About users with hidden agendas

As long as manufacturers, sellers and others with commercial audio interests sail under their own flags, openly - and dont post to the detriment of others - I am OK with it.

I also have quite good experience with my Synergistic Research A/C Master Coupler X2 cables. There, my interests ends. No commercial or user affiliation.

Of course, a manufacturer or seller will be influenced by the product s/he makes or sells. Happens to all of us. We have the tendency to defend the gear we bought. Sounds like the best in the world.

But the purpose of Audiogon, the way I see it, is to invite all this variation, into healthy debate. Saving us all from doing everything on our own, helping us to become more critical listeners and experienced customers, avoiding bad deals and adjusting what we have.

I appreciate the posts from mahgister, basically saying you can treat your room for low cost, rather than invest in component upgrades. I wonder what can be done in a combined living / listening room, like mine.

I asked - how can we search better, on the web, for good user experience beyond semi-commercial information. Thanks to ricthetrick for comment. But not answered, so far.

 I find his posts wildly entertaining.

me too, I wish I could write like that..

Well I read/scanned this dang thread, and I’d like that hour of my life back. I’ve been here a couple years, but don’t think I have enough history to appreciate or understand the acrimony, the emotions, and/or the choosing of sides.

That said, I am a big fan of Agon, looking at it daily, and what I’ve learned cannot be put into a short post. I feel strongly that a dealer should have to disclose themselves on this forum.

Personally, I don’t have enough history, or memory, to know who said or did/does what.  So, perhaps something simple, like “a badge”, that would accompany the posts of those who are paid, or financially benefit from taking part in the audio industry.  What’s wrong with a little transparency? … A simple disclosure form that users could voluntarily fill out as part of their profile.  

Accompanied by that, we are smart people who know dookie when we smell it. 

Spot on, gemoody.

A badge is worthy of consideration. But maybe a dealer / manufacturer disclosure in the signature is OK as a first step. To make Audiogon a better forum.

+1 gemoody