What toy have you found most challenging to write about?

Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Is there any review you found more challenging than others, or a toy you've worked extra-hard to thoroughly test? Please do share.

I ask because my current assignment (and I brought this upon myself, knowingly even) is a huge challenge. It has such potential, and yet it really wants to behave like complicated junk. I'm determined to find ways to enjoy this thing, dang it!

(And don't worry, my review will reflect its flaws no matter what the outcome of repeated, and increasingly complex, tests.)
12/03/2010
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Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
Is there any review you found more challenging than others, or a toy you've worked extra-hard to thoroughly test? Please do share.

I ask because my current assignment (and I brought this upon myself, knowingly even) is a huge challenge. ... more
Lubes. Its harder to come up with a lot to say about them. Vibrators are easiest - so much to describe.

I know you meant individual toys. I can only think of categories.
12/03/2010
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
I find porn reviews to be hugely difficult for me to write. Perhaps it's because I haven't seen that many different porn films, so I don't have a huge baseline for comparison like I do with other toys, but it's very difficult for me to do!
12/03/2010
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
My last one - the rabbit that I implied would be suitable for the Spanish Inquisition. Personally hated it (it actually gave me headaches when I used it), but I'm sure somebody who likes rotating toys and doesn't mind the noise would like it. (Oh, yeah, I compared the sound/volume to a hand mixer, too.)

Speaking of noise, I do need to get to writing about the noisiest strap-on 'butterfly' man had ever created ... my thighs can only muffle so much noise ...

(It's disappointing that my two vibe assignments are very disappointing. I'm wondering if vibes are just not for me.)
12/03/2010
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
My hardest one was the Flip Hole, that texture was real hard to describe. Second on the list was the first Fleshlight I tried. When so many guys talk so highly of it, I thought for sure I would love it more than any other toy I had used. Well, that was not the case.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
I find porn reviews to be hugely difficult for me to write. Perhaps it's because I haven't seen that many different porn films, so I don't have a huge baseline for comparison like I do with other toys, but it's very difficult for me to do!
I just got my first porn for review and I'm lost as to where to even start. I haven't seen a porn in probably 20 years, so I have really nothing to compare it to.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
I was lost with the porn aslo. I just did not not how to go about it no matter what. I tried thinking of ones I have seen in the past and just doing a pretend one to get a feel for it and nothing.

That is when I enlisted Viktor though as my Porn Mentor Extraordinaire LOL
12/03/2010
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
Porn I think is the most challenging, because you have to watch your audience. I write them very differently depending on where I'm posting them, and sometimes I mix them up .

For actual toys, I think the most challenging one I wrote a review on was a leash. It's a leash - hard to find a lot to say.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Viktor Vysheslav Malkin Viktor Vysheslav Malkin
I think Sanatorium was my hardest just the scope of the story and how to put it down in print was tough. I think the more porn you review, the better you get, which goes for just about everything. I love reviewing DVDs, so much so that it is all I am going to review anymore, with a few DR reviews here and there, and if I get assigned something else. With Porn I try to remember that while there are things in this movie I do not personally find arousing (spiting, domination, name calling, any kind of degradation, pissing, scat, and etc.) That others will find this arousing and there are people that look for this. So I try to put myself in there shoes. I go out of my way to not put in anything like "This is gross" or "Ugh that is disgusting".
12/03/2010
Contributor: Viktor Vysheslav Malkin Viktor Vysheslav Malkin
Quote:
Originally posted by Jobthingy
I was lost with the porn aslo. I just did not not how to go about it no matter what. I tried thinking of ones I have seen in the past and just doing a pretend one to get a feel for it and nothing.

That is when I enlisted Viktor though as my ... more
Thank you YOu were awesome, I think you will make a great porn writer now (well you always could have)!
12/03/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
My last one - the rabbit that I implied would be suitable for the Spanish Inquisition. Personally hated it (it actually gave me headaches when I used it), but I'm sure somebody who likes rotating toys and doesn't mind the noise would like it. ... more
Doubt it's you. There are many many cheap, buzzy, downright painful vibes out there. Once you get your hands on something with deeper vibrations, you'll be amazed.
12/03/2010
Contributor: B8trDude B8trDude
I think that plain cock rings are one of the most difficult items to write about. I've reviewed a couple that have an included a include a vibrator, texture, or other feature, as well as those that are packaged with another toy (such as a penis pump). I've tried a couple of plain silicone ones that are no more than a ring and simply can't bring myself to write reviews for them. All that comes to mind is,

