Believe our addictive hobby is primarily male dominated. The technical aspects seem to appeal more to men. Or is that in and of itself sexist. There are now a few knowledgeable and astute women reviewers. I am always intrigued by the comments off the few women who identify themselves by name on the Forum. One in particular is quite long winded. I'm sure this has nothing to do with her sex. Although he/she has a name which could be male or female. I always love it when my wife comes to look at the record sleeve of the vinyl playing and rely on her opinion of the fidelity. Not to mention desire and count on her approval of new purchases. But is she also addicted? I don't think so. Does that have anything to do with being a woman. I don't think so. Does she care about the fine nuances? She says not. I would love to hear from women and anyone on this. WAF? I care a lot what things look like. HAF?
’sexist’ implies an ’ism’. I don’t think that is the case here. It is simply a reality of the differences between the sexes in regards to general preferences, which does exist. Believe it of not ;-) , there are differences.
I’ve been a residential designer for many years, and there its little doubt the woman of the household is much more concerned with the ’decoration aspect’ of the home vs the man of the house (probably 85-95% more concerned). That is just the way it is. I have rarely discussed, in detail, those things with the husband, but the wife worries about those things first, even before we begin the broad floor planning aspects. And, there comes a time when the husband is satisfied with the overall direction, and leaves the rest to the wife. That is just the way it is folks. No ’ism’ involved.
The one area I do find the husband more concerned about is how/what their house will look like from the street. That should be no surprise, should it?
Are there times when these things flip, or are not as seperate in terms of preference and concern of detail? Yes, but it is much more rare.
Large speakers, or an equipment rack within a room, and exposed to become part of the decor, are just a part of that difference I’ve seen over many many years.
@bkeske...’sexist’ becomes a discussion issue over ’sexism’, as ’racist’ relates to ’racism’. Another ’buried in the culture’ item, and notable within nearly all human cultures...
AOC’s recent retort in the HofR to her encounter with a Congressmans’ epithet (...in front of the press? Very Stupid, and crass @ best...) is a glaring example.
These issues are so ingrained that weeding them out will take a few generations of intelligent adults raising ’woke’ children. And even then, who those children find themselves around can ruin the best upbringing one can apply.
Related subject: The Confederate Flag
The South Lost. But old habits and inclinations live on....
We could discuss these issues here, but I don’t think this is the venue to do so. But consideration of the above should and could be something one could think about when playing ones’ more ’thoughtful’ music....imho.
BTW....My SO is a feminist. Was one when I met her some 40+ years ago. I prefer that sort of company on a long-term relationship....and pretty much All of them.
I consider myself “woke” although I am not sure what all that entails. If it suggests being considerate and kind, that is me. I rely on my female partner for her perspective and sensitivity. Not exclusively Female traits, her point of view is different and more “yin” to my “yang”.
HI Michelle, I think "woke" is religious in origin. In about every religion is "Do unto others... ". There is no need to disparage a noble concept. What goes around comes around indeed!
I don't believe that WAF is sexist because it narrowly defines it to being one person - your wife. Using WAF means that one is cares about their wife's concerns, definitely not the same as anti-wife or putting her down in some way. Another way WAF is used is to place a line/limit on ourselves to prevent spousal repercussions - self preservation is a powerful motivator.
One of my audio buddies was preparing his house for listing with a real estate agent, who asked that he remove the giant speakers, but he refused, and the agent had the staging company deliver some very large plants to place in front of them for showings!
Yes it is sexist, if only because "wife" implies marriage and marriage is and always has been a sexist institution, even in its new more inclusive forms. Now if the question were: "Is Domestic Partner Acceptability Factor sexist?", the answer would be "no". That's because all it just voices the fair demand to make sure you respect -- indeed actively care about -- your partner's preferences for how your shared space should be occupied and arranged; that, of course, should be mutual, and exercised with generosity on all sides.
That said, it is too bad that the "best" sound is to be had in big spaces (unsurprisingly, given the normal contexts of live music), because very few are fortunate enough to have a big space to call their own. Being a passionate hobbyist is about minimizing compromise, and sharing a space absolutely demands it.
If singingtheblues were suddenly struck deaf, I imagine he would find that he now sorely missed his wife's so called "whining". mm4, that was a good one! 👍
So, I became attracted to my wife for several reasons. Of course physical attraction was important but other factors contributed.
One of them is that I was amazed at the different point of view she had compared to mine. She looks at things differently, see’s beauty in things that I would have ignored and is much more emotional.
My stereo system? She has absolutely no interest in it. She also has ZERO interest in visiting Audio stores / shows. Actually, I have met only a few woman that do! I do see a few women at some shows but they look like they would rather be somewhere else. I wonder why?
Is there a difference in male /female? Of course! Enjoy it!
You guys are all missing the point. Testpilot has burst my bubble. Bigfoot doesn’t exist? I had a docuseries with discovery channel to search for Bigfoot all set up, and now it’s gone. Someone had to be pretty bored to start this thread lol
SAF, in the general sense of the use of it, has (imho...and observations....) has tended to refer to 'what the spouse will allow with the (existing furnishings style) in ones' shared habitat. It tends to carry a negative connation, as to 'what will be acceptable, acoustics be damned'.
Ones' personal circumstances can and do vary as widely as...well, ones' situations and the choices made within it. As for the acronym, we've moved into a era where 'W' has become, dare I say....obsolete.
The majority of relationships are not the typical nuclear family anymore. WAF....is now a minority situation...
