Do people tire of audio forums?

Many great comments here. I agree this forum is a reflection of the larger community or world we live in, forums by their nature a more impersonal community.

I don't know how many others feel this way, but whenever I get nostalgic about the good gone days of audio I think back to when I was first discovering audio, going to the dozens of high end audio stores here in southeastern michigan. The shows I attended, local shows as well in those days. I just loved the in person engagement with audiophiles much more knowledgeable  than I, sort of like some exclusive club I wanted to get into. And yeah, that does reflect my high school need to be in a club or gang of cool people (and I did have that). I also had inherent or already converted audio buddies and other new converts, we all desired to own the best of the best.

On top of the need for socialization, I also had an inherent desire to learn about all aspects of audio, how components and parts work, and I loved to look at and touch these beautiful works of art.

So, there was all that. But then we mature, other things draw our attention, audio just another interest amongst many. While I maintained my interest in audio over all these years, equipment came and went, knowledge gained, the audio magic club morphed into being just another interest.

Perhaps some of us have short attention spans, highest interest when engaging in something new, interest gradually wanes as time goes on. I suppose these forums are the magic clubs of today for the newbies, and they still have shows and a few dealers to engage with. Sort of feel sorry for the newbies today, forums pale imitation of in person engagement, so few dealers and only national shows.

I'd say the one thing that sustains me is listening to great performances and music over a really fine, highly resolving system. The performers in room experience is one thing I never tire of!

....the hot dogs gave me gas, but what else can one do with a sacred cow?

Butt, it's useful now that winter has arrived...

Straight, no bun, hun...

I’ve only been here for going on 4 years, joining right AFTER I got back into the hobby and bought my first equipment.  I was eager to learn, but I have since learned that consensus on “the way to go” is fleeting, as each person has their favorite gear to recommend.  If I had to do it over again, I might wait before buying my gear, to see what might truly be out there (like REL subs) that is better before purchasing.  
 

I’ve enjoyed reading the varied submissions, but more likely now I’ve been skimming the topics and not reading so much.  I find that people are so different in their experiences and budgets that some could likely never identify with me, my questions, my plans.  I see questions about a type of gear and think, “I know what I might try if I were OP, but that is “slumming it” for some readers that have systems valued at $20,000 to $100,000 or more.  I don’t have much to contribute. I think maybe if there were sub-forums based upon what people can afford to spend, that might be more helpful.  The advice for someone that can spend up to $5,000 for their entire system is going to be different than recommendations for those spending $5,000 to $10,000, and that is different from advice useful to the real big spenders.  I have about $8,000 in my system, so I can’t relate much to the big spenders and they cannot relate much to me (except, maybe, from their memory when they were more limited in funds).

Still, I do sometimes learn useful things here and have been helped by some of the members here.  I don’t abandon AG completely, though I read less than I once did.  (I have gone to other audio forums where members comment about the egos and contentiousness of AG, and how they offer more useful advice on theirs). 

@acman3- thanks for that. I'm like a year behind in writing and publishing about released LPs. I really need to get back to that- it's enjoyable, research is fun, and of course, there's the listening. 

There are far more interesting and/or important things in life worth following than audio. But for building a system, buying equipment or just general interest in passing time, the forums can be informative and interesting.