Thirty Days in the Hole

I want to make this observation: with MC gone, temporarily or permanently, we as a group seem obsessed with MC’s absence. He’s probably enjoying that --as he would say: "rent free." It’s like a bad relationship or something.

The last time the issue came up, I said I didn’t care whether he was going to be banned or not; I’d just ignore the threads that get contentious. Without his presence, he is "still here" in our minds.

No reproach- just an observation.

Bill

@femoore12 - you posted:

"There are a lot of us here that are just getting started. We don’t have this common knowledge. That is why we come here. It’s tough to know the truth when the parents are fighting."

Ask questions. There are plenty of people here with experience and knowledge. The truth is that everyone is biased in some way, or has preferences or limits to their knowledge. Plus seat time. It makes a lot of sense when you hear the differences, but there are so many variables-- think about the infinite combination of systems and room acoustics-- that there is no "one way." Absorb as much as you can. Read. And if possible --harder to do in the era of Covid-- try and hang out with other audiophiles. I was a member of a club in NYC that was great fun. I can’t say I learned much at club meetings- it was more social than anything, but got to know a lot of people. Over the long haul, you figure out what you need to know. Nobody knows everything and I would be suspicious of anyone who proclaims that they do. There are no gurus in this field, but some very knowledgeable people whose knowledge isn’t exactly linear-- they have deep knowledge of some things and less knowledge of others. So, in some ways it is incumbent on you to learn, but the resources are there. (And ignore ad hype and treat reviews with a grain of salt- not because they are deliberately lying, but because they are part of the eco-system of audio sales). User experience conveyed on a board can be valuable, if you get enough different data points, but even then, you will see a divergence of opinion. Partly due to the variables and partly due to individual preference (aka "bias").

It can be a fun hobby and some people make a living at it. I support the people I believe in with my wallet. And, as you gain more experience and have the wherewithal to get to something that more closely approximates real music, those relationships can be invaluable.

I think Tubebuffer Eastern European guy thing is big joke. Ok, ha, ha. This funny, Steve Martin, wild and crazy guy when? 30+ years ago? Next.

Why we speak like bad English for Russians or Eastern European? (the tribe from which I descended). I know people from the former Soviet Union who speak and write English impeccably.

@oldhvymec - I get the impression you use this as an outlet for issues that have nothing to do with audio. That's ok to a degree, but the ostensible purpose of the forum is audio related matters. To the extent you think that living a physical labor life, with chickens, gives you more credibility, I know tons of Texans here who can do it all. It has nothing to do with audio. I get that you want to be the conscience of audiogon and arbitrate what is fair-- I've sort of half-heartedly supported MC when justified, but don't like the tumult. If you think stirring up crap is in the best interest of the forum, I think you are wrong. If you have contributions on audio-related topics, I'm interested in hearing them. But, and this goes beyond you, whatever the TOU's say--and I do think they need to be revisited, and not just from a legal standpoint, the answer to the original question in a parallel thread about the "morals" of the forum are not so much dependent on the literal rules, but the user/participant's good will in contributing something that advances knowledge.

Nothing against chickens- my wife learned how to handle one to return it to a neighbor, but that has little to do with the purpose of this forum. I'm not busting your balls, just giving you my perspective.