WHY DO SOME AUDIOPHILES TRY TO TELL OTHERS WHAT THEY CAN OR CAN’T HEAR IN A SYSTEM?

It is hard to disagree with the proposition that when we post on this forum we should be respectful of each others’ experiences, even when they are diametrically opposed to our own.  But sometimes it seems to me that some people post on public forums solely for the purpose of getting others to confirm their views (just as some trolls post solely to be contradictory, or show supposed “superiority”).  And sometimes these people seem a little defensive even when someone respectfully posts -on a public forum - a different experience or opinion.

@hilde45 - I love your baking analogy btw.

Just don’t tell me I’m not hearing what I’m hearing.

Are you saying no one can help you to pay attention to new things and help you get better at hearing? Ever go birding and have someone show you how to look for birds? I did -- and I learned that I was not seeing what I could be seeing. If you’re saying that you cannot be better at hearing than you are and no one should try to teach you, then I suppose knowing you’re as good as you can be at something -- and that is a kind of accomplishment.

we all hear and process sound differently.

To a degree but if you’re saying it’s so different that we cannot improve or compare, then I don’t see how anyone could ever have created audio equipment with any popularity at all. So, you can’t be saying that.

"baking analogy" -- @mdalton thanks!

I agree w/ those who recognize many audiophiles are siloed, post to seek reassurance, or affirmation,(usually because we get none of that at home) and come to these forums to seek empathy for our unlovable obsession, ("You spent how much for that needle?"), and may risk a terminating bite by daring to nudge ourselves into the lion's pack, only to be sniffed out as lambs.  I paint this woeful scene because...

1. nothing is more painful than rejection by your "betters", those you look up to, want to join with. 

2. This hobby rarely is affirmative beyond our own ears.  Most everyone I know thinks I'm crazy,  building something so "expensive" when I "..can get sound just as good with a bluetooth receiver and iphone".

And 3. The music of today mostly sucks,( sorry, it does), so when I'm caught listening to decades-old music beyond 65db I'm often asked to "turn it down."  I'm just this geezer "living in the past", with "all that black junk, all the wires", and "all those old albums and CDs; can't you move that stuff into the garage?". 

Not only advice, and suggestions, I come here for solace and sanity, because you (mostly), understand.  So, please keep it mind, we're just  trying to keep good company. 

Thecarpathian

‘Are you related to Paul Harvey?’

Wish l was! I wonder what he did with the 10 year $100 million contract he signed?

I did get quite near to a famous ‘Harvey’ in the 70s. I was lucky to see James Stewart in London acting in his stage play, Harvey. Those who know of his original film of the same name will also be aware of his imaginary friend.

I hope some out there ‘get’ the simile l have drawn here…..Like ‘audiophile’ and the imaginary ‘rabbit’…..neither things are real in the end….or are they?

Some people not only think they know better but hear better...yeah ok.