I love many dealers. They are all trying to make a living and that now means figuring out how to use all social media to their advantage. I get that and resect that as most on here do. It's when it become's blatant selling that it's a distraction from a thread etc...
Those of us who are 'fanboys' ( I do hate that term) of a certain product we own or want to own, will always post about it in threads. Many folks are very active posters and are known for what we love etc..., but most who are fan boys have also auditioned a TON of gear to get to what our ears like. We realize that others hear differently and will become fanboys of their own products etc... That's what I love about the forums. I have learned about so many other pieces of gear other than what I own and I've changed my system a more than I ever did before because of it.
I haven't purchased one item, due to a dealer or manufacturer hawking it on this or any other site. It's because I trust my ears (or even the ears of two close friends who I've met here) and know what I want. When we all upgrade, that doesn't mean that we don't still love what we used to own, it just means we are blessed to be able to find something even better and can afford it.
This is why I love the exchanges between average Joe posters like myself. I know some, but not all the dealers or manufacturer's, so I'm in the camp that they must put into their signature who they are. Many of you have mentioned folks who are just sharing to share and not to sell, I love it. Charles Hansen was one of the best at doing that as well as guys like Ralph and others.
It's funny, but I haven't read or posted as much as I used to and partly because of being turned off a bit. LEt's see if some folks change their style of posting a bit as it seems like many would love that.
