Just a thought on reviews of liquid

[playerags]

We all read these reviews for 1 of three reasons.
1. We want to buy a liquid
2. We bought a liquid and loved it and want to see what other people think
3. We bought a liquid and feel like we just threw hard earned money out the window. So we want to tell others to save their money.

Then we read the reviews and replies and see that half the people like the liquid and half hate it. Then we chalk it up to differences in taste buds.
I think the reactions to these different likes has alot to do with whether you used to smoke menthol or non menthol analogs.
If when someone does a review, or reply to a review, they should say they were a menthol or non menthol analog smoker.
To take it one step further, or make it easier, we should have it by our avatar all the time. I think that might help someone make a decision on whether or not,to try a new liquid.

Any thoughts?

 

[ChainSmkr]

Any thoughts?

I think you've made some valid points. Playing devil's advocate, I can say that I've read a lot of posts where non-menthol smokers have really enjoyed the menthol and mint flavored e-liquids when they thought they wouldn't. Perhaps a better gauge would be of one's taste buds self-rated on a scale of 1 to 10. I know I'd be the last choice for an e-liq review because my taste buds are still half fried. But just for the record and to be a game player, I'm a non-menthol smoker

 

[playerags]

Let me use this as an example:


review for- ? liquid from ? supplier

10 people give it a positive review
10 people give it a negative review
7 of the ten positives are from people who were menthol smokers
7 of the ten negatives are from people who were non menthol smokers
myself being a menthol smoker, I would say there would be a 70% chance I am going to like this liquid.

 

[ChainSmkr]

... I would say there would be a 70% chance I am going to like this liquid.

I would agree with that but for the fact that there are so many other factors to consider. Some people have a sweet tooth, others don't. I've seen pos/neg of cherry flavored e-liquid based soley on the sweetness. I personally feel the nic strength changes the flavor of the liquid. Taste is just so subjective.

As a general guideline, I can see where you are going with this though. If I ever critique an e-liq, I'd have no problem noting that I'm a non-menthol smoker in the review if others find it helpful.

 

[Terraphon]

Whether one smoked menthol or regular flavored analogs has precisely nothing to do with the subjective flavor scores that are given out. The only thing that is relevant and has any bearing whatsoever on that score is the individual likes / dislikes of the reviewer.

I do my reviews for one reason and one reason only : To give the community an idea of how a particular flavor tastes and performs.

Once again, this has as much to do with whether I smoked menthols or not as it does with Neptune's rotational axis. It's like saying my description of a bite of turkey might be skewed because I don't like cranberry sauce...preposterous, at best.

I was never a menthol smoker...I would smoke them if I was out and that's all that was around but I wouldn't buy them; I never really cared for them. I did a review on a menthol juice, though, and I loved it. I've also done reviews on watermelon flavor, blackberry flavor, pineapple flavor, cherry, strawberry, marlboro, camel, regular, coffee, tobacco, hilton, chocolate, vanilla, chocolate mint, chocolate almond and others...Some I liked, some I didn't.

Again, being a menthol smoker, or not, had nothing at all to do with those review scores.

And here's the thing...A PROPER reviewer (whether a video reviewer or a text reviewer) leaves personal feelings aside and reviews a product on its individual merits, not whether or not they happen to like the particular flavor they're reviewing...That's called "being objective".

As I've been typing this out I've come to the conclusion that you're probably referring to "cigarette" flavored liquids. I'll say this; Also irrelevant and for the same reason I just typed out above.

Anyone that's worth 1/2 a pound of frog nuts can review around that quite effectively....And objectively.

Like I said, I was never a menthol smoker...The menthol flavor I reviewed, though, got one of my highest scores ever...

That's my $0.02 anyway.

 

[playerags]

Terraphon, I in no way intended to offend you or anyone else who does reviews. I watch your reviews and think they are great. I am only two weeks in to these things and it seemed like something that would make sense to me. Guess I was wrong.

 

[Terraphon]

Nonono...I'm not offended at all. If I came off that way, I apologize.

I just mean to say that I think you're putting a bit too much stock in to what we did as analog smokers. As an analog smoker, I would never have DREAMED of smoking a watermelon flavored marlboro...not in a million years...As a vaper, though, the stuff is wonderful.

I guess I think it's akin to comparing apples to filing cabinets.

Suggestions for the betterment of reviews are always welcomed...I've changed my review structure once, already, based on a suggestion from a forum member. If I come across some information I think is relevant, I'll change it again...in a heartbeat. I'm pretty flexible like that

 

[Letzin Hale]

I guess I think it's akin to comparing apples to filing cabinets.

I agree that what you smoked should not influence your reviews and in your case it doesn't seem to at all, but not everyone has that same level of perception. It's all different strokes for different folks and more like comparing motorcycles to cars when reviewing different cars - would having ridden a certain type of m/cycle influence your decision on rating a certain type of car? I have to admit that having ridden a lot of off road m/cycles did have some influence when it came to buying my current car, but if I were reviewing a whole fleet I would try not to use it as a yardstick. I have tried 2 different Apple flavoured liquids (never would have believed that 6 months ago!!), one I loved, the other I hated. Reviewing flavours is probably the most difficult as with ecigs there are measurable factors such as battery life etc to base your decisions on. Thank you to those who take the time to do the reviews, they are appreciated.
Alan.

 

[Terraphon]

This is true...I really can't speak for others and how they do reviews; all I can address is myself.

I guess I should have said that the smoking history is irrelevant to ME but...I didn't really think about it. It's often hard to conceptualize people other than ourselves feeling differently about things than we do.

*shrug*