I will admit that my response is sometimes to tell someone about the reviews, though I do try to keep my tone friendly - more of a, "Well, I don't know personally, but there's some folks here who've written about it." kind of way. (Though it's a little hard not to be curt when the question is simply "is this good?") And if the question is specific enough, I try to root around in some of the reviews and find one that has the answer.

I never much thought about it because in most cases, if I visit a forum at all, I simply "lurk" and not say anything, and this was what I did with Eden at first. I wonder if, perhaps further down the line, there might be a "Frequent Forum Questions" link kept at the top of the forums at all times, to help with newcomers getting quick answers to common questions. less

I just answer the threads as best as I can. I don't care if the question has been asked before searching the forums is difficult to do. As far as other people's treatment of me goes, I am here to promote EF, not be selective about who I do or don't help. If I can help someone, then that makes my day. As far as worrying about what others think of my helping people on threads that could be considered farming, well, let them deal with it. It is a bit self-serving and yes, I could be a bit more selective but when a newbie needs help or a purchaser has a question, who am I to judge??? I value our close community and try to do my part, just like TTT posted....how do you really know??? There are obvious ones but that is what the moderator does, us members can point it out to the moderator, but in the meantime, be welcoming to the new posters...we were new at one point and needed help!! less

Yeah, I've seen reviews where the reviewer did not like the toy at all and was quite eloquent in describing why, and there were comments like, "I can't wait to try it!" Really, you want to try a toy that treats your anus like sandpaper? (Well, maybe... ) less

Tee he he... you said pointless threads!!!

I actually looked looked at all the threads today, and I was stunned to see some of them. I took a gander in and yes, I am the type of person to actually enjoy reading a post from start to finish... and my jaw dropped. I hate those emoticons or similies or whatever they are called. Pages were full. I could not even remember what the thread was about.

I think that is what an acid trip is like. less

Hee hee hee hee (We're the bad ones, Timmy.)

These remind me of my days following the Grateful Dead.



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Okay, now that I've responded to various posts in this thread, I'll respond to the main one lol..

Tim, I agree completely with you. I'll admit, sometimes I'll say "there are some reviews on the product which give great information on *such and such*". That's usually when I can't give my own opinion though because I don't own or have tried the product. I never reply with the intention to not be welcoming. I usually try and be super nice. I hope no one has ever taken my comments in a mean way.

If I think a post is point-farmy, then I usually just don't reply at all and skip it.

I don't want people to get upset by me saying this but I think that there are just as many complaint threads as there are "point-farmy" threads and like you said Tim, how do we even know they are trying to point-farm? Maybe they're just new and don't know there way around yet, etc. A lot of members are saying that they don't visit the forums as often anymore because of all the "spammy" threads or whatever. Honestly though, I've been coming here less (on the forums) because there seems like an over abundance of bitching, complaining, whining threads. That to me is unwelcoming and negative and it's annoying to see thread after thread being about how people don't like how people set lures, don't like how people say "thank you" on their reviews instead of long paragraphed comments, don't like pictures in reviews, blah blah blah.

I know I probably sound jerky, and I hope no one hates me now because of this but I'm sure there are a few others who feel the same. I can't be the only one! less

Yeah, I see your point. I'm always scared people will think I'm just trying to point farm when I post threads once in a while asking for people's toy opinions when I actually just want my opinion tipped in one direction or the other because I've already read the reviews and can't decide, haha. I've never ever had someone be rude or anything to me though. less

This.

How many people have left the forums -- and possibly the website -- for good because of the point farming, pointless threads and the general inability for a person to read stuff that couldn't be easier to find? People who care about the community are going to stick around regardless and those who don't.. won't.

Devil's advocate a bit. Not everyone has the time to assume good intentions, search for information for OTHER people or wade through the drudgery, but maybe we still want to be able to enjoy something here. less

Gold Lion, I have done this too and so has my wife. We ask in the forums sometimes because not everyone that owns that product writes reviews. Often times you will find that some folks just don't have the time, are not reviewers or just don't care to write the reviews. So, asking about them in forums isn't really a far fetched idea if you ask me.

I know that there were some folks that had posted a thread a while back about "why are these comparisons blocked/locked" from me?

When you post a comparison, it asks you who you want to be able to respond. If you choose the option that only requests that those that have done reviews on it can respond, then thats just silly-especially if someone has that item, but didn't write a review. They may be floating around in the forums and see your post and respond.

Another thing that my wife and I have realized is that if you ask something in the forums about a toy that has reviews on it......if that person has had the toy for 6-8 months or more (long after they have done a review on it) maybe they have different feelings about the toy. Maybe something happened with it, they learned a new way to use it, etc etc. You never know. Thats why its always good to ask, even if there IS tons of reviews on it. I just don't understand why some folks have said to my wife and I "Well read the reviews". Found that a bit snotty in our opinion and somewhat off putting less

If I maybe allowed to counter your devil's advocate with one of my own?If community members want a better community, it is up to all of us - from the staff to the newest contributor - to make it happen. So if you find that you have time to make a lengthy post about how things are around here, maybe that energy would be better spent helping out some of the newbies or sending the admins a message about concerns so they can be addressed one on one. If we all just wish for a better community but don't actively work to help make it a better community, how can anything change? less

This.

How many people have left the forums -- and possibly the website -- for good because of the point farming, pointless threads and the general inability for a person to read stuff that couldn't be easier to find? People who care about the community are going to stick around regardless and those who don't.. won't.

Devil's advocate a bit. Not everyone has the time to assume good intentions, search for information for OTHER people or wade through the drudgery, but maybe we still want to be able to enjoy something here. less