The New Intimacy

Copy/Pasting Toy/Material information in reviews... is it legit?

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Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Yeah. Thing is, though, most shoppers who are not reviewers tend to look at product page first. Then, if it looks interesting, they go on to read the review.

We reviewers do it backwards - we read reviews, then move on to product page if ... more
I guess we do it backwards. When I write a review, I look at the specs before I even receive the toy (often if it's an assignment) but try to stay away from reading other reviews until I've written mine. If it's something I bought on my own, then, yeah, a lot of the time a good review will then prompt me to go to the product page and see that.

I think as reviewers we see things slightly differently than the average consumer.
12/08/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I guess we do it backwards. When I write a review, I look at the specs before I even receive the toy (often if it's an assignment) but try to stay away from reading other reviews until I've written mine. If it's something I bought on my ... more
Actually, I mean when we read reviews, not write them.

Customers are generally shopping product pages and read the reviews of things that interest them.

We're usually browsing the community page and reading reviews as they come in, looking at products and product pages if the reviews interest us. So reviewers tend to want the specs in the reviews, since that is what they are reading. For the most part, customers have already looked at the specs on the product page.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think it's "wrong" to include the specs in reviews. I just think we need to remember that they're not required and it was reviewers who started putting them in and then suddenly claiming they were a "must have" for a useful review, not EF itself.
12/08/2010
Contributor: Bunnycups Bunnycups
Quote:
Originally posted by BBW Talks Toys
THANK YOU for putting this up here... It seems as though NO ONE read it as they are still arguing about product specs... but thank you anyway for clarifying it for ME at least!

"But, I'll be frank here, it's unfair to any ... more
Hey, not true! I read it and even commented.
12/08/2010
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by Bunnycups
Hey, not true! I read it and even commented.
Sorry, I realize that I generalized, but the arguing just seemed to just continue on and on and ONNNNN!

Forgive me? Here's something to make up for it! or would you rather ???
12/08/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I guess we do it backwards. When I write a review, I look at the specs before I even receive the toy (often if it's an assignment) but try to stay away from reading other reviews until I've written mine. If it's something I bought on my ... more
I do it differently then you - I try out the toy and get a basic outline of what I'll say, and then I read almost all the other reviews I can get my hands on to get a feeling for problems/good things other people have noticed so I can address them.

I wasn't taking issue with the "you have to" vs. "you don't" issue - that's pretty clear. I was just addressing those who were saying that "you shouldn't include specs" by pointing out how they're helpful to me as a reader, and so I put them in when I'm talking about them.
12/08/2010
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by ScottA
I do it differently then you - I try out the toy and get a basic outline of what I'll say, and then I read almost all the other reviews I can get my hands on to get a feeling for problems/good things other people have noticed so I can address ... more
I do put them in too, but I lightly touch on the basics of them. (i.e., ____ is porous, use a condom. ______ should be stored away from other toys. Check for chips and cracks before you shove a glass wand up your twat!) More for reiteration than for telling someone something they may already know.
12/08/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
(EF Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by GeekWife
I'm going to openly admit that I did include a few measurements (after double checking them) in one of my (currently unpublished) reviews... BUT that I elaborated on how that measurement related in terms of size to my hand, etc. It was a large ... more
I do that myself and sometimes wonder if my putting in the measurements and specs on a toy because it emphasizes my point wasn't in some small way responsible for the current craze about it. I know previously most people didn't include measurements unless they differed from what was listed...and for the record I have a straight ruler and a tape measure at my desk and I measure everything. Out of the well over 100 reviews I have done on vibes I can remember only 3 times where my measurements differed from EFs significantly enough to mention, and that was on toys that had undergone a revision by the manufacturer. I'm no mathematician by any stretch, as has been pointed out in my reviews, but even I know that doesn't add up to 75%!

It's fine to make a point about a toy and I will continue to do that in my reviews because "I" find it helpful...I'm a size queen and I know what I like, but I don't dock people for describing the toy in other terms. Using the info available isn't wrong but you should mention where you got the information. Generally I find that the measurements on the product page are either spot on or differ so slightly as to make it a non-issue. Since the industry does have a sort of standard for packaging, after a while you can look at a product and tell if the product info is correct by eyeballing it.

