Have we lost civility and respect on Audio forums?

“ Your way of quick switching is just a parlor trick, whereas the one you said I made up was actually done by the real experts.”

Real experts know that the gold standard for scientific studies isn’t a “parlor trick” and understand why time synchronized quick switching comparisons are mandatory for comparisons. Since you seem to actually acknowledge

Toole and Olive as actual legitimate science why don’t you read u on what they have to say about it. I’ll give you a hint, there is a reason HK spent 7 figures on their speaker shuffler to do DBT comparisons. Do some real research for a change 

Speaking for myself, I feel that I’ve gained respect for the experiences and opinions of other audiophiles by participating in these forums. I came in with my biases, expressed my doubts about some of the claims I read, and through further discourse have become more aware of the limits of my personal experience. Some of the stuff I will never be willing to invest in due to the very high prices, so I’ll never be able to get the extended experience to better understand what it might have to offer. I’d still like to see more concrete evidence about exactly what these ultra high end things do, but I’m far less inclined to quickly write off their value for those who are able and willing to pay. I feel I better understand my position in the spectrum of audiophile experience and expertise, and as a result I’m happily satisfied that while my choices do not reflect what is absolutely best, maybe not even the best I could afford if I was better informed, they are what fulfill my desires to a substantial degree while fitting within my means. I keep participating to become better informed. Over time it seems to be paying off because I've never had a system I enjoy as much as what I now have.

Wise post! thanks it was a pleasure to read...

I think the same ... I call my actual experience with well embedded low cost system : a minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold passed ...

With costlier gear someone with acoustics knowledge may hope for a maximal acoustical satisfaction threshold...

i prefer to spoke about these two threshold experience than speaking about low-fi, mid-fi or Hi-fi Why ?

Because nevermind the gear price, anybody aiming for the best acoustic experience must adress , not only gear synergy , but acoustical refine control of the speakers/room , mechanical controls of vibrations/resonance, electrical control over the noise floor levels of the house-room-gear and also about EMI RFI controls... And even other secondary aspects ...

For subjectivist all is about taste which is not even wrong  because acoustics factors are first and last  objective parameters not tastes ...

For objectivist all is about electrical measures over taste... But if audio is not taste, taste there is in audio ...It is called ears/brain trained or untrained biases , innate or/and acquired biases... Biases are not bad or good by the way ...😊 We are not in the obligation to negate them in a blind test ...We can use them constructively in our own learning  audio journey...If someone sell a product  or design a product blins test are useful in the process ...

It is why i prefer psycho-acoustics basic to these two arguing opposite sides...

I believe our ears can be trained by acoustic experiments...And music education...

We can learn as much with a low cost system than someone with a high cost system...Or not... Learning is an attitude...

Musical ectasy with good sound in a minimal or in a maximal acoustical threshold is possible... We must learn the basic to be happy and not push ourself in frustration race of purchase...

Speaking for myself, I feel that I’ve gained respect for the experiences and opinions of other audiophiles by participating in these forums. I came in with my biases, expressed my doubts about some of the claims I read, and through further discourse have become more aware of the limits of my personal experience. Some of the stuff I will never be willing to invest in due to the very high prices, so I’ll never be able to get the extended experience to better understand what it might have to offer. I’d still like to see more concrete evidence about exactly what these ultra high end things do, but I’m far less inclined to quickly write off their value for those who are able and willing to pay. I feel I better understand my position in the spectrum of audiophile experience and expertise, and as a result I’m happily satisfied that while my choices do not reflect what is absolutely best, maybe not even the best I could afford if I was better informed, they are what fulfill my desires to a substantial degree while fitting within my means. I keep participating to become better informed. Over time it seems to be paying off because I’ve never had a system I enjoy as much as what I now have.

scottwheel

It’s so much safer to try to discredit someone who challenges your beliefs than to even try to have a real conversation with them ... And that is why it is impossible for you to have a real conversation with me on these issues in audio. You have to protect your emotional investment.

Logical fallacy, ad hominem:

"Ad hominem ...Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself."

And - you’ve made a circular argument to boot! That’s another logical fallacy:

"Circular reasoning ... also known as circular logic) is a logical fallacy in which the reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with."

And now you claim:

I don’t believe I know it all.

C’mon. You’ve insisted you know all there is to know on some audio matters.

I know, as much as it can be known that basic cables are audibly transparent ... I know as much as something can be known that power cords make no actual difference ...