-What got you involved in reviewing to begin with?
My husband had bought me a handful of toys over the years from various places, but I was never comfortable with them since my experiences with those toys (which were lower quality jelly toys) were subpar. About a year and a half ago, however, I decided to actually involve myself in the selection process when my husband offered to buy some new toys for me. I found a website (a competitor of EF) that emphasized toy material safety on the item descriptions. After trying higher quality toys, I quickly became addicted! My prior reservations and unease about toys were quickly thrown out the window.
I then began searching the Internet, doing price comparisons on toys and reading review after review after review on toys. That's how I found EF. I loved the prices, the broad selection, and (especially) all the reviews available on each product. I made an account and discovered that I could actually apply to be a reviewer right here on the site, despite the fact that I did not have a blog. But as excited as I was about the opportunity to review toys right here on this site, it was actually the community that made me stay. I've met some very nice people on here, and I look forward to reading their posts. And I absolutely love the Eden Gives Back program.
--What got you to keep reviewing?
I have not been able to do active reviewing over the past year due to multiple family issues I've had to deal with, but I do plan to start reviewing again when my life is more ordered and I can find the time.
My motivation for reviewing again stems from the excitement of experiencing new ways to enjoy pleasure. It's like Christmas over and over again to get new toys! Reading reviews detailing someone's experience with a specific toy is very helpful in guiding me to make an educated selection, and I want to provide the same type of guidance and experience to help others, too.
--Who was your favorite reviewer when you started reviewing? Has that person changed?
My very favorite reviewer when I first discovered this site was Carrie Ann. I don't have time to read reviews as much lately, but I'm sad she doesn't write as much anymore.
As I stumbled my way around the site, Lauren was the first person to reach out to me, which I greatly appreciated. Then, Alan & Michele became my mentors, and it was actually Michele who pointed me to the forum and to the Community News page. Since it was the forum and the community that made me stay, I suppose I can thank Michele for getting me officially hooked here!
As I became more familiar with the site and the community, I actually came to have many favorite contributors! I hate naming names because I know I will accidentally leave someone out, but I do want to mention Kindred since he started here at exactly the same time that I did and since he writes such thorough and objective reviews and is also very caring about others. But there are many, MANY great reviewers whose reviews I truly look forward to reading (when I can find the time!) and who are also very caring . . . and who I consider to be friends.
--What was the best review that you've written? How about your worst?
Though I haven't written anything lately, I do put a lot of time and effort into each review that I write because I want to make it as thorough as possible. I never know what tidbit of information will be the deciding factor for someone. (Each person is unique regarding what they find important, so that's why I try to be as thorough as possible--not because I want to be purposefully tedious!) My favorite review is probably my review on
Flower Power massage oil. It was the first review I'd written for which I needed to research ingredients, and I put in even more hours than normal for that review (though I later spent almost as much time researching the ingredients for my lube reviews). Mainly, however, I loved being able to make all the geeky references to the 1960s in my Flower Power review!
The review I am least fond of would probably be my first (on the SSA Rainbow G). I have relaxed a bit in my writing style since then and become a bit less formal.
--How has being a reviewer here affected your sex life? How about your life in general?
My sex life has most certainly been improved. I am much less self-conscious now. I had been raised to think sex was dirty, so I used to feel guilty and unladylike for having a high sex drive.
I know my own body much better now and don't hesitate to do what it takes to pleasure it. Sexual release is such a wonderful and healthy way to relieve stress, and I've had plenty of stress in my life lately! I think I deal with it much better now and am less uptight. Being less uptight and less stressed translates to benefits in one's life in general.
--What's been your favorite part of the review program so far? What parts are you not as fond of?
I haven't been able to participate in the review program in a while, but when I can get to a more secure place in my life, I look forward to participating in it again. I have plenty of reviews to catch up on, so it will take me a while.
One thing that I don't understand is the selection process for some of the higher priced items since in the recent past I've seen people with lower ranks review expensive toys (for example, someone whose rank was between 4.0 and 5.0 reviewing a $99 toy). Since the system automatically blocks someone with a lower rank for requesting a higher end product, how does someone with a lower rank manage to review one of the new higher end toys? Did these reviewers bypass the system where one first "grabs" the item and then submits the request electronically and, instead, just sends an e-mail to admin requesting it? I've always wondered about this. I'm not complaining about it, but I am just trying to understand how the request was even submitted. (This would be more in response to a prompt that asked what part of the review system confuses you?
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