Should I stop posting reviews?

[zog]

I think that there are a few members on this board who don't understand its purpose.

If you review their posting history, you will see that almost (if not completely) everything they have posted has been negative. They have not contributed any positive reviews to TERB but take (it seems) pleasure in bashing the reviews (and services) of others.

Maybe, this is becase they are unlucky and have never had a good experience or maybe it's because they have an attitude that makes it difficult for the SP to give them the best treatment possible.

In any event, these people seem to express their frustration by finding fault in the reviews and posts of others. In the past week I have seen gratuitous bashing of other agencies, uniformed flaming of legitimate posts, and the ubiquitous accusation that any positive review is a "shill". I suspect that some of these posters have the mistaken impression that anyone who likes an SP that they have not enjoyed (or, in some cases, even seen) is a shill. To these people I can only say: "I don't think that word means what you think it means." (Bonus points to anyone who can tell me the origin of that quote.)

As a result of reading many informative and accurate reviews on this board, I have had the opportunity to experience many quality SP encounters. I have also been saved from many options that would not be to my taste because of constructive negative reviews or positive reviews that describe a different kind of girl than I'm looking for.

My gut feeling is that it is only fair that I return the favour by posting my honest experiences in the Hobby so that others can have the opportunity to make decisions based, in part, on what I have learned. I benefit from the reviews of others and it would seem unfair of me to take this information, use it to my benefit, and then not try to give back.

Unfortunately, some people have taken to abusing me quite heavily in the last few weeks and I must admit it's really starting to wear my patience thin. I make an effort to post truthfully (as I see it) and the least I expected was that I would be given the benefit of the doubt.

Do you disagree with my taste or my impressions of beauty? Go ahead and say so! I think that Lucy Liu is attractive (though many in a recent thread disagreed) and I don't mind if you post a different opinion. If I say something that is patently untrue, please feel free to call me on it; I don't lie.

But when certain members start to make direct and unfounded accusations that I am engaged in deceiving this board, or even breaking the law, I think it has gone too far.

I will continue to read and post on this board regardless of the outcome of this poll, but I am seriously considering retiring from reviewing SPs since it seems to lead to accusations of hidden motives and other false statements.

My intention in posting reviews is to give back to the membership of this board some of the informative benefit that I continue to receive by reading the posts of others. As I have no business or financial or any other affiliation with any agency or SP (except, in some cases, as a regular customer) I do not derive any benefit from being anything less than honest. Are there members out there who find my reviews helpful, or do you think they are a waste of time and I should stop doing them?

Please don't turn this thread into a discussion (good or bad) about any agency or SP. I am asking about what I should do.

What do you think?

Zog.

 

[submissivedave]

zog, to be honest with you, I have never read any of your reviews. Nonetheless, I do find your "others" posts to be very well thoughtout and intelligent with a twist of humour ...

If you decided to "quit" this board, I think I would miss reading your stuff ...

So post on "friendly arrogant bastard" !!!!!!

 

[penguin_jf]

I don't care one way or the other, but if you let other's opinions and attacks drive you from what you want to do, you're a coward.

 

[rdhaired_vixen]

hon this is a review board let them make their comments .. ther is always going to be someone who will disagree with you in this and in life in general post and be honest about it.. let the chips fall where they may and let the mods do teir jobs hon ..

 

[bar+leby88]

zog: quote is from The Princess Bride......courtesy the magic of Google

........which reminds me of a REAL contest (where there were prizes to be won) that challenged you to guess where some music lyrics came from.......do you yahoo?

 

[zog]

We have a winner!

quote is from The Princess Bride

That is correct. It's one of my favorite movie quotes of all time (from one of my favorite movies).

Zog.

 

[Malibook]

Just consider the source.
If shit is coming from someone you don't respect, why let it bother you?
Why would anyone care about the opinions of miserable people, much less get upset by them, or allow them to influence you at all?

 

[twobigo]

Zog, keep posting your opinions and reviews,please.

 

[Alien (<>..<>)]

Malibook you might be missing the point that ZOG himself might be the miserable SOB, not his critics. As to me, whatever ZOG posts positive about an SP I know for sure that she is NOT my type, whatever is incompatible with him might be good for us.

 

[Berlin]

... Nonetheless, I think you should keep posting as well. I believe that members here will always benefit one way or another from what you write.

nuff said.

 

[iam0234]

to Zog

Zog, please keep posting. I, for one, have benefited tremendously from your reviews, and there is ample evidence of others who do as well.

I understand your frustration. But as you yourself have pointed out, most of those who tried to ridicule you have a record of being negative about almost anything anyway. So why bother to get upset with them? You are not here to win a popularity contest; instead we take the time to post because we, as Terbites have the obligation of sharing our experiences ¡V good or bad - by providing our truthful opinions. You certainly have done your part and you should be proud of it.

I¡¦ve read every one of your posts and I know the situations you are talking about. I too have been wondering why every time you posted a positive review on that agency, there was invariably a call of ¡§shill¡¨ or something along that line. In fact, there were times I wondered if the ¡§counter attacks¡¨ were not racially motivated to the extent that I almost wanted to jump in but I didn¡¦t because I felt this would make the matter even worse. I simply reside to the fact that different people do have different tastes and they too are entitled to their own opinions.

Zog, as truthful as your opinions have been, your (and my and many other¡¦s) preference of a particular ethnic group may not have the same appeal to the others, just as Lucy Liu is attractive to some but not all. I know you understand this but perhaps you are taking some of the malicious, ill intent, remarks a bit too personal? I think we should also take into consideration that some might have less of an experience you and I have enjoyed. There are also those who oppose for the sake of opposing, regardless of what it is, and there are those who simply get the kick out of ridiculing others.

If there is any solace, you should know that for every ¡§shill¡¨ call on you there were many more who endorsed your reviews. I, for one, will put on record that you are no ¡§shill¡¨ and you do not work for that agency, as I have benefited from your positive experiences. And I¡¦m no ¡§shill¡¨ either.

Zog, keep up with your good work.

 

[pool]

All the more reason for you to keep on posting ...

Illegitimi non carborundum.

 

[Quirt]

Become an elephant

Let's help out Zog's ego here guys.

As I've writen before, Zog's reviews are well written clear examples of quality critiques. I have used them for specific detail when considering selecting SPs and agencies. I have found that in my case, some of our tastes do overlap. (While I find Lucy Liu sexy, she is not a beauty).

Keep on posting. Your groundwork is appreciated.

If your detractors really do bother you, try growing a thicker skin.

 

[Maddog]

Keep reviewing Zog - your's are some of the ones I actually trust. BTW - Lucy Liu is definately sexy!!

 

[zog]

Thanks for all your input!

Thank you all.

I really appreciate the honest and constructive feedback. I am pleased that a significant majority feels that my reviews are helpful and that very few actually would prefer that I stop posting.

I guess I will take your advice and keep on doing as I have. I will try to contribute some humour where I think I can, reply to interesting or amusing threads that catch my interest, and (when the opportunity presents itself) post reviews of SC and SP experiences that have come my way.

Like I have posted before, I'm cool with differing opinions and I'm happy to debate or argue almost any point people might raise. I just get uncomfortable when I feel like I'm the target of unprovoked personal attacks. I will try to just ignore those in the future and stick to the aspects of TERB that entertain me.

Thanks again everyone, I'll "see" you around.

Zog.