Oct 24, 2006 07:33 PM
2712 Views
Acknowledgement???
I think Faisal has done a brilliant job in shaping this site the way it is. I have read about some disillusionments, some problems here, but then life doesnt stop for anyone. People come and people go but the show must go on. As of now, I like spending my time here. I cant say anything about the future but am sure MS will not stop on my account.
Prologue:
Its interesting how often accidents lead you to something you didnt even know existed. and how they become integral part of your life
Chapter 1 : A DAY OF DISCOVERY!!!
It was somewhere in the rainy!! month of August. I was sitting on this PC of mine.... bored to death. KANK had just got released. There were rave reviews everywhere. Most of the critics were very happy with it, but when it comes to SRK movies, I take the views of the critic with a pinch of salt knowing what SRK is capable of. So, I go to my one-stop-shop for everything under the sun. Google!!! and the word KANK shows me some site called "mouthshut.com????" Seems a familiar name... oh yes, I saw it written behind some auto!!! It must be one of those movie related sites... I go there and read a couple of reviews. Some are really good. The next thing I notice is that the site has reviews not just on movies, but books, electronics, websites... everything. Hmmm... a site for consumers. OK, so big deal??? There are so many of such sites around. I spend some time here and there and log off.
Chapter 2 : THE NEXT DAY!!!
OK, so now let me see whats come up on KANK. hmmm... so many reviews within a day?? And whats this comment section? Oh OK... so people can comment on the reviews written by someone.... Ahhh even some comments are quite good... and people seem to know each other... and they rate the review as well?? Well well, anyway, I am just here for some views on KANK!!! Seems a lousy movie going by the word of many here... Now let me see what everyone has to say about the latest mobile that I plan to buy... hmmm verdict in my favour. So, I am not doing the wrong thing by going in for this model!!!
Chapter 3 : TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR(S!!!)
I discover something more. Whats this star behind some of the IDs??? I go to the profile page of one of the stars. Wow!!! Impressive!!! Let me go through some of what they wrote... My my... I am impressed. They write so very well....
Chapter 4 : THE_REVIEWER IS BORN
I am not a blogger by nature. And I am generally not into joining any site for fun. The initial euphoria of 90s has already worn off. Plus the age factor has caught on :))) (I have to admit it!!!)
But somehow, something told me why not try this site. It seems interesting. So, on August 17, 2006, I decide to register myself in this site. Login ID??? hmmm... my memory is inversely proportional to my age... so better I choose some ID which I can remember and a similar password. How about mouthshutdotcom... Oh!! its already taken... mouthnotshut??? its also taken??? Reviewer ?? after all I am here to review... Oh!!! thats also taken... The_Reviewer??? Ah!!!! Finally!!! But I didnt realise that this name would sound like someone from WWF at that point of time!!! :)) I fill the remaining minimal details... I wait for the confirmation mail and agree to everything blindly!! and enter as a legal member of the site!!!
Chapter 5 : MY FIRST R and C!
My first rating and comment was on KANK review. I felt nice when the writer responded... and I started doing more RRC!!!
The more I RRCed, the more I felt like writing something. Then one fine day, nearly after a month of my registering, 2 things happened around the same time. One, I dropped my mobile in water!!! But after 4 days in coma, it survived :) Second, I received a mail from Jasmine to write something. I thought fine, why not share my experience of my mobile on MS!!! So, I punched the keyboard and just re-read it once and submitted it..!!!!
OK so I am done. Let me see what happens now.. I go back to something else...
Soon I get an alert!!! "Prasiddha" has read my article .... It feels great to be read by some STAR!!! He rated my review "Useful". Then, it got read some more and then rated some more... I was actually quite happy even though it was a "U" and occasional “SU” :)
I decided to write a second review and managed it the same day!!!! I got many read and rate alerts and then suddenly, someone commented on my review... Hmmm... I must be good :) So, I promptly answer the comment!!!
I feel part of the community now. I want to write more and become a STAR!!! (its interesting to see how fast you can start dreaming !!! :))
I read some reviews and for the first time, give an NU to someone. I do feel guilty but cmon, it wasnt so good after all.
Chapter 6 : THE TRUSTED CIRCLE
As I opened my mail box, someone has sent me an M2M. But wait, this is from the person whose rev I rated as "NU". He says that he actually was glad I was frank and it made him improvise!!! I felt better!! So, I did something more. I added him to my trusted circle.
For me, in the initial days, there were 2 reasons to add someone to my trusted list. 1) he cares to read my comments and hence trusts my decision. 2) I trust his decision and care to read what he writes.
Now I have started agreeing with Paulose. Does this list really have any meaning? And just recently, I was actually amused when 2 MSians decided to "distrust" me :) To each his own!!
Chapter 7 : MY FIRST VU AND MY FIRST LESSON
One thing about me is that I never get it right the first time :) Same goes with my reviews. I still feel disgusted about the first few reviews I wrote. They were all impromptu attempts and without much editing.
One fine day, inspired by all the twinkling stars here, I decide to write something different other than movies and electronics and books. This time I did my homework and did some serious edits and I hit the submit.
My mail box didnt stop buzzing that day. Somehow, it was a hit. I came to know later that it reached even the hot review list!!!! My review!!! Hot list!!! I was dazed. It wasnt meant to be... I am truly speaking not a good writer.... then how? OK so it must be the masalas, the presentation. So, it does matter!!!
I learnt my first lesson that to write well you need to plan well. I also learnt that if I wanted others to read and rate my reviews, I should be there on their pages as well. After all if all wrote, who would read and if all just read, who would write.
Thus began my journey on MS!!! It has its up and its downs… but then that’s what makes it interesting….
Epilogue
MS has indeed become more than just a website to me. It has now started influencing my decisions whether to watch this movie or to buy that stuff. It has also helped me revive my interest in books. The main thing is that it gives me my share of smiles :)
PS: This was supposed to be written on my 25th attempt :) however I didnt want to forget how I sailed through!!!
