why do so many discussions turn contentious?

I actually think there are (at least) two root causes.
One is people who are somehow angry and take things off topic to rant. Those are pretty transparent and to me therefore, less troublesome. Since they are so far off topic, easily ignored entirely.  Of course the OP gets a bit screwed...

The 2nd is people who,rather than give facts and reasoned advice, throw out "this product" (which is always their product, in which they are apparently invested psychologically?). Defensiveness ensues. And if someone brings reason and logic to such a conversation, hey are branded  as [insert opposite of one's philosophy].

Kinda sad. I'd liek to see people establish the basis of their suggestion, with caveats, supporting ideas, etc.  We could all then **learn**. But as Steve Martin said after spouting enlightenment in the midst of medievil medicine, "nah......"

'later

@jw944ts

i believe your initial post has stirred good discussion and served us all with a reminder to behave better here

@danager

re your q on the sonnet morpheus, pls search my posts from about a month back, i compared it to the doge 7, audio mirror tubador and the chord stack in a fairly detailed post describing each as i heard them

@hilde45 @whipsaw @tvad

excellent observations and a good reminder how we should manage our own urges to pile on when there are contentious posts

@tomic601

thank you jim, you are kind... the pursuit has helped me stay sane through the pandemic

@jw

.perhaps I am optimistic in thinking we have achieved a small step in that direction?

I’m going to be optimistic myself. Thanks for starting the thread and raising the self-awareness.

Say builder3, I don't at all share your take on the No Noise comment.  Please read his/her first paragraph again.  Nowhere is disagreement itself (like we are having here) called out.  Nope...as I see it, the focus in this case is meant to be on those whose writings clearly demonstrate that they are all about themselves, performers of sorts before an audience of faceless foils.  The medium in this case just happens to be an Audiogon forum.  Anyway, Happy Listening, all!

 From 'The Horse Has Left The Barn', Chapter 1...

"I doubt my writing this will change anything, but, like most social media, people writing to others without facing them does not bring out the best, sadly......"