"The ring is round and fits around the penis. Don't wear for more than twenty minutes. May be cleaned with soap and water. Have fun! The End."
12/04/2010
Contributor: B8trDude B8trDude
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
My hardest one was the Flip Hole, that texture was real hard to describe. Second on the list was the first Fleshlight I tried. When so many guys talk so highly of it, I thought for sure I would love it more than any other toy I had used. Well, that ... more
I guess I'm just the opposite - I LOVED reviewing the Flip Hole (it was my first toy and also my first review of one) and will review any/all Fleshlights I can get Not only do I really like them but there are so many things that one can write about - how each one is unique, texture, ease of use, how to clean, tightness, etc. Of course, most of these are "themed" which, I think, is probably just a marketing gimmick to appeal to the male brain that's located upstairs, not the one found below our belts. Masturbators are often associated with various porn stars (e.g., Fleshlight Girls) or the various Sex-in-a-Can models (I've only reviewed the Lady Lager so far). They also resemble various body parts (mouth, vagina, ass). Sure these can be fun but penises really don't care about such external features - they really only care about how each one feels. With such variety, there are tons of things to write about not to mention how well they work (or don't work).

Also, there's another thread that has previously ask the question, What items do you find the hardest to write reviews for?
12/04/2010
Contributor: TitsMcScandal TitsMcScandal
The hitachi was a really hard review for me to write. So many people have it, have reviewed it, and honestly have loved it more than I love mine. So I found it to be a really difficult review to write.
12/04/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by B8trDude
I guess I'm just the opposite - I LOVED reviewing the Flip Hole (it was my first toy and also my first review of one) and will review any/all Fleshlights I can get Not only do I really like them but there are so many things that one can write ... more
Sorry. I wanted to know if anyone encountered individual items that were harder than the norm, but if the topic is too similar to that one, then never mind.
12/04/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Okay, now that I have the review up and can point at it as an example, I'd really like to ask my question again, without pissing anyone off with a too-similar thread. I hope this is okay.

This is the review I was killing myself writing: link

And my original question -- is there any specific toy that's really given anyone else significant difficulty in reviewing. Not as far as type, but the specific toy, due to complexity or some specific failing of the toy.

Thanks!
12/13/2010
Contributor: leela leela
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
Okay, now that I have the review up and can point at it as an example, I'd really like to ask my question again, without pissing anyone off with a too-similar thread. I hope this is okay.

This is the review I was killing myself writing: ... more
Honestly, I never would have guessed that you had trouble writing this review. It's a really good one. It doesn't read as if you labored over it. I think all the extra effort you put into figuring out the specifics really made the review.

But as to answer your question, I've got a few items I've been putting off reviewing because I don't have a very good idea about what to say about them. I've found it easy to write about toys that I really really dislike, or really love, or even things that I've had strong mixed feelings about, but what do you do when you just feel indifferent about a toy? In particular for me, it's been the Fun Factory Curve, which is a very nicely made and beautiful looking toy, but I'm just not that enthusiastic about using. The other one I've been putting off is the Luxotiq Hera, which is basically a fancy dildo with a weird shape that turned out not to work so well for me. It's so pretty though... I keep thinking I should put more effort into figuring out if there's a way it can be more enjoyable, but I just can't seem to find the motivation for it.
12/14/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by leela
Honestly, I never would have guessed that you had trouble writing this review. It's a really good one. It doesn't read as if you labored over it. I think all the extra effort you put into figuring out the specifics really made the review. ... more
I have the Fun Factory Curve, and the first couple of times I used it were awesome, and then it became less fun. It turned out to be the lube. It turns out it's really that much better with Toyfluid, which makes it much easier to use. Too much friction keeps it from working against the g-spot as it should. And that's my two cents on that one.

I know what you mean, though. I bought a bunch of the SSA Glass dildos, reviewed three of them, and then sort of lost steam. They're all gorgeous, but it's almost like I've run out of ways to talk about them. I love the Cyclone, but I already wrote three reviews for beautiful glass toys I enjoy, and there are three more to write about after the Cyclone, so I'm feeling a little meh about them.

Good luck!
12/16/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
Okay, now that I have the review up and can point at it as an example, I'd really like to ask my question again, without pissing anyone off with a too-similar thread. I hope this is okay.

This is the review I was killing myself writing: ... more
I agree with leela, I think you did a great job with that review. There are no indications that you struggled to write it.

Perhaps if you could explain better what you found difficult about reviewing it? Is it simply because it wasn't a great toy for you?

If that's the case, then you handled it perfectly. You described the toy well and included your personal experience as well as recommendations. Reviews that are critical of toys are just as, if not more, important to me. They generally help to decide if a particular toy is really what I think it is going to be.
12/16/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
I agree with leela, I think you did a great job with that review. There are no indications that you struggled to write it.

