View Full Version : Long winded reviews
Am I the only one here that doesn't read long winded product reviews? It' almost like the people writing them have nothing better to do and get turned on hearing themselves talk. Is it just me?
Not just you ...
I write many a technical document and I couldn't find the main point being made ...
It' almost like the people writing them have nothing better to do and get turned on hearing themselves talk. Is it just me?
Well that's one way to look at it I suppose...
Or maybe these guys are attempting to converse with like mined people on a forum meant for discussion and communication? You don't have to read any of it. Escape is just a mouse click away… Click.
Especially if it's something simple like lube, or a safety, or a trigger. etc. More complicated things like a scope I can tolerate a bit of bloviation.
BrigandTwoFour
09-30-17, 18:47
Personal preference.
I've written some long reviews in the past, and I'm sure that's turned people off. But, on the flip side, I've always had a frustration when I'm thinking about spending $1K or more on something, and I can't seem to find any serious information about it. I often don't just want a thumbs up or thumbs down, but a reasoned explanation of what each feature does, and how it compares to similar products. That also ends up being how I write reviews.
I would rather there be too much information and leave the option to skip to the conclusion.
Just depends on how interested I am in the product and how well written it is.
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ColtSeavers
09-30-17, 18:59
I hate it when the reviewer 'wings it' and just rambles. I loathe waiting and praying that they somehow meander to some actual points of information that are useful by accident between tangents.
If you're actually trying to post a review, make an effort BEFORE RECORDING AND POSTING to either watch your own work or at least go off of a outline.
Speaking of a outine, I cannot stand NutnFancy, he seemingly impossibly always finds ways to turn a 5minute affair into 30minutes of oral diarrhea.
So, outline, keep it under 5minutes max, review review review, and then answer questions about anything you missed.
Written reviews I can easily skim through for what I want/need, it's video reviews that kill me.
I'd rather have a long winded review over a half a$$ed one that you have to read through pages of comments to see if anyone asked your question and if it was answered.
Most of the shorts reviews end up having ten pages of people asking the same question that has already been answered because no one wants to read through ten pages.
So pick your poison, long thorough review or not enough information?
And as mentioned already, if reading more than a couple lines hurts your brain just back out and go find a thread with pictures.
I don't mind it for a hobby (this forum). But people who try to explain a yes or no question in 2384 words and never answer the question DRIVE ME NUTS! Won't tolerate it.
...but this is a hobby. I prefer a tldr at the end though.
just a scout
09-30-17, 20:46
I hate it when the reviewer 'wings it' and just rambles.
Speaking of a outine, I cannot stand NutnFancy, he seemingly impossibly always finds ways to turn a 5minute affair into 30minutes of oral diarrhea.
That guy is a mumbling boob. What makes him an expert on anything? Because he makes YouTube videos? Can’t stand that clown. His video with the M60E4 had me rolling. Even my 12 year old son looked at it and asked “does he have any idea what he’s doing?”
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GH41, have you seen Robert the Texan's charging handle review up top. It's like the mother of all reviews LOL!
Depends on the review. Be it in video form or written, it just depends. If it is video and entertaining then I am all for letting it go, sometimes I'll be honest and the 20-30 minute reviews from a few channels I'll listen to while reloading, don't get a lot out of them, but they make for good background noise and the voice of the guy doing it doesn't bother me. Other channels, their 40-60 minute discussion videos, or Q&A videos I will happily sit through while sipping on something. But those videos also tend to be more detail oriented compared to some videos out there that are fluff, fluff, blabber, blabber, and bangy, bangy, which even if that is just showcasing something I might buy I won't stand it for more than about 40 seconds. Which brings me to the final point, it depends on the content that the review has. I will sit through a very detailed review video if it is full of information, detail, and technical data and data points while addressing possible concerns, and admitting the shortcomings of the review or the product. There are some channels that post rather short videos who I would happily listen to much longer videos of the content creator discussing their thoughts on the products. Give me the details, pros, cons, and perhaps entertain me and I don't mind. Blabber off for 15 minutes about how something is great, then I will ignore you. If I want shills I'll buy a magazine.
For written reviews, I am kind of the same, details are fine as long as they are driving the point of the review. By all means try to entertain me, but don't do so at the cost of providing valuable information and data, as well as pros and cons, and I am all for someone diving deep into niche rolls of a product, since that might further increase, or even create an interest in a product for me.
