"Good Lord. Is this the only thing that will ever be discussed in this forum? Whether or not cables actually make a difference in sound.... "

No but is is a major issue. This is not a board where everybody is easily sold a bill of goods because there was good advertising copy and someone believed it and brought it here. There are enough regulars who ask for more evidence than just someones testimonial. This is a very controversial area and those on one side of the arguement want the right to make their points just as much as those on the other.


"and the qualifications of those who debate the issue..."

The thread about a fake EE degree was a very nasty posting which I assumed was aimed directly at me. I tried to answer it as straightforwardly and courteously as possible. Usually we let arguements here stand or fall on their own merits. Among regulars, opinions are not likely to change. But among newcomers, a range of opinions is the only way someone can keep an open mind. And they should know that the opinions coming from the skeptical side are not just from people who are too cheap to buy this class of product but from people who have good reason to come to an informed opinion.

"can we take this arguing and personal attacking elsewhere?"

This is the place where arguing is supposed to happen. But it is not a place for personal attacks. Usually when one person resorts to personal attacks, it is because he has run out of real arguements. If you can't kill the message, shoot the messenger.

"This is not a forum for those who do not wish to discuss cables because they don't think they make a difference in sound quality."

If by that you mean that this forum is only for those who believe cables make an audible difference and will not challenge that view and that those who do challenge it or at least demand more than testimonial evidence are unwelcome, then this forum is no better than cable asylum and if that is the case, I'm outta here. I said before that I would not post to a site which will censor one opinion or another.

"If you're only here to discount anyone who doesn't agree with that belief, you should click the Back button in your browser and find a more meaningful way to participate on this site."

NOBODY is discounted. But their opinions should be open to challenge and discussion, not merely be accepted as a way to preserve harmony. That's how tyrants keep law and order in dictatorships. Set out the partly line and shoot anyone who disagrees openly with it.

"Flaming, personal attacks, and degrading posts should be taken elsewhere."

Agreed.

"We will become less tolerant of those who simply come to this Cable forum in order to play the role of a troll and tell people how dumb they are for thinking cables make a real difference"

People who challenge the value of audio cables are not all trolls. And they don't tell people that they are dumb when they challenge their ideas or beliefs. Blanket Characterization of people who challenge an idea by classifying them as insulting trolls is totally unfair and out of order for someone in the role of site administrator.