Are lengthy reviews always the best?

helencbradshaw · Subject: Re: Are lengthy reviews always the best? Thu 16 Nov 2006, 01:17

Thingywhatsit wrote:

Let's not get this thread any more specific please. I do understand. I gave someone a VH and they demanded an E in my private guestbook. I ignored their plea.

Yeah, sorry about that Rachel.. Twisted Evil

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Thingywhatsit · Admin Number of posts: 5842 Age: 57 Registration date: 2006-02-12

LOL to you Helen ! I thought for a moment you had been undiplomatic and I had to read the whole blimmin thread cos I knew you wouldn'y ask for an E

fizzywizzy · Number of posts: 728 Age: 37 Registration date: 2006-10-26

lisa2062 wrote:

Exactly! It's like a book review, all I mainly want to read is what the book is about, and what the reviewers opinion of it. I don't want to read streams and streams about the author, and quotes from the book for example. Lisa x

I think it can be very useful to have relevent and short quotes from a book,especially if the writing style is particularly worth noting.

fizzywizzy · Number of posts: 728 Age: 37 Registration date: 2006-10-26

Furthermore, I am not convinced that people are telling the truth about this subject. I think the trend is to rate these reviews as E but to moan about them privately later.

I know my travel reviews are long but i try to cram in as much personal experience and opinion as I can. I would only include the bare minimum of historical detail in a review but acknowledge that there are people who will write about every person who ever lived in a castle and a room by room account of the experience of visiting it. It pretty much spils it for me - what would there be left to discover for oneself?

duskmaiden · Subject: Re: Are lengthy reviews always the best? Thu 16 Nov 2006, 12:36

Thingywhatsit wrote:

Let's not get this thread any more specific please. I do understand. I gave someone a VH and they demanded an E in my private guestbook. I ignored their plea.

God damanding an E. That's a bit much!! Perhaps we sghould stop ratitng ll together and just let the review sites that has a little compute with a little formula, Subject, length of words minus waffle!! I'm sure Duskman would come up with one

berlioz · Subject: Re: Are lengthy reviews always the best? Thu 16 Nov 2006, 14:16

fizzywizzy wrote:

Furthermore, I am not convinced that people are telling the truth about this subject. I think the trend is to rate these reviews as E but to moan about them privately later.

But then what's the point in being a member on a forum if you can't complain? Shocked

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fizzywizzy · Number of posts: 728 Age: 37 Registration date: 2006-10-26

What I'm trying to say is that people follow the heard or even feel obliged to give Es but then they come here and moan about the long reviews when they could have rated as they really felt.

marandina · Number of posts: 736 Location: Northampton Registration date: 2006-04-01

This is true, after all that's what ratings are there for? My point earlier wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. I just think that travel ops don't really need a big piece around, for example, the history of a castle etc although a couple of lines might help to set context. It's a bit like a book review where a few lines about an author helps but a potted history detracts from the review of the book.

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badcompany77 · Number of posts: 189 Location: Belfast Registration date: 2006-07-12

I am normally put off a review if it is way too long but in some cases depending on the topic you cant get away with writing a short review. I do skim and before anyone butts in saying I skim everything I dont. I can skim a long review and still take in everything about the review, tisan art I guess...

But hey if long reviews arent yer thing then dont read them, if my reviews arent to your liking same thing, dont read em. I READ only things that interest me or sometimes if I have time I will check out the odd newbie. I know, I just am a caring sort of guy...

Jeeez this comment has got long and boring hasnt it and to be honest I have even forgot what I am replying to. I am gonna just sneak off now Sad

helencbradshaw · Subject: Re: Are lengthy reviews always the best? Thu 16 Nov 2006, 16:47

Like Mara, I try and put a couple of lines in for context, and to whet the readers appetite to discover more e.g. travel, new author etc. After all there is not much point repeating what can be found on the WWW.

I also think skimming is a pretty normal thing to do. Who reads the paper cover to cover, para for para, but we can all still get a grip on the news, I assume. (So I am agreeing with you there Art, but by agreeing I am therefore disagreeing that it is an art...!) affraid

'Tis funny though, I wrote a really long review recently and expected to get slated for length, but really felt there was nothing to remove from it, and I didnt, got overall E, first time ever! queen

(Proving no one reads anything Laughing

)

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berlioz · Subject: Re: Are lengthy reviews always the best? Thu 16 Nov 2006, 19:45

I find myself too lazy to write short reviews and therefore often end up with 1500 – 1800 worders. It is a curse I am doomed to bare. Sad

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“The Harada Twins were identical in almost every way,
yet they were totally different in almost every aspect.”

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Minnitee · Subject: Re: Are lengthy reviews always the best? Thu 16 Nov 2006, 20:39

fizzywizzy wrote:

Furthermore, I am not convinced that people are telling the truth about this subject. I think the trend is to rate these reviews as E but to moan about them privately later.

I decided not to rate E at all and if I feel a review is worthy money from the premium fund I use the 'recommend product' button and send the email to Ciao with my explanation. I think that counts for more than E ratings as they can see why I recommended it.

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Thingywhatsit · Admin Number of posts: 5842 Age: 57 Registration date: 2006-02-12

yeh I find that button more effective than an E

fizzywizzy · Number of posts: 728 Age: 37 Registration date: 2006-10-26

People who are fairly active on Ciao but may not come here will probably not knw about that button though....it was a revelation to me some time ago

Thingywhatsit · Admin Number of posts: 5842 Age: 57 Registration date: 2006-02-12

We keep telling people but they seem to forget about it.