In both cases, make sure that the data is understandable and that your facts are correct. Try to bullshit me, or worse lie to me, and I will never consider you worth my time again. On the same note if you make a mistake admit it, we are human. Now, if the information is just garbage spewed by someone who gets off hearing their own voice, then, yeah, it bullshit, but then I don't listen much to that crap anyway. But, on the same note, I am honestly bad for trying to cover all aspects of something in a single post. Granted that is because I don't subscribe to the one size fits all mentality and understand that some people may have different considerations with something, so I try to hit all points I can think of. Makes for long posts, it is what it is though.
All of that said, I will say that if the article or review is full of valuable information, then reading something that is long is not a bad thing. Also, lets be honest, sometimes you have to wade through a mountain of paper to get to the gold. I have run into plenty of people who are not willing to spend 20 minutes of their time to educate themselves. I once posted a copy of the Filthy 14 article on another forum when the discussion began on whether to buy a quality AR vs the cheapest budget rifle around. One response was literally to the affect of, "I don't have time to read something that long, I know what I am talking about, a $300 AK is the best rifle ever made, they never jam or need cleaning, ARs won't go more than 100 rounds before they jam and are useless, and if you use oil in them it instantly attracts dirt and jams them." Which is ironic considering the information that was in the article that I had posted.
I just hate intro music and title cards, guys trying to talk at a range while a guy is burning mags, and the slow mo.
I'm at a point where I like what I like, know what I want, and some dude blathering on loses me.
Just show the device.
I just hate intro music and title cards, guys trying to talk at a range while a guy is burning mags, and the slow mo.
I'm at a point where I like what I like, know what I want, and some dude blathering on loses me.
Just show the device.
On slow mo, I think it depends on how they use it.
Use it for a "better" shot then no. Use it to better demonstrate how something works, or a peculiar aspect of a design, then I think it is fascinating. The forgottenwepaons PKM shooting review for example was had a good use of the slow mo with it showing the ejection port cover operating during the firing cycle. I thought it was interesting.
I just hate intro music and title cards, guys trying to talk at a range while a guy is burning mags, and the slow mo.
I'm at a point where I like what I like, know what I want, and some dude blathering on loses me.
Just show the device.
Honestly I don't watch any of it. Once in a blue moon I'll watch Military Moron and that's it. Too many nobodies making youtube videos and thinking they are somebody because they have a channel with X number of followers.
I had 50,000 posts on TOS or something close to that, want to know what that made me an expert of? Nothing. Just meant I had the time and inclination to post a shit ton of content. If it was a youtube channel rather than a forum, it would mean exactly the same nothing.
I know what I know because I have a shelf full of books by the real experts. I know what I know because I've shot with people who were BTDT for the last 40 years and I've picked up some good info. I know what I know because I've been shooting since 1975 and have been exposed to a lot of weapon systems over the years. And guess what, somewhere there are a dozens of people I can name who nobody has ever heard of who know way more than I do about guns.
ColtSeavers
09-30-17, 23:24
When showing the item, make sure your camera can focus on and is actually focused on the item as well as illuminate the item. Sick and damned tired of black on black (or any same color on same color) equipment with horrible background room ambiance lighting combined with a camera desperately trying to focus on... anything.
Make sure the item is actually in the shot, not your mug perfectly centered while holding your junk putting the muzzle device you're reviewing and supposedly showing live fire of completely or damn near out of the frame.
While I'm getting Cathartic, no measurements at bizarre angles and starting at some random number on the measuring tape. How damned hard is it to put the measuring tape metal tab on an end and simply pull?
Oh, and screw people using grams for weight measurement.
Damn it's easy to be a critic.
GH41, have you seen Robert the Texan's charging handle review up top. It's like the mother of all reviews LOL!
Dare I suspect that's what triggered him? :laugh:
#stillbetterthannutn
I mean, it didn't take half an hour or better to get through it.... ;)
Personal preference.
I've written some long reviews in the past, and I'm sure that's turned people off. But, on the flip side, I've always had a frustration when I'm thinking about spending $1K or more on something, and I can't seem to find any serious information about it. I often don't just want a thumbs up or thumbs down, but a reasoned explanation of what each feature does, and how it compares to similar products. That also ends up being how I write reviews.
