MouthShut has some great points about it. Those would be:
Member Opinions. Users from ALL over the world can sign up for a free membership. Then, these users can tell the world what they think about any product or service out there. That's right, folks, we can discuss everything from diaper-changing to automobiles, all on this lovely site we've got here! Remember, the members and their participation are what make or break any writing site (such as this one), so without YOU there wouldn't BE a MouthShut! Don't hesitate to speak your mind about ANYTHING YOU WANT!
Also note that, if you cannot find a product or service that you've got in mind, you can click on the ''MouthPad'' link toward the bottom of the screen and suggest a new item for MouthShut to add to the already-extensive database. Be sure to give as much information as you possibly can so MouthShut will add your suggestion faster..
Member Reads. We get a certain number of points for writing opinions, but when we READ the work posted by other users, we get even more points! (I'll discuss the points a bit later, so sit tight!) Also, Member Feedback is great because you can rate something that you've just read: Tell the rest of the community if you thought it was helpful or not! Finally, if you're dying to open your mouth, there is a comments section for each posted review on MouthShut. Remember, once you publish your comment you cannot delete it, so think before you type! Be sure to remain courteous throughout your comments, and try to be helpful to the writer if at all possible.
Simple site navigation. This site is very plain, with few frills. It is also easy on the eyes and a piece of cake to navigate. The links are clearly marked, and there aren't any misleading banner advertisements or other annoying things to distract or annoy users. This makes for a great Web surfing experience!
Your own profile page. You can tell the rest of the MouthShut world all about yourself with just a few mouse clicks and a bit of typing! You can also upload your picture, let everyone know what you like and dislike in the way of products or services, and update all of this information as often as you'd like. How could it get any better?
Trusted Circle. If I like something that another user has written, I generally go to their profile page and read more of their reviews. If I find that they are consistently meriting high ratings from me, then I will most likely add them to my Trusted List. By doing so, I 1. keep track of them easier and 2. help promote their work - people who come to MY profile page see links to these writers that I trust, and vice versa. It's a great way to spread word about solid writing here at this site, and it makes things easier in a way as well.
Also, if I find that somebody is blatantly and obviously cheating (multiple accounts, review padding, et cetera) I can add them to my Distrusted List - again, the entire community sees this list, so be careful!
As with anything else in the universe, there are disadvantages to this site - which I will discuss below for your reading pleasure.
Censorship. Have you noticed that there are content filters within review creation boxes such as the one I'm using right this moment? Yeah. You may use a variety of colorful obscenities (which I won't use here because I KNOW that some of you are morally decent men and women). However, you may NOT mention the names of other sites that are similar to MouthShut. For example, when I tried to submit an editorial featuring the name of a UK site (starts with ''C'' and ends with ''O'' if you get my drift) the content filter kicked the review back to me and informed me that I cannot use that word! The same thing happened when I tried to use the name of that OTHER popular site, (starts with ''E'' and ends with ''pinions'').
Go ahead. Try to comment on any opinion using the words that the content filter bans. Your comment will be posted, but rest assured that it will be deleted the moment one of the MouthShut Webmasters comes across it in their daily trolling. Again, they won't allow us to mention other sites like MouthShut, and I for one do NOT see what possible good this can bring about.
Member to Member e-mails (M2M). You are not allowed to post your e-mail address on your profile page - MouthShut will either delete the offending address or ask you to remove it. ''We'd rather you didn't post your e-mail ID'' they message us when we send them our complaints regarding this barbaric and stunting practice.
Instead, you must go to the user's profile page, type in your message in the M2M box, and click on ''Send.'' I guarantee you that MouthShut DOES read these e-mails whether you like it or not! EVERY SINGLE TIME you either 1. mention another site like this one or 2. give the user your e-mail address within the M2M you are sending, the message either does not show up or, in some cases, you are e-mailed by MouthShut with a request to cease and desist. Apparently these people do not want us to e-mail each other outside of their little ''boundaries'' wouldn't you say?
Where Are My Points? Several users have had their accounts deleted - without getting the points redemptions that they were promised. MouthShut never said ''Only users in India will be able to redeem points.'' Rather, they simply said that we can earn cash and prizes by becoming members. These members that I speak of lost their accounts because they were not satisfied with the lack of service that they were getting. They have been here for over six months, and they have tens of thousands of legitimately-earned points in their accounts: In other words, they've met all the MouthShut requirements for points redemptions.
These members who were blocked out of their accounts had to e-mail MouthShut several times regarding points redemptions, but never got a decent reply. ''Your mail has been forwarded to the appropriate person'' was the most that they got out of MouthShut. That's really unfair, don't you think? I do! To date, they still have all the points in their accounts, but they cannot redeem them now because MouthShut denied them access to their respective accounts. Wow. How unfair is THAT!
Indian members have left comments before, saying that they indeed got paid. Great. Why is it such a breeze for people in India, but such a big stinking hassle for the rest of the world? MouthShut, if you're not going to allow non-Indian users to redeem their points, JUST SAY SO! Most of us aren't here for the money or prizes: Rather, we just want to write.
And so, because of all the restrictions placed on MouthShut, as well as the constricting feel that I get about this place, I lovingly refer to it as The Condom Of The Internet (I bet you were wondering when I was going to explain that title.)
