http://kongkay1.blogspot.com/2010/02/somewhere-in-ss15-subang-jaya.html

Perhaps it takes someone with a developed sense of humor to have the ability to do this. It’s easy to write something positive and glowing. We see too much of it in advertising. Trying to talk down about something without being overly snarky is harder, because we have less good examples of it.

First: Your opinion IS based on your personal feelings, and that is a big part of a review. Just don’t make stuff up, or attack the company, and you will not be sued. You can say, “… and I think you can find a better product than this one…” and that is OK, it is your opinion. You cannot say “… and company XYZ was just stupid to even make something like this …” because now you are attacking the company. Opinion based on experience with the product is just fine.

BUT, you should state negative facts. No product is 100% perfect. It is your responsibility to tell your reader all they need to know to make an informed decision, good and bad. You will not get sued for that ( and truth is always a defense anyway.)

If the reader is unsure, after reading your review, thenyou did the job. Let THEM decide if the product, service, or restaurant is right for them, and you do that by informing them as completely as possible.

Think of the flip side: Let’s say you wrote an endorsement of a product. How would you feel about a reader blasting you for writing only the good? They buy the product, only to discover that it had problems you did not mention. They were not helped, and they may not trust you again. You job is to review and be critical, not to be the PR arm for the product or company and ignore the bad.

There is nothing slanderous about either statement. You are the second person to refer to slander in the comments, so I would like to address it. Typically slander refers to damaging a person’s reputation. It is rarely used for a product. Suing someone for slander is the most extreme possible response to a review, and it rarely happens. Typically if there is an error in a review, a publication corrects it. There is no lawsuit.

Where writers get into trouble is when they that state that the product doesn’t do something it claims to do — and they’re wrong — or when they make stuff up or attack a company. I would define “getting into trouble” as being contacted by the company in a complaint. That’s it. In extreme cases, there are “malicious falsehoods” leading to a defamation of a product, and that’s when lawsuits result.

The best reviews are positive with a little bit of downside — like life, generally good but a little bit complicated.

Maybe people are more nervous about an end to all the freebies, and that’s what it’s really about.

I think in the end, people want to know whether a product (or restaurant) is going to be a waste of their money or not, and they want the reviewer to have a clear opinion.

Acknowledging the fact that a product can be both good and bad simultaneously, leaves the reader feeling a bit unsure. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but I think people prefer strong opinions (black and white) when it comes to reviews. It makes it easier to make a choice about that product in the future.

Personally, I prefer reviews that list the pros and cons. I like making decisions based on both.

Well, I don’t see the point of not noting the positive aspects either, and I’m not suggesting that.

My, I’m feeling disagreeable. I think my cranky pants are on today!

As you well know, we can bring the snark, and we’ll certainly point out flaws in the system (see Danielle’s review of the Jean-Georges prix fixe lunch), but you’re exactly right – balance is key.

Did you read the samples in the links? They are written by people more skilled than I.

Would love to know from people who only write endorsements whether they are afraid that something bad will happen if they write a review that contains pros and cons. Good question, Jenn.