Reply To: Is BoW biased in its reviews?

[bothiParticipant 6472xp 4]

I think I know what @sundancer means. But I think “biased” is the wrong word. I’d say its something more like this: “Sometimes the enthusiasm for new and shiny stuff gets in the way of criticism”. A problem that I have with a lot of review sites online and with myself. Sometimes the aspect of something new overshines everything else. Then you buy it and after a while you recognize a lot of problems with the product.

But I think its even more a language / cultural thing. As I’m german too I’m used to quite harsh criticism that is actually not meant that harshly but more honestly. I’m part of a huge global IT company (over 200k employees) and I have to do professionaly with people from all over the world everyday. And I had to learn the hard way that I cannot use my german tone of conversation anywhere. It works with the French and the Dutch. Because they are not english native speakers and are quite direct people. Especially the Dutch. Once you get honestly critizied by a Dutch you need a drink afterwards. But he only wanted to give you his honest oppinion and didn’t wanted to attack you in any way.

When you get to Indian and eastern Asian people you have to be really careful what you say to them. You can hurt them or insult them very deeply without even noticing it. That is not good for working conditions. English native speakers (Brits and Americans, never really had to do with Canadians, sorry) are somewhere in between in my experience. But I think the english language tends to be much less harsh than german. Or the otherway around, when you say something harsh in english it sounds much more negative than in german. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that something is better than another thing. Or that some people are “tougher” or “softer”. It just that cultures can be very different around the globe. People are mostly the same once you get to know them. Cultures aren’t.

Wow. What a rant. So yeah I think sometimes the typical BoW enthusiam (don’t get me wrong, this is very good thing) gets in the way of criticism. But then how would you tone that criticism? In a german / dutch way? Then a lot of people would be offended by the harsh tone of it. In a “pulling the punches” way? Then other people will be saying, that this is no real criticism. So I think the enitre BoW Team is doing a great job on a very difficult and dicy topic with their first and main focus not to insult anyone. ( Although I remember a review of the GW Lord of Skulls by Warren a few years back which was quite entertaining 😀 ).

Again. This is only my oppinion. So please correct me where I’m wrong.