Okay, this one hopefully shouldn't be such a tough sell...
For many years there has been debate that the Generic rule is too rigid. A lot of great reviews are being declined on the grounds they could apply to many other films and so instead of having a few repeats, these reviews instead never see the light of day. I've finally come around to feeling I should loosen the rules to allow for such reviews.
Reviews that are clearly referencing a film or element of it (regardless of if they may fit a large number of other films) will now be more readily considered for acceptance. The hard rule that reviews of the type 'Boy, girl meet, marry' are declined will still stand however- there must be at least some effort to tie the review to the film beyond bog standard film elements.
The downside, of course, will be that review filching potential will be increased considerably, but I hope everyone here can be trusted to not go that route just for the sake of their stats.
The upside, I hope, will be more creative review ideas and a less formiddable wall of rejection for newbies to the site.
Obviously, the rollout of this change of stance will not be as immediate as the previous announcement since the management of it is not code-based but means a considerable thought shift by the MERPs so please bear with us as the new ruling settles in.
I expect there will be questions and concerns and I'll try and answer as best I can
Conan - methinks "Beans means farts" time has finally come
Be interesting to see how this plays out. I do hope it doesn't result in even more replicated material - it isn't necessarily intentional 'borrowing' of reviews that will be the problem, but the one and only reason I supported the generic rule at all was that it helped stem repetitive 'good' reiews.
Perhaps perversely, I believe the site can handle thousands of 'boy meets girl' reviews - they are easy to ignore - but it can't handle the good stuff being repeated. It drains the site of what I think is its most precious commodity, originality. So go easy gang
Does this mean that my latest review for The Birds: 'Birds are terror flying.' could be resubmitted in its original incarnation, 'Terror flying.'?? I much preferred the original but it came back as generic.
Does this mean that my latest review for The Birds: 'Birds are terror flying.' could be resubmitted in its original incarnation, 'Terror flying.'?? I much preferred the original but it came back as generic.
Who thinks it's worth resubmitting?
Sorry, BiggerBoat, but the first image that came into my mind for "Terror flying" is Snakes on a Plane or any other of the numerous disaster on a plane films.
Does this mean that my latest review for The Birds: 'Birds are terror flying.' could be resubmitted in its original incarnation, 'Terror flying.'?? I much preferred the original but it came back as generic.
Who thinks it's worth resubmitting?
Sorry, BiggerBoat, but the first image that came into my mind for "Terror flying" is Snakes on a Plane or any other of the numerous disaster on a plane films.
Okay, this one hopefully shouldn't be such a tough sell... I expect there will be questions and concerns and I'll try and answer as best I can
No question, this is a good thing, I'm sure!
Josh the cat "ice wouldn't melt, you'd think ....."
Posted - 02/26/2007 : 09:34:49
Actually this is not IMHO such a positive move, decrease the number of submissions a member can make in a week and then say if you can't think of 20 quality reviews add some generic stuff and it may/should get thru.
Sorry Benj but the generic rule was pretty much fine as was!
This change affects me quite a lot as my submissions often inhabit the grey areas. I have always tried the most concise form first, with the risk of genericism, and perhaps added material to it if it was rejected. Despite this, I was mostly happy with the old system.
However, the most important consequence is that new reviewers are much less likely to be put off, and so on that basis it is a good thing.
Edited by - Demisemicenturian on 02/26/2007 10:03:11
I think this gets back to the original ideal of this site which is to review or in some way comment about a film. In four words. Not just think of a pun and slap it on the nearest appropriate film, which it then inhabits regardless, but actually watch a film and try to say something about it in a paltry four words. Yes this means there will some reviews that may be applicable to other films being allowed, but let's face it "Brat Out Of Hell" applies to several films, - it's particularly appropriate to the one I first used it on, but nevertheless, it fits others, so why should it be removed from them. It's a great review. ESPECIALLY MY ONE I just hope this will also allow some greater personal commenting on films.
I think this gets back to the original ideal of this site which is to review or in some way comment about a film. In four words. Not just think of a pun and slap it on the nearest appropriate film, which it then inhabits regardless, but actually watch a film and try to say something about it in a paltry four words. Yes this means there will some reviews that may be applicable to other films being allowed, but let's face it "Brat Out Of Hell" applies to several films, - it's particularly appropriate to the one I first used it on, but nevertheless, it fits others, so why should it be removed from them. It's a great review. ESPECIALLY MY ONE I just hope this will also allow some greater personal commenting on films.
Yay for 'Brat Out of Hell' not being a grey area anymore!
I don't think the quality of the reviews will go down as the MERPs and Benj are quality controllers too. I also think the 20 rule will make people be more imaginative.
How do we deal with reviews that have been deemed generic in the past and we want to submit them now, in hopes that they will get through.
1) Resubmit.
or
2) Submit as a new review. ???
EM :)
Yep, I'd say resubmit.
I'll be honest- this is quite an adjustment and I'm still trying to get a more definitive description of what should or shouldn't now be passed.
Worst case scenario, there's little or no change from how things were before. Best case scenario, you'll be pleasantly surprised about which reviews get passed.
I think this gets back to the original ideal of this site which is to review or in some way comment about a film. In four words. Not just think of a pun and slap it on the nearest appropriate film, which it then inhabits regardless, but actually watch a film and try to say something about it in a paltry four words. Yes this means there will some reviews that may be applicable to other films being allowed, but let's face it "Brat Out Of Hell" applies to several films, - it's particularly appropriate to the one I first used it on, but nevertheless, it fits others, so why should it be removed from them. It's a great review. ESPECIALLY MY ONE I just hope this will also allow some greater personal commenting on films.
Yay for 'Brat Out of Hell' not being a grey area anymore!
I don't think the quality of the reviews will go down as the MERPs and Benj are quality controllers too. I also think the 20 rule will make people be more imaginative.
EH, no Shiv, the MERPs and Benj are in no way "quality" controllers. They check that the review meets the requirements, and if it does it is published, regardless of whether they think its a gem or a waste of space. It is not their job.
WE are the quality controllers, for our own reviews.