Over on Mastodon a couple of days ago, a fellow posted a link to the ARRL CEO’s editorial in the May 2024 QST with this comment, “Seems like drama aimed at…everyone?”
In the editorial, NA2AA, rails against the “persistent bashing” of the ARRL. He writes, “Recreational attacks on social media and other public forums, where participants ‘eat their own’ and only serve to drive of good people within amateur radio, are counterproductive and reckless.”
I actually agree with him on this, but I also think that this editorial comes off as kind of petulant. Like he’s not getting the kudos that he thinks he deserves. This may be true, but I’m not sure an editorial like this is the way to get people to stop. If anything, it gives bad actors another target to shoot at.
“Warm fuzzies”
Coincidentally, there was a post on /r/amateurradio titled “Leaving ARRL.” The post itself was kind of nonsensical, but I found one of the comments to be spot on. The commenter writes,
I was an ARRL member for a couple years after I got licensed back in 2018. I would rather spend my money by directly investing in local clubs. I don’t outright hate everything about them, but I sure don’t get warm fuzzies either.
I think that this may be one of the most cogent observations yet. It’s not that the ARRL isn’t doing good things for amateur radio, but that they’re not providing that warm, fuzzy feeling that members are looking for.
In Rotary clubs, fellowship and camaraderie are stressed, and Rotary leaders recognize that the camaraderie—i.e. “warm fuzzies”—provided by Rotary clubs is the biggest reason that members continue to be members. I think that this is what’s missing from the ARRL. If the ARRL was a more collegial organization, then perhaps there would be less contentiousness.
Social media is with us to stay. Asking people to stop posting bad things about you isn’t the way to get them to stop.
Dealing with misinformation
While writing this post, I did an internet search for “how nonprofits deal with misinformation” that yielded hundreds of references. One of them listed five tips to combat misinformation and disinformation, including:
- Use trusted messengers. Look for leaders of groups and sub-groups to connect with the broader community.
- Fill information gaps quickly with accurate information; explain what you are doing; and find the facts when all are not yet known.
- Be transparent about how decisions are made.
- Repeat actionable information.
- Build trust in “blue sky times” when there is no crisis.
Perhaps this is a start?