Ridiculous assertions that someone is being ripped off or conned

The fact that people are going to be rude, obnoxious and arrogant doesn’t excuse or justify their behavior.

“It’s absurd to act like high end audio is some kind of utopia immune to the world’s sins and that what people say about things they buy or perhaps even are given by others to promote (who knows?) are undeniable facts.”

Accusations about people being schills are thrown around willy nilly, but no one ever provides any actual evidence of it. Truth is, most of the time, we really have no way of knowing if someone is being honest or not in a forum post.

Given that, for the sake of communication and dialog, I’m willing to assume you are being honest when you report something, unless I have real evidence otherwise. That doesn’t mean I’m going to make any decisions based solely on what you say. I also wouldn’t expect anyone else to make decisions based solely on what I say. I expect others to investigate, and try, or decide not to try, things for themselves.

“I always tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt initially except for obvious scams. Then let things play out over time and see what happens. The best one can shoot for is to make educated decisions based on facts and yes perhaps even opinions, if there is a common pattern to the opinion and enough facts to back it up.”

I agree, and take a similar approach.

What ticks me off is when someone, disagreeing with what someone else reports, effectively says “You disagree with me, therefore what you’re saying can’t be true. You’re either being deceived, or you are lying.” That is true arrogance.

"I can't help it, but if someone if extolling the virtues of a component like a DAC or media server, I am completely on board with that discussion. However, if someone is putting what looks like a stone cow pie with a cheap label on their equipment and exclaiming it's virtues, I am just more skeptical. To me, it just screams "scam". No different than the Clever Little Clock. Without any technical data or supporting scientific basis for what the product is supposed to do, it's just another way for someone to finance their retirement."

That's your opinion. Do you have any tolerance or respect for differing ones? Or, like some, do you think it's the only acceptable one, that all others are offensive and must be suppressed/censored/eliminated by constant ridicule, derision, false arguments, accusations and whatever other means are necessary?

As a side note to all who have taken potshots at the appearance of the QSA stones, I won't argue with you there. I can see why millercarbon says they look like little cowpies😉 I still greatly appreciate what they bring sonically, though.

"Tommylion, do yourself a favor and save up your money for a good set of speakers. You’ll get a lot more bang for yur money."

I have a good set of speakers, thank you very much. In fact they are some of the best I have heard, and have received many very positive reviews over the years. Why do you arrogantly assume that I don’t?

I have said which speakers I have in previous posts, if you care to investigate. I am purposefully not saying here, so this doesn’t turn into a discussion about speakers.

 

There are those here that, without ever trying them, somehow know for absolute certain that particular products are “scams” or “ripoffs”, that there is no possible way that they can have any effect on the sound of anyone's system. That is their opinion, and they are entitled to hold and express it.

 

However, their actions and behavior go way beyond expressing their own opinion. They are completely intolerant of any differing opinion. Any positive mention of said products offends them so much that they have to suppress it. They do this by incessantly making posts that are mocking, insulting, degrading and provocative to anyone who dares to disagree with them. They become self-appointed censors, and make it clear that if you post positively about certain things, they will make you pay. Many others, who wish to to share their experiences and opinions in a respectful, civilized environment, without vicious personal attacks, decide not to. The censors win, and the forum is degraded.

Of course everyone has an opinion, and they should be, and are, allowed to express it on an open forum (within the boundaries of the rules set by the forum owner). What some (purposefully?) fail to acknowledge is that at some point "expressing your opinion" crosses over into intolerance and bullying of those with differing opinions. We could argue about where that point is, but most of us know it when we see it. The question is, should we tolerate/ignore/not speak up about that kind of behavior? If we do nothing, there are real consequences for the forum community we enjoy and benefit from.

"Canuck audio tames it by having a cable and tweak area for threads. Where any counter to the idea that such things are functional (in attempt or in analysis), is not tolerated.

Meaning.. threads where people discuss tweaks, or mods or cables and so on, if a naysayer posts there, and interrupts the discussion, in any way, they get their posts deleted. And...if the given naysayer can’t hold their tongue, after said deletion-ish warnings..... they will, rapidly, via any repeats in behavior, find themselves banned from the forum. They have to grow up, or get lost."

 

I really like this idea! Maybe I'll start a thread about doing something like this on audiogon forums.

"Or just post this stuff over there."

The thing is, I am invested in this forum. I am familiar with the characters, and greatly appreciate the contribution of many members, even some that I disagree with😉