Comments on: The Seduction of Buzzy Things

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 04:26:45 +0000

BTW, in regard to the comment above and the traffic generation. There are reviewers who don’t require traffic generation. AAG is one such reviewer,whose motivation isn’t dependent on sex toy reviews, but I can’t say the same for some of the other websites listed on Pleasurists. Apologies in advance if I offend anyone but I’ve been a blogger too, and I know which blogs overdo reviews and which blogs don’t.

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 04:24:10 +0000

I’m a bit late, but thought I’d add my two cents on the issue of sex toy reviews.
It’s Friday for me, but I’ve noticed the prevalence of sex toy reviews and while reviews can be beneficial, a glut of reviews for the same products can become tiresome. I know for myself, I know where my clitoris is, and I know where my G-Spot is, reading 20 x reviews for one product is only going to lessen my ardor for it, but not only that, what is the point. I say this, because I’ve come across the Pleasurists web site, which is like the sex toy version of Sugasm and I am aware of the function of such sites: link generation, traffic generation and please let’s be honest with ourselves and be real rather than say, “oh we’re providing reviews.” It’s also about traffic generation and maybe affiliate sales. There’s nothing wrong with that, but not paint it to be something it isn’t.
I’m now looking at ways to minimize sex toy reviews. I didn’t have this issue before, but as a publisher, I can’t publish reviews (and pay the reviewer) for say, a Lelo Mia, if 30 reviews appear all over the place. What is the point of that?
And the most important point is the way a company conducts itself; like AAG mentions. Does it support the points mentioned and how does it deal with negative feedback? Is its customer service impeccable? These are the most important things. As a user of sex toys myself, I want some mystery retained – not come across 30 reviews for one product. I say that even though I am aware of the list of ‘best sex toy reviewers’. Is it a valid list? I don’t know. I do think that there were good intentions behind the formation of the list, however knowing what I do know about many companies, most of them only ship products to North American reviewers only, thus, not serving other reviewers. Therefore subjective.

By: badinfluencegirl

badinfluencegirl — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:31:52 +0000

i will not review for anyone who doesn’t want an honest review. in fact i don’t review for one company because they want to “provide key words” and i am totally not into even that much help when i write.

i have given vibes that EVERY single review raved about 3 out of 10 and i don’t expect to stop.

since i likes the free toys i try to be constructive and respectful but i will use the word execrable if need be. that said, i pick well so i tend to do more good than bad reviews.

anyway i decided i had to do a minimum of one smut and one thought post per review and for the most part i stick to that. i’m grateful to the reviews though, as the blog gets older the ideas come more slowly.

By: aag

aag — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:14:06 +0000

Oh tyvm. Feel free to stroke my ego any time. I lurve it just a little bit too much. :)

By: kf

kf — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:44:01 +0000

As someone who has only been reading blogs for a year or so and doesn’t write one, I personally find it irritating when a blog has a lot of reviews. I read blogs for the person’s ideas and thoughts, to see what they have to say about the world. If they’ve used a sex toy and genuinely enjoy it, great; if they’ve been asked to review maybe one or two for a company and put what they GENUINELY think (and I agree, too many reviews don’t post bad reviews – there must be some toys you didn’t like!), then great. But if a blog has page after page of reviews and nothing about the person, then meh: I skip. I don’t have the money for lots of toys and I’m not learning anything about the world or other people, so it bores me. I’m sure some people do go to a page for the reviews, but I’m also fairly sure there will be more people like me who won’t.
Would also like to take the oppurtunity to say that I really enjoy this blog, and think you’re a brilliant writer – thank you for saying what you really think about things!

By: Eden

Eden — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:26:24 +0000

I agree with what AAG has to say and I work in the adult product industry. I work for Adam & Eve, their website specifically. And I do provide products for bloggers (with their permission) to review openly and honestly with no penalty for negative review. I do ask bloggers for a list of products they are interested in trying and do my absolute best to comply with specifics such as phthalate free products only, no rabbits, etc.
That being said I am aware that we carry products that some people prefer not to use and I respect that. As an employee I can say that if it were my personal company I wouldn’t carry them but as a member of a large company I can simply suggest that we no longer offer such products and make my case. I only say this because I do value sex toy experts’ opinions and reviews of products and would hate to lose reviewers because of certain products that we currently carry or are in the process of phasing out. Not all sex toys rock and I believe consumers should be knowledgeable about what they’re getting. Adam & Eve is an old player on the adult industry field and sometimes we’re a little slow to make changes. Creaky joints I think.

By: aag

aag — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:41:10 +0000

I could make unilateral edicts ’til I was blue in the face but that wouldn’t mean y’all would have to follow them.

But why would I? The innernetz are a really big place. There’s plenty of room for everyone.

By: Sexorcism

Sexorcism — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:25:24 +0000

Oh, man! You are so funny! That’s exactly what I was thinking: it’s not as though you made a unilateral edict requiring all sex bloggers to refrain from reviewing more than one product a week or month, and limiting authors to affiliate relationships with reputable retailers only. I was wondering why I had such a strong inner response to your post and I think that’s it. This is your corner of the blogosphere and you’re entitled to post your opinions on all matters vast and sundry.

By: Cris

Cris — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:43:20 +0000

I have to say I applauded this post. I read a lot of blogs (sex, non-sex, whatever) and it doesn’t matter if you’re reviewing a vibe, a piece of cooking equipment, a sofa, or a camera … if you do it all the freakin’ time, I will eventually stop reading your blog.

I read blogs for the personal connection to the writer – one sided though it may be. I trust reviews that are by bloggers who I feel a connection with in some way or another. If I can’t get enough of a sense of you from your other writing to feel like I “know” you in some way, shape or form, then I’m not going to trust your reviews. I’m going to feel like you’re being a product whore, pure and simple.

I have made purchases based on reviews from bloggers and will continue to do so … as long as I can know that the blogger who is doing the reviewing is a real person with a “real” blog, and not a product site.

*shrug* It works for me.

By: Sleeping Dreamer

Sleeping Dreamer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:52:16 +0000

I didn’t want to clog your blog up with an epic length essay so I wrote a post in response to your comment.. that was in response to mine. If you have the time, check it out AAG.

http://www.sleepingdreamer.com/2009/02/are-reviewers-sacrificing-integrity.html