Including material information and ingredient lists in reviews

Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Okay, so a while back on the forum I thought we had discussed and kind of come to an agreement (off the records) that including things like the product's material information or ingredients in a [on-site] review was a bit redundant as that information can be found on the product information page.

I would like clarification on this as I have begun to edit reviews and some that I have edited, my job has been voted 'poor' because I haven't had the reviewers I edit go back and add that information in.

Opening the floor up for this, because this really does affect how I proofread a review.
01/23/2014
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Contributor: edeneve edeneve
I have found discrepancies between the product page & what I found w/ a product so I always determined product information for accuracy. I also found excellent reviewers including product information instead of relying on a product page which indicated it was valuable information. I want to add that there have been other reviewers that have had the same experience & made posts regarding this issue.
01/23/2014
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
There isn't anything wrong with including it, but it doesn't have to be included if it is correct on the product page. If the toy has different dimensions than those listed on the product page, then you should include it.

Also, I'm not sure how to best phrase this, but take it in the best possible way as that's how I mean it. How do you know that was the reason for the poor vote? I've had people vote poor on reviews I edited because they thought the review was poorly written or didn't include things they might want to know. And while that may be frustrating, it's a hazard of being an editor. You can't control how well written a review is, or how it will be enjoyed. You can only edit what you're given.
01/23/2014
Contributor: OH&W, Lovebears OH&W, Lovebears
We prefer to see the product dimensions, etc on the review. If we are only reading to rate reviews, it saves time switching to the product page. If we are interested in purchasing we will read the actual product page also.

We agree some of ratings of editors can be unfair. I know some of my reviews are scattered like my brains. It would not be fair for the editor to get rated down for my errors.
01/23/2014
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I mean, I prefer that there be pictures involved in reviews, but I also know that I do not include pictures in my own reviews.

That being said, I have found discrepancies as well between information page and when I actually received the product, but I've seen that as being something that would be noted in the review if any issues were found.

I more or less wanted to make sure that I was doing what needed to be done while proofreading the reviews to make sure it met the written expectations and the non-written expectations.
01/23/2014
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
It does NOT have to be included IF the product info is correct.

That's that.

Now as far as the rating of the editing -- it is not the job of an editor to fix, correct, or add information. The job of an editor is to fix grammatical and spelling errors.
01/23/2014
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
It does NOT have to be included IF the product info is correct.

That's that.

Now as far as the rating of the editing -- it is not the job of an editor to fix, correct, or add information. The job of an editor is to fix grammatical ... more
Aye, Aye! And that's what I was saying. Someone may not think a review includes all the info they need, and may vote poor for the editor, because they think it's the editor's job to suggest changes or additions. An editor isn't a mentor, they are an editor. So, a poor rating may have more to do with someone else not understanding what your role is, than with the job you did, and you can't let that bug ya!
01/23/2014
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
Quote:
Originally posted by OH&W, Lovebears
We prefer to see the product dimensions, etc on the review. If we are only reading to rate reviews, it saves time switching to the product page. If we are interested in purchasing we will read the actual product page also.

We agree some of ... more
I agree w/ OH - and going back & forth between the review page and product page is too time consuming & the information is fleeting if not all contained in one place, the review.

I find it annoying to go back & forth between the product page & the review. I also don't think someone new to the site will get all the purchase information they may need if all product information isn't included in the review.
01/23/2014
Contributor: Sincerely yours, N Sincerely yours, N
I feel like the title of "editor" is misleading - it should be something like "proofreader" instead.

Personally, I prefer it when reviews do go into detail about the material information and such, but I do not hold it against reviews if they do not.
01/24/2014
Contributor: OH&W, Lovebears OH&W, Lovebears
Quote:
Originally posted by Sincerely yours, N
I feel like the title of "editor" is misleading - it should be something like "proofreader" instead.

Personally, I prefer it when reviews do go into detail about the material information and such, but I do not hold it ... more
Very good idea.
01/24/2014
Contributor: Pete's Princess Pete's Princess
Quote:
Originally posted by OH&W, Lovebears
Very good idea.
I also like the name change to proofreader. When you think of an editor (in other settings), you think more of what a mentor does - tell them when it is poorly written, add missing information, help develop the writer, etc.
01/25/2014
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Pete's Princess
I also like the name change to proofreader. When you think of an editor (in other settings), you think more of what a mentor does - tell them when it is poorly written, add missing information, help develop the writer, etc.
I agree with both of you.

I mean, it is called Proofreading when you get down to it, but and editor is someone who gets more detailed and a proofreader just looks for the simple mistakes and not the deeper ones.
01/25/2014
Contributor: smalltalkingbit smalltalkingbit
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I agree with both of you.

I mean, it is called Proofreading when you get down to it, but and editor is someone who gets more detailed and a proofreader just looks for the simple mistakes and not the deeper ones.
I like the name change. It seems like 'editor' on here means what editor is in the writing process (mechanics, grammar, punctuation), but there's a misunderstanding about it encompassing revisions (organization, content, clarity) as well.
01/26/2014
Contributor: PropertyOfPotter PropertyOfPotter
I think it would be useful if the people writing the review could at least say something along the lines of:

"The ingredients listed were true to the product page."

"My measurements were the same as the product page."

Something that says the product page is accurate would at least allow the reader to know that information can be trusted.

I know that's not the editors job to add lines like that, but perhaps the mentors could make that suggestion to their students. That way, it doesn't repeat information, but still tells you what you need to know.
01/26/2014
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by PropertyOfPotter
I think it would be useful if the people writing the review could at least say something along the lines of:

"The ingredients listed were true to the product page."

"My measurements were the same as the product ... more
I can actually get on board with that. When reading the review, ask the reviewer "did you find any differences between information on the product page and when you actually got the product?"

Maybe that should just be included in the suggestions for the review. In both the simple and extended versions.
01/26/2014
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
Quote:
Originally posted by PropertyOfPotter
I think it would be useful if the people writing the review could at least say something along the lines of:

"The ingredients listed were true to the product page."

"My measurements were the same as the product ... more
I agree w/ POP about the product info is important to include in a review. but writing that "..... is true to product page" is less informative & one may as well add the specifics to the review if those type of things are written. again, I believe a review should be complete w/ all product details so we don't have to flip back & forth to the product page. we also need to remember, many people who know nothing about toys or very little plus how to use this site can get a better understanding of a product from the reviews. maybe new review templates need to be written. as an fyi, there are questions asking for this info in the extended review template. yes, they are suggested guidelines. but answering the template questions is the format for the reviews. if reviews are incomplete & not thorough, what's the point in having them?
01/26/2014
Contributor: PropertyOfPotter PropertyOfPotter
Quote:
Originally posted by edeneve
I agree w/ POP about the product info is important to include in a review. but writing that "..... is true to product page" is less informative & one may as well add the specifics to the review if those type of things are written. ... more
I almost always include it as I feel it's important, but there are others who feel it's not necessary.

I'm just saying for those who don't want full stats, at least referring to the product page is more helpful than providing no information at all.
01/26/2014
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
Quote:
Originally posted by PropertyOfPotter
I almost always include it as I feel it's important, but there are others who feel it's not necessary.

I'm just saying for those who don't want full stats, at least referring to the product page is more helpful than providing ... more
I agree w/ you.

when reviewing was at it's highs, the reviews always contained the most product info. needed. these reviews were typically rated EU. and occasionally, there were comments asking about something. but as a whole, it all worked well. it wasn't broke. so why change it?
01/26/2014