(You might take a look at the response. I just wrote to Newman, goes a little way in terms of explaining what I’ve been doing recently in this thread)
This brings up another issue ... one that has been in the back of my mind for quite some time.
What good are you doing here? Seriously ... who receives a benefit from your posts? When someone has a problem, do you try to help them? It seems to me that you obfuscate a great deal, but that you do not clarify very much. Isn't being helpful and kind one of the most basic (and most appreciated) human virtues?
Every day, when I see that you post here, I fervently wish that you were more helpful and less argumentative. Could you please humor me?
Jim
I’m on this forum because I care about the truth, and in this case the truth about audio gear.
This is a place to come to get accurate information about audio gear, and to discuss audio gear with something like a scientific mindset for caring above the truth, and taking the relevance of science and engineering seriously. It’s a place where people are trying to cut through the BS and woo hoo to understand how audio gear works. I am hugely thankful for the information I get here and the help with questions.
So that’s what attracts me to this forum.
But it’s not only that; it’s a place where all sorts of wide ranging discussions occur about gear, from formal to informal. A community. And it’s nice to be part of a community sharing the same hobby and shooting the shit about it.
What good am I doing here and who benefits?
Well, that depends. The first good is bringing one’s own opinions to a community.
I am very largely in agreement with most on ASR. But of course, I depart slightly here and there, and give the justifications for those departures. At a minimum I see this doing good by, in my own small but hopefully relevant way, making sure this place doesn’t turn into one big echo chamber, of the type so many people have as a character in their mind about this place.
I believe Amir, from what I have observed of him here and his interactions in the subjectivist forums, would like this place to be welcoming to just about any audiophile.
A much bigger tent will allow more people to feel comfortable here and then to learn, then a place like hydrogen audio.
It’s not uncommon to see declarations made by members here About “ what audio gear is for” or who or what the forum is for, which are not objective facts but personal opinions, and which actually would imply a more restricted view than I think most really want here. Even just declaring “ The purpose of audio gear is accurate reproduction” or “ this forum is for those seeking high Fidelity gear” would cut out a cohort who can benefit from being here.
Some people may not actually have the goal of absolute accuracy, but they still want to understand the real nature of gear. So pushing back on such claims is worthwhile to keep the “ big tent” approach to reach more people. (if this place was only about accurate audio reproduction why for instance do we have sections devoted to vinyl playback? The reason is that it makes more sense to see this place as about supplying accurate information about audio gear rather than taking a dogmatic stance as to what type of gear one ought to own).
I do not argue “ for” subjectivism, but I do argue against dogmatism, and a recognition that there is more than one way to enjoy the hobby, and even those different ways don’t have to rely on b.s or anti scientific claims.
I have received plenty of feedback over the years from people who have appreciated seeing this view put forth on this forum, both publicly and privately. And how some lurkers were made to feel more comfortable in seeing such views as the ones I defend allowed here, as they shared similar feelings, but were afraid to speak up.
But as I say, I’m not arguing for subjectivist woo woo, and general thrust of what I argue is in support of the basic ethos of this forum: Not making unjustified claims, and clarifying the arguments FOR the ethos of this forum, including the relevance of blind testing and measurements.
It is amazing to me how often I am doing this and yet people seem to seize on what they take as subjectivist arguments to ignore everything else I’ve written.
I have had a whole bunch of feedback from the engineering types as well, appreciative of what they see as sharpening up the arguments for this forum, or for the objectivist approach and particular. That includes even Amir thanking me for providing lucid arguments against subjectivism and for objectivism.
I’ve also provided details on my various blind tests, including my most recent recent blind test with all the methodology and results presented. That thread got a whole lot of positive feedback from the regulars here thanking me for putting in that work. Some said that is just the type of stuff they had wished they were going to see more of when they joined this forum. And I think I am in the minority here of posting such work.
What other way of “ being helpful” why you be referencing? Perhaps helping people in choosing specific gear?
On that subject, I’ve tended to do a lot more in that regard on other forums. So for instance in the more subjective forums, I don’t see eye to eye with everybody there in terms of woo claims. But in so far as I agree that sharing informal (not scientifically vetted) impressions of audio gear can be entertaining and even useful, many people have found my equipment, reports and descriptions quite useful. I also have spent quite a bit of time in those type of forums arguing for the relevance of blind testing, measurements and also the sceptical case against all sorts of tweaks and cables, etc. Which again, people have expressed their appreciation for.
When it comes to recommending equipment here, I tend to sit that out more. People come to this place looking for a certain approach To having their gear questions answered. I don’t need to do any work at all because plenty of experienced and knowledgable people will immediately chime in and give lots of sensible answers. As I’ve pointed out to you before, I may defend in some cases my own reasons for choosing gear, I do not PUSH upon anybody in the sense of recommending “ you ought to choose your gear this way.” And that’s why I leave it to most other ASR members when it comes to helping people choose gear based on ASR ideas.
I’m sorry if that was too long for you to read this time, but… you asked for it.
Cheers.
