about that no-review policy

[Big Daddy]

As long as there is a list of which SPs have requested to delete their reviews, I am OK with that. It is reasonable for an SP to ask to get her reviews deleted as long as the MERB community knows who requested this. The result will be that MERB community will know who is not being reviewed and people can make their own opinions about her.

The only possible loss is that you will have is one possible below average experience with some SP not being reviewed, but that will save you from having another such experience. Besides you can always PM your friends.

 

[EagerBeaver]

There have been two prior threads on this issue, both are here:

https://merb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=9559&highlight=review+list

This is not a new issue, it was hashed out almost a year ago.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Here is what I previously posted on this issue:

The problem with having multiple Boards like MERB, MERC and whatever this new Board is, is that the SPs can now use the competition between the Boards to leverage advertising and control reviews. In the past when MERB was the only kid on the block this could not happen, as the SPs had to take what they can get by way of reviews.

Now the Boards are pandering to SPs. One can't help but get that feeling. I agree with JB that the multiplicity of Boards is not in the best interest of the hobbyist. We must band together now and make sure these Boards are not letting the tail wag the dog. The Boards either exist for us or they are mere marketing tools for the SPs who pay them, with no regard for truth or veracity in the assessment of the SP's services.

May I suggest that we can regain control of this situation by refusing to do business with SPs with a "no review" policy.

Let me just add to what I previously said the following: I have always respected an SP who has asked me to not write a review. Very recently I met an SP who was fantastic and I could have written a blazing review on her, but did not because she requested that she not be reviewed. It's one thing to ask not to be reviewed, but quite another to have a "no review policy." However if the SP asking for the "no review policy" IS NOT directly paying for advertising on the Board I feel as though she should be given a pass. If she is an advertiser, then my reaction would be, WTF?

 

[Bob Binette]

I am trying to think of the reaction is a consumer goods company was asking a Consumer Report editor not to review their products???!!! Or Ford asking Motor Trend not to review their car?

 

[Just-ass-weet]

I will introduce myself, though most of you already know me... I am Anik, one of the ladies who had her reviews removed from this forum. I have often lurked here, many times wanted to respond to threads, but never have.

I will explain why I had my reviews removed from merb and the other board for Montreal... there are a few reasons, and though most may not agree with my reasoning, my motives were not to decieve.

For one, I rarely met with Montrealers, I am older than the average SP, a little bigger than the girls generally enjoyed in Montreal, my rates a little higher than others here, and I require screening as well. In general, Montreal is not really my "market", so having reviews here was not, nor is, a priority.

That being said, my reviews often ended up being debates about rates and screening. Kind of sad, since I didn`t have any bad reviews at all, but the threads always quickly deteriorated (sp).

Maybe, if a review thread was ONLY for reviews and not for opinions by those who have never met the gal, it might be a bit easier to keep girls listed? I mean, what use is a review thread if more than half the comments in it are not by those who have met the girl? How about having a form "sticky" for reviews, with blanks for ratings, services and contact information, website info and such? That might avoid the problem of cluttering a review thread with questions... just an idea.

Anyhow, that is why I had my reviews removed... the reviews were just not useful, for you (I was rarely available in Montreal) nor were they respectful to me (I have nothing against a bad review, just negative comments by those who have NEVER met with me.)

I hope this at least, opens your eyes as to why some of the reputable ladies have their reviews removed from https://merb.cc

xoxox
Anik

 

[WRman]

The only possible loss is that you will have is one possible below average experience with some SP not being reviewed, but that will save you from having another such experience. Besides you can always PM your friends.

And with enough of us making that mistake, the woman could make quite a bit before the word gets out... through PM's?

If you cannot express your opinion, then what's the point. I use MERB to check out new SPs. If I come up with nothing, that's not good. With the Spreadsheet out of date, this is a bad combination. What makes Montreal attractive is a strong information base. If you take that away, it's levels the playing field with other venues.

I checked one of my old threads, about 2 years old, that went on for about 3 or 4 pages, which included commentary on several SPs, including a responsible resolution to getting walked on a dinner date. That thread was truncated to 3 posts. All effectively gone.

