[warrenpchi]

  You see a gentleman of seemingly great statute and importance sitting at the bar, surrounded by women. In his hand is a cigarette, and the ad is centered around making that cigarette appear to be the reason behind his awesomeness. Case in point, the Dos Equis ad campaign.

 
And yet, strangely enough, the most interesting man in the world does not make me want to buy beer at all, or even drink beer, much less Dos Equis brand beer.
 
But even if he did, I would not blame him for having bought beer myself.  It would have been my choice, my decision, and I would have then taken responsibility for it.  In applying this to others, I believe that people buy gear because they wanted that gear.  To my knowledge, no one here has bought gear at gunpoint, or under an equally compelling form of distress or coercion.  And so they should take responsibility for having made the choice to buy that gear.  IOW, as grown adults, we control our actions, do we not?
 
Now, if you're trying to assert that some people cannot help themselves, and MUST compulsively buy gear, then I would agree that there is probably a mental condition involved there.  And that mental condition has a name.  But that name is not Head-Fi, or even this hobby at large.

 

[gikigill]

So why does Headfi run so many advertisments?
 
Whats the modus operandi for all these ads? Why would you deface a forum with ads?

 

[warrenpchi]

  So why does Headfi run so many advertisments?
 
Whats the modus operandi for all these ads? Why would you deface a forum with ads?

I would imagine that it generates revenue to help keep the site running.  Are you implying that such ads are there to compel someone to buy something?  If so, then seriously, I just have to ask... who are these weak willed people that can't even resist an ad, and who must buy something as a result of seeing one?  And BTW, weak willed or not, they are still responsible for having made the choice to purchase whatever they saw in the ad in question, are they not?
 
Sorry guys, I'm just not buying into this viewpoint.  I think that if people have a decent sense of self-discipline and personal responsibility, they can easily avoid buying the next FOTM ad nauseum.  I do it all the time, so I know it's certainly possible, and not even particularly difficult to resist an ad.  If I choose to purchase gear, like I did recently in purchasing a Liquid Carbon, then it's on me - and the thought of blaming someone else or holding someone else culpable for a personal decision that I made sounds, well, crazy.

 

[ardgedee]

Sorry I started this. Let's change the subject.

 

[compoopers]

As far as recent releases go, I recently purchased Distant Worlds III, the latest in a series of orchestrated Final Fantasy albums, conducted by Arnie Roth. Like all of the other releases, this one contains a handful of tracks that I find lacking in dynamic range, versus how I feel each track should sound, but equalization and overall sound is brilliant on this release and the track selection was more exciting compared to all but the live recorded Distant Worlds Returning Home, which also included a couple of unexpected surprises.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed by it, and I listen to it at least once a week, about two months after purchasing it.

Waiting for May 4, to receive my pre-ordered copy of Special Effects by Tech N9ne, as well, and may report back on that after I've given it a couple of listens.

Oh man... I'd kill to see the Distant Worlds tour. I have I and II and I listen to them all the time. Fabulous recordings of some of my favorite OSTs. I'd love to be able to hear "Dancing Mad" and "Fisherman's Horizon" live just once. Would also pay to hear Sagisu Shirou's Evangelion tracks live. 

Just wanted to say, I've just gotten my DW3 album and I'm about to listen to it, very excited. I just finished playing Final Fantasy X for the first time and it was such a beautiful game with a score to match. In the past year, I've played 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 (dropped 9, didn't like it much) for the first times and it was has been a holy experience in story telling and wonderful music.

I'd urge you to check out "Final Symphony" which was released this year as well. It has some very fantastic arrangements of songs from VI, VII, and X.

Also, I completely agree that I would pay to see Distant Worlds as well as Evangelion live. I like your taste.

===

In other news, I received my Xiaomi Piston 3's. I think they are some of the best sounding IEMs I've heard, especially for the price. I'm very happy and will probably continue ordering more when they inevitably break. On another note, my Sony MDR-Z1000s are still broken from last year. I'm just a bit too lazy to figure out how to solder on a new plug... lol.

===

I hope everyone is doing well. I read Coq's post and it was very scary, I hope things are okay. Life and death and mental health are such misunderstood and sensitive topics. I am also struggling with some issues on emotions. I am not sure if it's a real diagnosis of mental disorder or not, but I understand how hard it can be to keep your mind in control. Right now, my roommates think I am mad at them, but it's just because I haven't been very talkative, because I don't like the person that I became over this last year and have retreated to myself. I guess I'll solve that problem soon... I definitely have had suicidal thoughts a few times in the past year. I always try to check myself, and stop them when they happen because they're so scary and bad, but it's difficult sometimes. In that sense, I can see where Coq comes from.

I'm glad this thread is still around. I believe I first started going on it when I was around 18 in high school. It's been almost 4 years.

 

[C.C.S.]

Just wanted to say, I've just gotten my DW3 album and I'm about to listen to it, very excited. I just finished playing Final Fantasy X for the first time and it was such a beautiful game with a score to match. In the past year, I've played 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 (dropped 9, didn't like it much) for the first times and it was has been a holy experience in story telling and wonderful music.

I'd urge you to check out "Final Symphony" which was released this year as well. It has some very fantastic arrangements of songs from VI, VII, and X.

 
If you think you could put yourself up to it, you should give FFIX another shot someday. Having played FF, FFIII, FFIV, FFVI, FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFX and FFXII, as well as Tactics and a couple of other spinoff titles, I can say that I haven't enjoyed any title in the series half as much as Final Fantasy IX. FFIX is the only game in the Final Fantasy series, thus far, that competes with the Persona series and the best Kingdom Hearts titles, as far as my favourite JRPGs are concerned. Hopefully FFXV is ready to fix that, once it finally releases. I know its soundtrack, at least, will be the best in the series.
 
