The Problem of Reviews

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AMissingLinguist

[Not Here][Blank Sect][Nuffian #N], Male
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Just to clarify, I read reviews and I don't mind reviewers who give a terrible or great review. The problem of reviews is the length a reviewer reads before typing up their opinion to be shared for future readers.

Let's take for instance a random review. A random reader has finished all the way to the end of a novel and feels downhearted that the novel had to end. To prolong that feeling, they(he/she/it) decide to write a review so that future readers can know about the greatness of the novel. The problem starts here. How does a reviewer decide what a new reader should know about and how long the reader should go before dropping? Is the length of reading based on the development of the character during a certain point in the novel? Does a reader need background knowledge before they read a novel? Should a reviewer need to mention the amount of time they've waited for the next chapter to come out and how lucky the new reader is to not have to wait? Does a reviewer need to clarify their bias on a novel since they've waited for each chapter and expect their daily/weekly/yearly dose of enjoyment to always be good?

Whatever my point was with these rhetorical questions, I just wanted to state that reviews are flawed and someone *cough*Tony*cough* has to change it to better fit the website. Reviews based on chapter-by-chapter don't have enough information to give a reader an informed opinion needed to read a new story. I know NUF and NU don't have enough staff to warrant a system of user input and feedback, so I'll just wait until I die for a new update to emerge.

P.S. I can't explain it very well, but what nags me about reviews is how imprecise the reviewer is. He/she/it may not format their reviews in a structural and easy-to-understand manner. He/she/it may start with a like/dislike of a novel, the dissing of other reviews, or a hook(eye-catcher) for some reason. Reviews, to me, are more about insightful views on a story and how a reader may benefit from reading it. I would cite a professional review, but that would be too high an expectation for readers who read for a hobby and not necessary for Novel Updates. I just want some kind of template so that people who review know that they're reviewing it for the sole purpose of informing others how a novel can be useful in growing to be a better person. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it (pun intended).

As a side note, if Tony ever does update the reviews, may he include blobs for Westeller's obsession/passion/enjoyment. :blobhero::blobhero::blobhero::blobparty::blobparty::blobparty::blobpopcorn::blobpopcorn::blobpopcorn::blobsmilehappyeyes::blobsmilehappyeyes::blobsmilehappyeyes::cookie::cookie::cookie::blob_grin::blob_grin::blob_grin:

Any opinions/questions/concerns I should've addressed? I may or may not respond if I want.

Comments

    1. Anon Ymous Sep 22, 2017
      and also delete those who only read 2,3 chapters then reviews as if they read it all when a newly novel is just out
      AnAngryLinguist likes this.
    2. Notaborax Sep 22, 2017
      well to be honest i read the reviews with the most likes...usually those reviews tells the yes and no about the novel and other people do agree on. some solutions to this problem of shitty reviews is probably:
      -have other users help distinguish it
      - have like a questionare type of thing you are supposed to do.

      well the review section is pretty much like any review section out there on the internet. there isnt some kind of critic police swooping in saying wait a sec this doesnt be deserved to be published.

      what i think the review section is for is to pique my interest and to see how it fares with other people. like if a lot of people dislike it then i gotta check some of the reveiws out.

      people who read the reviews gotta keep in mind that its the persons opinion, and when its their opinion they gonna put whatever they want down. new peeps should look at all the reviews, then start reading a few chapters.
      AnAngryLinguist likes this.
    3. doomeye1337 Sep 22, 2017
      @AnAngryLinguist yea, that's why I included the wink XD I don't mind the review system as of now, since for me, the distribution of scores often gives better information about a novel than any individual review. Reading individual ones can be frustrating, esp when it's wrong or completely out of date or etc. etc.
      AnAngryLinguist likes this.
    4. AMissingLinguist Sep 22, 2017
      @doomeye1337 That sounds like a troublesome(good and bad) idea. Though reviewing another person's work is a nice idea that works in an academic setting, an opinion piece is hard to review because there is no standard agreed by a majority about what a "good" review should look like. If Tony updated with such a thing, he would need a lot of people who know what a review should look like, and I doubt enough people on NUF want to write a professional review for a hobby they do.
      doomeye1337 likes this.
    5. doomeye1337 Sep 22, 2017
      how about a system where we can review reviewers' reliability? :sneaky:
      Anown and AnAngryLinguist like this.