Still another eps behavior question...:-)

sleeper54 · #1 02-16-2002, 02:16 PM

Hey all,

Looking for guidance.

How does the experienced rater (read you) rate reviews by younger members?
Do you allow for a 'less complete' review ?
How about spelling, grammar ?? How about...oh everything.

And yes, I have wondered 'how do I really know it's a kid?'

I think it is useful to encourage young'uns to participate.
There are many subjects where the thoughts of a youth--and I don't mean all you 20- and 30-somethings out there:-)--would be useful to me as a consumer.

How would you advise the young (teens...or younger!) user to handle her/his age in their reviews, user pages ??

As always, thanks in advance !!

sleeper54

Sordid-1 · #2 02-16-2002, 03:00 PM

Sleeper,

I would think they should be treated the same as anyone else. There are some who would disagree; there are some who give special considerations for young writers, individuals with less-than-average intelligence, and writers whose primary language is something other than English. That's fine, but, personally, I don't understand why the pieces would be rated on a curve.

I'm just one who thinks the writing should stand on its own merit, rather than on a foundation of excuses. But I'm glad when I see a young person take an interest in writing and express his/her opinion. They certainly shouldn't be discouraged from doing so, neither should they be given a free ride when it comes to effectiveness of expression or quality of ideas, either.

It's all subjective, and that's just my opinion.

eplovejoy · #3 02-16-2002, 03:08 PM

Dear Sleeper,

I think Sordid is right about rating pieces by the same criteria regardless of who wrote them.

An experienced writer who wants to encourage a newer one can do so with a comment that includes advice about how to improve both the review and any future writing. Epinions' best writers provide much of this kind of guidance.

Best wishes,
Peter

suzer · #4 02-16-2002, 08:28 PM

I agree with the others Sleeper. I would expect just as well written and detailed a review from a young writer. If English is a second language, I would allow for that to some degree.

There are many young writers on the site who write fantastic reviews, and if they weren't overt about their age, we would never know. Of course, I don't always assume they are young. It could be a ploy!

Suzi

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer

sleeper54 · #5 02-17-2002, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by suzer
--snip--
There are many young writers on the site...if they weren't overt about their age, we would never know. Of course, I don't always assume they are young. It could be a ploy!

Suzi

That's right. You never know.
Heck, I 'ployed' my way into that over-40 write-off thing...:-)

sleeper54
( "only his hairdresser knows for sure" )
.

kurt_messick · #6 02-17-2002, 08:49 AM

I try to take all such factors into account. I'm much less likely to rate poorly now that there is not a lot of point for me to do so. I'd be more likely to back out if I can't give a VH or H rating. I'll still NH blatant abuse, though.

marytara · #7 02-17-2002, 11:32 AM

Age shouldn't matter. There are great and lousy writers of all ages on the site. I rate according to the reviews helpfulness.

James23 · #8 02-17-2002, 01:57 PM

I'm not sure if I rate differently, read easier, based on age of the writer. I do know that if I am aware that the author's first language is not English, that I will often overlook small technical errors, perhaps in the same way as we all do the occaisional typo.

I travel enough, and work with those whose first language is not English both at home and abroad, to be sensitive to this issue. I'm also painfully aware of how I fracture the other languages I (barely) speak.

Often though you may not be aware of these issues when you first read the review. That is unless it is a writer you're aware of, or have arrived to it via their profile page where info regarding this may be present.

James

rich2003dm · #9 02-17-2002, 02:19 PM

I have a standard set of rating rules for newbies...even kids.

Their first ten reviews, regardless of merit, get no higher than a "Somewhat Helpful."

Their next ten will probably get mostly "Helpful" ratings.

After that, they're entitled to a "Very Helpful' on just about anything they write.

Rich (Who spent the better part of his career as an Olympic figure skating judge.)

wivabef · #10 02-17-2002, 03:58 PM

And here's Rich in his early days on the amateur skating circuit, back when figures were a mandatory part of the score.

Either that, or it's Alexei Urmanov doing Swan Lake again, with all the make up it's hard to tell.

rich2003dm · #11 02-17-2002, 04:06 PM

I hate when people dig up these old pictures of me.

The hair has a little more gray now.

But I still have the same knockout legs.

Rich

Lisa_J · #12 02-18-2002, 02:33 PM

I agree with Sordid.

Once you start making exceptions... where do you stop... is it fair to the other writers... how do you know that what the member 'says' is factual.

The intent of the site isn't to provide a playground for those not willing to strive for high quality reviews. There are sites online for that.