Thoughts on Reviews

So I pulled a standard lawyer trick of saying something that is very technically true while conveying an utterly false impression. I thought it was pretty good. Originally Posted by Laurentius

We'll give you an honorary ticket to the bar. Originally Posted by pjorourke

We'll appoint you on a pro bono basis to be one of Pvt. Manning's defense attorneys. After all, the poor little guy is fighting the whole United States of America all alone. Reminds me of the picture of the lone figure standing in front of a line of tanks in Tienanmen Square.

Reviews are essential for a new provider. Once she has established a little credibility, I am not sure how important they are. Originally Posted by heidilynnla

I agree reviews are essential for a new provider. But from the hobbyist's standpoint, there are other issues.

I can only speak from my experience as a hobbyist. When I first started to hobby, I read a lot of reviews. You don't come into the hobby knowing which ladies are ligit, which are not. You don't know which review websites are good, which are crap. And this kind of info doesn't appear in Wikipedia.

As a newbie hobbyist you have to rely on reviews...even for well established ladies b/c you just don't know them. For instance, before I got on the motherboard or here, I didn't know shit about Becky, Ansley, Elisabeth, Dallas, Tiffany, or any of the other ladies that regularly post here. To take L's reference, I was a Tabula Rasa when it came to the ladies.

So, even for ladies who have had a wealth of reviews, newbie hobbyists won't know about your reputation unless they can see recent reviews (newbies, I think, don't search the history of reviews on a regular basis). Now, maybe you don't care about newbies, and that's fine.

BTW, as my signature block says, I don't do reviews any more. And I don't read them, for the most part. Sometimes, I'll open a review to find something I couldn't find elsewhere, like the lady's fee structure, web site, or location. But I really don't pay much attention to the menu, and I don't have ROS access so I can't see the BCD written description.

Nope, no reviews. No reading, no writing. No reviews. No way.

To determine compatibility and whether or not our personalities are a good match for an extended date, I like to use email exchange and form my own conclusion rather than rely on general details in a review. I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they write and what they write. . Originally Posted by The Nameless One

I agree I have found that an email exchange combined with a long phone call is a great way to get a feel for each other, and will usually do this rather than ask for a reference( the evil twin of the review system lol ) . I understand that references just like reviews have their place in our world,and will let my clients know that they can always rely on me as a ref when needed. But like reviews I have often felt like they can be an invasion of privacy, and not very practical if a man is new, or does not meet escorts very often. I have always been a strong believer in trusting your own instincts, and would rather form my own opinion by getting to know a person who may want to meet me over relying on the words of a stranger.

We'll appoint you on a pro bono basis to be one of Pvt. Manning's defense attorneys. After all, the poor little guy is fighting the whole United States of America all alone. Reminds me of the picture of the lone figure standing in front of a line of tanks in Tienanmen Square. Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

Except one was a symbol of freedom and the other was a pissed off GI.

I agree I have found that an email exchange combined with a long phone call is a great way to get a feel for each other, and will usually do this rather than ask for a reference( the evil twin of the review system lol ) . I understand that references just like reviews have their place in our world,and will let my clients know that they can always rely on me as a ref when needed. But like reviews I have often felt like they can be an invasion of privacy, and not very practical if a man is new, or does not meet escorts very often. I have always been a strong believer in trusting your own instincts, and would rather form my own opinion by getting to know a person who may want to meet me over relying on the words of a stranger. Originally Posted by Becky

I've never done either the long email exchange or the long phone conversation to determine compatibility.

For the most part, I'm cognizant of ladies who have posted here that they don't care for lots of back and forth emails or long/continuous phone calls. I think they tend to look at it as unpaid time investment. After all, they charge for time, and any time spent in setting up the date is free.

OTOH, maybe I should attempt to engage in this kind of session preparation. I hate phones, so I probably wouldn't do that...but emails, sure!!

I agree I have found that an email exchange combined with a long phone call is a great way to get a feel for each other, and will usually do this rather than ask for a reference( the evil twin of the review system lol ) . I understand that references just like reviews have their place in our world,and will let my clients know that they can always rely on me as a ref when needed. But like reviews I have often felt like they can be an invasion of privacy, and not very practical if a man is new, or does not meet escorts very often. I have always been a strong believer in trusting your own instincts, and would rather form my own opinion by getting to know a person who may want to meet me over relying on the words of a stranger. Originally Posted by Becky

Bravo, my dear! In the proper hands, email can replace the lost art of letter writing & can be a great way to assess compatibility. I don't believe I give "good phone"...but for you....I'd be willing to try again!

But only if Edward gets to throw in his $.02 from the background!

Except one was a symbol of freedom and the other was a pissed off GI. Originally Posted by pjorourke

I no more trust our government than that Chinaman did his.

I don't give a flip why someone holds the government accountable, I'm just glad some have balls enough to.

Wiki away I say. Fucking government controls the press enough as it is.

I've never done either the long email exchange or the long phone conversation to determine compatibility.