I'll try to put Final Symphony into my rotation sometime soon. I think that the only arrangements in the Distant Worlds series that aren't very good are some of the more intense pieces from Final Fantasy VII, so if it has better arrangements of some of those, then I will have to give it a listen at some point.

 

[eke2k6]

   
 
Now, if you're trying to assert that some people cannot help themselves, and MUST compulsively buy gear, then I would agree that there is probably a mental condition involved there.  And that mental condition has a name.  But that name is not Head-Fi, or even this hobby at large.

 
Interesting that you choose a single paragraph out of the many I wrote, just because it doesn't apply to you. You simply aren't the commercial's target audience. marketing 101.
 
Either way, I'll just quote part of my post again in case you missed it, and end my argument there.
 

 Theres a continuous cycle with consumerism, one that directly feeds the behavior/reward pathways of the brain and causes associations. Acquiring a new piece of gear here earns you virtual pats on the back, and a feeling of belonging. You are congratulated, and asked for your opinion on this gear. Your thoughts are partly responsible for leading a person to believe this new piece of gear will make him happier as a whole. This fleeting sense of elation is fed by complex, yet simple neurrochemical pathways in the brain.

It is this same pathway that plays a part in training a child. You reward good behavior, lighting up the nucleus accumbens of the brain. In these circles, consumerism is regarded as good behavior, and rewarded with things I mentioned earlier.

 

[DigitalFreak]

Moral of the story, we all hate being diluged by advertising in everyday life and rampant consumerism

 

[james444]

  So why does Headfi run so many advertisments?
 
Whats the modus operandi for all these ads? Why would you deface a forum with ads?

  I would imagine that it generates revenue to help keep the site running.  Are you implying that such ads are there to compel someone to buy something?

 
Sorry, just couldn't resist...

 

WIKIA ACQUIRES HUDDLER - EXPANDS TECHNOLOGY, TEAM, AND LIFESTYLE AUDIENCE IN COMMUNITIES FOR SUPERFANS

Acquisition Sets Momentum for Future Fan Commerce
San Francisco – May 22, 2014 – Wikia, the social universe of fandom and the ultimate source for powerful and relevant expertise in pop culture, entertainment and games, has announced the acquisition of Huddler, a San Francisco-based technology company representing a collection of enthusiast sites with roots in retail and affiliate advertising. With the acquisition, Wikia gains integrated commerce technologies, key talent, and numerous community-driven sites to further its already strong presence within lifestyle communities such as fashion, technology, and outdoors.

 
WIKIA Audience Targeting Guide: link
 

  Let's change the subject.

 
Agreed!

 

[C.C.S.]

I don't know if anyone in the thread is a Tech N9ne fan, but I've listened to Special Effects in its entirety twice now, and while my opinion isn't fully formed, I must say that I quite like this one. It sounds very much like a sequel to his best album, KOD. If only it employed older mastering practices from classic hip-hop albums, like 36 Chambers or Illadelph Halflife. Loud and compressed doesn't do it any favors.

 

[Mimouille]

  I don't know if anyone in the thread is a Tech N9ne fan, but I've listened to Special Effects in its entirety twice now, and while my opinion isn't fully formed, I must say that I quite like this one. It sounds very much like a sequel to his best album, KOD. If only it employed older mastering practices from classic hip-hop albums, like 36 Chambers or Illadelph Halflife. Loud and compressed doesn't do it any favors.

Last thing I have is All 6's and 7's. Pretty good too.

 

[C.C.S.]

All 6's And 7's isn't too bad. My major problem with most of Tech's albums is that they don't really sound coherent and don't have many good tracks aside from the singles. KOD and Special Effects are the ones that are best about this, in my opinion. They both feel like Tech really worked on the album as a whole, instead of on polishing a handful of really strong singles.

 

[Mimouille]

All 6's And 7's isn't too bad. My major problem with most of Tech's albums is that they don't really sound coherent and don't have many good tracks aside from the singles. KOD and Special Effects are the ones that are best about this, in my opinion. They both feel like Tech really worked on the album as a whole, instead of on polishing a handful of really strong singles.

I like him but his flow is pretty constant and aggressive so I tire after a while. Will check these albums though.

 

[Silent One]

 

I would imagine that it generates revenue to help keep the site running.  Are you implying that such ads are there to compel someone to buy something?  If so, then seriously, I just have to ask... who are these weak willed people that can't even resist an ad, and who must buy something as a result of seeing one?  And BTW, weak willed or not, they are still responsible for having made the choice to purchase whatever they saw in the ad in question, are they not?
 
Sorry guys, I'm just not buying into this viewpoint.  I think that if people have a decent sense of self-discipline and personal responsibility, they can easily avoid buying the next FOTM ad nauseum.  I do it all the time, so I know it's certainly possible, and not even particularly difficult to resist an ad.  If I choose to purchase gear, like I did recently in purchasing a Liquid Carbon, then it's on me - and the thought of blaming someone else or holding someone else culpable for a personal decision that I made sounds, well, crazy.

 You bought...
...a Liquid Carbon?
 

 Your extended break-in specialist at your service. Congrats on your purchase. Maybe I hear it this Spring...

 

[DigitalFreak]

 You bought...
...a Liquid Carbon?

 Your extended break-in specialist at your service. Congrats on your purchase. Maybe I hear it this Spring...

Ahem, he's not the only one. I blame Warren for my audio nuttery