Where have the long-time regulars gone?

Hi Scott; I've wondered that too, and to some extent I've just become a "lurker" here on the 'Gon. I've also been spending a great deal of time learning digital photography software, printing etc., but still find time to check the daily ads and look in on the Forum threads.

But times change and people move on. I think you and I and the other "old" regulars you mentioned have all been through all/most of the really controversial high end audio issues, and are not much interested in doing it again, eg analog vs digital, tubes vs solid state, AB and blind testing, Krell vs everything else, value of expensive power cords, do tweaks work, CD vs LP, pre-amp vs direct to amp, etc. etc. etc.

The Forum, now being moderated, has become much more civil, and there are so many technically specific questions/observations that only a few-- if any can comment on them. I do think the group you mentioned-- and many others too, eg Swampwalker, Danvetc, Tubegroover, Redkiwi, David99, Treyhoss, Angela100-- were here at a transitional time for the Audiogon.

We all went through the "flame wars" for many months, and I'd like to think that if I've/we've contributed anything to the Forum, it was in helping Audiogon usher in a sense of courtesy, civility, and community while still providing knowledge and maintaining the vitality you mention. BTW, and IMO, the best post I ever made was a response to a neophyte who wanted to know what a pre-amp is-- I gave a simple explanation that was much appreciated.

There is now a new group of intelligent and very articulate "regulars" who have taken up the cause of high end audio here on the 'Gon, and I see the Forum as being in "good hands".

I hope all the above hasn't been too maudlin (foolishly sentimantal). Cheers. Craig

Don't forget Bear and Audio Engineer. As previously posted it does seem that a lot of the same stuff is rehashed, much of it personal preference with no real conclusions available. Not a lot in the way of "break through" or cutting edge unique products in the recent past either.

Gee, I thought I was an old time regular, but I suppose only 2 years or so still makes me a newbie.

Regarding Garfish's point of having covered all the issues -- I, for one, will be more than happy to debate the same old issues for the next 150 years.

I thought that's what this hobby was about?!

CW, 12/01 only looks like a year to me, but that's ok if you'll fess up to being old. A lot of these issues that keep coming up are just boring to go into for the 20th time, and, frankly, the level of discourse has declined. There's a current thread that asks why the subject of DBT's is controversial. Some of the responses speak to that issue, but they are hard to find amid the 10,000 word essays full of non sequiturs on why DBT's are worthless in that writer's opinion.

There are some people who hang out here and just drown out any chance of having an intelligent conversation. If someone asks gee, do wires really sound different?, he's met with "If you can't tell they sound different, it's because you don't have good enough hearing, or your hifi system is not good enough to allow you to tell the difference." This is just as bad as, maybe worse than, the guys who used to answer questions like "which interconnect shoud I get, the Silver Streak or the Blue Heaven," with "save your money and go to Radio Shack, wire is wire." How about answering, "yes, I think they do, and here's why," or "no, I don't think so, and here's why."
Their labeling people "naysayers" who are responding honestly to valid questions. Too many true believers around here, and not enough skeptics.

That's one reason. Another is there arent as many lighthearted and entertaining posts.

Another reason, and this is more positive, is that many of the people who came here found this dicussion group while looking for hardware or advice about hardware, and arent looking anymore. Charlie (danvetc) as an example, isn't really in the market much anymore.

Where did they go? Some to other forums, but most to their listening rooms to spend time with their hifi systems.

Paul

I think there is a natural time limit on very active involvement, both because the topics tend to repeat, but also, as Paul says, people work through a period of evolution in their systems where they have lots of questions and curiousity, but ultimately get to a point where they know their system is pretty much done and it's time to just enjoy it. Maybe in a few years, there will be another spate of activity around trying something new, but when you get a system that is as performant and enjoyable as you feel that you can get if within your price range, the topics become less interesting.