But I want you to tell me what to write, WAHHHHHH!

[roymeo]

If you write a review that I think sucks, I'm going to give you a NH.

I may not leave a comment.

I may not respond to your email.

I may NH you and then get hit by a car and die AND THAT NH WILL STAY THERE FOR AS LONG AS YOUR REVIEW DOES.


"But, Golly roymeo, wouldn't it be nice to get some feedback?"

Sure it would.

But in rating a review, I'm entering a contract with epinons that I've read and believe I am fairly rating a review. I am NEVER entering a contract with you as to helping you write your review.

Educate yourself.


roymeo
(maybe it's just that I'm an artist-type and a programmer-type, so my entire life is about putting things in front of people to be critically examined, and looked at for flaws and weaknesses (like being an obnoxious, abrasive wanker online...oops) and so that sort of harsh line is something I've dealt with for a long time. I'm still not going to help every single person, I'm still not going to buy art I don't like because I owe it to a person by looking at their work.)

[Dani257]

Well, this is just me. I reserve NH's for only abusive, off topic, stolen (not even trying with the p word) or duplicate reviews. When it's obviously an NH, I don't bother commenting. The few exceptions I can think of is if someone writes a good review that's off topic and the writer is new, than I assume they may not know the correct place, and I will probably leave a comment.

Now, compared to some people I'm a soft rater when it comes to the SH. If it's on topic, that pretty much guarantees at least a n SH, regardless of how poorly written. (It has to be absolute dreck. It has to make me want to run screaming from the room to rate an NH if the review is on topic) I always try to leave a comment on the SH's. Exceptions are when someone else has said exactly what I planned to say (usually because my standard comment is always more detail), or when I see the same person has already written 10 or 20 poor reviews that other people have commented on and obviously, they weren't listening.

[suzer]

Roymeo, I agree, we aren't supposed to actually rewrite the review for members, but helpful comments on the review, and a response to a reasonable, polite email? Isn't that our "job"?

[gransurfer1]

roymeo, you wrote:

But in rating a review, I'm entering a contract with epinons that I've read and believe I am fairly rating a review. I am NEVER entering a contract with you as to helping you write your review.

When rating a review you have entered into a contract with epinons? What contract is that? The one where they told you you would get .03c per view, or the .01c per view?

A contract is only as good as the parties involved. Seems to me our 1st loyalty should be to the Community of Writers who work their butts off writing and rating reviews.

No one is asking anyone to write their review for them (well, maybe a few) But most New Members have little idea how to go about writing a good review.

I'm not talking about the ones who have written 4 or more bad reviews and haven't gotten 'it' or don't plan on getting 'it'.

Still, if you feel it is not your responsibility to leave a comment, that is ok with me. But, I will continue to.

Of course this is why the whole business of rating is cock-eyed. No set standards. If I rate a review VH and you rate the review SH it doesn't have to mean that I rated the review high because the person who wrote it was a friend or in my WOT. Just that it was helpful to me as a consumer and it wasn't helpful to you

Wonder what would happen if everyone rated every review the same way all the time?

Food for thought?

[suzer]

Right on, GS1!!!

We need more people like you on epinions!

[LorinSilver]

I usually explain why an apparently good review is only rated "Helpful" by me. Reviews that I rate SH get an explanation if the reviewer is a newbie - I used to be like that too, and I'm glad for all the hints I got.

The few reviews that I rate Not Helpful only get an explanation if it's stolen; that way other people who read my comment will understand why I gave it that rating, and can (or not, as they choose) give the review the rating it deserves.

LorinSilver

[dlbrantley]

Once upon a time I wrote a review about a wonderful diaper bag and all that it contained. It received dozens of VH and one H. The explanation? "I breastfeed and use cloth diapers so your diaper bag does nothing to help me"

Umm hello? Why in the hell where you looking at diaper bag reviews if you aren't even interested in USING them? And she was looking.. it was well off the Just In list and sitting quietly a few down the list of this particular brand.

So I wrote a response and pointed out that even breastfeeding moms who use cloth diapers have a need for a diaper bag such as this. After all, you still need to carry those cloth diapers, wipes, and plastic pants around.. or how about those toys, extra change of clothes, or cell phone?

I then e-mailed her and explained it to her in an e-mail. I think I argued my point rather well. She never answered her e-mail and she never made an attempt to reply to my comments OR change her rating.

Now THAT annoys me. You don't leave a lame excuse on one of my reviews and then bolt without any intent to change your review if I make your reasoning empty.

I have another about discipline..middle of the road and received a few Hs but several VHs. Then this certain someone who has spread her ratings around Epinions based on her PERSONAL thoughts (instead of rating by Epinions standards)..rating all that she disagrees with NH and all that she loves (ain't much) VH came along. She rated me NH because she didn't believe in discipline period. Obviously she's not a parent because no one can go through parenting without punishing their child in SOME manner SOMETIME in their life.

You've got thousands and thousands of people on Epinions that rate you fairly and listen to reason when you give it..changing or explaining why they still won't change. But it's the handful of freaks who don't know how to play the game fairly that throw a monkey wrench into the whole plan.

Danielle - who is just plain bitter today