why do so many discussions turn contentious?

it is easy, folks....play nice and follow the golden rule....this is not a pissing contest, "mine is bigger/better/more expensive than yours"....if you dont have something nice or constructive to say, simply dont say anything....if you wish to disagree, please remember the largely subjective nature of audio, and be polite, as if you were sitting with the person you are chatting with.....EASY BREEZY!!

Dr. Johnson, quoted above, had it right. Discord happens because all human activities are managed by fallible humans -- beings described in all literature as often cranky, forgetful, envious, stubborn, spiteful, petty, boastful, vengeful . . .  excepting only those few Almargs with never a harsh word, never a personal mission or grievance, ever eager to listen/read, slow to speak/write. But their kind are rare in here -- because "here" is a forum of ENTHUSIASTS! The kind of folk who say "Nortons and Indians and Greavses won't do!" Enthusiasts are ENTHUSIASTIC!. Those tubes suck! A pox on Mark Levinson! And so forth ad infinitum. And yet, I learn from this stuff. Even the snarkiness can be pretty damned amusing. So let enthusiasts be enthusiasts, lean back and watch the parade, don't blame humans for their natural human frailties, never lose your sense of humor, and be willing to laugh at yourself when necessary.

@hickamore 1952 Vincent Black Lightning


brilliant use of the Lyric dude

my best to you

jim

Humans have always been opinionated, I'd suggest opinion may be becoming an obsolete descriptor as it pertains to ideas. New modes of information technology has inculcated self belief in the masses of expert status in whatever field they choose. An idea pops in your head, you find information to support it (seems humans prefer confirmation bias), easy and intentional to ignore information refuting or questioning it, ever more information supporting original idea, repeat ad nauseam. You now have created a believer, belief is the same as objective truth to the believer. Some of the arguments on this forum illustrate believers exist here. I'm not sure we'll ever return to mass acceptance that one's truth is subjective in nature. My take is we are in ascendent phase of confusing ideas with belief, we'll be seeing ever more overt and ugly attacks on each other into future.