*L* The confilicts remain...but the 'players' have Changed. ;)
As for 'woke'.....I've regarded 'it' as the 'light bulb in ones' consciousness' has stuttered into brilliance....however vague and dim.
I built my audio system in the basement. Thus I am able to deal with it anyway I want. I understand that my wife likes her things and I like mine.
To me, the break up of the nuclear family is the cause of much of the problems that exist today. It is not empowering to try to raise children in a single parent home, it is very hard and sad.
IMHO if the WAF is a thing for a guy it is okay he mentions it so he can complain or seek advice.
If someone takes offense to his use of the term, well, option 1 is he can ignore the protest like I would, or option 2 he can allow himself to be shamed and apologize and squirm his way to a more acceptable term approved by the offended party... like PAF.
Sorry LOL this isn't what most of you come here to hear, but WAF is certainly sexist. It assumes roles based on antiquated breadwinner/homemaker mentality. No point in denying, it might be less futile to simply acknowledge your inherent isms and grow old without fighting. Is it offensive? Not to me. It's so low on the misogyny totem pole to really get in the way, more of a micro-aggression if anything. Whether or not it bothers you or actual wives themselves is something else. My wife is as hardcore as they come and she laughs at WAF (not with), but she has also run major music venues and dealt with the "boy's club" music industry for 30+ years. There are bigger problems, as long as you're not teaching your children to think like Cro Magnons.
You may get your wish mate, Trump just announced the possible banning of Tik Tok (not that I use that, but I have a 10 year old). Reminds me of when I went to play in Shanghai and realized Facebook was banned.
My wife is an artist and has a better hearing than me. We have three systems set up at home, the theater system which we use for audio/video sources, a stereo system in her garden room with her beloved Sooloos music server, and modest system in my home office. WAF is clearly dated (it goes back decades) and most high-end equipment is designed with form as well as function in mind so WAF is largely irrelevant in the 21st century.
The term WAF has been around forever or at least since All in the Family has been on tv. Only in this current woke world of pc, 56 genders and General confusion of everyday existence are we questioning now is WAF a sexist term.
But since I mention All in the Family, could you imagine if Archie was an audiophile and had to deal with WAF issues in his living room? What kind of gear would he own?
I'm picturing Archie with a pair of Maggies, that’s why he’s so insistent of being in his own chair. Sorry to hijack the thread, but the idea of Archie as an audiophile seems far more interesting and fun to discuss than if the term WAF is a sexist term. I’m woke enough, thanks!
Everything is sexist. Breathing is sexist. A girlfriend woke me up in the middle of the night saying I was breathing "funny" like a man. I guess she woke me. Does that make me a woke man? Does that make her a sexist? Can I say man? I am a woke masculine.
Realistically, I’d prefer being sexy or her, sorry feminine, to be sexy.
My Christian name is Guy. Well that’s a sexist name. Am I supposed to change my name now?
George Orwell newspeak?
When I was a young lad I could never understand why someone would want to be a hermit or a recluse?
Chances are, only one of you in the household is an audiophile and cares one whit about how your music sounds. Chances are the other person does care about how your home looks. And heck. Maybe you do too?
I live in a 100 year old Craftsman bungalow and run a pair of Linkwitz Orion loudspeakers. As this is a hi-end DIY system, and I’m not the world’s best cabinet maker, I hired a local pro to make mine up in a Mission style, to go with the house, instead of the more Danish Modern look of the original. The difference in sound is minimal. Few audiophile visitors leave without envy. And the system looks great.
There really is no need to have to live with $30,000 monkey coffins.
I live in a 100 year old Craftsman bungalow and run a pair of Linkwitz Orion loudspeakers. As this is a hi-end DIY system, and I’m not the world’s best cabinet maker, I hired a local pro to make mine up in a Mission style, to go with the house, instead of the more Danish Modern look of the original. The difference in sound is minimal. Few audiophile visitors leave without envy.And the system looks great.
Bravo, nicely done sir. As a residential/architectural designer, you have done a wonderful job incorporating not only the speakers, but also the ‘rack’ into the style of your home. Looks great, well done.
At least you read...But reading secondary philosophers is of no help...
My understanding of Political Economy is like my understanding of Audio , unorthodox, and not in Gramsci nor in Milton Friedman....
Read Goethe second Faust....It will be a beginning in economy... Goethe was many thing, except stupid.... Read his modern economic commentator: Hans Christoph Binswanger, "According to Binswanger, Goethe forecast the potential of the modern economy to create value ex nihilo."
In economy like in audio, we must for the sake of reality create adequate ideas, if not, we are corpses agitating in the river waves going to no sea.... The idea of money need some renewing brain effort nowadays....And some other concept in economy....And it is not in Gramsci nor in Ayn Rand...
This forum is not the place for this debate about politics tough... Sorry....
A WAF can decide whether you should have this system or not. Whether WAF is a sexist concept plays so little in the scheme of things, more important consideration is whether the Audio items or items are WAF friendly...
Anytime I've explained the WAF pertaining to HIFI, to non-audio people, the women usually seem to get the bigger laugh out of it. Sometime's when in the company of a few women, one tell's how much a designer purse cost, I say in (in fake astonishment), "You could get a nice set of speaker cables for that much"!!!! It is much worth the looks you receive back. HA 😄
@mahgister Try some Jorge Manrique: Nuestras vidas son los ríos que van a dar en la mar, que es el morir: allí van los señoríos, derechos a se acabar y consumir; allí los ríos caudales, allí los otros medianos y más chicos; y llegados, son iguales los que viven por sus manos y los ricos.
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