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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
danager's avatar
danager
988 posts
 
Dekay I'm a newbie and I didn't find your post to me overly positive.  Sure I was asking for it, proposing a silly scenario  but the outright personal attacks here and the overall sense of superiority is a turn off.  This is a HOBBY about music it's not a religion or a cult to me any way. 
I'm tough and find a lot of it funny.  One of my favorites was someone posting that they didn't have any thoughts on the subject but it was important to let everyone know that.  I'm here to connect with people of like interests to learn from others.
I have found people on this forum who have opened their homes to a complete stranger.  Invited me to talk to them on the phone to discuss things.  Why can't this site be more like that and less snarky, junior high school abusive bullying?   
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rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
I think it would be helpful if posters would specify whether they are 'newbies' at stereo equip in general, or newbies at being an "audiophile".  It's an important distinction that will greatly determine the answers you receive in response.

I cringe when I think of some of the responses I gave to folks, years ago, who I thought were real newbies, when if fact they were just 'newbies' to the audiophile thingy.

Cheers
stuartk
4,013 posts
 
@td_dayton:

"@stuartk i agree with that, which is why it really doesn't matter what a jerk says - often they're just at war with themselves and take it out on someone they think they're better than. if a few rude comments puts someone off from pursuing a new hobby, they weren't that invested to begin with. in life you meet rude people all the time, and if you can't simply shrug and move on then you're gonna have a rough time. don't see why a stereo forum is any different".

 I agree. 
pragmasi
212 posts
 
I think the biggest barrier to educating yourself is being afraid to ask a stupid question. There are no stupid questions but there are plenty of off-topic, self aggrandising answers.
My advice to any newbie would be don't be afraid to ask the questions, ignore the replies that don't help and acknowledge the ones that do. Once the whole thing turns into a pissing contest move on to another thread. Don't give up, do your own research and once you know enough to contribute give a bit back.
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