87.185.99.123
In Reply to: RE: Are They "Non-Believers?" Or Are They Bullies?? posted by Todd Krieger on June 24, 2009 at 10:02:12
> The problem isn't belief or non-belief.....
Almost all the problems audiophiles have in dealing with nonaudiophiles derives from their belief that expensive audiophile hardware possesses magical properties.
> The problem is instigating flames, accompanied by a zero-tolerance
> policy.
It isn't possible to instigate flames in the cable forum because the posts are removed that oppose the interests of the moderators.
> For if you notice, the so-called "non-believers" almost **never**
> exchange ideas that are totally removed from denigrating the so-called
> "believers."
You need some context here because posts from nonbelievers are removed in the cable forum. AudioAsylum is clearly a site for audiophile believers and I would agree that the motives for posts from nonbelievers are often, although not always, unhealthy.
> If someone wants to believe the presence of UFOs improves turntable
> performance, who cares!!! (The worst anybody should do is respond with
> kind disagreement.)
This depends on people interests. If they benefit from turntable owners believing in UFOs then they will encourage the believers and seek to drive off the nonbelievers. The reverse is rare because it is very difficult to benefit from people not believing UFOs improve turntable performance. Note the disproportionate funding in favour of believers over nonbelievers in home audio.
> The real litmus test is the so-called "non-believers" stating a valid
> point in regard to **why** audiophile behavior ought be questioned.
> I've yet to see one stated, and I don't expect to see one stated. For
> bullying audiophiles, and that alone, is the sole motivation, in my
> humble opinion.
Audiophiles are purchasing expensive poorly performing equipment because they believe it possesses magical properties. They are encouraged in this belief by other believers and those that benefit from these beliefs. If one can see this then an easy option is to use this knowledge directly for personal benefit by teaching, taking the p*ss, challenging the suppliers, or whatever gets the juices going. It takes a bit more tolerance to recognise that there is both good and bad in the situation particularly as audiophiles are generally fairly unattractive as individuals because of what it takes to pick up and hold audiophile beliefs.
Bullying may often have a role but not always. Is Tom bullying in the branch above in his interaction with bjh?
> But I do find such activity troubling because it does create a false
> and damaging perception of high-end audio from the mainstream.
In my experience, audiophiles have little idea how they (and the objects they desire) are viewed by the "audio literate" mainstream or even simply those with a bit of common sense like, I suspect, many of their wives. If you believe something and are closed minded in the way audiophiles have to be in order to maintain their beliefs then it is not so much a question of not seeing an alternative viewpoint as not understanding that an alternative viewpoint could exist.
> It has also enabled the marketing of products of questionable design,
> because audiophile feedback is no longer taken seriously.
Audiophile feedback into the mainstream outside the audiophile marketing sector does not exist now and has never existed since the sector first became of significance in the 70s. Again, the reason is those audiophile beliefs which are in conflict with the scientific beliefs held by the mainstream. The mainstream is only going to accept audiophile input on their scientific terms in the same way that audiophile believers only accept input on their terms.
Follow Ups:
Post a Followup:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ Go Green ]
[ Take5 ]