Forum Feedback About "reviewer's choice" badges...

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The Sorcerer

The Sorcerer

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Galvanizer
Don't know if you guys know about this. When I was at ROG event yesterday:



Nothing against the writer. Just letting people know that manufacutrers are using such tags to promote their product. The point I want to make is what if someone else exploits it. I decided not to recommend something (unless it is genuinely nice, which I will be stopping as well) but put out the facts and readers can easily differentiate which is good and which is bad.

I know others don't use it. But there are few who get stuff from the respected PR personnel and dealers. Don't know if people do this but some people (not telling who because I don't know, but you'll never know) get these stuff for free inexchange to recommend it on the forums. Just wanted to know if there's any restriction or anything- or if there will be one.
 
But isn't this already misleading?

Afaik, TE is a community and not a review site. Seeing as the board was reviewed by Shripad on TE for the community and he felt it was his choice (Reviewers Choice). Isn't this badge misleading as it seems to suggest that the entire site techenclave on a whole chooses this board?
 
Then TE should appoint some official reviewers :)

Of course - keep some challenge or something so that only the really good guys who are good in writing and know about the stuff well get the "official reviewer" badge.

Once we have official reviewers then maybe companies would start to approach us to get their products reviewed. just my 2 paise.
 
The problem is current system where every review gets onto the portal IMHO. I know it was done to eliminate the work that was previously needed by Global Mods to put the review on the portal, but it does open up the door for misuse of such tags.

I personally am using those tags for years. Before the current system of automatic portal integration of review section.

This particular review sample was sent to me without any prerequisites or conditions and whatever I have said in that review, I will stand by it even today. All staff members of TE, including admins and all moderators are well aware of this particular tag which we actually discussed amongst us long long time back. Myself and DS actually worked on designing official TE stamps which then staff members would use as official TE tags on the reviews done by us. There was a plan to design the tags for member reviews, but somehow it didnt materialize.

So I do not think anyone involved with TE will have any issue with this particular use of Tag by Asus for promotion. The sample was provided to me with the knowledge that it will be reviewed exclusively for Techenclave by me and no one else.

Lot of hardware passes through me. Hardly 5% of it gets posted on TE as most of the stuff is for internal testing, simple feedback and not to mention lack of time to do proper writeup from my side.

But before I started accepting any hardware from companies, PR firms for review purpose on TE, I first talked with the staff members and then only samples were accepted when it was confirmed that they are ok with it. So if any company uses one of my reviews in past 2-3 for promotion of their products, there should be no issue of misuse of Techenclave's name.

But yes, this is something to reconsider as I am aware that there are few people on this forum who do receive hardware from companies. But I am yet to see anyone misusing TE's name with reviews posted by them in recent past. Even companies wont do such thing as nobody wants the embarrassment and negative publicity that will follow by misuse of this.

And I have no problems in recommending something which I think is good. Whether to take my advice or not is up to the individual. I dont see anything wrong in recommending a product. After all review is evaluation of the product.
 
^^ You DO realize I am not talking about you? Iam talking about what prevents irresponsible people abusing this? To take an example, there is a writer out there who will say just about anything to get that as a free hardware or else he will do his bidding by going against it. There are those who say they get from the company rep but in reality its from dealers. There are those PRs who create account, put fancy pics and stamp it. So what prevents SUCH people to abuse it? Savvy?
 
Nothing.

We cant run forum with the fear of someone abusing every little thing. If someone does, we will obviously take appropriate steps to ensure that the person / company abusing it has to pay for it one way or other and appropriate action is taken when such thing occurs.

Everything can be abused, but letting fear of abusing prevent you from doing what we do is counterproductive. There are lots of grey areas that marketing people will utilize while marketing their products. You see lots of brands using all the awards they ever got to advertise every single product or a brand in itself. There is nothing illegal about it. Yes, its not 100% correct, but it happens. Over thinking about everything in advance will not achieve anything.

In today's world, its hard for something to go unnoticed. Just like you noticed this, someone will notice something like this in the future. That is enough to curb anyone from misusing it in the future. The main aim of things like these for companies is to gain good PR. So their aim is to make people aware. When they do this, people will know about it and when that happens its bound to come back to us from some source :P

And I dont see anything wrong in people getting samples from someone. Be it company or a dealer. As long as the article is accurate / objective and is not over advertising the source, its fine. Unlike in US, many brands in India are handled by individuals like Sudhir, Rahul. Do you expect them not to provide any samples for the purpose of review or PR to anyone?

Actually its very conservative approach by companies, PR firms and manufacturers in India. The amount of test hardware given out to reviewers, media, individuals is nothing compared to what the scene is in say US, UK or even Singapore. See how many people get test samples on XS. Sure it advertises particular brand or product when those people put up reviews, tests, oc results. They also mention source or give credit to company or shop which sourced those parts for them. But it also adds valuable content, results, technical knowledge to forums. I think they need to do more and not less.
 
