Eric Hutchins wrote to Roy Witt:   
      
    >> Not at all. If it weren't for the demise of the code test, CBers   
    >> wouldn't be applying for a license.   
      
    EH> I don't understand why someone would be against the no-code test.   
      
   I've never been against no-code. I belonged to the W5YI team that fought   
   to get rid of it because it is an inefficient use of the bands. Besides   
   that, every radio service in existance dropped CW communications before   
   the FCC decided to drop the Amateur test.   
      
    EH> I was a no code tech, and then I passed my General, but could not get   
    EH> passed the code part, so I stayed a no-code tech until the   
    EH> requirement for the code was dropped. I re-tested and passed (again),   
    EH> and now I am studying for my Extra class.   
      
   Why bother, you'll never be using the 25khz of HF that is CW only   
   bandwidth.   
      
    EH> Would you rather let the hobby languish and disappear than be   
    EH> invigorated with new hams?   
      
   I would prefer that new Hams were at least curtious enough to learn the   
   ropes before thinking they're somehow contributing to the hobby when   
   they're rude, don't know operating procedure and think that just because   
   they have a 6 in their callsign that they're god's gift to radio.   
      
    EH> besides, most new hams I have heard on the air, are much more   
    EH> appreciative of the privileges that the so called 'original' hams.   
      
   I've seen both good and bad new Hams.   
      
    >> If you have the mind capable of memorizing every aspecet of the   
    >> written test, that's not a bad thing. Hardly anyone I knew during my   
    >> early years was able to test without some memorizing.   
    >>   
    >>  TW>  And I suspect the REACT people like them also.   
    >>   
    >> Thanks for making my case.   
      
    EH> I was a member of REACT for over 25 years and in all that time, I   
    EH> would put many of my fellow members up against any hams that looked   
    EH> down their noses at us.   
      
   I wouldn't. I monitor the REACT channels and the trucker channels and   
   frankly, I can't tell the difference, as they all cuss and swear at each   
   other and step all over each other. They all think that each owns the   
   channels they use. What is really ironic is that most of these people are   
   from out of state and they're traveling on freeways that my taxes paid to   
   build. Not theirs.   
      
    EH> We were all after the same thing, public service.   
      
   I live between I-10 and I-35 here in Texas and there isn't any such thing   
   on the CB channels. A lot of talk, cussing out local drivers who drive too   
   slow, or use the middle lane like the truckers own it.   
      
      
            R\%/itt   
      
      
   --- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012   
    * Origin: Texas Lone-Star - Texan, American, USAian  (1:387/22)