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RE: 'High-End Systems Around the Globe' - What happened to that site?

Posted by waj4all on February 24, 2011 at 18:20:16:
Gag Halfrunt,

I do appreciate the slight adjustment in your tone. Nevertheless, I see you've opted to sneek in a couple of low blows. I would have prefered if this discourse could have continued in a cordial manner. But then, why bother? You're clearly boxing above your weight-division. This is not to imply more intelligence on my part (our audience may be the judge of that) but that you clearly have no feasable argument, and that you are desperately grabbing at straws, nit-picking, and disputing semantics. I've beaten your previous comments into the ground, so now you've left those to come with others. You are certainly a piece of ...work - no kidding!

And now, you accuse me of "...suggesting that magazines simultaneously wielded both absolute power and no power at all over the life and death of formats. This is extremely inconsistent" That's an outright lie - shame on you. Go back and read the article. The premise on that issue is that mainstream audio-mags (in their practices) are a major PART of the problem, and that they have CONTRIBUTED to the demise (or near demise) of several components. Sure there are segments where I'd jokingly suggested that they're 'guilty accomplices" in the 'murder' of R2R, for instance, but this is all under the umbrella of the main premise, as all but a fool would understand. Could you really be as dishonest as your tactics suggest?

Speaking of R2R; here's a classic indication of your desperation in nit-picking and grabbing at straws: Your claim that one writer (or even ten) defended r2r is of little relevance when you yourself would have to admit (if you were honest) that the vast majority of the press advocated cassette-decks as a viable and desirable alternative to the vastly superior R2R - effectively CONTRIBUTING to the damnation of that format. So why bother to mention ONE writer that defended it? You're wasting my time, and yours.

A similar situation pertains today where a precious few writers defend the allegedly more accurate and realistic attributes of moving-magnet cartridges, and use them personally, whenever they get the chance. (Robert E. Green, Robert Reina, and Anthony Cordsman are among them, I believe). But, similarly, there's no denying that the major thrust is in favor of the allegedly flawed (with a rising top-end) movng-coils as the vast majority in the press advocate its use. Regardless of where I stand on this matter, don't you realize that the already critically wounded m-m is destined to suffer a similar fate to that of r2r? And don't you think the press' behaviour will have been - not the only one - but, certainly, a contributary factor? [BTW, consider the consequencies for potenttial newcomers to our hobby when the less costly alternative is obliterated].

Surprizingly, amidst your nonsensical ramblings, you did mention a salient point, with which I'm in agreement; the 'fatalistic tendencies' of the masses displayed in their propensity to opt for inferior formats, thereby CONTRIBUTING to the demise of better options in the market-place. This is another side of the same coin, and the subject of another article I've been contemplating. You see, sir, unlike you. I'm not blinded by biases. I state the facts, as I see them, and let the chips fall where they may. Another piece I'm contemplating is one on the manufacturers' role in this scenario - as another CONTRIBUTORY factor. Perhaps you'll now begin to see that I'm not perpetrating any unwarranted attack on the mainstream press, I'm just calling it as I see it. And this is bourne-out by the fact of my depiction of them as "AMONG those with their hands on the dagger", implying that there are other CONTRIBUTORS which we've now identified, albeit, prematurely so far as my own timetable is concerned.

Nevertheless, I reiterate; you're wasting my time, and yours. You are, obviously, the one who's confused. By some of your own statements you clearly agree with my main criticisms of the press. So where is the real basis of your argument with me? I'll leave you with a few quotes from the article you're trying to attack. And then I'll follow those with one of yours, just to illustrate how big a fool you're exposing yourself to be, by persevering with your ridiculous tirade. Here's the first quote; "Other instances of similar criticism do crop-up in diverse places, from time to time, albeit much too infrequently. Regarding my own opinion, I’ll have to admit that I do agree with the above sentiments, to a large extent. But at the same time, paradoxically, I cannot disregard the value of these magazines in highlighting available equipment. With regard to the reports on the performance of these equipment, though, one is best armed with an ability to ‘pick sense from nonsense’, so-to-speak." Here's another; "We all need a lot of the info these mags can provide, and it’s about time they ceased their nefarious practices." And another, "Perhaps ‘unscrupulous’ may be too strong a word to apply in general terms. Sure it may apply to many, but I also do admire quite a few of these writers even as I recognize that their hands are tied, and that they cannot consistently displease their advertisers and hope to keep their jobs." Still another, "The lowly cassette-player was, effectively, the dagger in the jugular of the open-reel machine, and the press was AMONG THOSE with their hands firmly on the handle of that dagger."

And now, here's a quote from you, "THEY ARE A SHADOW OF THEIR FORMER SELVES AND HAVE GROWN TIRED AND TIRESOME, DREARY AND DECADENT." Those are your words, even more extreme than any of mine, in criticizing the mainstream audio-press. Obviously, we are basically in agreement. So, again I ask; WHERE IS THE BASIS OF YOUR ARGUMENT? Don't continue to be ridiculous. Your own words are beginning to fit you, to a tee, as you've become dreary and tired, and especially decadent and TIRESOME. If you're so anxious to find things to criticize then click on my URL below, you'll find several highly-controversial articles there to attack me on (try 'From HiFi to High-End'). In fact, I may even start a thread on one of them, feel free to jump in - you are the one who inspired the idea, after all. I'll happily accommodate you on another topic, but I'm done with this one, it's becoming tedious. This was once interesting, nevertheless, I thank you for your offensive (not for the offensive behaviour). Do try to be more civil, next time, and I'll respond in kind.

Oh, regarding your baser personal-attacks in your parting comments; I'll not dignify them with a response, except to wonder at your audacity in suggesting 'arrogance' when you're the one who's consistently insisted upon reducing this discussion to the level you so obviously prefer.

Do have a nice day! WAJ.