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Demagoguery

dem·a·gogue
/ˈdeməˌgäg/
Noun
1. A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
2. (in ancient Greece and Rome) A leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people.

Winston:

The demagogues do not like it when we call their bluff. In fact, they can get downright ornery.

Take a look around and you can see the world is awash in demagoguery. The world is a subtle and complex place. It's so much easier and more comfortable just to turn off your brain and fall into line behind those -- like Dennis here -- who spin pretty fantasies and try tell you how to think and act. It's so much harder, but so much more rewarding, to take honest stock of what's going on and to use your own mind to come to your own thoughtful decisions.

The demagogue will tell you there is no difference between his methods and those of his opponent. The creationist lies (or maybe he's just too stupid to realize how full of himself he is) and proclaims that evolutionary biology is just another form of religion. But we can do better than that.

There is a fundamental difference between legitimate skepticism and demagoguery. The former is based on reason. It is supported by clearly stated assumptions and consistent chains of argument and inference. The latter is propped up on shabby presuppositions and disingenuous appeals to sentiment. This is why, looking back at the history of this asylum, you see, year after year, the purveyors of audiophool nonsense doing everything in their power to demean, and elevate themselves above, proper audio engineering.

Audio design most definitely has a subjective side, and many cause-and-effect relationships between design and sound are either not well understood at all, or are too difficult for most hobbyists to understand and control. I am not here to pass judgment on Mundorf capacitors or on people who find value in playing with expensive audiophile tweakery. I'm not here to tell you "science" proves the tweakers wrong, or has all the answers, or is even the best foundation for enjoying the DIY audio hobby. Some people talk that way, but not me. The love of hi-end audio is not a rational sentiment, so why should we be forced to pursue it rationally? Do whatever floats your boat.

And I'm not here to order you how to conduct your hobby, or to tell you my stereo is better than yours, or to influence your thinking in any way except one: I want you to think on your own, and not fall into the trap of supplicating yourself to these self-annointed charlatans just because they think highly of themselves and tell pretty stories.

Dennis (and his ilk) are here to sell you something. A fantasy. In return, they hope to get validation, prestige, influence, money -- or maybe a combination of these things. Dennis may or may not be honest. Let's give him the benefit of a doubt and say he is sincere, but reckless. And rude. Because he willfully ignores and dismisses opposing points of view that make him uncomfortable or cast him in a bad light. Because he consistently reminds us that he is better than all of us. And because so much of what he says is demonstrably, objectively wrong.

I have spent years now observing and engaging the Doctrine of Dennis. I am very comfortable saying, no matter how superficially appealing Dennis's ideas may seem, at the core his story is riddled with holes and hot air.

Yes, this is a harsh position I'm staking out. I wouldn't want you to believe me just because I'm friendly. In fact, by going out of my way to be unfriendly, I pretty much insulate myself against any accusation that I'm in this for power and influence. Postings like this are just my way of pushing back a little bit at a world that has clearly lost its senses.

You get to choose what to think, believe, and do. Good luck.

-Henry

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