Jump to content
  • The Computer Audiophile
    The Computer Audiophile

    Audiophile Style State of the Union

    Over the years the Audiophile Style forum has been an invaluable resource to many audiophiles and music lovers alike. This is all due to the contributions from members of the community from around the world, who freely give their time to help others and enjoy this wonderful shared interest we call audiophilia. Whether one's interests are mainly music or gear or a split between the two, matters not. Audiophile Style is about increasing one's enjoyment of music, gear, and the community in general. Nobody needs more negativity in their lives or more judgement of their personal pursuits. The world is full of that nonsense. Audiophile Style is a place to leave all that behind, to forget about one's mentally or physically draining day, and to immerse oneself in that which has brought joy to so many for so long. 

     

    Recently the scales have tipped a bit too far toward snark, combativeness, imposition, and confrontation. All of this is killing the vibe and the culture of Audiophile Style, pushing it more toward the 4chan of audio rather than a place to learn, share, and have fun. When I don't want to read some threads because I know the usual suspects will be on their high horses, something needs to change. When members of the community can't even have an enjoyable conversation without being rudely interrupted by people with an opposing agenda, something needs to change.

     

    We've had a very limited set of forum rules since our inception in 2007. These rules just keep honest people honest. Others find ways to bend them as far as possible, seeking to impose their own view of how this site should be run and what topics the conversations should include. For the most part, more rules won't change behavior. There are folks on the extreme ends of the audio continuum who just can't live with those who disagree, and that's a problem. 

     

    I've always encouraged people to post whatever opinion they hold or facts they have about all audio topics. However, this has to be done either in its own thread or in a thread where the information is desired. Those on the extreme ends just can't live with this either. When given the opportunity to self-police, the extremists can't stop themselves from posting in topics where the vast majority of people have zero interest in what they have to say. It's the equivalent of walking into a classical music party uninvited and putting on a Rage Against The Machine playlist. Sure, it's fabulous music but the time and place are wrong.  

     

    The bottom line is this, Audiophile Style is about increasing one's enjoyment of this wonderful hobby. I look forward to the 99% of members of this community working toward this goal and having a good time. 

     

     

    What's Changing?

     

    There is a new sub-forum called Objective-Fi. This is the place for objective audio discussions. It will be free from subjectivist appeals to authority, anecdotes, and unscientific experience threads and comments. This will free-up the objective-minded members of this community from going in circles trying to explain why something just can't be, for the 100th time. 

     

    This new sub-forum doesn't mean that the rest of the forum is entirely subjective only. Because audio is an inherently subjective pursuit, it makes no sense to create a subjective-Fi sub-forum equivalent to the Objective-Fi sub-forum either. The reality is that life isn't black & white. The other forum areas will continue on as they've been for years. If there is an objective challenge to one's subjective experience, the comment(s) will be moved to the Objective-Fi sub-forum for the discussion to continue unabated. 

     

    In essence the rules haven't changed, but now there is a place for discussions to be had where people on both sides of an issue can examine it and discuss it without turning everyone off and ruining peoples' days. 

     

    Please remember, the problem isn't what's said, it's the place in which it's said. 


    Thanks to everyone who has provided feedback in an effort to bring the enjoyment and fun back into our pursuit of HiFi and great music. Audiophile Style wouldn't exist without the wonderful members of this community

     


    - Chris
     




    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    2 minutes ago, PeterG said:

    Hi Chris,

     

    I applaud this (long overdue) effort to get rid of some of the incivility on AS.  I'm also a subjectivist with little need to read the 100th iteration of the same objectivist statement.

     

    But I'm a bit concerned this is the wrong solution.  Two thoughts:

     

    First, too much of the internet allows people to easily filter out those with whom we disagree.  In politics, this manifests itself as too many Democrats watching only MSNBC, and too many Republicans watching only Fox.  Collectively, we lose a common set of facts and ideas.  So I hope that does not happen here.