If I make a trip to Montreal and have enough bad luck, I won't come back. The reviews, in whatever form, reduce that risk.

 

[HonestAbe]

Sorry but this is a review board first and foremost.

All due respect to Sp's but I can't believe they expect to be able to place limitations on whether people do or don't write about them. To me that is the main purpose of this board. I would like to point out that there shouldn't be an issue with them asking us not to write a review because we shouldn't be telling them we are Merb members or post on any other site in the first place. Sp's shouldn't be asking things like that either, we are entitled to as much privacy as they ask for themselves.

If you are worried that there are certain particulars that will give you away in your review don't mention that information. Perhaps we should try not to mention dates when we saw a particular girl either so they will not be able to deduce who we are by simply looking at their schedule book. Some of us should also stop sharing information with and/or about other board members with SP's, agency owners, and other members who have friendships with any of these people. As a compromise to SP's who request this odd favor perhaps we could exclude any graphic sexual details from the board, like the way Regnad does his reviews, and simply give the gory details by PM to whoever asks for the straight skinny.

As always the shilling/multiple handle problem makes it hard for us to achieve anonymity which should be one of our ultimate goals. We should not be going to MERB parties and exposing our handles either. Everything we say can be used to try to track us and manipulate us. We should be seen as a group of anonymous reviewers and treated the same as anyone else. We should never allow Sp's/agencies to manipulate us with discounts or freebies for good reviews. Integrity should be paramount here.

 

[WRman]

We should be seen as a group of anonymous reviewers and treated the same as anyone else.

That is exactly the way www.SFRedBook.com works. You have one handle for the discussion boards, and another for your reviews. The reviews are also not debated - they just are, and full review access requires that you either pay or contribute to them. The SP can get an invalid review removed if she can prove it is fallacious.

This also removes the "common" nature of a review post, that often invites those with an axe to grind. In fact, on RB you cannot "post" a review in the discussion section. You have to post it as a review in the review section - under a different handle, with no discussion.

MERB might think about something along those lines. It also lets the clients carry a bit more of the financial burden. They also have paid ads, and some good ideas for forums for the women, like PinkBook, where only the women can post, but everyone can read.

RB has a Canadian section, so there is nothing that keeps anyone from going over there and posting a review right now.

 

[Jackie]

Here are my thoughts on this issue:

I fully understand the frustration of clients being limited to which providers they can review. As a forum dedicated to clients sharing information on their hobbying experiences, I do agree it's unfair that some escorts aren't reviewed at all just because they preferred it that way.

However, the fact that these reviews are made by completely anonymous people means that they can't be verified of authenticated in any way. Aside from the trust built between certain members, majoritarily senior members, posts made by others can be as false as they are true for a variety of motivations. Because the adult industry and it's clients are centered around personal privacy, we can't compare these review forums to other more legitimate ones.

I do feel that there is a possible way to satisfy both sides of the equation: SPs and clients. The main reasons SPs choose a no review policy is to avoid details being publicized or having their privacy compromised.

Maybe there is a way to have a restricted review option instead of a no review option. For example:
- Is provider as advertized on site and in pics?
- Is she punctual and reliable? Arrived on time or late? No call and no show?
- Service as advertized?
- Professional? (not drugged out, trying to please, not cutting appointments short, etc.)

Just simple questions with straight to the point basic information that would at least give the hobbyists some important essential information before booking.

This way the escorts chosing this option wouldn't have to worry about details coming out in reviews or any off topic discussion about them. And the clients would still be able to contribute information and benefit from it.

Just my 2 cents,
Jackie

 

[eastender]

MERC on MERB

Here is what I previously posted on this issue:

The problem with having multiple Boards like MERB, MERC and whatever this new Board is, is that the SPs can now use the competition between the Boards to leverage advertising and control reviews. In the past when MERB was the only kid on the block this could not happen, as the SPs had to take what they can get by way of reviews.

Now the Boards are pandering to SPs. One can't help but get that feeling. I agree with JB that the multiplicity of Boards is not in the best interest of the hobbyist. We must band together now and make sure these Boards are not letting the tail wag the dog. The Boards either exist for us or they are mere marketing tools for the SPs who pay them, with no regard for truth or veracity in the assessment of the SP's services.

