There’s really not much that can be added that isn’t obvious to anyone with a reasonable level of intellect; and therein lies the fundamental problem here. This would normally (and ideally) not be an issue at all if it weren’t accompanied by an equally low level of basic decorum and civility in the way that the interaction takes place. I do find fascinating and highly appropriate the "looking in the mirror" analogy; remarkable how we can fool ourselves into seeing what we want to see (instead of the truth) in order to build ourselves up.
Early on in the history of this thread I made the comment that I felt that one of the most important aspects of being a good music listener is to never lose one’s sense of humility. Iow, the music is always greater than personal ego and there is danger in identifying with it in a way that is overly self-serving and doesn’t honor the grandeur of the music. No matter one’s level or type of experience in or with the music there is always much more to learn. The danger in not respecting this reality is the stunning level of irrationality and hypocracy demonstrated here by those who cannot bear to consider the possibility that someone else may have a different way of approaching the listening experience; or, God forbid!, some level of insight that eludes them.
Early on in the history of this thread I made the comment that I felt that one of the most important aspects of being a good music listener is to never lose one’s sense of humility. Iow, the music is always greater than personal ego and there is danger in identifying with it in a way that is overly self-serving and doesn’t honor the grandeur of the music. No matter one’s level or type of experience in or with the music there is always much more to learn. The danger in not respecting this reality is the stunning level of irrationality and hypocracy demonstrated here by those who cannot bear to consider the possibility that someone else may have a different way of approaching the listening experience; or, God forbid!, some level of insight that eludes them.