Dooyoo Does Just Fine (The site in general)

Name: Templar19

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Product:	The site in general
Date:	30/06/08 (219 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bright and breezy, fun to contribute to

Disadvantages: Perhaps a few limited categories

I've noticed that quite a few people have been writing to this category so, ever the individualist, I've decided to follow the crowd!

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Q. How did you discover Dooyoo?

I had been vaguely aware of dooyoo for a few years without giving the site much thought. The name cropped up now and again (together with Ciao) on other writing sites I have contributed to. I'd never really considered writing reviews but now it's something I love doing.

Q. Why did you join?

Someone mentioned a review about Helium.com, a review that just happened to be on dooyoo. After reading it I wandered round the site a little. It looked interesting so I signed up. I remember checking out the music categories and saw that a few albums I knew something about were without reviews so I blazed in with my own (hence my apparent Stranglers obsession!). I quite like searching for review-less products (CDs, DVDs and books, mainly).

Q. What was your very first opinion on?

Helium.com.

Q. Did you find it easy to get the hang of Dooyoo?

Yep, very easy. I've had no problems at all finding my way around. Although having said that, for a short while I wasn't aware of the daily list of new reviews (I thought we just had to trawl through categories) and my first couple of rates and comments were on articles that, as it turned out, were years old! What a plonker!!

Q. Did you read other opinions before you posted your first one?

Yes, I read most of the other reviews on the subject I was posting about. There were five or six, as I remember. Actually, I was just curious to read what others had to say on the matter.

Q. Do you write no / some / many comments?

I write some comments, but not too many. I realised through bitter experience how comments can sometimes be badly misunderstood. I once inadvertently started a mini-riot on another site after posting some very obvious jokey comments in a forum, comments directed at someone who was in on the joke. Unfortunately, some others failed to engage their brains before laying into their keyboards and chose to take deep offence. Before I knew where I was the wrath of the righteous had been dumped very heavily on my head. It was simply a transatlantic misunderstanding involving some slightly hysterical religious-types and little old me. They won (I didn't have God on my side, apparently). Now I tend to keep my more smart-assed comments to myself.

Q. When you click on the list of Newest Reviews, do you read your friend's opinion no matter what they're on / according to subject no matter who has written it / preferably the opinion of new members?

I usually scroll down the list to see if there are any subjects that particularly interest me, but I generally rate what's there. I've been here for a couple of months and I now recognize the reliable reviewers. That said, I always try to read the reviews of new members. If they're serious (and not everyone is) I'll try to stick with them.

Q. Do you write your opinions in one sitting?

No. I'm the first to admit that my reviews can be a little lengthy, and because my writing time is limited it may take me two or three days to write them.

Q. Do you use a spell check?

Absolutely. One of my major gripes is about badly (sometimes atrociously) written reviews. There's just no need for it. Sure, we all make mistakes, every last one of us, but with all the aids now available these mistakes can be kept to a minimum. Besides, there's a review screen where we can read over what we've written before we post, so if someone just can't be bothered to do that then it doesn't say much about the value they place on their work. Gripe over, and my complaint is only directed at a very small minority who probably don't give a damn anyway so long as they get their 50p.

Q. Do you think you can improve you chances of a crown if you suck up to a guide?

I'm not quite sure how we go about sucking up to a guide. I'm not even sure who awards crowns. Do guides have a say? I just don't know anything about the dooyoo process behind the scenes. Even if I did, I'm not really the sucker-upper type anyway.

Q. Are you a member of a forum or chat room?

No, I've never been much of a cyber chatterer. There are a couple of specialist forums where I've talked shop about technical matters, but apart from that, nothing.

Q. Does it get to you when members praise or condemn you?

I can't say I've ever had anyone condemn me here. It sounds interesting! ("Your review was the biggest load of b*****s I've ever read!") I'm very thick-skinned so if anyone did want to condemn me about any of my contributions then it wouldn't really matter, although if they had a valid point I'd probably note their opinion. The way I see it is that if you're fair and friendly to others then they'll usually be fair and friendly to you. Dooyoo is a friendly site that seems to be free of the cliques that exist on other sites; although, I do enjoy hearing people who are not afraid to express an opinion.

Q. What did you do with your spare time before joining Dooyoo?

The question sort of implies that I devote my spare time to dooyoo. Like I said before, my writing time is limited, both by everyday obligations and other interests. So, what do I do when away from the computer? Well, I like being outdoors. We have a biggish garden that need looking after, although I'm not particularly green-fingered; I like walking and cycling; I've spent the last month or so rebuilding my racing bike so I should get some miles in on that very soon. My biggest spare-time interest is hillwalking and at this time of year I tend to make quite a few trips into the mountains. Birds and wildlife are another interest; Yoga, books, cooking, people, etc. etc. There are also films to watch and music to listen to. It's all go, here at the Ponderosa!

Q. What do you wish for the future?

I'm not sure if this means the future of dooyoo or the future generally. The first will take care of itself and the second... ermm... well, I'm not really one for grand wishes. I'm just content to muddle along. Whatever will be, will be. Que sera sera... damn, Doris Day's voice will be in my head for the rest of the day!!



Thanks for reading.

Summary: Some random thoughts.