New site feature: control the reviews you see

 

  • New site feature: control the reviews you see

    Posted by Huw, 15 Feb 2012 05:48. Filed under Brickset.

    I've added a new feature to the site in direct response to comments made in the annual user survey last year concerning the quality of set reviews.

    It would appear that many adult visitors do not like reading reviews written by kids and teens and would like a way to filter them out or stop them being posted. I have no intention of doing the latter because of course kids and teens like to read reviews written by their peers and today's TFOLs are tomorrow's AFOLs and therefore important to the future of the site.

    So, I've implemented a review filter which can be set on your profile page (when you're logged in). You can specify what type of reviews you want to see (for example those written by KFOLS, TFOLs or AFOLs) and, once you've done so, every page that displays reviews will only show those that match your preferences.

    I acknowledge that many TFOLs write excellent reviews and as as result, they are gold-rated reviewers. Therefore everyone, regardless of their preferences, will see reviews by gold-rated reviewers regardless of their age. I'm hoping this will improve the quality of reviews generally, as more people strive for gold-rated status.

    I hope this goes some way to improve the perception of the reviews and increase their usefulness. I look forward to your comments.


    15 comments, latest one posted 15 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by ChicoCheco in Norway, 15 Feb 2012 07:45

Hi everyone. I`m looking forward to read more of your reviews in a future. (Which I`m doing usually during lunch breaks :-) )

Posted by Deinonychus in United Kingdom, 15 Feb 2012 10:21

Thank you so very much! It'll be great having well though-out reviews written as a series of insightful paragraphs featured heavily in the review results instead of having to wade through countless lists of pros and cons or exclamations about a person hopes to get a cool set for their birthday.

Posted by sarlacc98 in United Kingdom, 15 Feb 2012 10:28

^ I so agree I am a tfol but some of the reviews are kind of pathetic.

Posted by kwilder in United States, 15 Feb 2012 10:52

I'm happy about the change if only it will make those who are frustrated by the reviews happy. I don't mind reviews from kfol or tfol so I will keep all reviews. While I don't know that kfol reviews always speak to me, it is sometimes a unique perspective and I like the idea of supporting younger people in their building. I was always encouraged to build as a kid and when my daughter grows up, I want her to be similarly encouraged, not told her information and enthusiasm is "not helpful." This change should make everyone happy.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 15 Feb 2012 11:36

^ I hope so.

Posted by ngclarkiv in United States, 15 Feb 2012 11:46

This is a good idea. Although sometimes I wish we could filter out some adult reviews because some of them are EXTREMELY long. I'm an adult Lego collector (obviously because I'm on this site), and enjoy reading reviews but sometimes reviewers go way over the top. All we want to hear is their opinion of the set; if they enjoy the set, what the set does (flick fire missiles, secret compartments, etc.), if it's worth the money, etc. just follow the basic guidelines that it gives but please an encyclopedic review of the set isn't necessary.

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 15 Feb 2012 15:48

Thanks for this, it is frustrating seeing:

PROS:

Everything!

CONS:

Nothing.

Posted by LEGOSLUG in New Zealand, 15 Feb 2012 16:28

That's Awesome Huw.
Now all I need to do is get a Gold Reviewer Status.............................

Posted by TooMuchLEGO in United States, 15 Feb 2012 16:40

Cool feature, though I'm going to keep all reviews.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 15 Feb 2012 17:59

There's a gold medal by the reviewers name.

Posted by jonbuddy in United States, 15 Feb 2012 18:07

Epic Huw! I will strive to stay in the Gold/Silver range, so as to keep TFOLs in good "reviewing light"!

Posted by wiredforsound in United States, 15 Feb 2012 19:37

Strangely there doesn't seem to be a way to un-check all reviews (Apart from Gold).
If you do so, it auto-rechecks them all, requiring you to have to leave one on the list.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 16 Feb 2012 03:29

^ Correct, sort of a bug but not one that will cause much of a problem: it's reasonable to assume you want to read at least some reviews :-)

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 17 Feb 2012 17:42

Well this doesn't really affect me as I usually like to read all the reviews on a set if I'm aiming to buy it. Does this mean that you can only click the review as 'helpful' or 'not helpful' if the reviewer is in the same age range?

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 19 Feb 2012 04:33

^ No, nothing has changed there.

Commenting has ended on this article.