I read and post on a
lot of forums and I can tell you the process of comparison, especially of guitarists, leads to a lot of opinionated, emotion based, dialog that is often one-sided in discussion.
We all have favorites and we know why we like them, when newcomers or trolls kick in, then we get upset and defend our heroes, rightly so.
It is the nature of mankind to disagree and generally not get along, for the most part and regarding topics so emotionally charged such as music and musicians, invites this sort of combat if you will.
It is a double edged sword in many ways.
I personally won't say anything through a keyboard that I would not say to anyones face, it's not like the road rage where the little man becomes the big man, behind the wheel, not for me anyway.
I have little tolerance for those who say one thing, but really think quite differently, in what I do for a living, brutal honesty is required and frankly, expecting that of others, is a sure road to dissapointment.
I derive the most enjoyment from being able to use my experience and knowledge, to assist other newer, players who are coming up and passing the baton, so to speak to them. Having experiences and learning things over many years, often the hard way, allows me to share what I know, or else what is the use of having this knowledge.
The more I read the experiences of others, the more I personally learn and realize, that I always have so much more to learn.
A great life lived, surely must end when we discover the true meaning of happiness and life and then die!
Sometimes, it seems to take a whole lifetime to learn anything, but time spent learning, without injecting our prejudices, is surely the time best spent. For if one thing is for sure, there is too little time for us all if we continue to live it in a constant state of depression or unfulfilledness.
So without sounding like Yoda here, I find, the older I become, that not making the same old mistakes, is one of the keys to the enjoyment of life.
Sure we can all get the best guitars and amps out there, but oftentimes, they can become just another useless possesion and not serve their true purpose, that's what is cool about old things, if they were used to their potential (amps, guitars), then the new owner benefits from that vibe.
I like it here at Metro amp forum, because I learn so much from my friends here and experience a sort of internet community that is extremely rare.
So if Eric Clapton mostly wasted his life and squandered his God given talent, surely the tragedy and unhappiness he feels, are a direct result.
There is only one entity or person if you will, that you have to make happy or please, and it's not yourself or another human, and the times that I touch on that feeling, only if so briefly, every so often, then my life has been a success and that is truly playing on the greatest stage we can imagine.
yngwie308 'grasshopper'
). He had to take a leak and didn't want to go through security so he took a piss on the White House lawn! Before you know it a SWAT officer in camo jumped out of the bushes with an M16 pointing at Clapton's head. "FREEZE!" 