I would rather there be too much information and leave the option to skip to the conclusion.
Exactly. I'm trying to make a serious decision and there's ONE half-assed review on the product.... :mad:
I have written some opus'es in the past as well and will continue to do so if I feel it's warranted. Of course there's a fine line between "too much" info and "not enough", but my God if I have to watch another so-called "review" that's just a glorified unboxing with a side of mumbling about nothing relevant, or read one that's just "It is good. I liked it" and nothing else, I will lose my mind... :laugh:
BTW, nice site Brigand. Good to see you're still going.
....His [Nutn] video with the M60E4 had me rolling. Even my 12 year old son looked at it and asked “does he have any idea what he’s doing?”
I wasn't aware he ever did an M60 review.... ??
At the time I wrote to GH41 I hadn't seen Roberts review. I'm pretty sure you're right.
Moose-Knuckle
10-01-17, 05:48
Reviews are like anything else, there are good one's and bad ones. I typically write reviews as a verified buyer on Amazon. I read a lot of reviews before I buy a product or go some place. It's helped me more times than not.
BrigandTwoFour
10-01-17, 10:37
On video reviews, I absolutely agree with the above. My attention span is relatively limited in that regard. A video review should be no more than 4-6 minutes (which is also about how long it takes to read a 1500 word review).
BTW, nice site Brigand. Good to see you're still going.
Thanks! It's been a struggle to get back on a regular routine since the move. I'm hoping that the lawsuit against PNTC being dismissed, as well as some other opportunities popping up, will help.
FromMyColdDeadHand
10-01-17, 11:40
There is a video for putting a "Yo Dave" trigger into a 22 CZ455. They guy does a nice job, but his two year old is in frame and yammering away the whole time. Great instruction, but tough to watch.
I don't mind long winded anything. I just wish everyone used paragraphs.
NYH1.
Outlander Systems
10-01-17, 12:15
Bingo.
I'd rather have a long winded review over a half a$$ed one that you have to read through pages of comments to see if anyone asked your question and if it was answered.
Most of the shorts reviews end up having ten pages of people asking the same question that has already been answered because no one wants to read through ten pages.
So pick your poison, long thorough review or not enough information?
And as mentioned already, if reading more than a couple lines hurts your brain just back out and go find a thread with pictures.
Eurodriver
10-01-17, 12:34
GH41, have you seen Robert the Texan's charging handle review up top. It's like the mother of all reviews LOL!
Have you written any reviews that we can read?
As someone who has, that takes time and you get nothing out of it whatsoever. I don’t get free kit from manufacturers, I don’t have sponsors to keep impressed, and I don’t owe anything to anyone on the internet. I like helping folks on the forum and if someone had a problem with my reviews being too long it might make me reconsider posting one at all next time.
Depends on the review. Be it in video form or written, it just depends. If it is video and entertaining then I am all for letting it go, sometimes I'll be honest and the 20-30 minute reviews from a few channels I'll listen to while reloading, don't get a lot out of them, but they make for good background noise and the voice of the guy doing it doesn't bother me. Other channels, their 40-60 minute discussion videos, or Q&A videos I will happily sit through while sipping on something. But those videos also tend to be more detail oriented compared to some videos out there that are fluff, fluff, blabber, blabber, and bangy, bangy, which even if that is just showcasing something I might buy I won't stand it for more than about 40 seconds. Which brings me to the final point, it depends on the content that the review has. I will sit through a very detailed review video if it is full of information, detail, and technical data and data points while addressing possible concerns, and admitting the shortcomings of the review or the product. There are some channels that post rather short videos who I would happily listen to much longer videos of the content creator discussing their thoughts on the products. Give me the details, pros, cons, and perhaps entertain me and I don't mind. Blabber off for 15 minutes about how something is great, then I will ignore you. If I want shills I'll buy a magazine.
For written reviews, I am kind of the same, details are fine as long as they are driving the point of the review. By all means try to entertain me, but don't do so at the cost of providing valuable information and data, as well as pros and cons, and I am all for someone diving deep into niche rolls of a product, since that might further increase, or even create an interest in a product for me.
