Hal's recent review thread

[cloudsurf]

Mod 11
Hal`s recent multiple review thread is obviously breaking a rule and I agree with you that no exceptions should be made.
On the other hand , his thread is creating a lot of interest and buzz. For the benefit of many readers and potential posters, I suggest that you should find a compromise.
One option is to transfer it to the Lounge or to the Agency review section.
PS: its quite simple to find all reviews of an sp by knowing how to use the search function.

 

[anon_vlad]

It is very useful to be able to go to a single file to get comparisons of a large number of SPs. I think that Hal's reviews could be easily transformed into a spreadsheet, perhaps even with links to individual reviews. I wonder if such a spreadsheet could be posted somewhere in merb.

 

[ManApart]

Wouldn't that be giving Hal's reviews a little too much weight, A separate spread sheet just with his experiences and reviews? Why don't the guys who see a lot of girls all have spreadsheets then? Hal's spreadsheet, Cloudsurf's spreadsheet, Delta's spreadsheet, ManApart's spreadsheet. I do agree it is useful to see quick hit reviews, of all the girls someone has seen at a particular agency, in one post. However, it would get messy if we all started doing that. Troublesome to search a particular girl also. Unless there was a seperate sticky just for Hal's or someone elses personal scorecard that would be continuously updated. I think that if Hal just wrote reviews, shortly after he saw a particular SP, in their respective threads, that would be very helpful.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I just finished reading the thread and i must admit:

This is a fantastic thread!

It's very unfortunate that it's now closed. In my opinion, this thread made Merb a better board than without it.

p.s. Another similar i enjoyed was Chercherfemmes' thread, where he listed all the girls he'd seen over the years. Is it still around?

 

[anon_vlad]

Wouldn't that be giving Hal's reviews a little too much weight, A separate spread sheet just with his experiences and reviews?

I didn't explain adaquately. My idea is that anyone would be able to add to the spreadsheet. I suppose it would be too much work to average the ratings.

A typical line of the sheet would look like:
SPxxx : Agency: Eleganza -> XXXtase -> now CandyShop
Reviewer: Hal 6,7,7,9 <link to review>
Reviewer: Cloudsurf 8,5,5,6 <link to his review>

 

[sweetwater]

The spreadsheet would be very useful, but if each of us can enter it and change it, in no time it could be indecipherable. I think that in order for it to work, either the Mods, Fred, or only one member should be able to change it. I don't think the Mods or Fred have time for this. We all know that reviews are our own opinions, and our own mileages will constantly vary. Yes, Hal's thread is informative, but the rules are in place. I agree with what M11 said, when he closed the thread, about every body wanting exceptions. Cloudsurf has a point in transferring it to the Lounge, some where else, or even making it into a sticky somewhere.

Sweetwater

 

[EagerBeaver]

Why don't the guys who see a lot of girls all have spreadsheets then? Hal's spreadsheet, Cloudsurf's spreadsheet, Delta's spreadsheet, ManApart's spreadsheet.

The reason why is that only certain individuals (a) see enough escorts; (b) have the technical and organizational skills to create a competent spreadsheet, and (c) have the experience to know what matters and in what format or medium that information is best conveyed.

For many years poster "Robin" had a spreadsheet that chiefly focused on physical attributes and numerical ratings, I think using a scale of 5. In those days acronyms for services were not as prevalent as they are now, the sexual language we all use having evolved over time. At some point Robin's spreadsheet became dated, he stopped updating it regularly, it lost value and then apparently he just lost interest. It was very hard to manage the spreadsheet in the format he was using, due to the continual movement of escorts from agency to agency and name changes etc. Robin had hurled at him the same bitches that are being hurled at Hal in this thread (datedness), and that is one of the reasons he probably lost interest and gave up.

Hal's spreadsheet does not purport to be anything other than a Reader's Digest version of what is out there. Such a thing does not exist at this moment, at least not on a broad scale. Hal is one of the few hobbyists who have seen hundreds of escorts in Montreal, perhaps thousands over the years, and thus has the requisite database in his head to compile the reader's digest version, whereas most of us simply do not get to Montreal often enough or do not hobby enough to accumulate this wealth of information he has and wants to share in some format.

The bottom line is you need someone with the credentials to do the job correctly. You do not send a cop who is on the job one day to investigate a fatal motor vehicle accident and write the subsequent report. You send someone who has done hundreds of MVA investigations and accident reconstructions and reports. Similarly you need someone like Hal, with vast escort experience, if you want something published in this kind of format.

