The way we seem to feel we have to review everything these days, from toilet paper to tech... it occurred to me, as things do, that perhaps we worry too much about what reviews say? It was a fudge cake that set this train of thinking in motion.. Last time I had this fudge cake, it was great... I'd have given it 4 out of 5. But this time, it was more like a 2 as it was messy and not well put together, misshapen too. Yet, it was the same fudge cake....
Perhaps it's just me who has these strange thoughts?
Everyone’s different. Our “ratings” are usually based on how we’re feeling at the moment. Such as your cake. The first time you had it circumstances were different. Your frame of mind was different. Perhaps the first time you were expecting something different, or because of what was happening or had happened it was comforting. Whatever it was then couldn’t be duplicated now, therefore you were disillusioned.
If one were thinking of dropping a chunk of change on an item, it’d be nice to know if said item is going to live up to your expectations. Seeing what other people thought of it might be helpful (advertisements don’t always tell the whole story). However, what we need to remember is that other people aren’t infallible. Some are biased, some lie, some can’t read directions, some are the .01% that got a bad “whatever” (it happens), and some are just plain stupid (seriously, have you read some people’s reviews??) . As I said earlier, it also depends on their frame of mind at the time. If they’d built up a product in their heads before they got it and were even the tiniest bit disappointed (ex. the outside packaging had a tear in it) , they’ll give it a lower rating that had they not cared that much to start with.
We like to hear that another enjoyed something we were considering purchasing. It might even make us more apt to buy it.
I don’t look at or look for reviews very often, but when I do, I prefer to scroll past all the “positive” ones and go straight to the negative and scathing ones. It’s my belief that at least some of not the majority of “positive” reviews are merely planted by the companies that sell the products. The negative ones, however, would not be placed there by the companies. Of course, and interested third party, such as a competitor, could also be behind negative press.
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I’ve read your entire post, and I’m not sure exactly what you mean by “reviewing”.
Do you mean mentally evaluating something in general to determine a range of good or bad, or are you referring to the online practice of rating a product/service and commenting on one’s experience with it?
If it’s the former, that it’s just human nature to gauge what one thinks about something, and it’s not new “nowadays”, it’s been happening for thousands of years. If it’s the latter, you’re correct in that technological advances have certainly expanded the realm and intensity of how many consumers can comment, how quickly after trying the item those thoughts can be communicated, and how many other people can have immediately/long term access to the information. Manufacturers, producers, companies, industries, etc. have vested interest in consumer feedback; it translates to real profits or lack thereof.
I don’t know if it’s just you who has these thoughts, because you’ve presented two completely separate concepts here, the first of which I addressed above. The second concept is the fudge cake that you tried. I don’t believe any of us can answer this without having also tried the fudge cake to say whether or not it’s different now than it was in the past.
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Lol!
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Shuhak 