Very good discourse in this thread!
I have laid back, as most of my views have been made clear in another interesting thread a couple of weeks ago.
Spencer you raise some very good points. I believe the answer for dealing with issues, in terms of shills lurking within us, is one having to prove themselves over time here.
Often, a person will come in all praise and bluster and he has never posted before. This has happened many times, the most easily remembered was the guy who began touting a modded $200 power amp, saying he had owned just about everything over the past 20 - 25 years, and this product was the best he has encountered. I jumped on him immediately, but he issued more posts where he stated his position, that he was not a shill, and that he apologized for offending anyone. However, within a few days, it turned out he was the distributor of the product, but somehow "forgot" to disclose that to all of us.
Yes, with our busy schedules these days, I can see how that happens all the time - "Yes, I own the speaker company, but somehow I forgot to mention it in all of the excitement..."
Again, for me, the thing is long term performance here. I think that like most things in life, you can only get to know a person over the long term. How they conduct themselves always is the final word in truth. It is pretty easy to see if someone is honest. Objectivity is not the most important thing, as this is a subjective field. But, fairness should be the rule.
As we have met in person, I think we both have confidence that each of us is passionate and true to the hobby. That is basically all I look for in a person, be they member, salesperson, distributor, or manufacturer. All are welcome and add to the diversity and experience of this site, in my opinion.
I have laid back, as most of my views have been made clear in another interesting thread a couple of weeks ago.
Spencer you raise some very good points. I believe the answer for dealing with issues, in terms of shills lurking within us, is one having to prove themselves over time here.
Often, a person will come in all praise and bluster and he has never posted before. This has happened many times, the most easily remembered was the guy who began touting a modded $200 power amp, saying he had owned just about everything over the past 20 - 25 years, and this product was the best he has encountered. I jumped on him immediately, but he issued more posts where he stated his position, that he was not a shill, and that he apologized for offending anyone. However, within a few days, it turned out he was the distributor of the product, but somehow "forgot" to disclose that to all of us.
Yes, with our busy schedules these days, I can see how that happens all the time - "Yes, I own the speaker company, but somehow I forgot to mention it in all of the excitement..."
Again, for me, the thing is long term performance here. I think that like most things in life, you can only get to know a person over the long term. How they conduct themselves always is the final word in truth. It is pretty easy to see if someone is honest. Objectivity is not the most important thing, as this is a subjective field. But, fairness should be the rule.
As we have met in person, I think we both have confidence that each of us is passionate and true to the hobby. That is basically all I look for in a person, be they member, salesperson, distributor, or manufacturer. All are welcome and add to the diversity and experience of this site, in my opinion.