On Tue, 2006-02-28 at 14:19 -0800, Maluvia wrote:
> In fact, this is a good place to mention something I have noticed for a
> long time on these lists:
> There seems to be an attitude prevalent among some of the long-time members
> here of - shall we say - 'impatience' with newcomers - especially those who
> are not of the programmer variety.
> I have seen newcomers post on these lists (I mean here all 4 of them), with
> great enthusiasm and excitement - happy to have discovered Linux Audio or
> Ardour, full of eager, albeit 'newbie', questions or problems, and have
> seen a number of them treated with irritation, sometimes bordering on open
> contempt and disdain.
> I honestly don't think you realize how you often sound to others - and
> since I am already in disfavor, I have nothing to lose by bringing it up
> now.
>
I came in here as a stone cold newbie asking stupid questions and
was given friendly, courteous advice that helped me get going. I don't
see this bias that you are talking about. If anything I see the
opposite.
> But I have also come to recognize a behavior we both have - which may be
> universal - where there is an *initial* tendency to think that anything
> that sounds different sounds better, or whatever sounds louder sounds
> 'better'. (Kind of like the Pepsi challenge thing, I guess.)
> But we are well aware of this tendency, and you can get past it and train
> yourself to listen more carefully - to specific frequency bands, for
> example, or specific effect paramaters, etc. etc. and eventually get to a
> more objective headspace with your listening.
> Certainly part of the challenge of the art and science of being an audio
> engineer.
>
I think you're absolutely right on this one. It's pretty much a
universal behavior and *really* difficult to overcome.
> I was interested in trying to become a more active participant in the
> community, but it is feeling rather hostile and counterproductive.
Just because it stirs things up doesn't mean it's hostile (or
counterproductive for that matter). It's very difficult to tell
someone's feelings/attitude from an email. We've had plenty of flaming
threads on this list (I think I may have been involved in one or two
myself - nah, couldn't have been me ;-)
--
Jan 'Evil Twin' Depner
The Fuzzy Dice
http://myweb.cableone.net/eviltwin69/fuzzy.html
"As we enjoy great advantages from the invention of others, we should be
glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and
this we should do freely and generously."
Benjamin Franklin, on declining patents offered by the governor of
Pennsylvania for his "Pennsylvania Fireplace", c. 1744