In both cases, make sure that the data is understandable and that your facts are correct. Try to bullshit me, or worse lie to me, and I will never consider you worth my time again. On the same note if you make a mistake admit it, we are human. Now, if the information is just garbage spewed by someone who gets off hearing their own voice, then, yeah, it bullshit, but then I don't listen much to that crap anyway. But, on the same note, I am honestly bad for trying to cover all aspects of something in a single post. Granted that is because I don't subscribe to the one size fits all mentality and understand that some people may have different considerations with something, so I try to hit all points I can think of. Makes for long posts, it is what it is though.
All of that said, I will say that if the article or review is full of valuable information, then reading something that is long is not a bad thing. Also, lets be honest, sometimes you have to wade through a mountain of paper to get to the gold. I have run into plenty of people who are not willing to spend 20 minutes of their time to educate themselves. I once posted a copy of the Filthy 14 article on another forum when the discussion began on whether to buy a quality AR vs the cheapest budget rifle around. One response was literally to the affect of, "I don't have time to read something that long, I know what I am talking about, a $300 AK is the best rifle ever made, they never jam or need cleaning, ARs won't go more than 100 rounds before they jam and are useless, and if you use oil in them it instantly attracts dirt and jams them." Which is ironic considering the information that was in the article that I had posted.
Is this an ironic post? Because, you know, it is long winded. ;)
Here is the deal. A product review should be short and sweet. Tell about the product and if you want tell your opinion, and make sure it is clearly stated how you obtained the product. Also make sure it is something that is useful.
Products that don't fill a need and are just the "latest" thing are not really needed. Just post "look what I found" and call it a day.
Now on the other side there are informational posts. Those need to be longer. Those are not reviews. Totally different. Outlander has some outstanding informational posts on como equipment. They are long but they need to be because they are chalked full of good information.
Those are two totally different things. Don't confuse them and they don't cross over.
And I agree 100% with using paragraphs...... Please use them. ;)
Is this an ironic post? Because, you know, it is long winded. ;)
Pfft, I can't help it if you have the attention span of a goldfish. ;)
Have you written any reviews that we can read?
As someone who has, that takes time and you get nothing out of it whatsoever. I don’t get free kit from manufacturers, I don’t have sponsors to keep impressed, and I don’t owe anything to anyone on the internet. I like helping folks on the forum and if someone had a problem with my reviews being too long it might make me reconsider posting one at all next time.
There also the point that if someone started posting reviews going, "It good!" and not explain shit that people would bitch bout it being too short.
My personal opinion. It will be as long as needed. Don't like it? You can kindly go elsewhere. I also stopped caring about pleasing everyone a long time ago, so there that too. Also, there being a variety in review styles lets those who think others are wrong build there own niche and stop bitching.
Pfft, I can't help it if you have the attention span of a goldfish. ;)
A guppy, not a goldfish. Which reminds me of a story:
My youngest daughter was 4 or 5 years old, she had Goldfish and they kept dying. At .49 each it didn't warrant a lot of investigation on my part. This goes on for about 5 fish. One day she comes running in to my wife and cries 'Mom. Goldie died.' My wife hugs her and discovers that one arm is wet and cold. 'Why is your arm wet?' 'I was petting him.'
LowSpeed_HighDrag
10-01-17, 14:39
Colion Noir is the absolute worst. Nutnfancy second.
I actually like Colin Noir because of the way he strings his words a long.
NF used to be alright but dang his 45 minute videos have gotten older now days.
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There also the point that if someone started posting reviews going, "It good!" and not explain shit that people would bitch bout it being too short.
My personal opinion. It will be as long as needed. Don't like it? You can kindly go elsewhere. I also stopped caring about pleasing everyone a long time ago, so there that too. Also, there being a variety in review styles lets those who think others are wrong build there own niche and stop bitching.
Couldn't agree more! Was thinking about posting something similar but you beat me to it.
Have you written any reviews that we can read?
As someone who has, that takes time and you get nothing out of it whatsoever. I don’t get free kit from manufacturers, I don’t have sponsors to keep impressed, and I don’t owe anything to anyone on the internet. I like helping folks on the forum and if someone had a problem with my reviews being too long it might make me reconsider posting one at all next time.
I have written very very small ones, almost casual in nature. I meant the above statement in humor and did not mean to demean Roberts overall effort, if that's the way it came across, I'll try to be more careful. He even took a few humorous shots at himself. It is a very long review.
I need to hang out in the general section more often....