May I suggest that we can regain control of this situation by refusing to do business with SPs with a "no review" policy.

Let me just add to what I previously said the following: I have always respected an SP who has asked me to not write a review. Very recently I met an SP who was fantastic and I could have written a blazing review on her, but did not because she requested that she not be reviewed. It's one thing to ask not to be reviewed, but quite another to have a "no review policy." However if the SP asking for the "no review policy" IS NOT directly paying for advertising on the Board I feel as though she should be given a pass. If she is an advertiser, then my reaction would be, WTF?

Nice to see that MERB has moved forward and will now allow the posting of the names of competing boards - MERC etc without questionning or implying motives as was the case with the Christmas Party.

 

[Mike Mercury]

Some posters like to post in a pseudo-humourous, derogatory manner and seem to delight in describing the SP in an unflattering way. Sometimes it can be perhaps a bit hurtful or even hateful. They have obviously tried or at least seen the SP. They should perhaps be more diplomatic in an open forum.

Others have not seen the SP and are echoing someone else or are making things up. Its the internet and its has its shills, trolls, wannabees, cowards, braggarts, liars, and delusional.

Other posters willingly go into details that perhaps the SP would rather not have other SPs or clients know about.

 

[HonestAbe]

Other posters willingly go into details that perhaps the SP would rather not have other SPs or clients know about.

Details like time and date of meeting first and foremost. After all it would kind of suck if you posted how you had a great time with a wonderful SP who gave great DFK to you at 7 PM and then to read a post from someone else, lets say EB just for fun, who said she gave him incredible TCIM at 6 PM the same night Ptoooey, cough, cough, gag, choke, spit!

Seriously though, we should stop giving ourselves away as to who we are.

 

[StripperLover]

HA,

In order to maintain annonymity with agencies & providers, the client doesn't need to reveal who he is when arranging the date & if posting a review, he also need not reveal date & time or any distinguishing occurances during that date that would make it obvious that it was him.

If all that is done, meeting at parties will only be say Steve or whoever meeting an SP again or an agency owner.

There is an agency owner who met me at one of the 1st parties & asked me why I've never seen any of his women & when I reeled off the list of those who I had seen up until that time, he said that he never knew & my response was, "and you'll never know".

I have nothing against him, it's just that there is no need to tell him when arranging that my "first name" (I almost always tell a fake one anyhow) is in fact SL. I don't EVER want to owe anyone anything other than the full cost of the date. I never request discounts nor accept them, period !

 

[EagerBeaver]

HA,

I would never write such a review with those kinds of details, in fact I really don't recall anyone ever having written a review including the time and date they got a blow job. Perhaps Oliver has in the street action thread.

It's fairly common sense or should be to everyone that if you are using an established LDL agency or incall operation and seeing a lady at night or near the end of her shift, you are likely seeing someone who has had other clients that day.

 

[Mike Mercury]

.... great DFK to you at 7 PM and ... ... who said she gave him incredible TCIM at 6 PM the same night Ptoooey, cough, cough, gag, choke, spit!

Then again you never know with some of the BDSM fetish guys. It might a that special $20 extra that they`re looking for..

 

[Just-ass-weet]

What do handle names have to do with no-review policies?

I highly doubt that the reasons any SP doesn't want to be reviewed is because she knows your board handle...? I know a good deal of you guys, your boards handles, so what? I think that information is irrelevant, and in fact, I would have gladly accepted reviews (good or bad) from any guy who actually had met me.

For me, the problem is a review thread ends up being muddled with repeat questions (where can I find pics, website, contact #, does she do XYZ...) and irrelevant comments made by those who have not met with the SP (ie: she looks disgusting in her pics, I have wanted to meet her for a long time, who does she think she is with rates like that, screening; that's ridiculous... blah, blah, blah) all those comments clutter up and often times cover up real information about an actual encounter. Just as bad are the little comments that are good, but incomplete, like a mini-review, only smaller. I think every member here should be encouraged to write thorough reviews.

