Your question starts by talking about the Discussion Board, but then asks about Reviews.  There's a HUGE difference.  Personally, I think there are a couple people who post comments here, who believe they are doing a service to other hobbyists by having an opinion on every topic.  They remind me of the people on Karaoke Night who won't give up the microphone because they think everybody wants to hear their off-tune voice.

This business isn't rocket science, and just because a guy sees a lot of girls, or posts a lot of reviews/comments, doesn't make his opinion any more valuable to me--probably just the opposite.

Beyond that, how can anybody know whether another guy is posting a good or bad comment or review with pure intentions?  Things get posted all the time with the apparent purpose of pumping up one provider/agency or knocking down another.  We have no way of knowing whether favors (freebies, extra time, discounts, priority booking) come as a result of these postings.

So, my $.02-worth is that I think the most credibile reviews are probably from the guys who are otherwise quieter than average.




"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." --Mark Twain

I’ve been a lurker here for a long, long time. I haven’t actually ever crossed the line and become anything more, so I have as of yet never picked a “next adventure.”  Although, I have considered doing so many times, and toy with the idea often. Regardless, I can’t say there is any one reviewer alone that I would consider for guidance. I think to rely on any one person would be foolish, there are just too many variables in play. I tend to gain my perspective on a provider by gauging her overall reviews and then people that make them. Exceptionally good and bad reviews without a strong trend I tend to discount. Moreover, any reviews by new people I tend to disregard. So in the end I think the trend speaks volumes more than any one single review can. Even then as with all things in life there is always a certain amount of chance involved. Maybe that’s why I still haven’t crossed over and become a reviewer myself. However, based on many reviews and reading this board for more than a year now, I know almost without exception who the first person I will contact should I ever wish to become established will be. I probably know the second as well. For that I think nearly everyone who contributes should be thanked.

You're all the best!

I consider myself a lurker, and depend on reviews to help me protect my meager discretionary dollar.

Because a review tells me exactly what I want to know about a provider when I venture out:

1. Is she legit?
(Not LE, CnD,BnS...pick your acronym.)

2. Did she deliver what she offered for what she promised?
(FS-or something less? Upsell? "Starts at"?, etc.)

The rest of it, well...it's definitely entertaining to read, and some people are more compelling writers than others.

Is it Useful? *shrugs*

Your Mileage MAY Vary?
Your Mileage WILL Vary.

How can we possibly get the REAL story anyway?
What even IS the real story?

What I rely on most from a review isn't learning the difference between some guy's "6" experience and his "10" experience...

It's learning whether I am going to get conned, robbed, maced, beaten or possibly killed or not.

And because I can vividly recall those dark days of the not so distant past, all you reviewers are the best in my book.

And for your efforts, and the time you take to share them, I thank you.

Just one guy's perspective-for what it's worth.
Cause yours has been worth a hell of a lot to me.

JJ

Seriously,

I have found that discussions with the providers lead me to the best times.  They know what I like, much more than any guy does, so I listen to them.

That's how I met Mya and Monique and Carlee (I miss Carlee) and Asherah and Roxanne and Tina and just about every other provider I have seen in the last year.  The last time I listened to a fella's recommendation, I wished I hadn't.

-- Modified on 9/20/2005 8:13:55 AM

-- Modified on 9/20/2005 8:15:42 AM