I think about the technological triumphs that have ocurred during my short lifetime(25 years), and it makes me proud. I'm proud to have been born into an era that has seen more progress, in less time, than any period before it. When I was born, calculators took double "A" batteries, vast amounts of information was kept on microfilm, and the only computers around were roughly the size of my listening room, and could scarcely outperform my TI-85 graphic calculator. People didnt depend on computers the way we do today, simply because they didnt have the choice; if the reality of Kubrick's 2001 could have been possible, I feel certain we would have lept foreward, collectively, at once in a moment of wonder and also of nostalgia for things which we had as yet only dreamed about. I remember in 1994, when I was a freshman in college, before I purchased my first "serious" stereo thingie (a pair of Polk S10 speakers, bought in the fall of '95)when my roommate explained the "internet" and "WWW" to me, "Pretty soon", he said, "you'll be able to dig up anything you want on the information superhighway". 6 years later, and the prophecy of young Bryce Carlson has come true, and you can dig up pretty much whatever you want at the slightest whim. I can look up Shunyata Research, or B&W Loudspeakers, or (gasp) Matthew Polk's latest speakers, or the CIA, or one of several recipes for crack cocaine, for that matter, all on the internet, all in seconds. I guess what I'm saying here-BTW,thanks for the bandwidth Audiogon, and sorry for the off topic thoughts, but I started this thread, and I don't likee the way it's going- is that the internet and all the cool knowledge contained therein and so quickly dispersed thereby, is sort of a double edged sword. True, as it relates specifically to this hobby, it allows me to get a pretty good idea of a particular company's goals in designing a piece of electronics, and possibly, whether I'd like to try to audition it(and if I do, the best place to do so). It allows me to connect with other like minded people, and sling used gear amongst and between us, point to point, at fair market prices, no less. But it also creates a sort of emotional rift among humans, a decline in social situations, and therefore a loss of social skills, demonstrated in AOL chatrooms since day 1 of AOL, and more recently, in this very thread. I seriously doubt anyone that has posted anything on this thread is anything less than a kind person, with a great soul (if you believe in that sort of thing), that feels some sense of unity to the rest of the Audiogon patrons by a love of music, and perhaps a penchant for audio equipment. If you put any of us in the same room together, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be a pleasant meeting, without the least bit of latent alpha-male-I'm smarter that you-my stereo is better-BULLSHIT that has become the norm, both on internet sites like Rec.audio, Audiogon, even old Audioreview, and also magazines like the letters section of Stereophile and other printed magazines devoted to our hobby. People like JA and J-10 (Johns, Atkinson and Scull,for the non-Stereophile readers) are a huge benefit to our hobby, and, agree or disagree with their opinions, you should remain in awe and appreciation for the information they have made available to us. As far as the different opinions expressed in this site, and specifically, this thread, you all should be just as appreciative and open minded as if you were talking to John Atkinson, or Jeff Kalt, or Kevin Halverson, or John Curl, or Ray Kimber, or Paul Hales, or John Dunlavy. We all have the same goal. Promote a love for the reproduction of music that is dear to us. Some person may thrash the opinion of John Atkinson in a letter in Stereophile, but I'd bet the farm that if that person were to bump into JA at the grocery store, it would be all-"Nice to meet you Mr Atkinson, I'm a fan of your magazine...What's it like to have access to some of the coolest gear on the planet??" As a recording engineer (in my own mind), I'd ask him how he likes his B&K Omnidirectional microphones, and has he tried the new Microtech Geffell cardiods, and so forth. Off the subject, I'm a little disappointed that he allowed the recent down-grading of the B&W Nautilus 805 speakers, because the magazine reviewed the larger 803 speakers a couple of months later, and they were also found to be "Class A, Restricted Low Frequency" so the 805s were down rated to "Class B, Restricted Low Frequency" apparently because they are both made by B&W (and apparently, this was NOT KOSHER with someone). Now this seems to be a case of the business office having a say in the editorial process, and they accept advertising, so how can this not be... But that does not discount all the things Mr Atkinson has done for my hobby. I would be honored to speak with him about our common interests, and agree or disagree, I would not resort to name calling or insults to try to make my point seem more worthwhile. This is precisely the problem with "E-Pinions"(I think I just made a buzzword!), such as the opinions offered here. They lack the face to face kind of interaction that we apparently need to retain our civility. It's the same principal at work that to some degree occurred (so I'm told) when the telephone was first becoming common. People would call whomever had the device, total strangers, amazed that they could talk to someone across town, or across the country, or later, across the world. On the flip side of that coin, who among us never participated in some sort of prank call? Sorta takes the wind out of your sails if you're standing directly in front of the person you're about to prank call doesn't it? I find it much harder not to be nice to someone that is standing in front of you compared to a telemarketer, for example, on the telephone. Here we are, talking to each other, and we dont know each other, were just sorta "in here" together, and we don't have the common courtesy we might offer the grocery store clerk down the street, or a used car salesman, for that matter, simply because we have to look into their eyes, but here in this electric world, there's the feeling of anonymity, that allows us to be so rude. This, in my opinion, is what is wrong with our hobby, and why the general public is so dismissive and critical of "wierdos" that spend thousands of dollars on stereo equipment. Never mind the snobbery that occurs from time to time in HiFi Boutiques, you need but look into a popular information exchange medium, be it printed or electronic, to see the kind of male dominant ego type of behavior that most of us no longer give a second thought to, (And someone asked why there are so few women audiophiles). Gentlemen, (I think most of us are men, and therefore we can choose to be gentlemen) I'm asking all of you who read this to raise your own bar, so to speak. Not because I'm offended by anything I read here, but because I've seen it happen before. Lets all try to be a little more tolerant of people that may be mis-, under- or differently- informed that we are, OK? Lets try to behave as if we were meeting that person, face to face, to talk about a common interest. Lets all go out and attend a local audio club or group. If there's not one, then lets make one. Just think, you can be the president! I suggest that we try to remember why we're here, and conduct ourselves in this forum, and in life, in a manner that would make our mothers proud. Respect each other, respect the common love. Thank your lucky stars that it's 2000AD and we have the means, both to hear any piece of music imaginable at the drop of a hat, and to be able to talk with other like-minded individuals on the other side of the planet about it. Joe Cunningham
