A hobby becoming extinct at present

Earlier this morning, I have been on 20 meters for a while. It seemed to have been open to all over the world even though the signals were not loud. The main opening was for Eu. It sure reminds me of a start of the new solar cycle. What is different from the previous cycles, there are too few on the air, especially, on CW.

I have run across with Tom DF7TV who operated from a university club station in Stuttgart. When I heard him operating that station, I was excited expecting a young fellow on the key. It was not the case. He was a graduate of the university but was 59 years of age now. He told me there were very few young students interested in ham radio even though they had been holding events to introduce it to them. CW must be the last as well as least thing they were fascinated at. 

This observation has been universal all over the world. In Japan, there are very few youngsters coming into this hobby. It is like finding a jewel in the sand of beach to have any young fellow interested in CW. They could communicate in the internet without any training and spending much money for the set up. To be honest, exchanging meaningless numbers/symbols on CW is comparable to computer game. Nothing human in it. Of course, I know how blood boiling they are for some people and won't deny they have been aspects of ham radio for decades. But it won't satisfy young people who look for something more human and ever lasting pleasure in life.

We should express what has fascinated us to CW. We need to objectify what and how it has attracted us for a long time. That may help young people to be absorbed in this hobby. Letting them see how we enjoy it is another point. But it is not enough, I believe. Description of the process CW communication giving us pleasure and/or rewarding sense is quite important to convince them that it's worth spending time/energy for this hobby.

But most old timers are not aware of this. They just complain withdrawal of CW test in the ham ticket exams was the reason why CW had become inactive in ham radio. They treat digital modes like an enemy and predict they would lose interests in that modes and come back to CW in some time. I am quite suspicious of that. When they get bored with digital modes, most of them may leave ham radio but won't come into nor return to CW.

In this situation, unfortunately, I could not help feeling pessimistic for the future of CW and possibly of ham radio. The consciousness of old timers won't catch up with the trend. I won't say this in order to deny someone but it is only my observation of this hobby for 57 years. I hope it is not correct but it seems the things are going in the way I prospect.

I would live and enjoy the very last era of this hobby becoming extinct at present.