WHY DO SOME AUDIOPHILES THINK YOU ARE BRAGGING WHEN YOU ARE SHARING?

@calvinj : just give it a rest for a decade or so, and your worries shall fade away... I used to mention/brag about my top-of-the-line Naim Audio "olive series" kit 10+ years ago, nowadays I just do not care if anyone else wants to comment: this is my "final destination"... until I head for retirement home and shall downgrade onto Pono player...
I suggest re-reading Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy: its subtitle "do not worry" is priceless!!!
As I've already mentioned elsewhere, me attending LA Opera sometimes is a bummer when their A/C is malfunctioning of if I cheaped-out on the seating. But LP12 into Naim amplification and SBLs (as in my profile): they never let me down :-)

@calvinj ...Happy to oblige....

BTW & FWIW...."CJ" was referring to Conrad Johnson, not your initials.....

Sure

Audiogon has become a place like Facebook and twitter where it has become one giant episode of mean girls. It has become a place where instead of sharing and taking information to use in the hobby people automatically think you are bragging and showing off.  In turn they will quickly let you know that because you are an idiot because you paid too much or didn’t pay enough. There are different levels of experience, knowledge and dedication in this hobby that we all need to respect.  I come on to share in hopes of helping others gain from the experiences I have had and to gain from others. I wish all of you the best no matter you can and can’t afford or are willing to pay. Everyone thinks they got it figured out until they realize they don’t!

Well, I think anyone approaching any internet forum on any subject needs to be a little thick skinned. Its just the world out there and the world can be a mean place.

I think better communication skills would help us all.

I often ask for help on some subject and fail to put my issue in perspective. Subsequently I'll get advice that entails spending thousands of dollars when I'm trying to spend next to nothing. It is perfectly sound advice but not relevant to my needs and budget which I failed to reveal.

Now, when that happens my reaction is NOT to think they are bragging or showing off and quite frankly that has never crossed my mind. I might think they are out of touch with my reality and needs but that does not imply anything wrong with them. I might even think they are nuts for suggesting a $3750 dollar used phono cartridge or a cable burner.....but will acknowledge that in my inexperience I can't say anything objective about such devices/measures.

Plus, we're all free to be nuts about our hobby. I think it helps if we understand and acknowledge that we're nuts and that our chosen form of insanity might not be for everyone.