I understand your sentiment, Mapman, but it's the right of a person and/or company to defend themselves.
Knowing how people react to their sacred cows getting kicked, the subject matter of this thread is inherently contentious. I know how this will come across, but here goes... If you can't stomach it, instead of trying to serve as a moderator, you might want to grit your teeth and move on to another discussion. As for me, I feel this site was a lot more interesting and informative back when we used to engage in real (sometimes hot) discourse, which is why I'll defend Charles to the hilt. Though I don't feel he said anything particularly confrontational, I rail against attempts of censorship or bullying.
Certain brands like B&W, Krell, and Wilson can get bashed all day long, and people view such as "keeping it real." On the other side, one thing I've surely learned here over the years is that any negative against other brands will be seen as attack on the owner themselves. Believe me, while I don't mind getting my hands dirty, I have a few on my list of deeply disappointing purchases / auditions that I've not submitted here because I know the blowback that would come, and it might go more towards hurting people's feelings and damaging relationships.
So, in-line with the topic, Tubes108 had every right to list Atma Sphere. Given the post went beyond sonics to call into question the validity of a build and competency of his entity, Ralph has the right to defend himself against what he believes represent untrue statements. To squelch things in the interest of maintaining a certain level of decorum would cause potential damage to Ralph and Atma Sphere. Certainly someone considering a purchase might encounter this thread during their research and contemplation, and because Ralph decided to "just ignore it" or take it offline, decide to move on. I'm not sure how people view Atma Sphere or this industry in general, but these are not fat cats. A sale is hard fought, highly valued, critical to the survival of the company, and difficult to come by.
While I have always respected your opinions and normally agree with you, in this instance, I say, NO, let things play out. So far, we've not crossed a line.
By the way, in no way do I portray myself as an arbiter or moderator, either. I defer to the Audiogon staff, and thus far, like the best officials in a tight football game, they've (in my view, wisely) let the players play.
