Jan 21, 2006 05:18 PM
1422 Views
(Updated Jan 21, 2006 05:30 PM)
It's been quite some time since I joined MS. How did I join MS was something that I still do not remember. I guess it was a silly, randomly spoken idea; by someone who was sitting right across me in one of the sleepy training sessions, when I joined a call centre. We were having dreadful nights then...so Mouthshut sounded like a fun way of sneeky timepass! But I didnt join it just then...it was a timepass which worked well with my group- checking new products, reading reviews about latest books and getting some technical know how as well...we did all with MS!!!
I joined Mouthshut officially last year. I was reading about some stuff on Mouthshut and clicked on the comments section. I had access to the comments but I needed to voice my opinion as well. There I was, filling up the form and becoming a MS member. The first thing I did was to comment on the review.
But just commenting was not solving my increasing apetite of penning down something ...something which will provoke others to comment and rate it. After reading some reviews ( my mistake- I read the reviews written by best of MS), I was taken aback! Believe me when I say that I was prepared to be shunned by one and all at MouthShut and I was ready to move out as discreetly as I had come... The first few reviews were just flukes...readin them now makes me laugh out loud! I was shocked to see fellow MSians reading my reviews( i kept the alert on that as well...), rating it and commenting as well...Initially I thought, does it really make a difference to anybody about what I review and how!
Gradually I realised that it makes a difference to atleast some...I am my own example; films, songs, ads( thanks to Mayank!), internet connections to books... I read them on MS before making up my mind on whether to pursue them or not! So MS is helping some of us, even if in a small way!
MS for me is an open forum and that is what it gives an edge over others.I have not been here for long so will not comment on whether it truly is transparent to the extent that it brags about...I was mighty surprised to see that atleast in some ways, MS is trying to be different. For instant, flaggin of some members and keeping a tab on the language being used...these are important aspects and I give full marks to MS for doing that!
MS also gave me an option...of trusting some people and not trusting others...I made some quick friends and they are still reading, rating and commenting on my reviews!
A quick mention to boost my morale and theirs: rachitvats, nitesh1104,matwalaboy,zuludancing,ekta_unity, teena_shri, prasiddha,madsadman, mausam, tech_writer and many more.... They have truly taught me the tricks of the trade and help me in gettin better and better! A big thank you all!
Finally what drives me to write more and more on MouthShut is the various contests that they organise...I will not be sweet and simple and say tht I do it for just the heck of it...I am on MS because i like reading, rating and commenting and if I get a prize, it will be more than a welcome bonus!!!
Now each site has its good and the evil side...MS is no different...It gave me the freedom to say what I wanted but it kept the start button with itself. Some of the categories and products requested for where not granted permission...reasons given was frivilous...I can see a lot many undesired and unrequired reviews seeing the light of the day! But then I guess, it is MS's discretion on what they think is right and what is wrong...
Another aspect which disturbed me was seeing how easy it is for someone to add other MSian in the trusted list without the accepting or rejectng the offer...somehow it didnt make sense to me! I have around 17 people in my trusted list and I think for a starter,this number is acceptable...but to my alarm, I found someone deciding to distrust me as well...now, showing trust is still permissible; but distrusting someone one fine day...u should have a jusified reason...
To end it all...MS gave me an opportunity; it let me be the way I want to be...I wrote and read...I commented and I trusted...its been a fruitful journey so far...n it will continue to be...!
My review title- The one I had in mind was taken by some dancing fellow(!) so I chose this one...to acknowledge that my pen has taken a backseat and my fingers are doing all the talking now!
