[request/rant] To all reviewers, amateur and pro...

[trancejeremy]

Personally, I think wanting to know whether or not it was a review copy essentially questions a reviewer's integrity.

Threads like this are why you don't see many fan reviews. It's simply not worth the crap you have to put up with...

 

[Turjan]

Personally, I think wanting to know whether or not it was a review copy essentially questions a reviewer's integrity.

Actually, I don't think so. If you really think about the work that is involved in reviews, as stated above numerous times, I don't think that the "benefits" of getting free product outweigh the work of having to review product you never would have bought yourself. I can see this kind of conflict of interest with websites that live on advertisements and "Buy this book here" links of the product they review (and there have been sites like that around), but not with independent reviewers like here on EN world.

The question doesn't target integrity but bias. It just helps understand where the review comes from, and that's about it.


EDIT: I'd just like to add that, personally, I couldn't care less. I have read so many reviews by the staff reviewers (and some others ) that I know how to read them .

 

[amethal]

I'd just like to add that, personally, I couldn't care less. I have read so many reviews by the staff reviewers (and some others ) that I know how to read them .

I am the same.

I find Crothian's reviews to be the most useful to me, since our opinions of products are usually similar. Its a shame he does so few reviews

I have to be more cautious with Psion's reviews, since sometimes he likes products more than I do, but this isn't a criticism, just a difference of opinion.

On the other hand, John Cooper is more concerned about the accuracy of stat blocks than I am, so I often mentally add a star to his rating.

However, all the staff reviewers give enough detail in their reviews for me to draw my own conclusions about the product. For example, in a review of Heroes of Horror (sorry, can't remember who reviewed it) the reviewer explained how he found the idea of the Demigod Cas to be pretty silly, and gave reasons. Its easy enough for me to consider those reasons and see if I agree with the conclusion.

I couldn't care less whether they got a free copy, whether the publisher thinks they are biased in his favour, if they'd rather be playing OD&D, or if they think White Wolf can do no wrong; so long as the review is detailed enough for me to draw my own conclusions I don't need to know any of the external stuff.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

Personally, I think wanting to know whether or not it was a review copy essentially questions a reviewer's integrity.

While I agree with Turjan's response that the main question is bias, not integrity, I will concede that this can also be a question. In fact, I mentioned earlier in the thread that I could be taken as questioning Crothian's integrety or opening it up for others to question it. While that was not my intent, I completely understand why you may feel that way.

See, this has become a bit sticky for me, because my main intent was to point out that including method of acquisition COULD be helpful. Not that it is always helpful, or that everyone will find value in it.

Before this topic was brought up, this was not something that most people even considered, but now it is in a public place and some of the folks who didn't think about this before may start questioning honest reviews. For that, I do apologize. My intent was not to highlight and put the focus on such a minor detail, but I thought that bringing up an argument and not following through would be bad form on my part.

So, allow me to say - THIS IS NOT A MAJOR POINT (but including the information wouldn't hurt)...

I believe that I have stated and restated my points on this topic, so I will now bow out. My intent was never to convince anyone to agree with my opinion, only that it is a valid opinion and is shared by others.

Thank you all for the friendly conversation and I hope that no hard feelings were had by any.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Hmm... This seems to have turned into an actual productive conversation. I hereby withdraw my request to have the thread closed, at least for the time being.

Noted

 

[JoeGKushner]

Also, just because not everyone has piped in does not mean that they all find things okay. Just because I didn't raise my hand when I was in class doesn't mean that I didn't know the answer. Some don't have a strong opinion, some don't care, some don't agree with me and some just haven't posted (they are on vacation, they don't have anything new to add, they don't want to get into a debate, etc.).

Alas, the mind reading machine doesn't work. People want change, just as with the Ennies themselves, pipe up.

 

[eyebeams]

Personally, I think wanting to know whether or not it was a review copy essentially questions a reviewer's integrity.

Threads like this are why you don't see many fan reviews. It's simply not worth the crap you have to put up with...

That's amusing. Virtually all reviews *are* fan reviews.

 

[Shadowslayer]

Alas, the mind reading machine doesn't work. People want change, just as with the Ennies themselves, pipe up.

Yep, pipe up...if your post count is high enough, they might even take you seriously. Right Joe?

I don't know that anyone I've read here so far has any serious complaints...no major deal breakers for the most part. But there are things that could be done to make things a little more professional. (for lack of a better word) I know everyone keeps saying "this is just a fan site" but its a pretty high profile one. Heck, they have "Staff" at this one.

Anyway, some sort of Staff and Reviewer bios would certainly lend some credibility, for those who may not be so eager to just take someone's word for it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Yep, pipe up...if your post count is high enough, they might even take you seriously. Right Joe?

My post count? I'm but a child drifting among the stars compared to some of my contemporaries.

I don't know that anyone I've read here so far has any serious complaints...no major deal breakers for the most part. But there are things that could be done to make things a little more professional. (for lack of a better word) I know everyone keeps saying "this is just a fan site" but its a pretty high profile one. Heck, they have "Staff" at this one.

Sure there are things that could be done better. but looking at the number of different posters on this thread, unless it strikes me as a brilliant idea, I'm not bowing down to the few as opposed to the many who seem to have no issues.

Anyway, some sort of Staff and Reviewer bios would certainly lend some credibility, for those who may not be so eager to just take someone's word for it.

And I think that's one of the good ideas thus far.

 

[Crothian]

That's amusing. Virtually all reviews *are* fan reviews.

And we really don't get that many of them. Mostly its the same people doing reviews. I'd like to see a wider variety of people doing them.