 

[ManApart]

I understand your point EagerBeaver and really I wouldn't have a problem with Hal's "spreadsheet" (as long as everybody doesn't start doing this). I would just add his reviews to all the others, in my mind, to come to my conclusions about whether I would see a particular girl or not. However, My preference would still be for him to write his reviews, soon after he sees a girl, in their respective threads. These threads will be bumped to the top of the incall or outcall pages and everyday when I check MERB, I could get a fresh, recent review, which I could take into context with the other reviews in that thread. When we look at who wrote the review, Hal in this case, we could note it was written by an experienced hobbiest and maybe give it a little more credit. Just my take.

 

[Mod 11]

Guys, he had reviews dating 2010. Getting them in one spot serves no purposes since they might be obsolete.

If we allow such threads, we'll end-up with everybody doing it's own compilation of the last 20 years.

How frustrating can it be for a member reading a girl's review posted yesterday and thinking it's the perfect girl for him, only to realize the encounter happened over 1 year ago and the girl retired of in no longer meeting his preferences?

With combo thread, the only way the members can get up-to-date info is to search for other threads, since the info in the combo thread will be static.

Now, with a combo thread, we have all those who shoot the breeze about how good or bad it is to have such thread. Does it relates to the girls? No.

With a combo thread, we have those who will post "I saw her too" and go with a review. These will need to be moved to the proper threads.

Allowing the thread to be in the lounge of 411? It contains reviews and should not contain anything else. What wouldn't it be in the review section?

Allowing a specific member to bypass the rule... One question: why? What makes one member special compared to another? Will the next guy doing the same thing become special too? Where we'll we go from there? Free for all!

Only allow Hal to do it? I can already hear the screams about discrimination and harassment from some senior members who today support the idea but will get pissed as soon as we refuse them any special treatment.

A spreadsheet anybody could modify: Who will host it? Who will have the ownership of ensuring it stays useful?


All this boils down to sorry guys, it won't happen.

Thanks

 

[sweetwater]

Would there be a way of creating an area in the member's profile for posting combo reviews like Hal's?:noidea: I don't know if MERB's format would allow that or not. Just asking.

Sweetwater

 

[ezekiel]

MOD11, A suggestion if people find such thread useful for whatever reason... Could we have a section for it. Along with a clear disclamer??

Just a thought like this.. Personally I did like the whole idea of this type of thread and if the member is well informed or know how to inform himself

he will findout if the ladie is out of business. Though it is true that sometime the service of a specific ladie may change over time.

 

[shijak]

Nowadays there seems to be better control of SP review threads, but it would still be impossible for me to find all of my own reviews if they were scattered around a 100 different threads - I don't keep this info on any of my personal computers.

Impossible? To find your own reviews, all you have to do is to left click on your own handle located on the left box of each post you make, then click on the selection ''view forum posts''...

Far from impossible, cherchezfemmes...

 

[Mod 8]

Hello everyone,

We will not be creating a separate review section for people who cannot be bothered to follow MERB posting rules. The reason for individual review threads has been covered many times on the board, every time someone decides to make a group review thread in fact. I see no reason to cover it again as the result will be the same.

M8

 

[CS Martin]

Mod 8,

I have to agree with you in this instance. However, here's an idea: Offer a section for reviewer's along the same lines as SPs. In other words something like "Hal's Corner". The poster would pay a montly or yearly fee, as the SP's & Agencies. The Poster must post & maintain all reviews in the tradional way, but may also keep them in "his corner". Like the advertisers, the poster would only be able to post reviews. The poster may not answer questions on his reviews in his corner or use his corner for anything else other than reviews. Posters must pay the same rate as a small advertiser allowed to post items in column.

Anticipated Effect:
1)Posters will be able to judge the veracity of the poster's other reviews based upon previous. It will also help match one client's tastes to that of the other.
2) Additional income for MERB
3) Given the strict rules for posting, it should be somewhat similar to policing an SP's advertising thread.
4) Every once in a while some poster will get too full of themselves and think they can start their own blog or website.
5) It gives clients the same platform as the advertisers and makes them put their money where their mouth is. I mean really, shouldn't clients have the same rights as SP's and agencies?? How about a little equality here?? Also, the posters can get a taste of how it feels to be an SP and pay.....LOL
6) Alternatively, it might also lead to increased loyalty of good reviewers to give them their own area.

Just a thought.........Name of my corner is: "The Dog Pound"....LOL

 

[ManApart]

I just don't get why anyone would want to pay to post a review. Why would anyone do that? Especially when you could post a review for free in the traditional manner. I don't see it.

