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barongreenback

cheap_charlie wrote: »

I tend to switch off at headings that say "Packaging" - if I am in for a tedious read about the barcode, the various fonts used in the printing process and lots more waffle on the subject over several paragraphs then the author has, for the most part, lost me.

Unless it is a gift box or limited edition DVD I don't think there is ever a reason for including the packaging. Perhaps the only exception is to moan about the screws and bloody tie wraps on toys nowadays!:mad:

Fiver29

barongreenback wrote: »

Unless it is a gift box or limited edition DVD I don't think there is ever a reason for including the packaging. Perhaps the only exception is to moan about the screws and bloody tie wraps on toys nowadays!:mad:

They drive me mad, I can't count the number of hours I've lost trying to get Bratz dolls out of their packaging

barongreenback

Fiver29 wrote: »

They drive me mad, I can't count the number of hours I've lost trying to get Bratz dolls out of their packaging

Trying having four kids! Power rangers, bratz dolls, you name it we get it. I think the worst thing was a barbie jeep which was bolted and then tied round the wheels. It took bloody ages. The kids are desperate to play with them and then you realise it will take three weeks to open it and find the battery compartment!

brooke3

barongreenback wrote: »

I tend to find headings largely superfluous but it helps someone write a review then it is up to them. A friend of mine once said right a review with headings then take them out and does it really make any difference? If your review is 2000 words then I can see the point of headings although even then I would be questioning whether it needs to be that long but for me personally, headings are generally pointless.

Have you ever tried to write a review of a town or city in less than 2000 words? And even then I had people who thought I should have mentioned more things.

barongreenback

brooke3 wrote: »

Have you ever tried to write a review of a town or city in less than 2000 words? And even then I had people who thought I should have mentioned more things.

Screw em. It can be done BTW.

Just to point out I have nothing against long reviews but a lot of them are dull.

jo_b_2

brooke3 wrote: »

On some things i can understand not having headings but for others i think not having headings makes the review more difficult to write and to read.

Just goes to show how different people are! I personally prefer reviews without headings and don't tend to include them when writing. (I think I have included headings a couple of times to help with the structure of longer reviews.)

I find myself skimming quite quickly through reviews with headings, so perhaps there is some truth in the idea that they are easier to read. (Though that makes it more likely to miss stuff which seems silly!) I especially dislike people adding a seperate section at the end for 'my opinion.' Surely the whole review should have your opinion incorporated within it, it shouldn't just be fitted into a tiny paragraph at the end of a review!:rolleyes: Even for things like packaging, I only mention it if it's something that I have an opinion on. So, I'd mention the packaging, for example, if it was particularly good or bad for some reason and explain why, otherwise why mention it all all.

brooke3

I'm one of the people that has a heading for my opinion. I think I'm a little bit OCDish because for me whenI write a book review I like to do the summary of teh plot and the opinion completely seperate. I feel a plot summary should be completely unbiased and just tell people what the plot was without you saying what you thought about it.

Baron-It probably can be done but I don't think it can be done well. If you're writing a review of a city how can you write a good review of it if you don't include the essentials like transport, tourist attractions, shopping, accomodation and how can you write all of that in less than 2000 words?
Of course you could just do it all seperately and be paid more money for it...like write seperate reviews for each tourist attraction and each hotel.

barongreenback

brooke3 wrote: »

I'm one of the people that has a heading for my opinion. I think I'm a little bit OCDish because for me whenI write a book review I like to do the summary of teh plot and the opinion completely seperate. I feel a plot summary should be completely unbiased and just tell people what the plot was without you saying what you thought about it.

Baron-It probably can be done but I don't think it can be done well. If you're writing a review of a city how can you write a good review of it if you don't include the essentials like transport, tourist attractions, shopping, accomodation and how can you write all of that in less than 2000 words?
Of course you could just do it all seperately and be paid more money for it...like write seperate reviews for each tourist attraction and each hotel.

By being concise. I have seen it done by some great writers over many years and many of those reviews have been crowned.

cheap_charlie

Does anyone ever actually read reviews before rating them?

I have seen a review today which is in completely the wrong category but nearly everyone, including a guide, has rated it "Very Useful". :rolleyes:

cmh4135

PM the guide - (hope it wasn't me!) they'll not mind!