     

    Second, you seem to suggest a much more obvious solution in your post when you refer to the usual suspects causing you to steer clear of certain threads.  I have the same problem.  The real answer is to get rid of the usual suspects so that the rest of us can enjoy your (our?) awesome website in aesthetic, intellectual, collegial peace.

     

    Thanks again for all your great work

    My guess is that they depart voluntarily when they realize that nobody is paying attention any more. The time to cull them out easily has long since past. It would have easier earlier on. And if you think this is bad now, (MSNBC vs Fox type behavior) just wait until this summer.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Limiting individual posts to three a day could help. Those three post would have to be good ones, so quality of content might improve. Repetitiveness would lessen because posting for sport would stop. Both are pretty rampant on the site. 

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 minute ago, Ralf11 said:

     

    of course you have censored things

     

    what is wrong with you?

     

    Because your thread designed to cause problems was removed, you're upset. I get it. I don't call that censorship. You yelled fire in a crowded theater. 

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    if you didn't understand the post you could have asked questions

     

    if you dislike PART of the Op in that thread you could have asked me to modify it

     

    you did neither

     

    but that isn't the point...

     

    you are censoring technical discussion with your new Stylist rules

     

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    6 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    Real censorship is you guys continuing to drive people away until there's nobody left. Nobody talking about HiFi because of your crusade. 

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^+++++++++++++++++++++++++++10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    18 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    You yelled fire in a crowded theater. ....

    Do we really need to get into the discussion about what is or isn't censorship? I split topics so people can enjoy themselves and you're claiming censorship. 

     

    I love this example in response to those that cry censorship. It is okay to yell fire in a theater but it's not okay to lie about it. If no real fire exists arguing about this or that might sometimes be mistaken as the metaphorical fire itself. 

     

     

     

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, Ralf11 said:

    Splitting posts made on a thread so that they no longer exist on that thread is clearly censorship

     

    I hope you realize that

    No. 
     

    If people are enjoying themselves you don’t need to barge in and tell them they are delusional. If this happens, I move the post so you can explain why and we don’t have a fight. 

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 minutes ago, mansr said:

    And when the reverse happens? Oh, don't bother answering. I know you'll continue to let that slide like you always have.

    Don’t pretend to know what goes on behind the scenes. 

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    Don’t pretend to know what goes on behind the scenes. 

    Did you misdirect that reply? I was not the one alleging that people are conspiring via PMs on another forum.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

    Splitting posts made on a thread so that they no longer exist on that thread is clearly censorship

     

    I hope you realize that

    I disagree. Moving a post to what is deemed to be a more appropriate category is an organizational act, not suppression (censorship).

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    9 minutes ago, Jim Sylva said:

    I disagree. Moving a post to what is deemed to be a more appropriate category is an organizational act, not suppression (censorship).

     

    Exactly.  And if you suggest otherwise, your post will be deleted.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    54 minutes ago, wgscott said:

     

    Exactly.  And if you suggest otherwise, your post will be deleted.

    😀

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    12 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    Hi JD, the same way it always has. Perhaps I don't follow your question?


    Hi Chris, I will send you a PM in the near future about what I meant on this. You have your hands full now.

    Meanwhile, keep up the good work on a great forum 
     

    Thanks,

     

    JD

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    12 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    You are free to post contrary information in a thread of your own choosing in the Objective-Fi sub-forum

     

    Still trying to understand. So no contrary objective information is allowed in the rest of the forum? Or is it? 

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    5 hours ago, audiobomber said:

    ASR is another example of a place "where nothing subjective is allowed".

    I guess there's degrees of separation at ASR. After a DAC is measured , there is a comment from Amir about how it sounds. So they are listening and making subjective comments but they don't compare one with the other , other than one DAC sinad is 0.003 better,  but disclaim those figures with a grain of salt. Kind of confused as to understanding the purpose of that site.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites




    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now




×
×
  • Create New...