without any kind of deep interest in anything other than trying to be a carbon copy of the guy next door. Of course this is highly subjective but it's how I see it.

[N8YX]

In (ex Soviet) Russia, radio tower erects YOU.

[KC2UGV]

I resent the words "geek" or "nerd" for someone who is interested in technology , or the sciences. To me it carries a negative stereotype.

We took it back...
https://www.google.com/search?site=&...59.EXyKdERmXdU

Does a person who likes to play the guitar call themselves a "music geek" ? Or is a person who likes sports a 'sports nerd" ?

Yes, and yes. We took it back, and those aren't really pejoratives anymore, but rather badges of honor today.

What's wrong with the simple old fashioned idea of an "electronics hobbyist" or a "person interested in electronics" ?

A person just "interested" in something isn't considered a geek or nerd in the subject. A hobbyist would be.

[K7SGJ]

According to Today I Found Out http://www.todayifoundout.com/index....erd-came-from/

Before “geek”, “nerd”, “dork”, etc, the proper terms for these same ragamuffins were “Dewdroppers”, “Waldos”, and “Slackers”. Other common old slang words that were somewhat similar in meaning: pantywaist, oil can, drip, stinkeroo, mullet, roach, schnookle, kook, dimp, dorf, squid, auger, square, Joe Zilch, and dudd.

Who Gnu? Actually, I can remember being called many of these names. Maybe not oil can, but many of the others.

[KK4AMI]

My definition of Geek was always somebody that was "Introspective" but kind of socially awkward. A Nerd is the same thing, but with the addition of having more income potential.

[KG4NEL]

And as far as weird people go, well I think people who consider themselves "normal" in that their only interests in life are watching the ballgame, drinking beer, and mowing the lawn, or other superficial activities, to be weird. How can anyone go through life without any kind of deep interest in anything other than trying to be a carbon copy of the guy next door. Of course this is highly subjective but it's how I see it.

I agree, although I've come to terms with the fact that I'll only be a dilettante in a lot of aspects of ham radio. I have too many other interests to really specialize in it.

Granted, some of the most boring hams I've ever met are entirely useless for anything else but...

[suddenseer]