Don't you guys find that part annoying too? Having to sort through a ton of comments to actually read the reviews from people with first hand experience? For me, that was the problem. When a guy who has met me has something to say that is negative, I am going to learn from it (provided I can change what I did wrong), and when I read good stuff, I know what I am doing right... it is unfortunate that I have a limited way of recieving feedback from Montrealers, but alas, that is how this board is set-up.

xoxox
Anik

 

[Just-ass-weet]

Anik, with all due respect, when you put on your service provider hat, and accept money for that service, you have become a professional. Put aside all that bull about not wanting to read comments about you from people that have never met you.

I think you misunderstand my problem with the review threads - review threads should be for reviews and reviews alone... if someone wants to make a comment that has not met me, well, go ahead, but do not use a review thread to say something that cannot be sustaniated through personal experience, and this goes for the good or the bad... is that so ridiculous?

xoxox
Anik

 

[WRman]

- review threads should be for reviews and reviews alone...

They do that on www.NVBrothels.net, where the review thread is locked so many days after. This allows a debate about anything in the review from either side, or to challenge the veracity of the review to begin with. At SFRedBook, the reviews are even checked before they are posted, and a link to their reviews is shown on each classified ad - very handy.

What might be good, as an SP, would be to see if you want reviews with no discussion (like SFRedBook), or a time-locked review like NVBrothels, or another solution that fits.

Unfortunately, unless the thread is locked, I don't see how you can keep the trolls from trashing any open thread, once any specific SP is named, unless you make a lot more work for the Mods.

...it is highly unlikely i would ever risk booking a girl who was not reviewed.

Dittos. Or at least recommended by a trusted Merbite.

 

[aReviewer]

against

Reviews should be removed only from people leaving the hobby. I understand someone who dont want to leave a trace of their time there.

As of now, if I search an active SP in the board and find her in the no-review thread, I deem her 1-1-1 at most and will not go with her.

 

[Just-ass-weet]

I don't know if it is because of the way I write, or the that you guys arent taking the time to understand my statement... good or bad reviews are fine, I have these on other boards with no problem. I have no say in the matter of what is mentioned or what is not... I have never sought to remove them and never would. If a guy saw me and wrote about it, I am fine with, I am glad for the feedback... read carefully here... my problem is with the ones who have NEVER met me, posting off the cuff remarks, that is all. (you actually support my side in a way - "anything can be said if the customer pays" - I agree) If it were someone who saw me, no problem-o, they ARE experienced commentors. Guys who have never seen me in person, ever, are not qualified to make statements about something they have never experienced. Please tell me you get what I am saying now?

eg: If someone writes a bad review about me, they met me, hated it and made a review. Then 4 guys got on the thread saying she is so nice, how could you say that, but let's imagine that those 4 guys never met me... would their comments be valid? Of course not.

So now the reverse, which was the problem for me

eg: Someone, a very well known poster, posts a review of me, a really nice one (which I truly appreciated CJ, but alas what a mess), that thread quickly deteriorates, 4 guys, who never met me, say that I am not that nice... hmmm, why would those comments be of any value? They never met me, and the original reviewer seemed quite happy with the results of our encounter?!

Am I getting through here? That is why I like closed review sections, I don't mind reading the bad ones, and love to read the good ones, but I don't have to read all these other comments from guys who have no clue... does that makes sense?

I open myself to guys that I meet, they are welcome to review me, and I would love to allow that here, unfortunately, there are some people who just have to say hurtful things for nothing, with no experience with me (and I am not the only person they comment about without any one-on-one knowledge). Sorry to go on and on, just a woman trying to give you an idea of why some ladies have reviews elsewhere, but not here.

xoxox
Anik

Wow, this thread took off quick.

Just a quick comment here:

"review threads should be for reviews and reviews alone"

Remember, reviews are SUBJECTIVE and are opinions in and of themselves.
Anything can be said if the customer pays.

I remember when I finished my formal training, did my second professional gig, and got LAMBASTED by the reviewer. I hated him. He was arrogant, cocky, and most of his reviews come off that way.

However, that's what I asked for, and that's what I got. My job makes me money, and there are going to be reviews. That's the way it is, and that's the way it's always been.

The Dude