Let’s be clear-cut. There are only two ways of commenting on reviews. Pick and choose the one that nearest befits you
Ladylike
Gentlemanly
Simple enough. Could have been the end of the story. Unfortunately, the matter merits an elaboration.
There are instructions on this site on how to comment. I make it a point to read those before commenting. They go thus:-
“If you want to comment on someone's review, here is the place to do so. The writer is sure to appreciate your compliments or criticism. Make sure your comments are courteous, considerate and to the point. Your comment should also be relevant to the review or other comments.”
Lets take it word by word
“If you want to comment on someone's review…”
Why should you want to comment? Because a truly useful comment adds value to the already good review? Corroborates the review with some points that add on to it? Bah, comment simply because you possess an acid tongue and have to use it somewhere without getting bodily harmed. The space has been provided, you have your fingers and your key board and who is to stop you. Go ahead and spray acid.
”The writer is sure to appreciate your compliments or criticism”
Why compliment anyway? Why unnecessarily massage egos and inflate them, isn’t it. Although it’s something as simple as “I liked your review, and found it informative/ amusing/ thought provoking” but why do it, even if you have genuinely liked it. Why make someone you don’t know feel nice? Why bother spreading niceties?
Forget complimenting altogether, just criticize. And see to it that it is never constructive or helpful or even nicely worded. Say things like “You are talking out of your hat” “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t get any today?” Use spiteful language while critising. Never measure each word you choose as you criticize any and every review that does not match your views. Force your views down everyone’s throat and insist that agreement is essential. You may put up a cover saying “Oh, I’m merely presenting my views” after having said the lot you have. Lets be tactless and rude while criticising.
”Make sure your comments are courteous”
Its high time matters like courtesy etc. called it a day. Haven’t you read comments like, “go get your head examined” or “you must be retarded”. Such lingo must have fetch admiring glances in college canteens (and that too some very sidey junior colleges only), so why make this forum any different.
You can win friends even while disagreeing with them, provided you disagree with panache and taste. But why do all that, lets instead make this forum some sort of a raste ka tamasha (street show) where you throw insults at each other. There are hordes of sites, where the filthiest of exchanges take place between members in the comments section, but why go there?
”Make sure your comments are considerate”
Why? Whose father-in-law is going to stop me from being the obnoxious boor that I am?
I am going to jump to personal conclusions about the writer after reading his/her review and say things like “Who do you think you are?” “Just because you are staying in so and so place, you don’t know anything about my place”
Never ever understand that a review written is only a miniscule part of a person at best a representation of his/her views on a particular product/ matter. Instead let’s treat reviews as a complete mindscape or a character sketch and recklessly comment on his /her personality, behavior and lifestyle. Throw Darts. Rake Filth. Sling Mud
”Make sure your comments are to the point”
Why be to the point when I have all the space to be endless. So what is MS strictly is not even the place to do that, I can be hell-bent on proving to the world my personal/ political/emotional ideologies. Why should I refrain myself from volatile discussions that run into endless threads that get extremely BORING after a while. I’m going to make tiresomely long and rep-rep-repetitive comment after comment in all those reviews that in someway/ anyway do not match my ideologies. Consequently, I’ll be only too happy to be as interesting as a stuck record and a big put off. Pomposity will be my second name and I won’t ever realise that strong beliefs remain unaltered by whatever I say. My long rants will elicit reactions like “Ohhh Lord…sigh…there he goes again…….!”
”Your comment should also be relevant to the review or other comments”
Nonsense, write comments only to provoke, never have a meaningful discussion, never add points, never corroborate. Never add value. Be irrelevant, irresponsible, irritating, and lousy.
Serious anomalies in the review that you think will mislead, can be politely pointed out, But why be polite, pick on the anomaly and spit fire, raise a ruckus.
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Some personal thoughts:-
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There is a lady, I respect in MS who sent me a rather polite, yet no words minced M2M for a review of mine which she totally disagreed with neither rating nor commenting on it. Guess that’s another way of registering your disagreement. In this manner not only has she won my respect, I have also found a sweet friend.
I always look forward to comments of many members and geniunely like what they have to say, be it on my or other’s reviews. Those I can recall right away are madlalya, rajasagar, fatcat, just-did-it, diskonnekt, vivekbp, ganeshb, santoz, azzvyn, muni, suyog, crazeebiddee, rjois, rekh, pixie, eye-split, angel009 and many more I might have missed. I learn from them all how to comment.
I am grateful to people whose comments are obnoxious and pompous on anybody’s reviews. I learn from them how not to comment.
I won’t forget the first person to comment on and rate my very first rev. - spookay. Welcoming, encouraging, with tips for improvement and tactfully pointing out the flaws. What more could a newcomer want? (Nahi Spooks. Rona nahi. Apne aansoo ponch le, mere dost)
Smiles,
Prem
