Posting reviews without text to back it up

I'm good either way, data are data, text is text. The data produce the numbers, the descriptions I'll read when I am really trying to decide on choosing between two beers (for example) in a store. Cheers!

 

Admittedly my post was a bit to negative and overly critical. Just as my post irked you, the OP's had a similar effect on me. But clearly my response should have been toned down and could served us better without the use of the word "lazy".

My response about tracking someone's history was an extreme example of being able to figure out where a reviewer is coming from by looking at their past bias. But no, I don't really expect everyone to do this, anymore then I expect everyone to write reviews.

I also do get the value of a review and that some people put no value on the numerical ratings. But please be aware there are those of us that do find value in the numbers. In fact, I do find honesty in the numbers.

 

Ultimately, the real issue is that there is valuable information both in the numbers and in the review comments (which BTW the BJCP folks are asked to provide along with their numbers).

As for relying on numbers alone for honesty, permit me to recommend this book:

How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff

 

Just filter for reviews with < 150 characters if it gets your goat so much. Not everyone can put into words what they are tasting and simply want to put in a short numbers review. Would you rather have only word reviews? That would significantly reduce the amount of reviews and ratings on this site which makes the ratings less accurate or subject to larger variations if an outlier score is posted.

 

My 1747 ratings are all reviewed. It's just my way of keeping track of each one's unique characteristics.

 

I think requiring reviews would be a mistake on a number if levels... aside from the fact that many people rate by preference as opposed to style. I think the goal should be to promote participation at a level that bring more people into the conversation. Personally, if there were a way to keep track of my beers without rating them at all, I would be fine with that.
I'm on my 3rd pint of the evening (keep that in mind if you care to give me shit about this.) How can I make any claim about the beer I'm currently drinking without prefacing it with what has been drank minutes before. And the night is young, as number 4 enters the fold. Additionally I'm going to focus on the people I'm with as opposed to being hunched over my phone. And to think I'll remember the distinctions between 6 or 7 different beers the next morning (often late morning at best) is unlikely.
That said I find the numbers useful when trying a brewery for the first time I will look and see what styles people tend to think said brewery does well. Provided there are more than just 2 or 3 rating these numbers often reflect quality.
Instead of 140 character over 5 category how about 3 words... or one sentiment.
In the end finding ways to get whatever feedback people are most comfortable giving, in the easiest possible way, is the direction I hope the app is moving towards.
PS: DF 120 is the only beer I've ever drunk dialed a brewery to praise.

 

Really, folks can't just scribble a few notes and add the text to their numerical score later? Numbers alone are meaningless.

 

Not for the people leaving them and I think that's the point.

My numbers are for me, not you.

 

Numbers alone are meaningless to me. Why would it matter to me if a bunch of anonymous persons on the Internet like or don't like a beer? Don't sweat the answer: it doesn't. My tastes and preferences don't map well into the aggregate average of the beer consumer, either nationally or locally.

Being a frequent user of the forums, over the years I have developed a feel for which members like which styles of beer (again, both nationally and locally). I'll look for their reviews and pretty much ignore the rest of it. This is particularly useful for the styles that tend to be underrated or over-hyped.

 

you r right. younger me could have written your post.

 

Close, but no cigar. They would be only for you if the rest of us didn't see them, and if they didn't influence the average.

 

Is it just SEEING them that bothers you? Or is it having single scores sullying the average scores given in full reviews?

If it's the former, touché. If the latter, well...

 

I do it both for you and me.

Case closed?

Maybe we could discuss the division of percentages for each of us. I do it 60% for you and 40% for me.

I guess.

The super egocentric is 10/90. The super altruistic is 90/10.

 

I have 1400 ratings (didn’t realize I hit a nice round number) and 323 reviews...so just under 25%.

If I’m at a bar with friends, or out with my wife, or home with the kids, I don’t have time to write a full review. Or sometimes I’m eating and I don’t think that’s a fair way to review.

In the evenings is usually when I have some alone time, enough to use proper glassware, savor the beer, and dedicate some brainpower to writing a thoughtful review.

 

I rate beers to keep track of them for myself. I don't like to write reviews.
I don't care if people are offended by that. It's a free world !
When I add a new place, mostly I will write a short review, because this can be helpful to others visiting the area. But I would never expect someone else to do the same.

 

I treat every beer number rating exactly as you recommend, something that might have value to the person who left it, and has no value to me. Are there really folks who are offended by not leaving beer reviews?

 

I never said I had any problem with anyone's scores or reviews. I was just pointing out that by posting your scores and reviews they are no longer just for you.