A fit of Audiophilia

@mahler123 And I didn't answer your question, Iván.

@mahler123 I did not know of the Adam Fischer cycle, which is why I appeared dumb.  I found them on Presto;  I listened to #2 but it did not grab me.

Yeah the Adam Fischer cycle initially excited a lot of critics because he apparently tries to be as idiosyncratic as possible, an understandable decision when there are so many competing cycles.  The two that I streamed left me cold.

  I have Ivan and the BFO recordings of 1-4.  They are more mainstream and fall into the good-but-not-exceptional file.  The competition is fierce

@retiredaudioguy 

Sometimes and often threads do depart away from topic but in doing so on the flip side we glean a bit of the person posting. The cloaking of identifies on AGon fora is to me a bit disconnecting.

This got me thinking; is audiogone more of a database platform or a community platform? To me, at its core, Audiogon feels like a hybrid. While it functions as a massive equipment database and marketplace, its heartbeat is the community. However, alas there is a recurring fracture between the site’s structure and the way people actually build relationships. Mostly this is to prevent end running Agon’s fees. Duh.

1.) Zee Value of zee “Meander” Das ist gott. Oui?

Strict site moderation keeps things organized alright, but there is a “hidden” cost to keeping threads on-track. When a conversation meanders, it moves beyond gear specs and into the personal. It’s in these "off-topic" moments—sharing a passion for a specific genre of music, a record, a life history, or something else—that we actually peer into the character of the person behind the screen. These are tangents and the building blocks of genuine connection. I can say I feel like I actually know who a few members are. To date the tally is three point one four folks and counting with a side of ice cream.

2.) The Privacy Paradox

The "cloaking" of identities on the Audiogon forums creates a sense of detachment. While pseudonymity offers privacy, it to me can feel disconnecting in a hobby that is so deeply subjective and personal. Without knowing the person, the advice can sometimes feel like it’s coming from a robotic vacuum rather than a peer.

3. My  Conclusion

If Audiogon were just a database, it would be a cold cold, transactional tool. It is the very act of "wandering off-topic" that transforms it into a community. By sharing personal tidbits and interests, members move from being anonymous buyers and sellers to being genuine enthusiasts with shared histories. Party on Garth.

At eighty one years young (pens the seventy years old tame fauvist gent..please take avuncular pity on me) I can tell by your writing your cabbage is working well and way above average. The spousal MOMA thing sheds cool upon you both.  As I kid I met Alexander Calder but was too young to realize how lucky I was. Not surprisingly I have become a life long fan.

On topic…kind of… taking a break from Jazz..Beethoven first symphony (Deutsche Grammophon) is on and it is on loud. Those welling up crescendos thrill.  Same as it ever was; taking off the top of my head.

@wsrrsw I do hope this is a community!  Where I live most music lovers do not seem to be interested in the quality of the sound.  The only serious one of whom I am aware owns a local company.  Indeed there seem to be few who have any interest in "classical" music so I find this forum to be a major resource - for sustaining my sanity.

It has always seemed to me that a good conversation ends up far away from the original topic and I hope that on this forum this is not viewed negatively.

Audiogon is a commercial enterprise, and we pay nothing for the use of this forum,  so I have no issue with selling being a breach, fees paid by sellers and advertisers allow to have this platform.

I do thank you for your post.