It's the same old conversation over and over again...
02-04-2019 | 08:24 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Moderator
It's the same old conversation over and over again...
I was searching for some info on a plane I am about to start building and came across this. The tone, attitude, grammar, and mindset sounds exactly the same as many current conversations about the AMA and the aeromodeling hobby in general by the so called "experts."
"I agree with Mr Helmick about most R.C Flyers. You people are the most inconsiderate, egotistical jerks I ever met. I seen you cause people to loose Hying sites because the wise guy had to buzz a house on Sunday morning I seen you people step on a tree flight model that hap*pened to land in an area that you where Flying in. How you even can consider your sell Modellers when most ol you don't even build your own airplanes. The only reason why the hobby industry, magazines and AM A sanction most of your B.S. is because of BUCKS The free flight and control line where around long before the transmitter and receiver You even have the gaul to put R/C in a good old time tree flight model. What an insult to the fellow that designed it."
Published in RC Model Builder, 1980
So let's see- New=bad, check. It's all a vast conspiracy by the industry to make money, check. People who like new stuff are all jerks, check. We were here before you were, check. Youngsters with their newfangled toys are ruining the hobby, check and double check, hurting our image with the public, check.
So what's my point? If you've read this far, hopefully I have you attention. History shows that this guy was wrong. Sure, the hobby changed, in some ways for the better and other ways for the worse. But it has adapted, survived, and even thrived. The constant complaining about drones will likely sound just as silly 39 years from now as the hobby will undoubtedly change, but will again adapt and hopefully thrive for years to come. I think this curmudgeon missed out on some good fun and some good friends by thinking this way. Let's don't repeat his mistakes.
"I agree with Mr Helmick about most R.C Flyers. You people are the most inconsiderate, egotistical jerks I ever met. I seen you cause people to loose Hying sites because the wise guy had to buzz a house on Sunday morning I seen you people step on a tree flight model that hap*pened to land in an area that you where Flying in. How you even can consider your sell Modellers when most ol you don't even build your own airplanes. The only reason why the hobby industry, magazines and AM A sanction most of your B.S. is because of BUCKS The free flight and control line where around long before the transmitter and receiver You even have the gaul to put R/C in a good old time tree flight model. What an insult to the fellow that designed it."
Published in RC Model Builder, 1980
So let's see- New=bad, check. It's all a vast conspiracy by the industry to make money, check. People who like new stuff are all jerks, check. We were here before you were, check. Youngsters with their newfangled toys are ruining the hobby, check and double check, hurting our image with the public, check.
So what's my point? If you've read this far, hopefully I have you attention. History shows that this guy was wrong. Sure, the hobby changed, in some ways for the better and other ways for the worse. But it has adapted, survived, and even thrived. The constant complaining about drones will likely sound just as silly 39 years from now as the hobby will undoubtedly change, but will again adapt and hopefully thrive for years to come. I think this curmudgeon missed out on some good fun and some good friends by thinking this way. Let's don't repeat his mistakes.
02-08-2019 | 05:43 AM
#3
Unfortunately, he does make some statements that ring true today. They include:
- The free flight and control line where around long before the transmitter and receiver
- How you even can consider your sell Modellers when most ol you don't even build your own airplanes
- The only reason why the hobby industry, magazines and AM A sanction most of your B.S. is because of BUCKS
02-08-2019 | 09:50 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Moderator
It's a rant, no doubt. It just struck me how natural this whole letter would sound posted on RCU today. Aside from the mentions of RC as new, there is nothing about it that would tip you off that it wasn't about the current drone conversation from someone claiming to represent the majority.
02-09-2019 | 08:07 AM
#6
But a spirited defense of Gore’s statement penned by Internet pioneers Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf (the latter often referred to as the “father of the Internet”) in 2000 noted that “Al Gore was the first political leader to recognize the importance of the Internet and to promote and support its development” and that “No other elected official, to our knowledge, has made a greater contribution [to the Internet] over a longer period of time”:
02-09-2019 | 09:08 AM
#8
It's just so many actually believe that is what Al Gore really claimed. BTW, I did recognize the possibility of sarcasm.
02-09-2019 | 10:01 AM
#9
Banned
I was on staff in that White House. Could only take it for a year.
Last edited by Appowner; 02-09-2019 at 10:05 AM.
03-29-2019 | 04:56 PM
#10
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Back to Jester's original subject...
Some claim that the 1980 rant in RC Model Builder is no different than today. I cannot agree. While the different segments of the hobby (i.e. the RCers vs the freeflighters, vs the controliners vs...) still quibble over superiority or modelbuilding/flying skills, there is little doubt that our hobby is currently having to defend its legitimacy from attack by the government (FAA), airline pilots, police departments, homeland security, the media, and a good half dozen or so other groups who would like to see model aviation be banned in its entirety due to the potential threat of model airplanes being used in a terrorist attack. (The potential and reality of such has has been highlighted by several recent attempts to do just that.) These attempts to legislate and control our hobby weren't even considered a possibility (or probability) in 1980. In 1980, our hobby's only real threat to others was from our noise.
So, while I DO understand and appreciate Jester's post of how little seems to have changed between 1980 and now, I don't believe the 1980 model-flying community was ever forced to defend its continued existence like it has to now!
Harvey
Some claim that the 1980 rant in RC Model Builder is no different than today. I cannot agree. While the different segments of the hobby (i.e. the RCers vs the freeflighters, vs the controliners vs...) still quibble over superiority or modelbuilding/flying skills, there is little doubt that our hobby is currently having to defend its legitimacy from attack by the government (FAA), airline pilots, police departments, homeland security, the media, and a good half dozen or so other groups who would like to see model aviation be banned in its entirety due to the potential threat of model airplanes being used in a terrorist attack. (The potential and reality of such has has been highlighted by several recent attempts to do just that.) These attempts to legislate and control our hobby weren't even considered a possibility (or probability) in 1980. In 1980, our hobby's only real threat to others was from our noise.
So, while I DO understand and appreciate Jester's post of how little seems to have changed between 1980 and now, I don't believe the 1980 model-flying community was ever forced to defend its continued existence like it has to now!
Harvey
Last edited by H5487; 03-29-2019 at 05:09 PM.
04-01-2019 | 04:16 PM
#11
Speaking of defending the model aviation hobby`s legitimacy from the FAA, airline pilots, etc., what do you think of the form letter the AMA came up with? It seems as though the AMA has had a change of heart and now is not so willing to roll out the red carpet for those "sophisticated drone" operators.
04-03-2019 | 07:48 AM
#12
My Feedback: (7)
I'm done worrying about stuff beyond my direct control, I rather use my time and effort to enjoy fliying while I still can. So I'll go fly my large scale and gassers at the field and fly my small electrics at the nearby school field. If and when we no longer can fly, I'll cross that bridge when the time comes, for now I'll just continue to fly till we can't, I have other hobbies if they ever taking RC flying away...
