Sometimes, when reading a review - however well-written or informative it might be - that is the one word that comes to my mind. ’’Huh?’’ As in: ’’What in the WORLD is he or she talking about?’’
I’m an American - I reside in Texas, which in many ways is like a world of its own. I’m not isolated from the rest of the world, and I certainly keep myself grounded firmly in the confines of REALITY but, that does not change the fact that I sometimes do not know what the hell people are writing about.
For example, here in Texas we think ’’cricket’’ is a small black insect that chirps loudly and goes nicely on the end of a fishook. In the rest of the world, it’s a regular sporting event, with superstars and cheaters and problematic players just like our popular sports(football, baseball, et cetera). However, ’’So-and-so chucks! He cheats!’’ tells me NOTHING! First, I don’t know JACK about cricket. Secondly, what the hell is chucking?!
I’m not claiming to be perfect, of course, but I DO have one main piece of advice for everybody who writes here at MouthShut - regardless of who you are, where you’re from, or what you’re reviewing.
Pretend we’ve all clueless as to the subject material at hand. A tiny bit of background information regarding the product, person, service, et cetera is always welcome. Different cultures and areas of the world are known for different things: For example, you won’t see Dr Pepper as the most common drink in some countries. You won’t even HEAR of cricket in Texas. Many people from other countries know good and well what a rodeo is, but many haven’t exactly SEEN it before.
So, please, be VERY thorough in your writing. When you open your editorial, comment, or review, be sure to give us all an idea of what you’re talking about. That way, instead of scratching my shaved head and muttering, ’’Huh?’’ I’ll be able to say, ’’Great! So THAT’S what you mean!’’
Also, when writing, be prepared to compose a piece of more than the minimum 75 words. For most topics, those measly 75 words aren’t nearly enough to describe your experiences in enough detail to convey them in a meaningful manner. I can say ’’Sprite sucks’’ twenty times in a review, but that doesn’t tell you why you shouldn’t drink it. ’’Dude, I used this soap and it broke my skin out!’’ doesn’t always help - what type of skin do I have? What particular scent and version of the soap did I use? What else did I use with the soap? Blah blah blah, you get the idea - be thorough and give a little background information. That way you’ll MORE than exceed the word limit - but, you will also give your readers more information to base their OWN opinions on.
I don’t think that we are here to convince other people to avoid this, or try that. Rather, I believe we are here to share our own experiences so that other users can decide for themselves. Who knows? What I totally and thoroughly HATE might be your favorite product or service in the world - and you know what? Both opinions are valid.
And, of course, be sure to stick to the subject at hand. Giving information, telling a personal story, et cetera are great, so long as they adhere to the general concept. Going off-topic serves as a distraction in most cases, and usually brings lower ratings - which, in the long run means less points and fewer member reads. So, being on-topic definitely benefits all parties - wouldn’t you agree?
Don’t be afraid to experiment with various styles. Put your own personal twist on your writing: Just because we all appear in the same font doesn’t mean we have to be exactly the same in styles of writing, technique, and commentary. Put a dash of humor into a review. Make your Profile page interesting - change it every so often so that users will be treated to something a little different the next time they visit the page. Don’t hesitate to try something new - within the confines of morality and site rules, of course.
Finally, while keeping all of the above in mind, remember that we’re here for the purpose of ENTERTAINMENT. I don’t do this because I HAVE to - and I’m sure you don’t either!(Unless you’re one of the site owners or Webmasters - in either case, GREAT JOB GUYS!) To me, having a sense of humor is crucial: If I can’t laugh at myself or a situation(or even somebody else and THEIR situation - hehe) what’s the point? Remember, HAVE FUN!