I'm pretty much objectivist, I certainly lean way over to that side of things. But I really do find it utterly tedious when any thread that wants to discuss how a piece of equipment sounds is almost immediately turned into a "Robert, serge and Teddyray say no difference can exist" thread.
Frankly I know what you think, there's no need for me to read your opinion that all gear sounds the same in every single thread about dacs, power amps, pre-amps ad infinitum. You've managed to turn Zerogain into a ghost town with your attitude towards hifi I'd suggest it's not In Tony's interest to let you do the same on PFM.
If I wanted to read that I'd go to Hydrogenaudio. The WAM has a technical section which largely keeps the "but you can't measure it so it doesn't exist" posts out of the general audio section, that might well be what is required here.
Certainly I agree with Steven it's just a type of thread crapping, and it stifles posting and discussion. I agree that we need a dose of common sense as regards the most ridiculous types of foo in the market, but this isn't that, it's just annoying cyclical and repetitive thread crapping.
You should get a few facts straight.
If you're an objectivist then I'm the Pope.
You don't 'lean' anywhere you bob around in the breeze. You're a cable sceptic Simon, and I'm pleased for you.
You don't seriously think that I, Serge, Teddy or anyone else posts our opinions for your benefit?
Absolutely right, you know what others here think but please drop the self importance. I'm sure I speak for many others in saying that we post for general consumption, not just for your benefit.
There is no Zerogain - it finished many years ago while you were an active member and I had a post count barely in double figures. There is no room for another large uk forum and we aren't trying to create one. We bought it for a song precisely because because it had dried up. What's left of it was attached formally to Audiosmile for our use. Nobody is driving it and we're quite content for it be a repository for articles, with the odd question or comment from someone looking for practical advice.
So what to do.
Well, as I've said before (at risk of being banned for cyclical argument) rather than calling for censorship or throwing toys from pram, the little rump or so of users that this seems to affect have the appropriate tools available already:
- Man-up and argue the point. This seems to work for the vast majority of posters.
- Ignore the post or thread. Nobody forces you to read anything.
- If you really cannot stomach a poster, use the forum 'ignore user' function. This means that you can prattle away to your heart's content Simon, with no fear of having to read anything logical.
- If things get really bad, report the post.
So the tools are already in place for what is pretty much a non-issue for all but half a dozen people. If you care to step outside of this quite unnecessary blood letting thread you'll see lots of folk chatting perfectly amiably, and not getting the slightest bit wound-up.