What even induces Amir and the moderators to keep going?

[MaxwellsEq]

I feel that something in the algorithms of social media pushes nasty or rude posts to more eyeballs than polite or factual posts. Social media platforms seem to benefit when discussions become unpleasant. Like it or not, we're all exposed to this and so positions become entrenched and points are gained through beating up "the stranger" (in a sociological sense).

Despite all of this, I feel ASR manages to mostly remain polite and factual. Even the most obvious trolls are offered a few suggestions before things fall apart!! The mods and Amir do a fantastic job given the size of the membership and visitorship.

 

[audio_tony]

I get exhausted and saddened by how posts escalate to heated or snarky rhetoric

If you think ASR if bad, you should take a look at the Pistonheads forum (UK) https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&f=205

The News, Politics & Economics section in particular, usually degenerates into petty arguments by the 2nd or 3rd page of any posts.

I think it's just endemic on any forum and some are just worse than others.

On the whole, I think ASR is quite good, and largely well mannered.

 

[TonyJZX]

overall this place is a LOT lot better than most

this place is full of old guys... many of you are vastly well educated and have decades of life experience

you probably have adult kids who are having their own kids... you are probably upper middle class and can indulge your passions

But you seen a lot and can sniff out something not quite right... I'm a pessimist and the default setting is to be skeptical... far too many times i have been asked to talk to alleged fellow 'experts' and you know you're talking to an idiot... and further you are forced to work with said 'idiots' on a daily basis

and so it comes to a point where expensive products that perform well isnt good enough? i've worked with equipment that runs six figures and installing it and getting it to go required a roundtable of high priced folks on both sides to to work together

and so this comes across here... if you get a review of a $10k amp or $10k speaker setup and it does a stellar job then that's what should be?

and then there's the boredom of companies making slightly better mousetraps when a $200 mousetrap still gets the mouse

 

[Purité Audio]

There is only ASR.
Keith

 

[voodooless]

Dejavu?

Let's be a little nicer, especially to newcomers

Hello you all. While I consider our forum to be more friendly than many, it seems that we are quite harsh on new members who post things that go against our consensus view. There is no reason to pound on people hard when they say this and that sounds good to them. Let them have some time here...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Somafunk]

If you think ASR if bad, you should take a look at the Pistonheads forum (UK)

yeah, especially this.

There is a certain type/breed of poster on piston heads who my mother would describe as a gàidhlig, she can speak/read/write Gaelic whereas I have a limited ability to do similar

 

[AdamG]

I mean who wouldn’t want to be this Guy’s Henchmen and sidekicks? A private island and Thermonuclear Missiles aimed at every major city in the World. And Cats. Pussy Galore lived here. Honestly, we’re all a tad touched. That reminds me we have that HR thing about all the touching going on…

 

[DonH56]

It's ironical the way other sites attack ASR, getting pretty nasty about it, then turn around and eat their own about various subjective topics, whilst claiming to be more friendly than us. That said, I agree too often the attacks here come fast and furious, often for reasons as @tmtomh listed so well earlier in this thread. It's hard when some new subjectivist drops in to tell us what idiots we are and refuses to acknowledge any of the counter information offered. Such "pigeon posters" are all too common everywhere, including objective posters dropping in on subjective sites. Things get personal pretty quickly. I have almost stopped posting on other audio sites as I am tired of tilting at windmills and constantly being attacked. I try hard (and often fail, natch) to not do the same to subjective folk who alight here.

My tongue-in-cheek posts are here (first two posts): https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ng-debates-is-the-sun-warm.21012/#post-696608 -- and I got posts and PMs from folk who felt I was attacking subjectivists, natch, even though it really touches on the problem of interactions among people. Oh, well, not my field of expertise -- I became an engineer so I didn't have to deal with people, right?

 

[kemmler3D]

something in the algorithms of social media pushes nasty or rude posts to more eyeballs than polite or factual posts.

You are correct. The algorithms of large social media sites are typically optimized for engagement or simply time spent on the site. The reason for this is simple - more time and 'engagement' (clicks, comments) mean more opportunities to show ads or get you to click on them, means more money.

This is implemented more or less without bias to what is causing people to spend more time and energy on the site. As it happens, false, inflammatory, and otherwise extreme content tends to get big results in this area. If something makes you upset, that makes you more likely to engage.

This is why there is now an entire cottage industry of DIY videos on Facebook and elsewhere that are wrong on purpose. They cook outrageously oversalted food or attach car door panels with nails (things like that) because, like clockwork, people will chime in to point out the mistake.

Now, consider that the efficacy of "content that's wrong on purpose" extends to other things, like politics, dating, or - maybe even audio? Lots of things about social media and its impact on society start to make sense. And, it underscores why ASR is such a beacon of quality in a sea of garbage.

 

[eddantes]

Each thread is a room. Go in and out as you need. Sometimes the conversation is fun or interesting, and sometimes banal or frustrating. Not everyone can make a positive contribution in every conversation.

For example: this comment.

 

[krabapple]

coffee?

