A serious question on Soap/Cream Reviews

I thought that I was pretty brutal regarding the scent.

I thought that I was pretty brutal regarding the scent.  

Yes, you were quite explicit regarding the scent, but everyone already presumes that scent is completely subjective and you may hate what I love.

The rest of the review was full of glowing praise for what is otherwise the best soap available. I've no reason to doubt the accuracy of your review, just not what I would call a "negative review". It was more of a glowing review with a negative sidebar. It's really tough to lambaste somebody over scent.

Imagine, "You have no idea what you're talking about! Except for the performance part...that you got right. But your nose must be broken to dislike that scent! It smells like roses and sex, which are 2 of the greatest smells ever imagined!"...you get the gist of how ludicrous that kind of response would be...

Now if you posted that the soap's performance was subpar, provided no slickness or cushion, left no post-shave moisturization, and you found it to be among the worst soaps you've ever laid hands on...With a review like that...a truly negative review...you can only imagine the range of responses you would get from, "You must not know how to lather" to "It's the greatest soap EVER!!!!11111" and all points in between...

I mean just look at this topic...20 pages and it isn't even a review. It's a discussion about why no negative reviews exist, and the responses range from "I've seen negative reviews" to "YouTube celebrities don't know what they're talking about" to "Reviewers are being deceptive in trying to protect bad artisans by not posting negative reviews", and just about everything in between...

Yea, it's an interesting topic to read through, but just imagine the nightmare for the reviewer if they posted an actual bad review of a popular soap...

I thought that I was pretty brutal regarding the scent.  

Imagine, "You have no idea what you're talking about! Except for the performance part...that you got right. But your nose must be broken to dislike that scent! It smells like roses and sex, which are 2 of the greatest smells ever imagined!"...you get the gist of how ludicrous that kind of response would be...

Now if you posted that the soap's performance was subpar, provided no slickness or cushion, left no post-shave moisturization, and you found it to be among the worst soaps you've ever laid hands on...With a review like that...a truly negative review...you can only imagine the range of responses you would get from, "You must not know how to lather" to "It's the greatest soap EVER!!!!11111" and all points in between...

LOL...gotta love those internet wackos (also known as fanboys).

I read the original post in this 19 page thread and listened to the audio posted.

There are a couple of things. First, based on the comments in the audio, the wet shaving community doesn't want negative feedback on artisan products. The speaker said that people get ugly emails, have their Facebook page deleted, etc... I always think about my audience. If I were Mantic59 or someone similar and I know that my followers don't want anything negative about artisans, then I wouldn't post any.

Also, most of the time, it isn't what you say, rather it is how you say it. The other day I did a review comparing and artisan, OneBlade and the razor blade they use and compared it to Gem. I scored Team OneBlade much lower on a specific attribute because of the amount of glue on the blades. In my explanation, I made sure to say why I gave a lower score and also acknowledged that many folks aren't bothered by the glue.

I wouldn't post a review on an artisan that wasn't true. I might decide not to review an artisan if I couldn't give a decent review.

Also, most products have a place and fill a need. I posted a review on a website not too long ago about a $5 puck of shaving soap from one of the wet shaving vendors. They are a smaller one, so are more in the artisan category. It's performance was such that I threw it away. In the review, I didn't say it was junk. I said that it is great for those on a budget. I acknowledged that it didn't perform as well as those costing 3 or 4 times as much and that folks could decide which best meets their needs.

There are plenty of shaving products that none of use would want to use - the cheap stuff that has been around forever. While we prefer higher end products, some of these others have been around for a very long time and continue to sell, thus there is a place for them in the market. Rather that bash them, I would talk about where they fit.

I read the original post in this 19 page thread and listened to the audio posted.

There are a couple of things.  First, based on the comments in the audio, the wet shaving community doesn't want negative feedback on artisan products.  The speaker said that people get ugly emails, have their Facebook page deleted, etc...    I always think about my audience.  If I were Mantic59 or someone similar and I know that my followers don't want anything negative about artisans, then I wouldn't post any.

Also, most of the time, it isn't what you say, rather it is how you say it.  The other day I did a review comparing and artisan, OneBlade and the razor blade they use and compared it to Gem.  I scored Team OneBlade much lower on a specific attribute because of the amount of glue on the blades.  In my explanation, I made sure to say why I gave a lower score and also acknowledged that many folks aren't bothered by the glue.  

I wouldn't post a review on an artisan that wasn't true.  I might decide not to review an artisan if I couldn't give a decent review.

Also, most products have a place and fill a need.  I posted a review on a website not too long ago about a $5 puck of shaving soap from one of the wet shaving vendors.  They are a smaller one, so are more in the artisan category.  It's performance was such that I threw it away.  In the review, I didn't say it was junk. I said that it is great for those on a budget.  I acknowledged that it didn't perform as well as those costing 3 or 4 times as much and that folks could decide which best meets their needs.

There are plenty of shaving products that none of use would want to use - the cheap stuff that has been around forever.  While we prefer higher end products, some of these others have been around for a very long time and continue to sell, thus there is a place for them in the market.  Rather that bash them, I would talk about where they fit.

That assumption I wouldn't make. I do not prefer a "higher end product" just because it carries a higher price tag. I don't think that I am alone in this thinking either.

Your point is well taken and I agree with you. I don't pay a premium for brand at all and am looking for the balance between quality and price. I received some after shave balm with a fancy brand as a gift. $60 for 1.75 oz. It doesn't perform nearly as well as Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion on my face, thus I use Aveeno.

At the same time, I'm willing to pay $10-$20 for puck or container of high quality shaving soap, which I consider higher end. I have used some very inexpensive shaving cream that simply didn't perform well for me.

I have learned that when I voice a negative opinion of certain artisans people get all worked up. This is not good to only see 1 side of the coin, sometimes it can be good to see some negative reviews so you know if a product is worth your hard earned money. Political correctness has got way out of hand, everyone gets offended about what others say or do.

Bottom line, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and shouldn't be scared to voice it regardless of what others think. You are the one using the product afterall.

I have learned that when I voice a negative opinion of certain artisans people get all worked up.

Those are the fanboys. To be fair, this is not limited to this niche hobby but prevalant in many forums on different subjects. Say something negative about their product of fan adoration and they get upset. There is nothing wrong of being a fan of a product, team, or even a side of an issue. Its when it becomes an obsession that its ridiculous.

OTH, don't let the fanboys persuade you or change your opinion. They can scream until the end of time that Product X was handed down by Mount Olympia but it doesn't change the fact a product might still be garbage.

I was caught up in the middle some months back between Barrister & Mann and Cold River Soap Works when someone sent me a pm. Hell broke out on another forum who defended their 'guy' and fanboys entrenched around their 'kid.'

Most were probably young guys telling their roommates or brand new wives they discovered traditional wet shaving.

CRSW & B&M are far overrated and hyped by these crews. There are much better soaps out there in my opinion. They are not junk, just not impressive. That's my review.

Forums only work if they are totally open.

I have learned that when I voice a negative opinion of certain artisans people get all worked up.  

Those are the fanboys. To be fair, this is not limited to this niche hobby but prevalant in many forums on different subjects. Say something negative about their product of fan adoration and they get upset. There is nothing wrong of being a fan of a product, team, or even a side of an issue. Its when it becomes an obsession that its ridiculous.

OTH, don't let the fanboys persuade you or change your opinion.  They can scream until the end of time that Product X was handed down by Mount Olympia but it doesn't change the fact a product might still be garbage.

+1 Indeed.