I agree wholeheartedly. I think that the mentor program was a step in the right direction and the old method is stale and out of date. When I first started over two years ago there was no mentor program, and there were people who did not getting voted up. Now, like you said, I never see someone not get it. less

I think there are many here who agree with you. I've seen this exact topic brought up on a fairly regular basis, so you are definitely not alone in your frustration. Up to this point, however, it seems that Eden's stance is that it really isn't a huge deal because the people who do lousy reviews don't usually last very long here anyway. They do a couple of reviews, make it to advanced status, then get a free item and never come back. So Eden doesn't seem overly concerned about it. It used to aggravate me too, but I decided I had to let it go or I'd drive myself crazy. LOL

I don't get it either, but it seems to be the status quo. less

Normally, I refuse to vote to help people become advanced reviewers. I think the mentor program is really good and everyone should go through it (usually).

With that said, as an editor/proofreader, today I proofread someone's SECOND review that they'd submitted and it was good. No - it was VERY good. They are probably the first person I would consider voting for - because they were able to take a lube and describe it.

I don't know who person B is you're referring to - but i have someone that I and many others suspect may not own products because their reviews are so vague. It is so hard for me to see their rating go up, their number of reviews go up and to read their reviews. I try to stay away - I really do.

I say that because sometimes that is all you CAN do - stay away and let it go. It's hard for me to do because this person may hit 100 reviews in less time than it took me (and I was proud of my record).

But the more I focus on that - the less I enjoy my time on the site and the more I find myself taking a break and not writing reviews because I'm afraid I will let myself slack off if I'm not careful since my focus is in the wrong place. less

I think it is nice to have another way to get the advanced status other than the mentoring program because not everyone needs a mentor, but I will have to say that the requirement of only having two reviews to get casted for the vote is too little. It should be more like 5. Seems like there are many people who just get the two reviews up (which can take very little time or effort) and then are voted in. Then they most likely get their item and never return. I think the rules should be changed on how easy it is to get up for the upgrade not the second solution to the mentoring program.

I only vote for those who have 2 or more EU reviews from the start, because they deserve my vote, but rarely do I look at them unless I am sick of seeing them. Usually those asking for the upgrade do not have EU or eve useful reviews, so they don't get my vote. less

I agree, when I applied I was prepared mentally to have to apply at least a few more times (I had no idea about the mentor program) until I got in. Now that EVERYONE gets in I feel like it takes away the accomplishment. I have voted for maybe two or three people who seemed to already write super good reviews, but I usually don't. less

My first reviews were awful which I will admit to. I got voted in, which I did not deserve. However, after being voted in and having a few people ask me questions in the comments, I went reading good reviews instead of just any old reviews to get an idea of what I wanted mine to look like. My reviews after that point went from "complete crap" to being nominated for the Rumble. No mentor in that time.

To be honest, if mentoring was required I would not have joined. I am an independent learner. I don't like people "teaching" me. I did go through the mentor program after I had done quite a few reviews for a lingerie specifically because I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't forced into it, so I was willing to learn.

I'd like to think that many people find my reviews to be a positive in the community, even though my start might not have been the greatest. So ushering in a forced mentor program would mean that wouldn't be there. I'd also like to think that might mean something to at least some people.

I do think the system now sucks. Perhaps more reviews needed to be voted in or more votes needed. Another idea would be that only advanced reviewers that had been advanced reviewers for X period of time could vote people in. I think the majority of the votes come from people who have been in less than a month. Or only people with ranks above X can vote people in. Something so that freshly minted advanced reviewers aren't voting everyone who can type in. I don't think forcing mentoring is the answer. I'd rather have it the way it is now than that. less

Increasing the amount of reviews needed is a good addition, though not entirely flawless (what is, though?). I've seen someone post seven reviews in a day just starting out (my number may be a little off). It IS nice to have this option for good reviewers from the start but you're right in that it definitely needs to be changed. I don't think five votes is nearly enough, especially when there are already bad reviewers who got voted in who could vote on them. I also kind of wish there was a way to de-vote someone, even if it seems a little mean. At this point, it seems necessary. less

I posted quite a lot of reviews on the day I first joined, because I already had them on my blog and thought they might be useful to share with people here.

I too was quite surprised how quickly I got approved for advanced status though.

It's an imperfect system, but there are pros and cons to every approach, and the difficulty is in trying to balance those out as best you can. less

I posted quite a lot of reviews on the day I first joined, because I already had them on my blog and thought they might be useful to share with people here.

I too was quite surprised how quickly I got approved for advanced status though.

It's an imperfect system, but there are pros and cons to every approach, and the difficulty is in trying to balance those out as best you can. less

I saw a couple of reviews today that were completely useless. Only to scroll down and see 'eden advanced reviewer' next to the name. It is sort of saddening to see something that I think genuinely helps people go to the toilet. But hey, I can't complain too much, EF is still giving us all free products and money (with points). Who cares if people take advantage of it. less

So many threads on this already, while others touch on the subject:

link

link

link

link

There are so many more if I were to actually do a hunt for them but I'm too lazy right now

I usually don't vote people in since I feel the mentor program would be beneficial to all, though I understand not everyone has the time for that. I went through the mentor program, and am glad I did. less

Don't be sorry! I was just pointing you to those threads because there has been talk about such things and I figured they may help provide more insight. There has been a lot of talk about such things since I've been here though it seems that there won't be any changes made to the voting. I remember in one thread that a staffer mentioned that it's basically the advanced reviewers responsibility to vote new people in if they feel they have what it takes so I don't think it's at the fault of EF and the system. It's more so the fault of the people doing the voting without reading the reviews. Know what I mean? less

Normally, I refuse to vote to help people become advanced reviewers. I think the mentor program is really good and everyone should go through it (usually).

With that said, as an editor/proofreader, today I proofread someone's SECOND review that they'd submitted and it was good. No - it was VERY good. They are probably the first person I would consider voting for - because they were able to take a lube and describe it.

I don't know who person B is you're referring to - but i have someone that I and many others suspect may not own products because their reviews are so vague. It is so hard for me to see their rating go up, their number of reviews go up and to read their reviews. I try to stay away - I really do.

I say that because sometimes that is all you CAN do - stay away and let it go. It's hard for me to do because this person may hit 100 reviews in less time than it took me (and I was proud of my record).

But the more I focus on that - the less I enjoy my time on the site and the more I find myself taking a break and not writing reviews because I'm afraid I will let myself slack off if I'm not careful since my focus is in the wrong place. less

I think there are many here who agree with you. I've seen this exact topic brought up on a fairly regular basis, so you are definitely not alone in your frustration. Up to this point, however, it seems that Eden's stance is that it really isn't a huge deal because the people who do lousy reviews don't usually last very long here anyway. They do a couple of reviews, make it to advanced status, then get a free item and never come back. So Eden doesn't seem overly concerned about it. It used to aggravate me too, but I decided I had to let it go or I'd drive myself crazy. LOL

I don't get it either, but it seems to be the status quo. less