For the most part, I'm cognizant of ladies who have posted here that they don't care for lots of back and forth emails or long/continuous phone calls. I think they tend to look at it as unpaid time investment. After all, they charge for time, and any time spent in setting up the date is free.

OTOH, maybe I should attempt to engage in this kind of session preparation. I hate phones, so I probably wouldn't do that...but emails, sure!! Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

I don't have any problem with email conversations sufficient to allow the lady to be comfortable. I wouldn't engage in long phone conversations because my policy is to use a hobby phone and to turn it on only on the day of the date or perhaps to make one phone call to the provider sometime prior to the date. I don't accept incoming calls because I can't tell anyone when the phone will be on.

For the most part, I'm cognizant of ladies who have posted here that they don't care for lots of back and forth emails or long/continuous phone calls. I think they tend to look at it as unpaid time investment. After all, they charge for time, and any time spent in setting up the date is free.

! Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

I am actually surprised at how rare the time wasters are. I have found that most of the men who have survived my web site are pretty serious at that point, and are just making sure that there is a connection there first before going any further.It helps me out as well because I can get nervous when meeting for the first time. Also I feel that it is only fair since I do not encourage reviews they are I hope few, and far between, so this gives people a little more to go on beyond my suffering from an identity crisis web site LOL.

But only if Edward gets to throw in his $.02 from the background! Originally Posted by Sisyphus

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Edward seems to know when I am attempting to talk to someone for the first time, and usually decides to take that moment to bark in my ear as loud as he possibly can.

You do not have to give good phone Sis . You are already on my bucket list.

I have considered putting a stop to my reviewing but have been told by more than one provider that they like to see that a hobbyist has reviews up. I have been asked on numerous occasions to write a review. When I first started on ECCIE I was asked why I didn't have any rerviews so I guess If anything I will just slow down with my reviewing but not stop entirely.

I'm not active in the hobby right now so no new reviews from me for awhile

We have to acknowledge that there are different types of hobbying.

There are guys out there for whom the most important make or break factor is a particular sex act -- CIM or Greek for example. And you know what, for THEM -- reviews are very important because if a woman doesn't reliably provide these things well, from their perspective, they are throwing their money away.

But let me throw something out there for you. If the only reason guys hobbied was for physical release, they'd stay home and masturbate. And if they DID book someone, it would be for 15 minutes tops.

The reason guys shuck out hundreds of bucks is not simply for an orgasm they can give themselves in 3 minutes for free. It is because the presence of a real-live physical woman meets an emotional need.

Now, what that specific emotional need might be is different for every guy. I sure can't dictate what your needs should be, any more than you can dictate mine. It's a very individual thing.

Now me, yes, I want sex. But I'm not hung up on specific sex acts. But I am also very much in touch with myself and completely understand exactly what emotional needs I seek to have met, and what sorts of ladies can meet them.

And it just so happens that I can ascertain this capacity without ever reading a review.

So for me, other than their existence to ascertain legitimacy -- they aren't useful. Whereas for you, because you seek to have different needs met -- they are important.

It has zilch to do with white knighting, and everything to do with the fact that the hobby is not monolithically full of identical men seeking identical commoditized offerings from identical women. Originally Posted by Laurentius

I have written some reviews, but I ALWAYS ask if she wants me to. If the answer is no then I keep our meeting to ourselves. Also I NEVER rate numerically, that is crass and demeaning. The only ranking I have mentioned is if it is a 5 star session and that is more about the session that the ladies attributes. I like the GFE ( I know, very subjective) and as a personal preference want DATY and really look for a personal connection of sorts. Providers in the 30 to 40 yo range and some of our 50 yos tend to be the way to go and reviews help. YMMV with any lady, but geez it is that way with most things in life when dealing with personalities. Reviews give me a general idea of what I can expect and then it is up to me to see if I can make it work. The explicitness of the review is somewhat difficult for me but I do it anyway and sometimes wish I hadn't been so revealing. Oh well. Now going to be a little hypocritical and probably cut back or stop reviewing all together. I am seeing the same ladies and don't care to be redundant. Reviews are a necessary evil and sometimes feel a little like bragging. It is what it is.

Edward seems to know when I am attempting to talk to someone for the first time, and usually decides to take that moment to bark in my ear as loud as he possibly can. Originally Posted by Becky

Edward takes his screening/compatibility responsibilities very seriously. He has important questions that simply must be asked! It's not interrupting...it's due diligence!!

You do not have to give good phone Sis . You are already on my bucket list.[/QUOTE]

Aw shucks....thank you, m'am! I'll leave it you as to whether you save the worst for last...or just get it out of the way! Whatever maximizes the joy from the rest of the list!

Aw shucks....thank you, m'am! I'll leave it you as to whether you save the worst for last...or just get it out of the way! Whatever maximizes the joy from the rest of the list! Originally Posted by Sisyphus

I just had to have a list going considering that this is afterall a very list oriented site