I agree this forum and others have been instrumental in helping me assemble my dream system. So, as one accumulates knowledge and experience forums less valuable for that, left to passing on that knowledge and experience. At some point one begins to repeat themselves with this, how many times can you say the same thing over and over. The only times this doesn't get stale for me is when I'm changing out equipment which gets continually rarer as my system has evolved into stasis.
Do people tire of audio forums?
Not sure how much interest this will generate since members who've left audio forums, or at least this forum aren't here to comment.
Anyway, I've been one to come and go from forums of all kinds over many years, this for any number of reasons. So recently I've been lurking again, checking in perhaps once a week, came across a recent post where a member stated he was leaving because he felt unappreciated. Got me to thinking how much this sentiment enters into people decisions to participate or not participate in this forum, or any other forum for that matter.
Based on my observations and experience, being unappreciated and/or underappreciated is inherent to the hobby/obsession. Unless one has very wide experience with equipment in their home system or systems they have only limited empirical evidence to offer. For instance I'm exclusively involved with SET, custom build and modification. only limited numbers of members have interest in this, so appreciation only goes so far.
Seems to me, a whole lot of people on these forums speak on things they've only heard from others, or have very limited experience with, suppose this makes them feel important. And then some are provocateurs, get their need to be appreciated fulfilled in this manner, guess arguing feels like appreciation for them. Based on my observations the need to feel appreciated is important for people both to continue to participate and in decisions to leave.
I've also been perusing some past posts where members are leaving and remarking about how audiogon was a more friendly place at some time in the past. I don't recall a time when that was true, there have always been bully's, provocateurs, self important people here. I believe this nostalgia comes from a time when this individual was still making many new audio discoveries. I suspect many of us settle down into satisfactory and/or dream systems and no longer have much interest in new discoveries. I for one don't see this forum ever changing much, members come and go, always newbies and oldies, same arguments and agreements go on and on.
For me, interest in talking about audio waxes and wanes, never get tired of listening to music over a fine system, just get tired of talking and thinking about everything that goes into creating and maintaining a system. Feeling like you're repeating yourself and seeing the same old posts gets stale for me, so I leave. If past repeats itself I'll likely find audio talk to be of interest at some point in the future.
Just interested if others have similar experiences or observations.
Showing 6 responses by sns
WBF, snooty or well informed with plenty of money to blow?
As for diy or custom build like me, diy forums are the worst as objectivists predominate, all about measurements. Audiophilestyle forum an exception, built my streaming setup based on info gained there.
In my estimation, Audiogon best audio forum, widest range of interests and information available on interwebs. |
@charles1dad Charles, you are one of the most positive voices I've encountered in any forum. Go Blue! @hilde45 I've been gleaning info from your Rel sub posts, very helpful for setting up the pair of Rel subs I purchased, must be selling big time as I'm waiting on backorder for both. |
@knotscott Spot on! Between individual preference and plethora of available equipment, topologies, rooms, etc. every situation unique, makes it more difficult to find commonaliity. I recently decided against selling my 1970 MGBGT when out of this world great deal on rebuilt engine came my way, MG and classic English car forums in general are probably the most genial forums I've been involved in. I also have an Alfa, Ducati and Mustang GT, Alfa and Ducati forums a bit more variable, Mustang forums full of complete idiots, reflective of no end of crash videos of this car!
So, the real reason I left the audio forums is that I suffered a shoulder dislocation and torn rotator cuff Feb 3rd, don't ask! Anyway, most painful orthopedic injury ever experienced! No desire to even listen to my system for months, out of sight, out of mind. So then I get back to listening, but desire to engage with forums didn't return, this is when I began to question my need to engage. I now see it as having been something of an addiction, not a day could pass without checking in on forums. Now that I'm more aware of this don't want return to that. I see that some of my contributions weren't worth the effort, sort of like meaningless small talk. Going forward try to limit posting to more important contributions. I also expect to have less interaction as the rate of change in my system continues to decay. Does rate of change in our systems correlate to level of engagement with audio forums? |
@ticat In many cases this may be best route, why add pithy post, may help to decrease the fatigue.
For popcorn and hot dog lovers, I used to enjoy the show, even engaged a few times. If its a new topic this can still provide entertainment, but another objective vs subjective or snake oil battle, NOT! |
Many great comments here. I agree this forum is a reflection of the larger community or world we live in, forums by their nature a more impersonal community. I don't know how many others feel this way, but whenever I get nostalgic about the good gone days of audio I think back to when I was first discovering audio, going to the dozens of high end audio stores here in southeastern michigan. The shows I attended, local shows as well in those days. I just loved the in person engagement with audiophiles much more knowledgeable than I, sort of like some exclusive club I wanted to get into. And yeah, that does reflect my high school need to be in a club or gang of cool people (and I did have that). I also had inherent or already converted audio buddies and other new converts, we all desired to own the best of the best.
On top of the need for socialization, I also had an inherent desire to learn about all aspects of audio, how components and parts work, and I loved to look at and touch these beautiful works of art.
So, there was all that. But then we mature, other things draw our attention, audio just another interest amongst many. While I maintained my interest in audio over all these years, equipment came and went, knowledge gained, the audio magic club morphed into being just another interest.
Perhaps some of us have short attention spans, highest interest when engaging in something new, interest gradually wanes as time goes on. I suppose these forums are the magic clubs of today for the newbies, and they still have shows and a few dealers to engage with. Sort of feel sorry for the newbies today, forums pale imitation of in person engagement, so few dealers and only national shows.
I'd say the one thing that sustains me is listening to great performances and music over a really fine, highly resolving system. The performers in room experience is one thing I never tire of! |