'Phone-Band Phunnies |
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Whether or not this kind of stuff goes on over the Ham bands these days, I couldn't tell you. It is easy to believe the level of obnoxiousness of some people back in the 1940's when this "'Phone-Band Phunnies" article appeared in QST magazine, featuring "Little Stinky." Of course if you assume the way kids are portrayed in contemporary movies and TV shows is typical of the real world, even the behavior described herein would seem mild in comparison. Fortunately, kids today have a plethora of social media venues for treating others to their brands of personalities, so maybe the Ham bands are spared the abuse. 'Phone-Band Phunnies
The proud father who carries around pictures of Little Stinkey and bores everyone he meets to death by showing the pictures and demanding comments on same has long been a subject for derision in story and cartoon, but this character reaches the very acme of obnoxiousness on the amateur 'phone bands. Here he no longer thrusts a shadowy likeness of Little Stinkey upon you; he thrusts Little Stinkey himself! "Just a minute, OM," Proud Papa will say. "I'll let the junior op say hello to you. Go on, Stinkey; say hello to John." There are great quantities of what the broadcast men call "dead air." "Come on now, Stinkey; please say something to the nice man." Still nothing but an echoing silence. "Ha, ha! That's the way they are, OM. You can't keep them still when you want things quiet, and then when you want them to talk, they won't say a word. But I think I can persuade him to say something." There is a certain grim, desperate, but determined note in his voice as he says this, and then you hear sounds of a sharp scuffle that create a clear picture of a child's arm being savagely twisted while a bull-whip is brandished over his head. By listening intently, you finally hear a small whimper of anguish. "There you are, OM!" Proud Papa says with a note of triumph in his voice, although he is still breathing a little hard. "I'll bet that came through all okay. He really loves to talk over the mike when he gets started. Think I'll make a fine business ham out of him, OM?" It is best not to say what you think. - John T. Frye, W9EGV
Posted July 7, 2022 |
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