[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] The Case for Ignorance

[ralphpnj]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/opinion/the-case-for-teaching-ignorance.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region

The above op-ed piece was published in today's New York Times and makes
for some very interesting reading. However there are several ideas
within the piece, that although very thought provoking can also be
completely misunderstood and, of course, misused and misquoted. So my
multi-part question/poll is:

1) how long before the above linked op-ed piece is mentioned or quoted
in the high end audio press (print or online)

and

2) how badly will the piece be misquoted/misunderstood, i.e. moving some
scientific fact from it's proper place in the center of the island of
knowledge to the shoreline? (read the piece and you will understand that
last sentence)

My guesses:

1) within a week

and

2) very badly misquoted and also within a week since it will be in the
same article that mentions the op-ed piece.



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[Julf]

And how long before someone mentions quantum physics?



"To try to judge the real from the false will always be hard. In this
fast-growing art of 'high fidelity' the quackery will bear a solid gilt
edge that will fool many people" - Paul W Klipsch, 1953
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[ralphpnj]

Post by Julf
And how long before someone mentions quantum physics?

In a picosecond so that only golden eared audiophiles can hear it :)



Living Rm: Transporter-SimAudio pre/power amps-Vandersteen 3A Sign. &
sub
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Computer Rm: Touch-Headroom Desktop w/DAC-Aragon amp-Energy Veritas 2.1
& Energy sub
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Guest Rm: Duet-Sony soundbar
Garage: SB3-JVC compact system
Controls: iPeng; SB Controller; Moose & Muso
Server: SBS on dedicated windows 7 computer w/2 Drobos
'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/)
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[Archimago]

Thanks for the article! Interesting read and I really hope the audio
guys don't quote this out of context...

Yeah, I'll guess by the end of this week it might show up somewhere (so
less than a week). As usual, interpretation will be skewed to support
questionable claims... Probably something about ethernet noise and
jitter not being well understood or something like that and of course
objective folks are obviously wrong in being "bits are bits" people.



Archimago's Musings: (archimago.blogspot.com) A 'more objective'
audiophile blog.
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[ralphpnj]

Post by Archimago
Thanks for the article! Interesting read and I really hope the audio
guys don't quote this out of context...

And I really hope that I win a big lottery... but guess what neither one
is going to happen. Wish it were otherwise but it isn't. The best that
we can hope for is that the audio world misses the op-ed completely
because if they do discover it then it will be quoted out of context. It
reads like a big chuck of red meat would to a lion. Just grist for the
mill.



Living Rm: Transporter-SimAudio pre/power amps-Vandersteen 3A Sign. &
sub
Home Theater: Touch-Marantz HTR-Energy Veritas 2.1 & Linn sub
Computer Rm: Touch-Headroom Desktop w/DAC-Aragon amp-Energy Veritas 2.1
& Energy sub
Bedroom: Touch-HR Desktop w/DAC-Audio Refinement amp-Energy Veritas 2.0
Guest Rm: Duet-Sony soundbar
Garage: SB3-JVC compact system
Controls: iPeng; SB Controller; Moose & Muso
Server: SBS on dedicated windows 7 computer w/2 Drobos
'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/)
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[Archimago]

Post by ralphpnj
And I really hope that I win a big lottery... but guess what neither one
is going to happen. Wish it were otherwise but it isn't. The best that
we can hope for is that the audio world misses the op-ed completely
because if they do discover it then it will be quoted out of context. It
reads like a big chuck of red meat would to a lion. Just grist for the
mill.

:-)

I was just thinking of all the pseudoscience out there that could also
utilize this op-ed piece out of context! Everything from alternative
"medicine" (homeopathy, complementary stuff, herbalists, traditional
Chinese medicine, questionable pharmaceuticals included, etc...; varying
levels of effectiveness of course) to crazy conspiracy beliefs (think
infowars.com and the stuff those guys promote like the DNA Force), to
the 'cosmetics industry and their \"fairy dust\"'
(http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cosmetics-marketing-focuses-on-fairy-dust-ingredients-that-change-nothing-1.3196371)
with claims of anti-aging benefits.

For the record, of course I don't believe that we know everything there
is to know... And indeed, to believe so could make us "drop out of
learning mode" as suggested. But it is also wise to recognize where the
ambiguity lies. Even more important to recognize the -process -of
scientific exploration - and in the audiophile world, it ain't sitting
around with casual sighted listening making subjective claims without
bothering to explore why something is "obviously" better.



Archimago's Musings: (archimago.blogspot.com) A 'more objective'
audiophile blog.
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