I won't copy another person's work and claim it as my own. Most of those product descriptions are from other reviewers not some nameless, faceless spin doctor. I find that most of the time when a reviewer copies the product description they can't answer even the most basic questions about the product leading me to wonder if they even own it or are creating reviews based on the info available.
12/08/2010
Contributor: D&&JForever D&&JForever
I want an honest opinion from the owner of a toy, not something from advertising!
12/08/2010
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
No big deal as long as you site your sources! Let's say you copy/pasted from EF's product page on silicone. All you have to do is say "According to Edenfantasy's product page on silicone" or something like that and you're covered. Honestly, so me it seems a bit lazy but it's not worth docking a rating or something, like Carrie Ann mentioned.
12/08/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Copying too much does make it a bit tiresome. I can read all about the detailed care instructions elsewhere, so do please keep it short with just the most important stuff.
12/08/2010
Contributor: cherryredhead88 cherryredhead88
Quote:
Originally posted by BBW Talks Toys
THANK YOU for putting this up here... It seems as though NO ONE read it as they are still arguing about product specs... but thank you anyway for clarifying it for ME at least!

"But, I'll be frank here, it's unfair to any ... more
I don't know about anyone else, but I am not arguing- I am having a debatable discussion on something, do I really come across as offended? My intentions for starting this thread were far from malicious. I enjoy having intelligent conversations and looking at all the many possibilities of something like this with an open mind
12/08/2010
Contributor: cherryredhead88 cherryredhead88
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
No big deal as long as you site your sources! Let's say you copy/pasted from EF's product page on silicone. All you have to do is say "According to Edenfantasy's product page on silicone" or something like that and you're ... more
Sometimes I will throw links in like that to lead people to other information.

I remember when I first found Eden, I was on here for like hours, just looking for what I wanted (not really knowing what the hell I wanted) I remember Carrie Ann's reviews because those were the ones that really helped me get a feel for the toy.

I must say that I look at products and reviews much different now, and I think about what actual shoppers are looking for in a review. I usually repeat specs and whatnot in reviews because not everyone is on here like us and reads reviews daily. So if some random person stumbles onto one of my reviews, they are going to learn about Pyre or Silicone or TPR or whatever. I try and keep it basic enough not to bore my fellow norms, but still full of enough info to be helpful for a newb or shopper.
12/08/2010
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by cherryredhead88
Sometimes I will throw links in like that to lead people to other information.

I remember when I first found Eden, I was on here for like hours, just looking for what I wanted (not really knowing what the hell I wanted) I remember Carrie ... more
Another point for including specs in your review is that, sometimes, people simply read reviews for the sake of reading a review and not because they are shopping--or not shopping just this minute. If a new toy comes out and it looks really interesting, I may read a review even if I have no interest in buying it because.. "what the heck is that thing?" Sure, I could click over to the product details but I shouldn't -have- to. I mean, isn't that exactly why the pertinent parts of reviews--and sometimes entire reviews--are available on the product pages?
12/09/2010
Contributor: rdytogo rdytogo
I don't want to read a review that I might have already read. I want the reviewers opinion. Not to mention that is plagiarism.
12/09/2010
Contributor: Luce Luce
Quote:
Originally posted by cherryredhead88
I just read a review where the writer obviously copy and pasted information about the material of the toy, and the stats of the toy, into their review.

Not sure if this is considered plagiarism, bordering on the line of, or just bad ... more
That is my big thing starting out. Im afraid I will repeat what another has said. So I try to stay away from other reviews. Though if its along the same lines sure say it but not word for word. That is just wrong period. If you cant do a review without using your brain then you need not do it.
12/20/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Quote:
Originally posted by Luce
That is my big thing starting out. Im afraid I will repeat what another has said. So I try to stay away from other reviews. Though if its along the same lines sure say it but not word for word. That is just wrong period. If you cant do a review ... more
I find other reviews helpful - I read them and note questions that the reviewer had or things that really worked well/didn't work and look at them in my review. Sometimes they use a toy in a slightly different way that I would, and I figure that if I can verify or provide a different take on their experiences it will help people who are interested but not sure how the toy will work for them. I don't copy the whole "review idea", just devote a couple of sentences scattered through the review to addressing concerns/likes of other reviewers.
12/23/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by ScottA
I find other reviews helpful - I read them and note questions that the reviewer had or things that really worked well/didn't work and look at them in my review. Sometimes they use a toy in a slightly different way that I would, and I figure that ... more
That's a good idea. Every time I review a toy with a strap-on base I worry that I'll fail because I can't test that aspect. Perhaps I can just point to specific reviews that did in the future. Thanks!
12/23/2010
Contributor: HollisJ HollisJ
rewording may be okay, but definitely not copying and pasting directly.
12/23/2010
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
I never would of thought to do my own measuring. I will going forward.
12/25/2010
Contributor: clp clp
I really only see this as okay if it is an ingredient list, like off a lube or edible thing. Those need to be standard so you can see how much of something might be in it. Other than that, you can at least reword/rephrase.
12/26/2010
Contributor: Miss Jenn Miss Jenn
Quote:
Originally posted by cherryredhead88
I just read a review where the writer obviously copy and pasted information about the material of the toy, and the stats of the toy, into their review.

