About users with hidden agendas

It’s easy to throw money at a problem to solve it.  Much harder to do it on an every man’s budget.  But @mahgister is right.  A little knowledge can go a long way. 

The march of technology forwards also seems to have a lot of steps where things get made cheaper.

There will always be cheaper and more expensive products... it’s all based on technology and the technology always moves forward although certainly the more useful older technologies will stick around and perhaps be improved as well. Like record players and tube amps. But the big advances will leave older technologies in their wake at various price points over time. Like Class D amps and digital streaming. Its all good, some newer, some older, some cheaper, some more costly.  But never static...always changing....

@holmz Personally, I am always on the lookout for something new and better. Also to learn something new and useful and share it with others. Technology is always advancing...never stagnant. Its like a treasure hunt but I have had numerous hits along the way to make the journey worthwhile. I like to get it right (for me) then leave it be until there is a good reason to do something new or different. "Good sound" is a somewhat subjective thing but the fundamental parameters that define it and what it takes to attain it effectively is not.

ask to see a picture of their system and you discover their triggered outrage is nothing more than a smoke screen to obscure the fact they have a poor system.

Well, maybe if you are here on a free forum you can help them out with some free advice.

@mapman : I can assure you the vast majority of those people have zero intentions to buy or sell anything here. the "potential" part is close to zero. They are here for the mayhem in the forums only.

I am sure that happens, but I don’t think that alone violates any site rules. An audiogon user gets access to forums and ability to transact. So I would assert that is just par for the course. Also if one gets caught up in the forums actually discussing hifi and music, there is perhaps a greater chance they will buy or sell something. I think that is why the forum exists.....to help plant the seeds per se.

I doubt the site WANTS to ban people. It’s bad for business to lock out potential customers. But any business has to maintain a certain degree of decorum to avoid turning customers off and them leaving of their own accord. We need to be glad there is a forum at all. Moderating it has to be considered an expense. More automation would help. So I think I get it. I would not hold out hope though that there would ever be any constraints in place that censure people just because somebody does not like what they say about this or that hifi topic. Other things may be more important or sensitive. Censoring is bad for business and people have a right to say what they want but not to expect no consequences either good or bad. It is what is it. Gotta just make the best of it. Nobody is required to take anything from a "bully". In some cases, like with certain personality disorders, resistance may be futile and best thing is to just ignore. Or flag posts or threads if one must. That is the mechanism provided. Just use discretion. Not liking someone or what they say alone is not a good reason to censor. Is the post even potentially harmful, threatening, ominous or just outright dishonest in some way? Different story. If one cares then it is their job to help mind the shop when needed. It’s an imperfect world, what can you say? Be tolerant but stand up for what is "right". Off soapbox.....cheers!

My observation is that when someone gets banned here  they probably did something to clearly deserve it. I have seen that the Gon prefers to not ban people if at all possible. I believe they issue warnings first. When it happens it’s probably because warnings were ignored and something was deemed bad for business. Gotta take off the blinders! I doubt anyone gets banned or restored based solely on whether someone else likes them or not.

Nothing like a good test tone or two to shed some light on things.

I checked. On my iPhone I can get a list of threads I started and select a pop up on each with a delete option. So it is possible for one to delete their threads. Live and learn.

It’s a free country. People should really stop telling everyone else what they should say or think or do.  Let the cards fall where they may. 

Lol no doubt @mahgister got someone's attention.

Someone had my earlier post asserting the vaccine saves lives in response to a prior disparaging post removed. I don’t really care as long as the original disparaging remark that might cost more lives if taken to heart, not save them, was removed too. Didn’t bother to look. Just saying.

No, not maybe. ....

Never a good idea to assume you know what is happening in OTHER peoples lives.

@sokogear

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but please don’t assume you know the whole story and are in a position to instruct others. You do not.  Also please stop talking about haters.   We are done with that!

Cheers!

Enough of the "haters" references. We are all sick of it here.

If someone draws consistent ire from many others best they take a look in the mirror. Period. If one feels hated and actually cares about it, then do something about it. It will probably work. Hint: Spreading it around and blaming everyone else will only make it worse.

“A relationship without trust is like a car without fuel, it can’t move ahead.”

NPD is a mental illness. Not much can be done about it in many cases I read. People just need to be alert and educated.

Narcissistic personality disorder - Wikipedia

Cheers!

Why should anyone assume a shill does not receive compensation? I’ve observed many cases where a shill was explicitly asked that and they either dance around the question or ignore it. Please!  This site does not exist due to chit chat. 

One crosses over into “shill” territory for me when a product is consistently and unconditionally pitched to all on the sole totally subjective merit of “better sound”.

That clearly indicates selling the product no matter what is all that matters.

That my friend is “shilling”. Persistently pitching to anyone no matter what because it is assumed it will always “sound better”. Also if it turns out it doesn’t, most likely the shill will never place the blame on the product sold under false pretenses.  Bad for sales!

The key to "shill" longevity here and in most cases I reckon is to be a "mensch":

Definition of mensch

: a person of integrity and honor

Seen those here and those not so much. You can often predict how it is going to end based on the mensch factor alone pretty much.

my question is, how can i become a paid shill

No experience personally but I suspect like most things you just have to be good at it and want to do it. I was a salesman early on....Lafayette Radio, TEch Hifi, Radio Shack. We were trained when someone walked in the store, your job was to find out what their problem was that brought them in and solve it for them. Worked well!! No shilling needed.  Tweaks like wires were always needed and very high profit so we were trained to always make sure those were sold if people needed them.  That was simple zip cord, etc.  in those days.   THings have gotten a bit out of hand there over time as is often the case when there are big profits to be made.

There is nothing here to prevent hidden agendas so you can be sure they are there and not hard to detect over time. It is what it is. High end audio is pretty much one big expensive hidden agenda. As long as people are respectful and factual, and not trying to take advantage of others, no problem.  Transparency is the key for longevity when interacting with others.

It’s an open forum.  You can do what you think right.  I’d just  be civil and sure of your facts.