It's feels a little precocious for me to answer a question to someone who's been on the boards longer than I have, but since you've only got one review maybe you're more of a lurker ... so here goes:
I'm curious is the "Recommend" field intended to be binary - Yes/No - and nothing more?
Originally Posted by DryLightning
Absolutely. The review form gives you two choices for yes/no without the ability to type any free-form text. Some reviewers hack around that by editing the review after posting it, trying to be clever or to post something neutral.
... not sure how other providers would perceive a 'No' review from a generally UTR hobbyist. ... I don't want to find it harder for myself to book a provider because of it.
Originally Posted by DryLightning
That's a general perception that providers will be reluctant to book a customer who writes a bad review. But I don't sense that's the case - my own reviews started with a chain of BP providers, which were 50/50 on yes/no - and I don't think it hurt me in the long run. Good providers don't (or shouldn't) mind when you "no" a bad provider - more business for them.
If you write a 'no' review of a provider who has a sterling reputation, you will probably catch a lot of flack from her regulars and get a cold breeze from the providers in her clique. And there is the occasional WK (who seem to be less vocal these days, but it comes and goes) who will jump all over you if you say anything negative about his personal faves - plus the drama queen for whom one "no" review elicits a tantrum (which is undignified, but sometimes fun to watch).
Without divulging any BCD info, admittedly (to be fair), the not-Yes is not entirely her doing.
Originally Posted by DryLightning
Wow, that does put you in the grey zone. If you had a bad session and it was entirely, or partially, your fault, the provider will (justly) say that the "no" is unfair. It's hard to say without the details. Maybe you could open a thread in the ML and be more specific?
If you would be willing to try again with that same provider, I'd stick to a "yes" and disclose the drawbacks of that particular session in the ROS details. If her behavior caused or exacerbated the problem, and your sense is that she'd be just as awful the next time (or for the next client), you owe the community a "no" review.
The good providers will understand and will not hold it against you, so long as you're fair .... those that will hold it against you are probably going to be trouble in other ways and it's just as well they eliminate themselves from your TDL.