If I was a little puzzled to have a review (only my second) rejected for being "inconsistent," I was completely baffled to read what that means.
First, it's confusing because inconsistent can mean internally inconsistent, the parts within the review, numbers and words, do not match. Or, it can mean your review is not consonant with other reviews of that provider, which is a completely different criticism, if it may be called that.
We should be told which one is the case, internally or externally inconsistent. And neither reason for rejection makes much sense.
As far as internally inconsistent is concerned, there are a number of problems. I see plenty of thoe reviews, especially since most guys are more generous with their numbers than with their words. And numbers are what really matter, because they cue up on searches. And aren't we all supposed to be discerning readers? All of us can read between the lines to a certain extent. I have a bigger problem with a guy who thinks there is an "a" in definitely, or who refers to himself as a "hobbiest," than I do with one who rights an internally inconsistent review that I can compare to other reviews of the same provider. Either way, I know it's not gospel.
And rejecting a review that does not agree with other reviews is kind of Big Brother-ish. Are certain providers and agencies protected? It gives that (unsavory) appearance. The best thing about TER is it is (finally) the free marketplace of this industry. We should be given all the information and allowed to sift it out. Whatever happened to YMMV? If I read a review that is out of step with others, I figure it was a bad day or a bad connection.
And I myself would be more skeptical of my own (only second) review. (And therefore more forgiving, if I were the moderator.) I look for guys who post a lot, guys like Je..., Le...., Ta...., and others, and trust what they say. I also look at the data and pictures and take them more seriously than a single newbie's review.
It's censorship, and it always has the same effect, what the lawyers call a "chilling effect." It "chilled" me, I will tell you. I may use this site and read reviews, but I probably won't try to post, and I probably won't renew my VIP membership.
