What bothers me about forums and online life...

[Steve Toy]

Alex, "why did you leave The Art of Sound" is unlikely to get any answers - they've left and are unlikely to put in a guest appearance to answer that one question.

Oh I love these navel gazing threads!

[Rare Bird]

Alex, "why did you leave The Art of Sound" is unlikely to get any answers - they've left and are unlikely to put in a guest appearance to answer that one question.

Oh I love these navel gazing threads!

[Joe]

Since there's no AoS 'exit interview' there's no way of knowing why anyone leaves, unless they're hoofed, or they say why they're leaving.

Dogmatism (of any sort) is A Bad Thing IMO, but it's usually possible to work around it.

[Steve Toy]

Plus announced exits are rarely constructive and usually intended to invite me-too shows of solidarity.

As far as I'm concerned everyone is free to come and go as they please. Private message exchanges are often good problem solvers.

[twelvebears]

Hi Chris.

This is a very interesting thread in itself.

Why do people suddenly disappear after contributing for such a long time? I mean yes, we all go through periods where posting on an audio forum, even one as AWESOME as AOS, isn't top of our priorities. For example I was very quiet for quite a while when I moved to a new house last year and then again this year after my Dad passed away, but in both cases I came back again.

I've been thinking about this and have a number of thoughts which I'll just cough out now for discussion.

1. People have got themselves banned. Not sure quite how common this has been on AOS, but I have noted that several members from old threads have been banished.

2. They joined for a specific purpose which has now been served. Possible but surely this only applies to 'junior' members rather than those who have been around long enough to make a significant contribution?

3. They got bored with hifi and moved on. Yeah right! Like that's going to happen! No seriously, I doubt that would happen if you were interested enough to register for an audio forum in the first place and actually start getting stuck in.

4. They didn't like the AOS 'experience'....

Now this is the interesting one... The thing is that because AOS does have a very specific feel, that means it's not always going to be for everyone. I like the fact that we insist on intros and knowing people's real names, but not everyone will. Some will see it as prying and rather different to the total anonymity of other forums. Also there are some among us who have very strong opinions are are happy to (politely) express them, which some may also not like. That said, I think that we're a fair bunch who are pretty good about pulling each other up (including our beloved moderators) if we get carried away.

Personally, the thing I'd like to see would be more of AOSers meeting up in 'The Real World'. I know that quite a few do, but I think it's still the exception rather than the rule and being an Audio Geek can be a bit of a lonely existence sometimes when even those nearest and dearest don't REALLY get the whole hifi obsession.

I'd love to see some kind of map graphic which could show where people are located.....

[Ali Tait]

Yes,agree that meets are a good idea.That was started many years ago on the then WAD forum,now WD,and carried over onto Audio-Talk.Almost all of us there have known each other personally for years.It makes for a very harmonious forum on the whole,and any problems that do crop up from time to time can usually be quite easily sorted as we generally have a better handle on context because we know each other well.

[Beechwoods]

I think you'd be surprised at the number of people who move on simply because 'life happens' - unless you know a number of people on a forum 'personally' - either face to face or through ongoing PM exchanges, or off-forum discussions - if you get out of the habit because of work or other stuff it's not so easy to get back into the habit.

I know that 'life' has got in the way of a few of the people I used to know and get on with from the early days.

[Puffin]

I have met two really good "audio buddies" (to quote a Yank phrase) on Diyaudio. We meet up occasionally and one has helped me greatly with my DIY Pass Labs F2 (which is, by the way a stonking amp for £300!!!)

I think you have to treat fora as a bit of puff, an indulgence, that is a bit of a laugh and not to be taken too seriously. If someone has strong views, well.... they probably have a case of male PMT or something. Life is too short to get caught up in conflict. If you don't like what someone says, ignore it and move on.

It's like the Three Words Daily. However hard you try to move it off sex and bodily functions, it doesn't happen! Embrace it or go somewhere else.

[DSJR]

My presence here is all Marco's fault........ Plus the fact that I got fed up with people regarding out of date naim preamps as the second coming or summat...........

[Rare Bird]

To be frank (& i know departure anouncements arnt wise) it won't be long before i'll be gone.As a rule i hate audio & music forums with a passion.AOS is a good place to hang out (All others are horrible in comparison) but i feel it really isnt for me, most the members are easy to get on with but they don't have the same intrests personally i'm not intrested in hi-fi as others are, i find it a totally boring hobby tbh, i go for the nostaligic part of hifi components as with music i've found no one that looks into my music style the way i do, i put my values ino the late 60's/ early '70's i live for it so as you can understand it is a self created , self indulgent obsession i have..Possibily i'm one of a kind or even a nutter infact.

I also feel spending too much time on line is interfearing with my general obsessions already outlined, i find myself spending too much time listerning to computer based music just because i'm online most the time, i need to break away from computers & pick up where i left off in the Analogue world, i miss it & have wasted too much time digitalised.I am an all or nothing guy & can't moderate.

So this is not a goodbye broadcast, it's just when i go you know where i've gone.I didnt want to start a topic as a fresh to say this, so i took this topic as an opportunity which i hopefully doesnt come across as *o feel sorry for me*