Can I name the man with no name? (reviewwritersforum.co.uk)

Member Name: dididave

Product:	reviewwritersforum.co.uk
Date:	02/07/06 (233 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well constructed, easy to navigate with a large membership and a variety of topics.

Disadvantages: Moderation and editing of postings. Strict no-naming policy.

As a member of a consumer review site sometimes you feel an urge to converse with people online without the constraints attached to your membership. You do not necessarily want to read and rate, you just want to chew the fat with people you have come to know be it opinion site related, or matters of the everyday. This is were sites such as “The Review Writers Forum” come in to play. I have been using “The Review Writers Forum” as a stopgap to wile away the time when my enthusiasm for reading consumer reviews wanes.

“The Review Writers Forum” is essentially a forum for members of opinion sites to debate, chat and congregate, away from the inevitable constrictions of the consumer reviews site. It is a site originally set up by an established opinion site member as a place that aims to be, “fun and challenging, that offered members a bit more than just chatting, a place where members did not feel like they were taking part in a huge “Let's talk about so and so” den of iniquity where people feel unwelcome. Forums are very difficult to police (don't even like the word), and the idea of the forum was to be a place where people from all walks of life, all review sites, could discuss subjects that interested them in a pleasant atmosphere.” This is representative in the sites layout.

Nicknamed by many as “The Forum Of Infinite Blueness” or FOIB, due to the sites predominantly blue background, the site is set out in an easy to follow table of topics to be perused and discussed. These include segments dedicated specifically to the major opinion sites of ciao, dooyoo and epinions. In these threads members can pose questions, moan or rant about everything from overrating to award conspiracies. For those desperate to get away from opinion site debates, there are sections such as “Banter and Fun”,”Entertainment” and “All About Books” were you can chat about your latest read, Doctor Who or even real life stuff! Perhaps, most interesting is the “Current Affairs” section in which members can discuss anything newsworthy they feel is important. Recent topics discussed include the use of cannabis, child abuse and the NHS. Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the threads on offer but as you can see there is plenty to peruse and most people should find something that interest them.

Most sections of the forum can be accessed without registering as a site member but, in order to contribute, registration is required. Fortunately, this is a simple and free process needing a user name, password and email address to activate your account (this can take anything from minutes to hours dependent on whether an Admin member is online). Once registered there are more options available to you as a member than as a browser. These include a private messaging system to chat to members on site one to one, the ability for your online status to remain hidden (handy if you want to browse without being PM'd) and a choice of avatar (picture next to your postings).

“The Review Writers Forum” is a site that navigates quickly and has an easy to use, one-click menu system for accessing, replying and quoting threads. It is a site that has little if any downtime and navigates quickly. Despite the much mocked overwhelmingly blue appearance, fonts are clean and crisp and large enough to be easy on the eye. However, the site does have a lot of sections which although well segmented can make the site a little cluttered in its attempt to be all encompassing.

As a forum “Review Writers” has a lot to offer and is evolving interesting areas including a games thread and monthly writing competition. Unfortunately, despite the owners efforts this a site with some problems. The primary problem as I see it being the over-enforcement of site rules specifically the “no-naming” and no “off-topic” postings policy. Although the policy does state, “no naming” it is a grey area on site that has been constantly debated since the sites creation. I know as a former moderator I was often uncomfortable trying to moderate under these rules. Even the most innocuous postings, including fictional characters were to be moderated and even the most indirect or most positive naming was to be treated with suspicion and moderated. This rule was so stringent at times that I found myself breaking it unknowingly at times making moderating it an impossible task!

Similarly, “The Review Writers Forum” seems to have a serious aversion to anything deemed to be an “off topic” posting. In my opinion a thread often meanders around a point only to return to it further down. Occasionally a thread can veer wildly off topic. However, a simple “back on topic” comment from a moderator is usually sufficient and if nobody is complaining about the postings then why does it have to be a problem? The Admin at “The Review Writers Forum” obviously disagree with me on this and often remove, without warning swathes of posting considered off-topic. Along with the removal of naming posts it is a surprise there are many threads left intact!

You see the problem is in the enforcement of the rules. Yes we understand there is a no naming policy and it should were possible be adhered to BUT, mistakes will happen, innocuous and harmless naming should not be treated with scorn and the moderators and members should be treated with respect and a modicum of common sense applied. I understand that there is a large and varied active membership. I understand that there are a number of outspoken members which leads to heated debate. However, not admitting that you have been “cack-handed” in your moderation and editing and refusing to employ a common sense approach is only going to cause a loss of the membership the site owners claim to value. Removing threads while you “decide whether they are suitable” is not showing respecting your membership and neither is deactivating members without warning as you see them as “causing trouble”

All in all this site is well laid-out with an established, active and varied membership that suffers from heavy handed editing by its Admin. In their defence they are trying to establish clearer guidelines as to what they deem acceptable but without the consideration for its members a site such as this requires this will all be for nought. Furthermore, unless they relax their no naming policy I cannot recommend it and would point you to more consistent, less stringent alternatives that are more about freedom of speech than censorship.

Summary: Such much promise being wasted at present.