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Lay Off the Newbies!

I always try to keep my posts constructive, but there is something that regularly goes on here that I think is detrimental to our hobby - A newbie has a simple question and a bunch of neurotic geezers (of which I include myself) jump on the guy with a million rules and rituals he must follow to achieve his goal, which ends up discouraging the guy right out of hobby. There was one analog thread on static where I recommended Gruv Glide and you geezers started in with so much BS- humidifiers, move to another climate, expensive gimmicks, etc, that GG would kill him and his records.  The end result? By the end of the thread, he sold his analog rig because he couldn't deal with the stress.  In a recent digital thread, you guys are recommending a newbie buy 20 year old transports.  All this does is just make newbies so stressed out that you'll drive them to MP3s.  Newbies need simple answers, commensurate with their experience level.  Buy a Rega table, screw in a Rega cartridge and play records.  They have plenty of time to turn into us.  Somehow we survived, listening to our Sansui receivers and JBL L-100s in bedrooms thick with pot smoke and spilled Boone's Farm.  And we made it.  Sometimes I'm amazed as well.  Let the young have fun while they can. Be well.  
chayro
clearthink
1,421 posts
 
stuartk"Just because difficulties cannot be avoided does not mean one must always learn "the hard way". It is possible, in many situations, to gain knowledge without taking the most difficult path. The road may be rocky and washed out in places, but if one can help steer a newbie in such a way that they avoid falling falling off th eedge and into a deep gorge, I'd advocate doing that."

Wow you should start you're own religion and use that as part of your Bible you are obviously a person of deep faith, caring, and belief good for you don't let anyone stop you from preaching the Goodness of Truth and Caring!!
tony1954's avatar
tony1954
946 posts
 
+1 hilde45    

I totally understand where the OP is coming from. The overly aggressive or demeaning responses are unfortunately very typical of all forums these days. Anonymity definitely comes at a cost.
stuartk
2,460 posts
 
@hilde45:

Excellent idea-- at least you care enough to have made the effort!  

I may be mistaken, but it seems to me, when I first sarting asking for advice here, a good many years ago, there wasn't nearly as much snarkiness in evidence. 
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,152 posts
 
If you want a serious answer, then ask a serious question.  People on this forum truly try to be helpful, but sometimes the OP should do some research before posting.
stuartk
2,460 posts
 
"If you want a serious answer, then ask a serious question. People on this forum truly try to be helpful, but sometimes the OP should do some research before posting".

Many try, yes. Others appear consistently more interested in pushing their personal agendas. And while I agree that's it's difficult to help someone when they can't seem to clearly state what it is they need help with, it doesn't hurt to keep in mind that such people may be hampered by the fact that they simply "don't know what they don't know".  I don't think it's necessarily accurate or fair to assume that someone who is ignorant is not "serious". 

You speak of "research" as though audio is a field characterized by great concensus. It seems to me far more likely that many beginner's attempts to gain some sort of reliable foundation or foothold will lead them to conclude that this hobby is rife with claims, counter-claims, arguments, contradictions, inconsistencies and unknowns.  

hilde45's suggestion that an FAQ category for beginners be created might be a way to sidestep some of the controversy and static. If such a resource were to be established, then newbies could be directed to it, straightaway, without trying anyone's patience or triggering a bunch of responses that fly way over the OP's head.
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