Have we lost civility and respect on Audio forums?

Emotional investment in one’s beliefs can bring out the worst in people. For instance I know, as much as it can be known that basic cables are audibly transparent although it is possible to make cables with high enough inductance, capacitance and/or resistance to turn a cable into a low pass filter. I know as much as something can be known that power cords make no actual difference unless the gauge is too low to power the component ad needed. I can say these things with zero vitriol but one can count on some very uncivil responses. And fingers will point my way in accusation of uncivil behavior. And it goes both ways. Emotional investment can do that to people. Simple statements of fact will seem like a personal offense. 

I think the inability to accept that one might be wrong is the bigger problem. My experience is that a lot of systems may not be good enough or properly matched well enough to hear differences.  If your equipment or set up isn’t transparent or have a low enough noise floor or isn’t properly matched up in a decent living environment you are not going to hear a difference. Some people will not accept that they don’t have experiences with equipment that can do those things. Then that person will apply all of their personal findings to people that do. Unfortunately one’s fact may not be another’s fact is the bigger problem. The inability to accept that one might be wrong can be highly detrimental in having discussions.  I’m willing to accept one might not hear a difference on their system but the arrogance to tell someone else that they can’t hear a difference in their system is special.  Then to consistently and repeatedly insist on them being wrong is where things cross a line. We have to be honest when discussing things without being disrespectful. The minute I hear someone say they can’t hear a difference. Personally I think that their system is not resolving enough or they are just hell bent on not accepting things make a difference.  Either way I just don’t trust their opinion and if they don’t trust mines I’m fine with it. I’m not going to respond 20 30 times. It’s called agree to disagree.  It’s called disagreeing without hating or dissing the person you disagree. If we are being honest. If you don’t hear differences your set up isn’t the kind I probably would prefer.   That’s not being mean that’s being honest without hating or being disrespectful 

Interesting - I am up early this morning enjoying reading the threads from last night’s Daily Recap email and thinking about what a peaceful and respectful place this forum has become primarily, I believe, through moderator intervention. Of course it still has its moments but by and large the discussion here has become peaceful and constructive. 
 

+1 @knotscott - great post. My dad taught me many years ago the arguing in the workplace isn’t a bad thing, rather it shows folks are passionate about what they do. It’s only when it becomes personal and/or disrespectful that it becomes a problem. Man he was wise and I miss him (and mom) everyday. 
 

+100 @celtic66 for “it’s positive and constructive or it’s negative and destructive”. Words to live by my friend!

Matt

The inability to accept that one might be wrong goes hand in hand with an emotional investment in one’s beliefs. 

The forum is about stereo music and those boxes of wires we pay exceedingly higher prices to buy ...which reproduce that music. Let’s face it, in the large scheme of all things, not of very high importance. So when a poster starts acting like an ahole, it reveals much more about the integrity and intelligence of that individual. It’s the main reason people leave the forums. The negativity is just not productive and too ugly and offensive to want to be part of the audiophile community.