As everyone does, I have my own system for rating reviews. Before I go into how I rate the reviews, I would like to tell you a few concrete ground rules I have no matter what.
I never approve with bad language being used in a review. If you can not write it without bad language be prepared for a lower rating than what you would have gotten had you left that language out.
I have been writing on the web for a few years now, some sites that work similar as this one, and I never agree with vengeful ratings. If you rate me low, for whatever reason, I will not rate you low as a result. If I do rate you low, you deserved it in my eyes, not because you felt one of my reviews fell short of what it should have been.
Now that I have that out of the way, lets move onto how I choose to rate other peoples reviews.
Highly Recommended
It is pretty easy to get a highly recommended from me on this site. All you need to do is provide me a little information on whatever topic you have chosen to write on, AND tell me how this product made you feel. Were you satisfied with this product? Did it let you down? Did it break or not last as you felt it should or would you use it again? Put this information into your review. Tell me what you would have liked to know before you chose the product that you are writing on.
It does not matter if it took you a hour like me, or a few minutes like some other people, as long as you have attempted to cover enough of the details to give me the basics so I know if I want to see that movie, use that product or visit that web site.
Recommended
If you get this rating from me, then you almost had all I was looking for. Sometimes, I know there is just no way to think of it all, and therefore, you may leave out something important. If it is a review on a movie, and you talk about how a certain part did not fit with the plot, please give me some idea of what the plot was. Basically it comes down to more information being needed.
Somewhat Recommended
I seldom use this one, mainly because most that I have read on this site have tried to write a useful review. By useful I mean one that will provide me with information that would make me want to or not want to try a product.
Not Recommended
The only way you are going to get one of these is if you really messed up royally. It was obvious you did not even try to write a useful review and you were only after what few points you could get for a few seconds at the keyboard writing it.
As everyone does, I do have my preferences in regards to length. I have read a few very short reviews that were excellent, and then again, I have read a few long ones that basically were filled with babble and made no sense at all.
Keeping all this in mind, now you know how I rate.