Not sure if this is considered plagiarism, bordering on the line of, or just bad ... more
Personally, if I am going to use information from the company, I will put it in quotes and say something like... As per the manufacturer info, "..this product should not be used..." Or something like that. But only if I absolutely cannot put it in my own words (have not had that happen yet). Your receiving the product free (or at a good discount), at least take the time to put forth a good review, right?
02/07/2011
Contributor: SexyStuff SexyStuff
Don't copy and paste the description, but I think it is OK to copy the technical details- like what the material is or the measurements.
02/13/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by SexyStuff
Don't copy and paste the description, but I think it is OK to copy the technical details- like what the material is or the measurements.
You shouldn't copy the info off the materials page at all, if you don't want to put it into your own words, you can link it, but all the text in your review should be in your own words. There's a million ways to type: "Jelly is a soft, plush, yet sticky material that is made up of unknown chemicals and is unable to be sterilized. Wash with warm soap and water, but you'd do best to use a condom since it can harbor bacteria," so just come up with something that works for you. But someone took the time and energy to type up those product pages, it's still stealing their work to copy and paste it.

And there's no reason to include the measurements unless it differs greatly from the product page, in which, you should promptly create a support ticket for it. The only times I ever see measurements in a review and find it helpful is in glass (because they're hand blown and measurements vary from piece to piece so it helps give me a range to work in mentally) or in descriptive reviews on a brand new product and the reviewer is the first person to open that sucker up for EF, even then I have found that the toys that I have received for descriptive review are exact to EF's measurements unless it's a glass toy.
02/13/2011
Contributor: BeautiFullFigured BeautiFullFigured
Hm, I don't think it's any less legit than when a reviewer reads of the measurements in a video review, which many people do as well. I do prefer to measure the items myself, I feel it's more accurate.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Rainbow Boy Rainbow Boy
I totally think it's plagiarism if the text is copy and pasted. If it's paraphrased, then it's much better. The best is when you read it yourself and use your own words to describe the specifications of the toy.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Rainbow Boy
I totally think it's plagiarism if the text is copy and pasted. If it's paraphrased, then it's much better. The best is when you read it yourself and use your own words to describe the specifications of the toy.
It's actually only plagiarism if you attempt to pass it off as your own writing. If you copy and paste the material info from an EF page, all you have to do is say "according to the EF material page on silicone" or "Edenfantasys states that silicone is..." and you are in the clear. It becomes plagiarism when you fail to credit the original source.
02/14/2011
Contributor: TeaganChase TeaganChase
I always measure my toys and mention them in my review.
Sometimes they are different than what EF posts. For instance I received one where the toy was the same but the packaging I got was different from what was pictured and what other reviewers had gotten. Drastically. This should always be included in a review.
02/15/2011
Contributor: Rainbow Boy Rainbow Boy
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
It's actually only plagiarism if you attempt to pass it off as your own writing. If you copy and paste the material info from an EF page, all you have to do is say "according to the EF material page on silicone" or "Edenfantasys ... more
Well, yes, that's naturally what I meant.
02/19/2011
Contributor: Xavier7 Xavier7
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
I'm not sure that I have noticed anyone else doing it before, but I don't have a problem with copy/pasting that information. Does it make it anymore legit if someone simply retypes the information? I don't see any point in that. And ... more
I agree. I think it's totally legitimate, as long as they didn't plagiarize the entire review.
02/28/2011
Contributor: Girly Juice Girly Juice
C&P'ing any information from someone else is plagiarism. If I wanted to read what's already on the product description page, I'd just read that, but I'm reading a REVIEW, so I expect it to be properly written and not plagiarized.
05/21/2012