Personally speaking, I strongly dislike most video reviews as they are filled with guys trying to be cool, guys with no actual background or knowledge, guys with bloated content, guys who are paid and blatant shills who will lie or glaze over problems, or box openers.... and they are the worst. Obviously there are exceptions.
I give no free pass to writers, especially some of the blatant shills who have been exposed. What a written article does is allow me to skim through it quickly to find what I am looking for. This is much better than 30 minutes not knowing if a point will even be made.
I have zero doubt many of my articles are hated. I do my best to do a few things, and whether they are done well or not is debatable.
1- Provide clean clear images that let people get a good and realistic view of the item.
2- Put my training and experience to use in talking about the item. Whether it is from MIL, LE, FAI, TL, or martial arts experience. If I couldn’t be called to testify in court as a SME, I try not to write about it. Not that I put that title on myself by any means.
3- Make it something more than dry facts. While technical information is important, dry bare specs are a good way to create boredom when pared with nothing else imho.
I won't read a long review unless it's really good and relevant to my situation. I won't watch a youtube gun video that's over 3 or 4 minutes.
GH41, have you seen Robert the Texan's charging handle review up top. It's like the mother of all reviews LOL!
:lol: I clicked on that one, and turned around immediately. Probably good info... but I don't care about charging handles that much.
I'm more annoyed that most reviews don't contain any useful information that can't be found by looking at the manufacturer's website or handling an example at a gunshop.
I don't care about long-winded so long as the information I'm looking for is buried somewhere inside. I'll find it and pick it out.
I want to know about any function, breakage, or compatibility issues and I want to know about mechanical accuracy. Those are really the only things I can't possibly know without firing or buying the gun myself.
I'm annoyed that it's become cool lately to make a point of poopooing mechanical accuracy or doing a shitty job of reporting it (3 shot groups, shooting offhand, etc) and then moving on to more important things in the review, like glamour shots of the reviewer shooting from different angles and monologing at the camera about nothing useful whatsoever.
Mechanical accuracy matters.
Diamondback
10-14-17, 19:04
As someone who semi-regularly writes reviews but is hamstrung by being confined to bench-side perspective and unable to get out for range testing as much as I'd like, would y'all mind taking a look at some of mine and helping me figure out what I'm doing right and what I can do to improve on my technique? (I should note that 1. I have around a 600-word minimum target, 2. most of my readers aren't particularly Equipment Connoisseurs or even "Gun People" per se, and 3. I do try to always bottom-line it with a TL-DR about "Would I Buy This Again?" which is to me the simplest and most important question about any product or vendor, though the highest praise I can give is "Worth Full Price" since I have a rule about "NEVER pay Full Boat MSRP, EVER.")
"More Range Experience" is a Captain Obvious, but rather the challenge when you have to take care of an invalid relative who squawks every five minutes about "do this, do that, get me food, wipe my ass, etc."...
...would y'all mind taking a look at some of mine and helping me figure out what I'm doing right and what I can do to improve on my technique?
Start your own thread on this topic and post links to a couple of your reviews. I'd be happy to offer my suggestion.
Moose-Knuckle
10-15-17, 06:00
I need to hang out in the general section more often....
Personally speaking, I strongly dislike most video reviews as they are filled with guys trying to be cool, guys with no actual background or knowledge, guys with bloated content, guys who are paid and blatant shills who will lie or glaze over problems, or box openers.... and they are the worst. Obviously there are exceptions.
I give no free pass to writers, especially some of the blatant shills who have been exposed. What a written article does is allow me to skim through it quickly to find what I am looking for. This is much better than 30 minutes not knowing if a point will even be made.
I have zero doubt many of my articles are hated. I do my best to do a few things, and whether they are done well or not is debatable.
1- Provide clean clear images that let people get a good and realistic view of the item.
2- Put my training and experience to use in talking about the item. Whether it is from MIL, LE, FAI, TL, or martial arts experience. If I couldn’t be called to testify in court as a SME, I try not to write about it. Not that I put that title on myself by any means.
3- Make it something more than dry facts. While technical information is important, dry bare specs are a good way to create boredom when pared with nothing else imho.
A little of topic but since I saw you post about writing, does OFF GRID take reader's letters? Or what is the best way contacting the editors about content? The reason I ask is about three issues ago an author wrote some incorrect information about GLOCK magazine compatibility.
And no it wasn't one of your's, I think you know better. :cool:
I can shoot you a PM if you want specifics.
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