I know it's off topic in this particular thread, but here's my take on the X1 forum/Coffee House forum spat. It's obvious that it exists by some of the comments in
this, and in other threads.
I agree the that a lot of what gets posted in the Coffee House is banal dross. And I'll hold my hands up and admit I've posted a lot of it. But even I go there some days and see thread after thread of slightly-changed subject topics and a lot of empty 'say nothing' posts. Sometimes I can't even be bothered to filter my way down through the tripe to see if there's actually anything worth reading and commenting on. Again, I'm as guilty as anyone in filling the room up with junk.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next bloke, and there are some genuinely talented wordsmiths and humorous people who post there.
And the Coffee House does have other good things going for it. The sense of community and caring for one another that exists there is something you just don't see on the vast majority of internet forums and chat rooms. Those of you who frequent the place will already be aware of this, but for those who don't, this sense of community has in the past gone as far as members contributing financially to help others who'd met a crisis in their life.
This is often what members from 'upstairs' don't see, or maybe they just can't see the wood for the trees.
A prime example is when John returned recently off his sabbatical. In his absence, I'd overtaken his post count so I started a thread in the CH stating how I was obviously now 'cleverer' than him. Yes, I know it's not funny, but in the spirit John spotted the thread and even joined in with the joke. Quite a few CH regulars took the opportunity to welcome him back into the fold. Next thing I and know he's started that thread castigating the members of the CH. I'm sorry, but that leaves a bad taste in the mouth - he could have handled the situation better, maybe even a little levity would have helped.
As it happens, I found myself agreeing with a lot he said, but it came across in the same way a school master might admonish an unruly class. Some might say that's all we deserved, but there are ways and means.
Then in a thread up here, John clearly states as a fact (in response to an enquiry about X1) that: "
Actually X1 as a first release was far and away the best first release CW ever put out" (post #4
HERE). I questioned that statement and said that at the very least, he should have qualified it with an "In my (i.e. John's) experience". I questioned his motives and also said that by his passing comments like that, he had, in my opinion, lost his credibility. For my troubles, I was accused of calling him a liar. Talk about classic passive/aggressive behaviour.
And that leads me to John T. Yes, I admit that I might spend 95% of my time here having a laugh and 5% trying to help others, but John T spends 95% of his time simply criticising other people's posts. I notice that during my brief spat with John concerning his 'best first release' statement that the one person you could rely on to point out another's incorrect or unfactual post was consp i cuous in his absolute silence. Go figure.
Now if that had been somebody with a grievance (perceived or otherwise) about X1, or some poor guy for whom English quite obvious isn't their first language, I guarantee the gloves would have been off and Mr T would gone straight for the throat.
You see, if you set yourself up to take on the role of forum cop, then you have to do it impartially. Otherwise you do lose any credibility. Now, I fully understand John (T) that you couldn't give a flying fig what I (or any of the CH regulars) think about you. But you shouldn't be surprised that there's no love lost. I don't understand it myself, you're obviously a very well educated guy who certainly seems to know what he's talking about when it comes to audio. But why the superiority complex? Why do you feel the need to go on this crusade? And even if you feel the need to correct anyone who's not singing from the same hymn sheet as you, why can't you just be a little more civil about it?
The biting irony is that you are often guilty of exactly the same 'infringements' that you are censuring other for. Often in the same thread (take this thread for example).
Anyway, when all's said and done, this place is what its members make it. Somebody mentioned earlier that two or three people were spoiling the Coffee House for a lot of people, so, whether or not I'm included in that group, I intend to try and not contribute any drivel there. It should be, after all, like this forum, an interesting and pleasant place for everyone who visits.