yesiamjohn,
Why do you think it is a good thing that cable enthusiasts spend their money on cables and not the things that really matter? How would this make things better for you? How exactly is what you buy going to be cheaper and more abundant as a result of our buying decisions? Did your group ever consider that you might be wrong and keeping others from enjoying the benefits of things that have been identified incorrectly as snake oil? An incredibly stupid thing to say.
others,
I can just see those in your group mentoring a new enthusiast who just bought a more expensive cable. This new person thinks he has discovered something great which made his system sound better and is excited. Along come the snake oiler crowd and to follow is a verbal beratement which instills in this new person: buyers remorse, a unnecessary questioning of ability and the experience, frustration, anger and resentment. And many of you guys are angry feeling that somehow you have avoided the cable grifters and the numerous other pitfalls of high-end audio.
The objectivists are nothing more than a tribe, but the difference is you guys are a tribe of people whose focus is to tell people how and why they are wrong. Further you are telling others to doubt their senses when audio is a sensory experience. Guys I am perfectly happy to waste my money on the things that I think make a difference. I dont care that I may be enriching some snake oil salesman if in the process it brings me more enjoyment. I cant believe you dont see the difference in maturity of our 2 camps.