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.
What make me tire of forums is when a forum owner, or so called 'gort begins to believe that they need to intercede into everything and act in a superior manner. This happened on WBF and on Steve Hoffman. I cannot say I miss either of these forums...as the blowhards are still there. Another thing that makes me move on, is a forum with a philosophy that dictates what one can believe in and post...Again, a miss for me! |
It’s a hobby, not a commitment. People come and go as they please. Most on this forum are knowledgeable and helpful, but yes there are some who seem to be touchy, argumentative, narrow minded (their truth is universal), and directly angered at specific members. Often, some resent the expensive/unaffordable components, sometimes this resentment seems directed at the purchaser. But recently things have gotten better. In the past, it seemed that Millercarbon was a focal point for a lot of resentment, I noticed many snide remarks adding to the fuel. In his absence, things seem to have greatly calmed down. Audio forums are a key source of finding products, fixing problems, helping and receiving help. |
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Since retirement, I have some extra time and have therefore been on here more than previously. I do find it very helpful in amassing background information about products, brands, processes and trends. What I dislike is how some members use the site to pontificate, or worse, denigrate anyone that lacks their knowledge or bank account. That being said, I do enjoy the majority of comments, the diversity of topics that OP's bring up and getting to know the individual personalities of some of the members.
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I believe that it was easier to have discussions here back in the beginning.Too often now they turn into arguments between the same few members. The same questions over and over do get tedious also.If new members would take some time to read some of the older threads many questions would be answered for them. I take time off,sometimes years.I'm a mod on another forum (unrelated to audio) and I get tired of that one too.But I continue to learn things here and occasionally help someone so I stick around. |
One of my mentors coming up in my career at a technical company was one of the first fifty people at NASA. Something like 8 basic rocket propulsion patents to his name..including a big one… arguably made Saturn possible…. In his early eighties enrolled in Electrical Engineering…. rode the bus to UW… mixed it up with the kids…. had homework… = lifelong learner… Be that guy… RIP Tony…. |
@erik_squires i believe Java was your other one true love…. ha. Sightglass as my feeble mind would have it, … no ? |
@sns + 1 to the n where n is a reasonable but not ego inflammation inducing value… you display exactly the kind of introspection and emotional intelligence that i value in the best contributors here … audiophile know thyself is a mantra i try to live by… Remember, even the great Nelson Pass moved on from statis… ha. There are a lot of what i call low sample size audiophiles that post about gear, rooms, they have never heard… an aggressive noise filter helps…. finally energize yourself with new learning… even the change agent needs a change agent…. Best to you Jim |
@sns What keeps me engaged or not has a lot to do with who is in conversation. There are some members I reliably learn from -- including yourself. Sometimes a poster has actual experience with something -- that's helpful but of course it's an "n of one." (Their ears, room, etc.) Other posters have been enormously helpful in explaining things to me and, in one memorable case, troubleshooting some reversed polarity outlets. Other posters have enormous range of experience with, say, a DAC or amps or acoustics. They speak to the aesthetics or the workings of those things. Some are just time-wasters or puffed shirts. Some write way too much for anyone to read. They're pretty obvious and either get pushback or quietly ignored. The last type of poster is someone capable about speaking to the meanings involved -- the interface between sound and music, the different approaches that one might take to a system. Non-dogmatic, these posters open up the meanings involved -- by clarifying, expanding, relating, questioning. |
Agree with cdc, +1 @sns. When really getting into 2-channel I would search the various audio forums, but always felt Audiogon forums was a great data point that seemed more valuable than others, which encouraged me to join. To your point OP, I’m currently in my early 40’s and have only been in this hobby for the past 15 years; I'm still learning, experimenting, and attempting to find synergy. My experience is limited given the average age (61) of this forum and subsequently the experience that comes with it, which to me is of value. Unsure if the forum voice has changed over the years, but if so, maybe it’s because we’re all becoming older. If true, I’m okay with this since grumpy old men were always entertaining to have conversations with :) |
@sns I am in full agreement with your observations. One of my biggest annoyance is statements like "I read/heard about component x and I highly recommend it".🙄 |
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. |
+1 @sns You have to work for those +1’s. Here is (maybe) your first :) |
Came back to forums after a year or so break. Not sure how this impacts the forum but in talking with people it seems like used gear sales are down. I think we came off a few years or scarcity and companies are up and producing again. Dealers are selling at lower prices to stay afloat. Also think the buyer/seller clientele has changed over the past 10 years. Not as fun, more tire kickers perhaps. Maybe this plays a role in the passion of those in the forums compared to years past? The advice in forums must be taken with a grain of salt because many jump on bandwagons or even create them. Several members are good at puffing up their recent buys or dealers, likely getting a cut of the pie. The internet is a wild place. Enjoy the forums mostly. Facebook must have taken a cut of forum time for many too. |
I still mostly enjoy the forums, and often find them informative. I do find them more combative these days. Lots of good information, but also lots of incorrect factual information. Various opinions are interesting. Certainly some topics have new, endless threads, identical to older ones, for many debates... |
