A Tough Question

At last, someone understands. Thank you Nrchy. Based upon the type of questions usually asked on this forum (i.e., my soundstage has collapsed, which PC works best with..., what's my next step? etc.) I have to believe that the typical audiophile is owned by their system. I'm not sure anything is wrong with that, but you should at least have the awareness to admit to it.

In my ideal life I would pare everything down to James Spader's mythical "one key" existence as he explained in "Sex, Lies & Videotape". But even with one key, I'd still have a nice stereo and music collection.

Corona, Only if they wanted to, regardless of ruined designs. I suggest you try reading my post again. To better understand, since my point may not have been saliant. Maybe you will see that pointing out "cost is an issue" is superfluos at best.

You guys can be "owned" by stereo's, cars, wives, or whatever. Not I.

I chose this hobby, unless someone can prove it chose me. I like it. Every single resource "it" consumes is by my hand alone, and "it" can end by my hand as well.

Distortion:
You have a valid point; I just missed it; one of those "senior" moments.

Distortion, nice phrasing. We are not owned by objects but by our intentions.

P.S. Thanks for the kind words Kublakhan

Distortion, that's like the alcoholic who says "I can stop drinking any time I want." Unless you stop there is no real reason to beleive that you can.

It is disengenuous to say you are not owned by your possesions, cars wives, homes. They are the controling factors in your life. The lawn must be mown. It is not a question of whether you want to mow it!

A person has obligations whether they choose to voice them or not. My wife does not demand quality time with me, since it is an implication of marriage.

I can deny my obligations but that does not change the reality of them. Your statement of ownership is true to a degree. There is no title deed involved in stereo ownership (for example) but by the place of priority given it, ownership is implied.

The Burger King hamburger does indeed own you as long as it is within the confines of your digestive tract. It should provide sustanence for your body, and thereby you are dependent on it. It is more likely though that you will have to fight of the debilitating effects of having eaten it! Then it really owns you, until your immune system finally defeats the hamburger.

You cannot 'bank' time. It will be spent. The issue is not whether you are owned, it is, by what are you owned???

By way of summary, I checked the listening room, and 'I' still own the power cords, or do they own me?