Someone keeps deleting my reviews (possibility of staff abusing power)

Can't list them, they've been deleted.

 

It seems very odd. Ratings wise, people either like it a lot or hate it a lot. So it does seem very odd that there are no negative reviews about it.

However, I find it very doubtful that the NU moderators are taking down negative reviews, that follow all of the guidelines for posting a review. I've been on here a while, and this is the first time I've heard of something like this. Not to mention it doesn't seem to be something they would do. Is it possible? Sure. However, I would like to see more PROOF, then just one series with no solid evidence to help make a better judgment.

 

Well, here's something to be said.

It's very easy to go down the rabbit trap of breaking guidelines when writing negative reviews.
If you haven't written one before, trust me... It's really easy to go off track when being negative.

On the other hand, when writing a positive review, you're far less likely to break the rules.
You're probably not compelled to pick out examples to justify yourself, for example.

So I think it's not weird that negative reviews get deleted more often than positive ones.

 

Reviews should NOT contain: replies to other reviews.
Isn't strixflash saying that don't be mislead to other low star reviews so why is it not deleted?

 

and

Seem somewhat conflicting. What we are reading are translations, not the original. What we read will be influenced by the translator's experience, knowledge and interpretation. The only two translator's I remember where they've both translated the same novel with a huge disparity in quality would be SkyTheWood and Dogeza with that mech story I can't seem to remember the name of. I've had some of my reviews with such comments be pulled and others not. I never checked whether it was only negative reviews pulled. So if we think the translation quality is affecting how much we enjoy the story then surely we can talk about the quality of the translation? I'm interested in hearing someone in authority's point of view.

 

And then the translator gets better because he improved his knowledge of the language and your review doesn't make sense.

Or, a new translator picks it up and re-translates it from the start, so your entire point is moot, but you hated the novel so much that you dropped it and never saw it again to see that the new translator made a better work on it.

Reviews on translation are troublesome because translators drop novels, pick up novels, improve their quality, and they are not the authors of the work.

 

Reviews are time-stamped.
As long as the translator was named in the review then people could see it's a different translator.
I have dropped a few stories due to translation quality or because the translator is only summarizing the story but I check up on them every few months. I believe anyone who honestly thought they could enjoy the story but didn't due to the translator/translation quality would.

If it's true that the main reason behind this stance is because, 'it's troublesome', then I'll accept that. You forgot to mention that translators seeing negative comments on their translation could influence how motivated they are to translate the story.

 

Not everyone pays attention to those things though.

What if the translator isn't named?

You're working with assumptions that people are dedicated enough to novels they already dropped... It's not a wise course of action.

I didn't mention it because I don't think most would care, not to mention most translators probably don't even know NU exists.

But yeah, it's also another reason to not allow reviews about translation.

 

I suppose that average joe doesn't respond to defend NU because it's obvious to us. I think if anything like that were going on it'd be more obvious no matter how the manipulations were hidden or how subtle they tried to be about it.

What reading this thread has me believe, correct me if I'm wrong, is that Tony is the main person in charge of managing reviews but that he's not the only one moderating them and that reviews once deleted by a moderator are permanently deleted and unrecoverable. So part of the problem could be each moderator's personal interpretation of the rules. I won't even try to guess how many reviews are made daily nor how many end up deleted but I feel like the best solution to this would be having the reviews separated for a few months, so that when NU gets questioned they can quote the review and explain why it was removed.

 

@Tony how bout u make an extra notification for whenever some1 makes/edits deletes a review that it gets sent back 2 the reviewee(?) and the edittor/deletor of the review that way the person can keep track of whats happening 2 the reviews ._.

 

The flames are hot here.

 

Ah. Assumptions.
You've reminded me that the reviews are pointless. Only an outlet for emotions the story evoke.
Back to using NU as a bookmark.

 

I'm not sure on it, but IIRC Tony reads all reviews on NU and only he has the right to approve them.

I don't know if other mods have the power to delete reviews though.

Well, reviews have use for some... Personally speaking, they're useless for me, I never check reviews, I only check the synopsis of the novel.

But well, some people use them, so they matter for some... And since they matter for some, they can mislead some, hence why the guidelines exist.

 

I skimmed the thread and couldn't find what gave me impression there were more people than just Tony managing the reviews.
I want to keep suggesting some kind of improvement about how deleted reviews are handled but I just can't bring myself to care anymore.
The reviews are pointless. Just because they follow the guidelines or because some people make use of them doesn't make them any less pointless. I stand by considering them an outlet for emotions. Their review is always going to be biased. Which is why I believe people get so worked up when their reviews are deleted. "I HATE this story! I want EVERYONE to know WHY I hate it! Everyone else should hate it, too! My review being deleted is some kind of CONSPIRACY." The opposite for the lovers.
Rather than letting some emotional joes and their varying levels of eloquence influence your opinion it is much better to read the story and make your own.
You reminded me of this. Which is why I thank you.

 

congratulations on your enlightment. you are one step closer to immortality path.

btw, editing the reviews will return it to approval queue. everything in approval queue are hidden from normal users. hence sometime ppl get the impression of review being deleted.

one more thing ppl seems to forget, is the existence of report button. ppl seems to give too much credence on their own review. multiple likes doesn't mean your review is the best, it is just that several ppl share your thoughts. and for those who don't, they might hit the report button. because reports are taken more seriously than likes, the review will have higher probability to be removed (from view). couple that with reasoning of 'why this review is a troll' pointed out by the reporters, then.. >.>