Perhaps if you could explain better what you found difficult about reviewing it? Is it simply because it wasn't a ... more
I think the real struggle was finding a way to make it work, and then finding the courage to share as many details as I did. I usually prefer to gray out certain personal details. It's definitely the review I worked the hardest to write, although I was very satisfied with it by the time I hit post. I really hope it's helpful to someone.
12/16/2010
Contributor: seaofneptune seaofneptune
Lube reviews are a little challenging for me because I don't right them that often. Lingerie reviews are also a little challenging because you almost have to use every little detail.
12/16/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
I think the real struggle was finding a way to make it work, and then finding the courage to share as many details as I did. I usually prefer to gray out certain personal details. It's definitely the review I worked the hardest to write, ... more
Personally, I don't think you have to find a way to make a toy work. Sure, you can do that for personal reasons, but that is not a requirement for writing a review. It's great that you tried so hard, but if a toy doesn't work for you, I think it's best to simply describe how you used it and why it didn't work. And if possible, discuss who the toy might work for. Your discovering a way for a toy to work may not work for someone else. Hopefully this isn't coming across the wrong way. I just don't think you should beat yourself up over writing a review on a toy that didn't work for you.
12/16/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by seaofneptune
Lube reviews are a little challenging for me because I don't right them that often. Lingerie reviews are also a little challenging because you almost have to use every little detail.
Yikes, lingerie -- I don't think I'd ever have the courage. All the best ones seem to include photos, and that's just not happening here! I find myself cautious with lube reviews, but I think I've tried almost enough of a variety now to be able to compare them intelligently.
12/16/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
Personally, I don't think you have to find a way to make a toy work. Sure, you can do that for personal reasons, but that is not a requirement for writing a review. It's great that you tried so hard, but if a toy doesn't work for you, I ... more
On previous toys that didn't work, I did just what you said. But I ordered that dang thing knowing it had issues, but sure I was clever enough to overcome them, so I set myself up for something of a challenge. The fact that it resisted my determination so well should warn off others from making that mistake, while also finding the target market for the toy. There has to be someone who would like it for itself, rather than hoping it'll work like a more expensive oscillator.
12/16/2010
Contributor: STOPS HERE STOPS HERE
I just read all of the posts on this topic, being new or kinda new here at EF, and kinda new to toys, my first review, was easy to write, I feel, it was a porn or adult movie review, I would like to review more items. I am getting a few toys built up now, and using them, finding out what is good and bad, but I don't want to do what I did the first time, is to review something to early again! I need to study things I suppose more, use it more, really test it out, this is the problem that I am having, I understand the question, sorry here, my idea here is that I feel as a beginner reviewer, for me, time is making it easier to come up with ideas to write about each thing I want to write about. To be more specific, the Tenga Flip Hole Black, I just purchased it, there are several reviews out already, on a few of them, the reviewers did a great job on the technical parts, I feel this would be for me the most hard one to write about, because it is so technical, and then accounting for all the great reviews already describing the toy! I would still love to try to review it, but only once I have used mine a lot, so that my review is different in some way! Hope that I have not missed the point here or wasted anyones time!!
12/16/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by STOPS HERE
I just read all of the posts on this topic, being new or kinda new here at EF, and kinda new to toys, my first review, was easy to write, I feel, it was a porn or adult movie review, I would like to review more items. I am getting a few toys built ... more
You're not wasting anyone's time at all, and I think you're right, it is important to use something for a bit before reviewing, especially if you're new to it. It took me forever to finally get around to reviewing a lube, for example. This particular toy that caused me to start the thread was an exception, because I've loved everything I've reviewed lately, and this toy was, well, hard to love!
12/16/2010
Contributor: STOPS HERE STOPS HERE
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
You're not wasting anyone's time at all, and I think you're right, it is important to use something for a bit before reviewing, especially if you're new to it. It took me forever to finally get around to reviewing a lube, for ... more
For me, I feel, that if we pay money for a toy, that it should work, the idea above that you mentioned, to make a toy work, I understand what you are saying, my problem here I guess, is that I am not the kind of person to make things work, if I have gone to the trouble to buy it, I will put more effort into it of course, but the idea is for fun and pleasure, for me and I think for all of us.. I have made comments on certain products, lubes for instance, some I down right hated, one in fact EF must have not wanted on my page, it does appear on the original page where I wrote it, but never appeared on my wall, sorry, got off track, I just cannot make up excuses for products in any environment that suck, I agree with Kindred on this, the toys, or if I buy a Kitchenaid counter top mixer, I usually buy with some kinda name recognition, or good review, it was said earlier on this thread, to review or to make knowledge bad products to me is just as important, if not more important because then I don't waste money and time on bad stuff!!
12/16/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Book reviews stump me completely. I suck at them.
12/16/2010
Contributor: STOPS HERE STOPS HERE
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Book reviews stump me completely. I suck at them.
Wow, yes, I can see how they would be hard, I have not even thought of book reviews in this way, books give so much detail, they seem to encompass a larger area, I would not do to well I think on them.
12/16/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Book reviews stump me completely. I suck at them.
I just have trouble figuring out how much to give away. Fandom has made me spoiler-phobic!
12/16/2010