Author Jason Jack on 'Critiques'

Author Jason Jack, what do you think about 'Critiques'?

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The job of a critic/reviewer is to inform potential consumers the value of a particular piece of content and do so in an unbiased manner.

In an ideal world, this would work. But, it's sad to see so many reviewers with agendas.

• Some see themselves as "professionals" and by definition, review harder in order to show off their "skills".
• Others will review content not for what it is, but what they want it to be (for example, reviewing an action movie as a comedy thus lowering that movies review score).
• And even others don't even do enough research about what they are reviewing!

UNBIASED MATTERS
You have to be unbiased for people to believe in what you are saying, to give you accreditation. If someone believes you are purposely siding, they may not trust you. This is why publicly traded companies are required to have external audits--they must have someone outside the company audit their financial statements. They must use an UNBIASED representative to make sure the data is objective and not tampered by bias or judgement (Sorry! My accounting background came through today ;) )

REVIEW WHAT YOU ARE REVIEWING
It may sound like a no-brainer, but critics must review the content they are reviewing. I have some examples when this did not happen.

ZombiU, a zombie-survival horror video game released in 2012 for Nintendo's Wii U home console, was panned by video game websites. Why? These reviewers weren't reviewing the game as a slower paced, suspense game (the definition of the survival horror genre where ammo and weapons are sparse and you can die at any moment) but as a first person shooter which is commonly known for its faster paced shooting game-play and excess of ammunition in comparison.

Fun fact: Gamers have rated ZombiU much higher than "professional" reviewers in part because they knew/accepted the genre of the game.

If you read the reader reviews of J.K Rowling's book The Casual Vacancy, you'll see many people are biased and are reviewing it as if it it was a spiritual successor to the Harry Potter series just because the same author wrote it--these reviewers aren't critiquing it for the book being itself, a no-no in my book (You don't dismiss a new date because they don't have the same hair color as your ex, do you? I hope not!)

REVIEW VS OPINION
The moment you say something is bad because you didn't like it is the line that separates your opinion from your review. Your review can include your opinion, but not affect the objectiveness of it. For clarification, I may not like a cover of a magazine (opinion) but that does not mean the cover is not well done, has great composition, and uses a balance of colors (review). I think the Grand Theft Auto series is a well made production with great voice actors, writers, and good music (review) but I personally don't enjoy the series too much (opinion). Some people confuse these two, opinion and review, thus lowering a product's "score" and perhaps its sales.

LASTLY (I COULD GO ON AND ON)
Know what you're reviewing! Current reviewers for the newest Pokemon game strategy guide are rating it low because it lacks a comprehensive listing of the Pokemon in the two games. But the product description never mentions the book having a listing, the guide itself doesn't mention a listing, and not including a listing has been the norm for the past couple of games in the series. In addition, Nintendo has been selling the Pokemon listing guide separately for a while. It not being included should have been expected at this point for fans, and if it wasn't, once more, the product description does not say a listing is included.

Reviewing an item negatively for not having something you wanted is like buying a house expecting it to be fully furnished and its not (and never) was advertised to have, buying a hamburger and being disappointed when it doesn't have a scoop of ice cream on it when that would never happen, or reviewing a drama movie when it was advertised as drama, all of the commercials promoted the drama aspects, and then panning it because it didn't have any comedy!

BE A FULLY INFORMED CONSUMER, DIG?
We all need to do our research, read product descriptions, and be fully aware before we review. We also have to stop reviewing things for what they AREN'T. Don't review an eBook as an interactive app, don't review a hamburger as a piece of salmon, an economy car as a luxury, a horror game as a first person shooter, one book by an author for another.

Each item we review should stand alone on its own merits, and we shall judge it based on what the product offers, whether it does what the creator intended it to do, without bias and with little of our opinions affecting are rational mind.

Because, for the majority of this "I need it now world" we live in, reviews can make or break products. Scores, arbitrary or not, will matter to a select group. And that group may decide to withhold their purchase based on a number or amount of stars a product received.

And those sales *may* be what keeps that creator above the poverty line.

SO . . .

Take reviewing seriously by being honest but unbiased. Understand there is a living person on the other side of the product page (again be honest but be civil--no need for harshness). Or, do what I do and only review products you find "Good" to "Exceptional". I don't have enough time in any day to go out and purposely put down someone else' work. Honestly, that's what I think. Sure; a turd's a turd, but when I want to know if a product is worth my time and money, I do my OWN research. I look at my own tastes, likes and dislikes, for the final verdict. I'll read reviews, I make check scores, and comments, and whether friends like them, but at the end of the day, I look to myself.

I bought ZombiU because I like survival horror games, and it turned out I loved it! I can't wait to read The Casual Vacancy, and I love the Pokemon strategy guides for what they are.

Just remember, when you're eating that orange at lunch today, don't pan it because it's not an apple, enjoy it for what it is.

Until next time.

--Author Jason Jack