Even on its WORST day, this forum is like working all day in a pair of steel-toed work boots, then coming home and slipping into a pair of comfortable slippers. It’s refreshing to visit a site where the major challenge of the day is how to best dispose of a participant’s disposable income.
I may have missed something(s) from the Golden Age of A’gon Forumdom, but my search for intelligent life often begins with this forum. I am rarely disappointed. Sure, there are those contributors who like to lie in wait, ready to ambush anyone who doesn’t agree with them. But dealing with serious character flaws is not our forte here. Just thoughts and considerations about all things related to music and the suspension of disbelief that we desire at home that we’re just listening to a stack of electronics connected to some boxes that move air, but we are indeed experiencing all the elements of a live performance.
I am taken with the genuine care, respect, consideration and advocacy contributors extend to others. Including those with “rookie” questions. The equivalent of a question on an exotic sports car forum like: “Hey, does anyone know the firing order on Testa Model S?” Sure, we get “punked” from time to time, but I see (and, feel) the presence of real gentlemen who wish others well, and willing to give a little of themselves in the pursuit.
Even when we go “off topic” I receive (free) input on a variety of matters that were well articulated, heartfelt, and honest. Sometimes, these are more intact, coherent, and relevant that the rants of those who get paid to write about such things for a living.
I have an expression: “The exodus of authenticity.” We’ve been trained to settle for substitutes for the genuine article. The average participant here has an antenna that is more sensitive than the “average” guy/gal on the street. We have an intimacy with reality – at least when it comes to the reproduction of music. I’m guessing this attribute has helped us in other phases of our lives?
One other thing I appreciate is that people present problems that they actually want solved. This may sound intuitive, but there are those “above our paygrades” that don’t want (major) problems solved – for a variety of reasons. Not here. I acknowledge, and celebrate the difference.
Forums, like these have more of an impact then we can imagine. They may be the only connection to humanity we interact with today. So, we need more audio forums. And, quilting forums. And, Corvair forums. And, ingrown toenail forums. We just might learn to like each other.
Keep those comments, questions, and, yes, challenges coming. You may be doing a lot more than just saving an audio forum from extinction.