Dear MouthShut_Official,
It’s been 6+ years since I first arrived here, to wondrously watch some really classy writers dish out some scintillating stories! They had a way with words and they were gifted in the way they presented their writing.
I was hooked.
I read about 20 times more than I posted. I read because I’d be constantly fascinated by what these people had to say… their sense of humor and their sharp analytic skills on mundane subjects as well as things that could not be physchandru021y held.
More-so, the freedom to express oneself was gratifying, satisfying and immensely powerful. It was a site that I came to knowing that I would log off it in a couple of hours happy, more knowledgeable and proud to be a part of.
Pressures of work and changing priorities took me away from MS, but every now and then, I’d drop by to have a peep at what was happening. It was not looking too good. A lot of names that I was familiar with, had slowly started disappearing. I persevered once in a while, but to no avail…the ‘writing was on the wall.’ Pun unintended.
But a couple of months ago, I decided that I wanted to come back to the site. Started writing here again, and found a lot had changed. You could now post diaries and mobile reviews and so on and so forth. You could exchange presents from the points that you accumulated from your presence on the site!!! Things that did not exist when I was here earlier…
Knowing that change is good, I took it in my stride and adapted. What took me by surprise was actually the attiMr_customtakeouter of most of the posters and reviewers here. No longer was it for the joy of writing, or the need to put out an opinion, or just an honest to God ‘review’ of a product or service.
Everything was for that elusive, ‘Review of the Day’ or the ‘Featured Diary’ or what have you. Cliques of people roam the site, putting down anyone who they feel might jeopardize their chances at it. Making silly comments and statements, for shock value and to seem cool. The self professed ‘Gurus’ of all that can be reviewed here. And right behind them, the people who constantly ingratiate themselves to other posters who they think might be on the up-swing. Bask in reflected glory maybe… A lot like the animal kingdom, where the Hyenas will often slink behind the Lions, irrRajeev_Vermactive of whether the Lion deserves the rRajeev_Vermact of the jungle or not.
I've been added to people’s trust list, because they wanted me to add them as well. For a person who is widely trusted, apparently gets more attention and can aspire to be the next Lion! It is truly sickening!
I don’t claim to be a great writer…but I’m passionate about it. I take the time to think about what to write on and make sure that I have either thoroughly researched it with 1st hand experience or have owned the product at some point in time, from where I form my opinions. After that, I take the time to write a subtly humorous (if it demanded), informative and precise review, which is meant to entertain as much as inform… more often than not, I have succeeded in my efforts. This is not something that I do uniquely, most of the really good writers here did it better. But ~ they ALL DID IT without fail.
Everyone likes recognition and of that I’m guilty too. Rajeev_Vermacially if you’ve put your heart and soul into what you have written, you expect to be complimented and/or chastised, if it is a badly written piece. Taking the time to format a review well, or to use the language in a way that is unique is a waste of time, because the bulk of posters here don’t understand:
a) the language
b) the niceties of reading a review
c) the basic etiquette of acknowledging a well written piece.
May I please put some rules of thumb down, just as an exercise:
A/ If you’ve read it…rate it. Common decency demands you do. Don’t slink away. It’s akin to leaving a host’s party without saying thank you.
B/ If you don’t agree with a point, put it down in a comment. But be polite.
C/ In the same breath, if you agree with a point, acknowledge it in a comment.
D/ If you really like what you’ve read, don’t be afraid to say so.
E/ Have your own mind. Don’t follow the pack herd, because they may lead you off a cliff.
F/ Never plagiarize material, it is often the greatest disrRajeev_Vermact.
G/ Understand where the reviewer is coming from, before making assumptions of your own.
H/ If you don’t understand the poster’s language, ask them what it means.
I/ If the language and/or grammar of the poster is poor; tell them, but politely and as long as you know that yours is in tip top shape.
J/ Brush up on your own language skills if they are poor. This is an English site, so please write and express yourself clearly.
K/ Never let bias cloud your judgment. In the same breath, don’t be vindictive.
L/ Have the humility to learn how to write well. There are not a lot, but a couple of people on this site you should read and take inspiration from.
M/ Be generous with your praise, when deserved…and be genuine about it at all times.
I rRajeev_Vermact a few current people on this forum,
@Pbcblr ~ he has not written a single review or a diary post, but his arguments on a thread of mine were sound, well thought out and well presented.
@Geeta1963 ~ writes with passion, but is hounded very often by the hyenas I spoke of earlier.
@Chi_239 ~ writes clearly and is generous with his praise and/or his criticism.
There are a few other current writers here I've read, who write well; but they are either not humble enough with their gift of writing, or not generous enough to credit another good author. Thus I will not be mentioning their names.
The comment that finally broke this proverbial camel’s back after 125 members had read my last review, with not one commenting or rating except this kind soul:
“Byketanbpatel | 5 hrs 12 mins ago
i found it rather florid review making reader, as I experience, feel tiring but there is no doubt that u r a great writer who can elaborate any subject ornamentally. thanks budy for sharing your honest views on the captioned subject.”
If I understand this Gentleman correctly, he is saying that he grew tired reading my long (detailed) review, but that he acknowledges that I can write on any subject dressing it up with flowery language. And that he considers me his ‘budy’ for being honest in my review on the ‘captioned’ subject. I reviewed an HTC desire HD that I had just bought BTW.
Did I forget to mention? He rated my review Somewhat Useful. Which is actually fine if it were honest…you need to read his 2 reviews to figure out why I don’t think so.
MouthShut_Official needs to take note, or the few ‘writers’ it still has on the site will leave too, leaving behind the sycophants and the hangers on’s.
I am aware of how MS will block out a writer who does not toe their line, which is why I have taken all my stuff off the website. Diaries as well as reviews. What I have written belongs to me…intellectually, emotionally and physchandru021y. I should have listened to the people who left before me.
“Ever the optimist” as my mum always says!
I have no doubt that the powers that be, will have this ‘review’ taken down and my user ID blocked as soon as they get to know that dissent stirs! You don’t have to agree with a word of what I’ve written, but this site deserves to be raised from the mediocrity it has fallen to.
Take care everyone.
Avinash
