The choice should be yours and yours only

“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member”. Arguably the most famous Marx Groucho quote. And definitive proof that Marx was a ham.

This is us. We want to be part of a club, a community, society, forum, a movement. But at the same time, we only want to belong to a club that fits our own needs. Self-indulgent, narrow focused needs. We want to be in the company of those who think, speak, and look like us. Why? Because we are just humans, and humans are tribal by definition.

Thanks to the free and lightning fast communication that came with the internet, there is now a group or a forum for every segment and every niche catering for the needs of radio amateurs. Some have been around for decades, with tens of thousands of members, while even more keep popping up. Yet there is one thing they all have in common: an iron rule prohibiting ‘links to commercial advertising’. And regardless of your standing in your favourite group, your loyalty to fellow members and your utmost respect (visually displayed) to the moderator, the first time you post such a link, you are out. The rules will be religiously enforced, with rebels often publicly named and shamed. So the others will take note and think twice before making the same mistake.

The message is clear: advertising is bad. Shepherd’s role is to prevent you, the sheep, from being exploited by unscrupulous commercial. Even when advertised goods or services are highly beneficial to you, and the rest of the members, the blanket ban will be imposed and rebels excommunicated.

Which is just ridiculous. The truth is, the vast majority of amateurs love commercial advertisements for radios – new and old- , for ham related services, for electronic components and literally everything hobby related.

Have you ever bought a ham magazine, only to rip off the front and back covers, the four centre pages, cut out all the inner ads, throw away the filler – and proclaim: “Right, the mag is now ads free, let’s dive into it!” Nobody in their right mind has ever done that, ever. Yet we, as group members, are quite happy to be moderated and censored online and on social media by self-righteous moderators.

Of course, no one likes spam. But there is a huge difference between a tasteful, clever and targeted advertising and spam. Instead of banning and shaming, group owners and moderators should take advantage of commercial advertisers willing to promote ham-related equipment to members. How about being more inclusive, and more creative, by allowing one link per month? Or, even better, how about accepting paid-for advertisements? Use the proceedings to benefit your group. A win-win situation for all parties involved. 

The reality is harsh. For advertisers, there are very limited ways to reach out to potential customers. Print media is outdated and slow. Quality portals and forums are few and far in-between. Nowadays, the vast majority of amateurs are on Facebook and Facebook advertising opportunities are restricted. 

On the other hand, without retail stores offering ham radio equipment there will be no ham radio at all. If we all go out of business, where are you going to get your gear from? Directly from the manufacturers? Or, perhaps, you’ll build your own? Good luck with that. 

You are not a sheep, so you need no shepherd dog to mind you, to tell you what you can or cannot see. Please remain open minded and supportive of commercial advertising. If there is something that does not interest you, simply click away. Don’t be cynical; don’t use your ‘right to public speech’ to undermine and ridicule advertisers. Remember – ham radio shops are here to serve you, often, at loss. Respect their efforts; they are good for you and for the advancement of amateur radio – the best hobby of all.