"Nope, the guys who had to sit in front of FCC examiners and actually
diagram oscillator circuits had it the toughest. Admittedly, the test I
took for Extra class wasn't as tough as those. The Extra class test
today, just 6 years later, isn't as tough as the one I took."
For someone like me, who wanted to pass the test, I don't think that would
have presented much of a problem. I took Bill Welch's (W6DDB) general
course in 1969 at the Lockheed Recreation Club - I think I could have done
so at that time. But again, so what?
"Why not? Isn't that what the bar exam is SUPPOSED to do for lawyers and
the legal system. Aren't we, the ignorant lay public, supposed to trust
that the lawyers who've passed the bar are at some basic level competent?"
California's three day bar exam does that - what I said was that one
wouldn't send this person out to argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court -
something that would be reserved for the most senior attorney in a firm.
That is where our perspectives differ. I wouldn't insult those with real
expertise in electronics to state or imply that their field is any less deep
and sophisticated than mine - I have much admiration everytime I talk with
Steve Katz, for example. The 45 minute extra exam that I took, if it
actually implied some basic competence, would be just a joke when put
side-by-side with a three day bar exam for two equally sophisticate learned
fields of study and practice.
"> Or perhaps they had been engineers, who (unlike Mr. Stover) easily
passed
> the extra,
Hehehehe....I thought I did pretty well going from zero to Advanced,
including the CW test, in one session. Apparently I'm in the presence of
true greatness. Shakespeare was right."
I know you think you did pretty well, but what does passing a relatively
easy test actually show? Like me, you have good study skills? Unless you
are saying you walked in cold-turkey, without any study whatsoever, and
passed.
Getting back to my Supreme Court analogy, all attorneys passing their
state's bar exam can practice in that state, and, according to the law are
viewed equally. Except for patent law and perhaps military law, I can
practice in any area, as long as I take steps to be competent - such as
extra study, or associating-in an attorney skilled in that particular area
of the law. But attorneys know those who by their accomplishments, excell.
And, I think that is one of the differences between my perspective and
yours. As you just said, you are looking for kudos based on passing a
relatively easy exam. I'm saying big deal, I passed it (and the old
fashioned-way at that) - it really wasn't a big deal.
But since you used the word 'greatness" - what separates greatness from
everything else is what one does after the test. For example, I read just
about everything that Tom Rauch (who just happens to come to mind) writes,
as well as many others on the various lists to which I subscribe. I've
never met these people, but I have a sense of their abilities, not because
they passed some test - no - the kind of respect you are talking about is
much more difficult to come by.
Whatever the test, people with good study skills and desire will pass - it
is that simple. As often said, where there is a will, there is a way. For
those like Kevin, who are looking for a test that is some sort of badge of
achievement, forget it. The badge of achievement is much more difficultly
earned. Tom W6EIJ
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|