 

[CS Martin]

I just don't get why anyone would want to pay to post a review. Why would anyone do that? Especially when you could post a review for free in the traditional manner. I don't see it.

Well, why would anyone write a blog? To be heard.... They want a place to keep all their reviews and share them with others. Why would Hal want or post his own thread instead of doing it in the traditional manner? Easy, he wants the flexibiltiy to convey not only an individual message, but an overall message as well. The matter, like many, has been discussed before. I'm known for "thinking outside of the box". So I just threw it out there. An alternative method would be selling blogs within the board itself. The software does allow for this. If someone wants to be heard louder than the rest, he simply pays for it or IN THE ALTERNATIVE simply follow the traditional posting rules. In this case Hal's thread would seem to break the rules.

With respect to why someone would pay....??? Easy, Fred's not doing this for his health and the moderators are trying to keep their jobs efficient by policing a minimum of bandwidth. Fred & the moderators might be able to see the reason in additional work, if $$$ were at the end of things.

 

[sigma69]

Guys, I find it hard to believe, or understand, that a post as fun and interesting as Hal's cannot find a place somewhere on this forum.
OK, it does not belong in the Reviews section as it does not comply with the prescribed format, and includes some dated information.

But, why couldn't it be posted in the Lounge?? The lounge has all kinds of threads including member's reminiscences, discussions about hobby preferences, trip reports, etc.
I think Hal's "Comparo" post would fit very well in the Lounge. It is not a review per se, but conveys quite a bit of useful information for the hobbyist: info on agencies, bookers, his approach to hobbying, etc. . That information would be lost if forced into the standard review format. And I would argue that newbies especially would enjoy reading such "Comparos" as it helps sort things out and offers general guidance on navigating different agencies/bookers/etc...

Members who do not like the "Ultimate Escort Comparo" format do not have to read it; no more that anyone has to read any other thread in the Lounge.

Some of the posts I saw in this thread and the original "Comparo" thread seem to want to force Hal into a preferred format. Hal may not want or may not be interested in posting "regular" reviews. I have to remind us all that many members including some "old timers" with gazillion posts on this board are not very frequent posters of reviews, but they do seem to enjoy chatting about various aspects of the hobby. Which I think is fine and appears acceptable to most members. Do we really need or want to force all posters to fit into a standard mold?

Given the reception we gave him, I fear that Hal, already not a very frequent poster, will not post anything else for a while. And that is highly unfortunate. His post is fun, interesting and a nice contribution to this board.
I say (respectfully) move his original post/thread to the Lounge and let him post the rest of his thoughts and comments on hobbying...

 

[Mod 8]

That is an interesting concept, CS. The only problem with it is that the moderators are not concerned with how much money MERB does or does not bring in as we do not receive any of it. That being the case, it would hardly be motivation for us to consider your idea.

For those who asked why his thread could not exist in the Lounge, the answer is very simple. The thread contains reviews and reviews are only permitted in the review sections.

The only option that would be acceptable would be if the reviews were each posted in the proper thread and in his personal collection thread, he could post an excerpt from each review along with a link to the review. If he wants to include extra comments that pertain to all the reviews as a sort of comparison, that would also be fine. I give no guarantee that this format will be workable as it all depends on the member comments in the thread. Comments will have to be reserved to the post as a whole and not veer into asking questions or making comments on the individual reviews. That should be done in the review thread for each lady being reviewed.

Any comments or ideas?

M8

 

[sigma69]

The only option that would be acceptable would be if the reviews were each posted in the proper thread and in his personal collection thread, he could post an excerpt from each review along with a link to the review. If he wants to include extra comments that pertain to all the reviews as a sort of comparison, that would also be fine. I give no guarantee that this format will be workable as it all depends on the member comments in the thread. Comments will have to be reserved to the post as a whole and not veer into asking questions or making comments on the individual reviews. That should be done in the review thread for each lady being reviewed.

Any comments or ideas?

M8

Quite a bit more work...M8. It will certainly discourage some members from posting.
If Hal does not post the rest of his Comparo, we will have our answer...

 

[Mod 8]

I am sure that no one would complain if we said the mods would search out the links to the reviews and insert them into the post. No problem when it is the mods doing the work for you, but having to do it yourself is such a terrible burden. Yes, everyone wants everything the easy way, on their terms. Sometimes if you want something, you have to put in a bit of extra work. I am trying to come up with a compromise that will work for everyone. Yes, it may take a bit of extra effort on the part of the poster but that is the only possible way such group posts will be permitted.

Quite a bit more work...M8. It will certainly discourage some members from posting.
If Hal does not post the rest of his Comparo, we will have our answer...