I said what I had to say for TE's own good. Impressing companies with the sole intention of getting freebies is as good as a payola writer and such writers damage the community- same gutter story as the print/online "media" guys that we currently. TE is a very big entity and good impression but many people (couple of "media guys" hates it :P) are *you know what* so I am simply giving 2 cents to prevent something. If you are under the false impression that its not happening in TE, can't help it. Its just a matter of time such samples take notice of such things. Sorry to say, but I would have had preferred to forward this via PM, but then not much happens when I do so. You guys don't want to act one something which can be easily exploited? That's your wish.
 
Why not post reviews of hardware but stop using TE stamps altogether?

this should reduce the window of opportunity of misuse

just my opinion
 
Sorcerer statements makes sense, a newcomer can post a review on TE, and have a personal bias or could be a technically wrong review. Now if the manufacturer picks up that conclusion as something which is "TE approved", its a misrepresentation of facts.

If TE is getting an increased number of hardware for review, we need to appoint designated reviewers, and we can have a separate section for TE reviews, and user reviews. The manufacturer can only use the TE reviews section for their promotion.
 
Aces170 said:
Sorcerer statements makes sense, a newcomer can post a review on TE, and have a personal bias or could be a technically wrong review. Now if the manufacturer picks up that conclusion as something which is "TE approved", its a misrepresentation of facts.

If TE is getting an increased number of hardware for review, we need to appoint designated reviewers, and we can have a separate section for TE reviews, and user reviews. The manufacturer can only use the TE reviews section for their promotion.
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+1

This is really a great idea.

In this way one can be sure that the product is genuine and in other way user's can also post their conclusion / reviews.
 
@Sorcerer

I know exactly what you mean and whom you are talking about :P

But see, nothing much can be done with people like those. Hindering 10 others with good intention to curb 1-2 ******* is pointless. And what are we going to do? Stop people from giving out opinions? or stop people from posting reviews / test results? or verify that they have actually bought the product?

As long as we allow members to post reviews, this loophole will exist. I strongly believe that we need to ensure only select reviews go onto portal as official TE approved reviews which meet certain criteria and quality. Rest can be there as member reviews / articles / bench results etc.

But this loophole even today is virtual one. I am yet to see any Company advertise any review using TE's image without the review being done by TE staff members or with someone from TE staff in the loop.

Can we have a better system? Yes. But it wont happen overnight. There are already some steps taken which I think you have an idea about. I would actually prefer review system going back to old ways where only few reviews made its way to portal. Maybe we can have broader group to do that work than before and make a dedicated review section for approved reviews or appoint reviewers. But having professional reviewers is not something that is going to happen overnight. And stopping members from posting reviews, posting recommendations until then is not really a solution or option.
 
Aces170 said:
Sorcerer statements makes sense, a newcomer can post a review on TE, and have a personal bias or could be a technically wrong review. Now if the manufacturer picks up that conclusion as something which is "TE approved", its a misrepresentation of facts.

If TE is getting an increased number of hardware for review, we need to appoint designated reviewers, and we can have a separate section for TE reviews, and user reviews. The manufacturer can only use the TE reviews section for their promotion.
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The users(Non TE approved reviewers) can also add a disclaimer at the beginning/end of the review stating that separates TE from their personal review. If its mandatory, I think it will protect TE from what is being discussed here.

Hope I got the point right, since I'm no reviewer.
 
asingh said:
That device will be on all the Sabertooth X58's sold in India, going forth..?
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^Nah just for the product fliers IINW. All the boards should be from China direct.
 
Putting a disclaimer defeats the purpose of evaluating a product. If you're warning people that its just "your opinion" what's the point in benchmarking, doing everything and putting the point across? Personally, if you're putting a disclaimer like that, one shouldn't really put a full-fledged review. Call it first impressions or something like that if you want to.

Shripad said:
@Sorcerer

I know exactly what you mean and whom you are talking about :P
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No. I am not talking about that guy. He is just a small fish with a big ego in a big pond. There are way too many writers out there and willing enough to write anything according for some money. Such writers work for certain agencies/dealers (Yes dealers- especially who brings "exclusive" products that honestly not many have since recently) who are hired for writing purposes. Some have restricted till their own blogs, EZ Articles but since forums seem to be a new thing for such people, don't be suprised if they start posting in such manner.
 
Putting a disclaimer defeats the purpose of evaluating a product. If you're warning people that its just "your opinion" what's the point in benchmarking, doing everything and putting the point across? Personally, if you're putting a disclaimer like that, one shouldn't really put a full-fledged review. Call it first impressions or something like that if you want to.
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But it is your point? is it not? Putting a disclaimer does not mean what you are saying is right or wrong. It just means that it is you who are saying this.
 
i agree , let TE have designated reviewers , the budding wanna be reviewers can send their reviews to them to be vetted and published or refused , that will be a better way than the system being open to all
 
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