Several years ago, before the current Internet craze, we stumbled across a computer bulletin board pseudo debate about the benefits of coating the outside edge of a Compact Disc with a green magic marker.

We suspect that everyone, at one time or another, has participated in one of these mock debates where a false, absurd position is defended. "Big Kids" often carry on one of these debates for the benefit of eavesdropping younger, less experienced listeners in an attempt to sucker the youngsters into engaging in some embarrassing, ridiculous behavior. We all had a good laugh. Unfortunately, we didn't know that someone was listening.

The following month products started appearing on the market spouting our invented claims and the Green Magic Marker became imbedded in the audio folklore. Every few months we see an online discussion group explode to debate the issue. The discussion usually starts with an innocent bystander asking if there is any merit to the idea followed by a deluge of hostile exchanges between warring respondents. The "Golden Ears" snip that if one can't hear the benefits, don't call yourself an audiophile; while the scientific types are incredulous that anyone could do anything but laugh at the claim.

There must be a moral here somewhere.