Let me remind you of the Original post
I have read of such medical studies before, but a recent short summary in the link above.
I think they are extreme examples of how powerful, far reaching, and the high level of influence placebo and nocebo effects have upon the human organism. So many wish to trust their ears and ignore how powerful such effects are that it has created a schism like having this one forum among dozens here in order to cut down on the deeply felt disagreements inherent in the high end of the hobby as it is. Having been one of those people for years I get it, been there, done that whatever.
Commonly, those who don't see the need or benefit in scrupulously protecting yourself from fooling yourself or simply being fooled imagine those on the other side to have some deficiency in our hearing, our gear etc. What I find is rather these are people who have had experience where clearly their golden ears betrayed them. They have personal experience of how wrong that can be due to expectation bias, and placebo. It quickly becomes apparent how rampant that is in the high end audio business. In my own experience it was a very uncomfortable feeling for quite some time. But dammit I wanted to really know the truth.
Yet sticking with simple facts, appropriate use of measurements, and studying psycho-physical effects upon our hobby of music reproduction, I find it exceptionally difficult to find forums where you can simply do that. Facts aren't, touchy feely emotional connections trump it all, and we aren't supposed to comment if we haven't heard whatever is under discussion, even when there isn't anything to hear. I like no doubt plenty of others, have been banned a few times for very innocuous factual comments that simply didn't go down well with those wishing to believe in magic. Just recently I was 'chided' by Steve Williams for suggesting a couple of ways to find out what is inside of a sealed box you aren't allowed to open. Claiming I was being insincere, inflammatory and sarcastic when nothing of the sort was true.
So I guess this is something of a rant. And a question in approaches that others have found useful to get the points across. No matter how factually correct one might be, if you can't convince anyone else, can't communicate that to others, then your knowledge has limited usefulness.
I have the experience more than once, of convincing people much of what they thought was different was only bias and placebo. We are talking hands on, comfortable events to show what was going on. Those people recognized the truth of it, and yet, they were so uncomfortable it makes only marginal difference in their approach to music reproduction. In particular situations they acknowledge the rightness of how things work, yet want the magic, the mystery and the self developed acolyte role in this hobby so much they can't really let go of it.
So, comments and thoughts????
It has nothing to do with actual measurements and all to do with an attack on anyone with any subjective opinion.. and you squeal about the fact that subjectivists respond in a measurement forum..IT WAS AIMED AT THEM!!!!!
The first one to say "trust your ears" or any variant of that is the OP....
