About users with hidden agendas

Attacking other users is contrary to the forum guidelines and that would become a matter for the moderators.to address.

Should you feel strongly about the situation (clearly you do) I think that it would be preferable to quietly report the poster about which you have knowledge rather than to publicly name and shame.

• You will not post content that is abusive or defames another member of The Service.

@mapman Why should anyone assume a shill does not receive compensation?

This is the only sensible assumption on any site that features a discussion about the merits or otherwise of products or services.

I prefer the word presumption on a site that also has contributors in the trade. It is true unless specified otherwise.

Anything less is naive. I mean, look - "just buy it and try it, you can always return it". is pretty obvious, innit?

That disclosure requirements are not specifically addressed in the guidelines is probably quite deliberate, because that may promote dishonesty ("rules are made to be broken" cliche) or people would find loopholes (and a reason I didn’t mention this aspect in my earlier post near the start - there is no obligation to disclose, ethics is not about the word "should"- that is a moral judgement, something that is quite fluid.)

@ted_denney While users posting with hidden agendas are clear to see, they’re the ones posting behind assumed names attacking any post, topic, or comment making a subjective observation absent measurements.

As one who has respect for science and all manner of measurements, I am surprised and dismayed at this revelation.  To be objective means to me to be dispassionate about the preferences of others and to respect the right to speak freely.

Not having had the opportunity to have read anywhere all of the numerous deleted threads I query whether there was perhaps some other matter of substance which caught the attention of those wishing to burn the threads.

I am sad that Audiogon mods/admin chose to burn the threads rather than simply close the discussion because there were some really super and educational posts/tangents..  Now gone.  The lowest common denominator rules.

@cleeds "I may weigh in with an opinion"........

"They pretend to know how things sound without ever actually listening to them, will insist that they know what you can or cannot hear in your own room, and cling to their beliefs with a fundamentalist’s religious fanaticism."

No, that is not an opinion, that is a statement purporting to be a fact. I think that its abundantly clear that it is information of a misleading nature. (how's that for a euphemism?)

@ted_denney It’s a good thing I took screenshots. Lots of screenshots.

Taking screen shots may be sufficient, but a method I find useful recently with threads becoming even more ephemeral than the 24 hour news cycle is (on a computer) to right click and save as web page complete.

That saved page will not be updated.

Very cool.  If you save them under a purpose named directory it will make it easier for forensics geeks from NCIS to find them.

… hilarious lines from Abbot and Costello ….

Tony and Peter?

@holmz Two politicians walk into a bar.

Cringe.