I never look at the new review list... I no bad me, I can just about keep up with alerts and reading most of the new DVD reviews!

I try and keep up with alerts, as well as checking out new members when I can. I do feel sorry in some respects for white dots, as some people automatically ignore their reviews. Of course and it applys to any dot colour, if the same member constantly writes short txt reviews which are usually a rant then I'll ignore their's in the future.

We all went through being ignored when we were white - and to be fair it's probably the best thing. My early reviews were awful - I'm really glad that nobody read them.

And no, I don't feel the slightest big guilty for not reading many newbies. They'll thank me for it later when they don't have a bit stack of SH's.

Life's too short to read rubbish

yes good point there, most of the DVD reviews i read from new members get SH or NH ... so imagine how much more hated i would be if i read even more

Like I said it is a shame in some incidences as I've come across some good reviews by newbies who actively read/rate others, but don't get them in return because they're white dots.
Also I notice that while a member gets rates from various coloured dots, you'll notice sometimes that they'll receive quite a few rates from members the same colour as them. Lisa x

There certainly are/have been some great white dot reviewers. I would say that in the DVD section I come across one for about every 20 I read.
And Ithink it is the case that you do 'pal' up with people who start around the same time as you at first. When I first started there were about 5 or 6 of use who used to chat all the time in the GBs

If you are a great white dot, you don't stay white for long. And people who like what you do will go back and have a look at your early stuff later on.

Why isn't there a blue option?

I wonder why they were brought in, in the first place. I've noticed more and more recently that higher dots for example are getting a higher percentage of 'E' ratings, even though they've clearly stated they've only owned the product for barely 5 minutes. Lisa x

Dots were brought in way back in 2001 to soften the blow when Ciao reduced their payments per read from 3p across the board to only paying for some categories.

Well those with colour dots higher up the ladder tend to pick up favourable ratings, especially from those getting adjusted to the site - they see these members as being established so they must be doing something right (though it might not be the case).

Not really the fault of the high colour dot member and more down to new members (and some not so new!!) wanting to suck up to members.

It will always happen, it doesnt bother me because I dont see how you can police it 100%.

I dont even think it is true..!

If anything, all the lower ratings on "established member" reviews are from newer members, (i.e. white and green members) not older ones...

Like everything else, there's an element of truth to it, but it's probably unfair to make that sweeping generalisation that higher dot colours get better ratings.

Some do/did. They went out of their way to court people and reaped the benefits of forming these relationships. However, this behaviour started when they were new to the site. If you get enough people E-ing you, then the sheep follow suit. These people didn't suddenly start getting Es because they had turned bronze or whatever.

Plus, you're dealing with a site full of mentalists that have absolutely no concept of peer review and are too busy leaving each other GB messages to worry about review or rating integrity.

I mis-read one of the posts (again) - certainly new members may not give favourable ratings though they might pick up on bad practices unfortunately. Anyway each to their own rating but I don't consider how well a review is rated, since it is negated by the member types pointed out by CFM.