...look at me. I'm going to be 21 in a few days (the 30th, to be exact). Unlike most people in my generation, I am amazed by electronics. I love the feeling of fixing something electronic and seeing it work. Sure, most of my knowledge is in computers (blame the public education system from the 90s and 2000s for that, we were taught about computers in preschool before we could even read. Not kidding!), but I've taught myself enough about electronics that relatives and friends frequently call me when they need something fixed. I may be intimidated by the thought of building a kit, but if someone showed me how to do it, I could probably do it without a bit of problems.
I agree about the new era of electronics. I've built my own computer and I know many others who have as well. In this day and age, I've noticed it's cool to be what was once called a nerd. Technology is all around us, and I don't mean Facebook. By the way, I don't have a facebook account. Never have and never will. I could care less about what my friends had for breakfast.
Mr. channelX1610
Keep being the role model for future electronics.
Avoid having a face (Face Book).
Someday you will be the man they need to solve some problem of their own making.
Only low power radio can serve the generation of tomorrow.
Acting lord,
Carl
"So, maybe in the history of things the '50s through the '80s might have been the "sunspot peak" for hobby electronics and we are just returning to a normal state."
HUH?
Are we leaving out the time frame between 1860 and 1940? Oh and let's not forget all the experimenting that took place by hams during WWII, and the many nifty discoveries during those years.
So I don't see where we are going into a "normal" phase at all.
No it's not normal when they take away education from schools and force students to focus on irrelevant crap like how to post a facebook page in pre-school, as noted by a member who went through that!
It might be ok to dream and put up this false sense of security but for others who are not retired and have to face the next 40 or so years with this destruction by design economy and industry, they are not going to believe that statement at all!
It's a whole different world outside the front door man. And it isn't 1950 anymore. Might want to get a reality check-up and re-calibrate that assumption meter.
If it was just a dip in the plate, why all the closings in the hobby industry going on? Why don't we see more parts in Radio Shack like it used to be 25 years ago? Why are small electronic supply shops a mere tinker drip?
Just normal I guess. :/
RFB