 

[krabapple]

I get exhausted and saddened by how posts escalate to heated or snarky rhetoric, so I marvel that Amir and other volunteers keep going with this forum. What started as a fun place with a curious, gracious host and enthusiasts who like to share experiences is not much fun anymore. I envisioned a place where bespectacled pipe-smokers in velvet-quilted smoking jackets sit in comfy chairs, perusing the latest pop sci, hi-fi world, and gauzy soft-porn with "serious articles," but those days are gone, I suppose. I myself have gotten tart responses to my innocent, naive, or dumb questions, even from long-time forum members. But then, I am a rare and delicate flower (a phrase best uttered with a Parisian accent), so maybe that's just me.

Anyhoo, I wouldn't blame the host and moderators from calling it mission accomplished and bowing out. All things run their course. And nothing good ever lasts. Besides which, it must get pretty tedious to keep doing these measurements on what must be a huge pile of electronic sameness in Amir's living room or garage.

Please, don't flame me!

The reviews with measurements (and discussions of same) are an invaluable resource and it's actually helping change the paradigm of the industry/hobby.

If the rest of it bothers you...ignore it?

 

[krabapple]

A bit of background on ASR Long timers can correct me if I am wrong. A long time ago, Audiogon imploded. They were bought over and the new owners were greedy. Many left Audiogon in droves and went to WBF. I believe that Amir was co-founder of WBF. I was a member of that forum, and all was well for a while. Then more and more fights started happening, people were banned, and then suddenly there was a mass exodus. When I saw the exodus happening I sent a concerned PM to the other owner. He told me that it is better for them in the long run to have two forums, both for like-minded individuals. If you look at my join date, it wasn't long after ASR was established Good to be here from the very beginning.

For those who don't know, 'WBF" = "What's Best Forum" (whatsbestforum.com ... don't go there, it's trash)

 

[dtaylo1066]

You can't let a few bad apples ruin the bin.

People find it easy to be rude and nasty when they can hide behind a posting and name that basically enables anonymity. And they often state things they would never state to a person in a face to face discussion. It is also part of the American syndrome enabled by social media, X, and our leadership of a "go F yourself attitude" and "my opinion is all that matters."

Amir and the 99% of us that love and respect the data, and our fellow readers and posters, are what keeps the overall good vibe going.

People could be nicer to new posters and even the subjectivist audiophile who has stumbled upon the Forum and could use some kind education vs a rebuke.

 

[mhardy6647]

You raise some valid points and while I can not speak for Amir or Brad. Unless a major life altering event should happen. I am in as long as Amir and Brad will have me. When I joined the team I already knew it was one of those types of Family’s you Never really Leave.

Do you mean that in the Hotel California kind of way?

I guess I'd opine that there's a spectrum of styles here -- some folks are too brusque for my tastes, but, on average, the demeanor here is far (!) better than most of the old-school on-line style forums have gotten to be. The parade has largely passed them by for other platforms, and it shows. This place's vitality is still remarkable -- even if there's little new to talk about.
Personally, I enjoy the dust-ups. I like to splash a little acetone on the embers, then step back and watch from a respectful (and plausibly deniable) distance.
I like this place.
I really do.

I mean, we have here a web forum full of mostly old guys that manages to stay mostly on topic

Actually (well, without hard data, but anecdotally "actually") the median age skews a decade or more younger here, I'd wager, than most of the xenForo/Vanilla/etc. types of www.*.* audio forums. [EDIT: Also rather more global/cosmopolitan.] There are probably still folks here with hair (not counting facial, ear, or nose hair!) and even some that can read without glasses.
As to mostly on topic. That's not one of my strong suits, and a certain meandering flow to discourse has always appealed to me.

 

[dtaylo1066]

Every family is dysfunctional, it's just a matter of to what degree. I see the ASR family as highly functional, with an occasional deviation, which is to be expected. It's much better than most other forums. As to demographics, I can't recall seeing, but I would pretty much guess middle age, extremely high percentage male, much higher than average HH income, and well educated -- higher than average college degree and graduate degree. I do wonder as to degrees the percent of those with science/engineering/physics degrees.

 

[AdamG]

People could be nicer to new posters and even the subjectivist audiophile who has stumbled upon the Forum and could use some kind education vs a rebuke.

This is a general work in progress. Baby steps are secretly celebrated. Some of the ASR Branded Originals (ASR-BOG’s) are providing relatively calm and collected answers and responses to the same questions nearing a quantum level. It’s hard to find any blame engaging in the same ole churn. We are studiously grateful that they continue to endeavor in illuminating the Science in a grind it out “Groundhogs Day” reduplication. We suspect a few of the BOG’s have ascended this mortal realm.

 

[AdamG]

Do you mean that in the Hotel California kind of way?

If I answer this. I may not be here tomorrow. What was your question again?

 

[CapMan]

What keeps any of us going?

Beer and a good curry for me

 

[mhardy6647]

If I answer this. I may not be here tomorrow. What was your question again?

This.
Never.
Happened.