Inappropriate Ratings

So Angelo, are you saying that if the reviewer received a legit promo copy, then a review can be published prior to street official date? 

I want to make sure I understand.

The automation option has been discussed in the past. Outcome was that this would be policy driven for the time being, with Bob and Guigo guarding the reviews:

Albums can be added at any time, and if they are added before release date, that means that illegitimate reviews and ratings will have to be removed. Ratings without review are deleted without checking, for reviews I think Bob and/or Guigo normally check with the reviewer to find out if they may have received a promo copy. Bob's on vacation, and Guigo is in a different time zone (and not online 24x7) so it may take a while for ratings to be removed.

Finnforest wrote: Well don't be mad Jeff.  Just don't post reviews of albums until release date, as per the rules.

Sorry about that. I didn't intend on coming across as angry.

I was just pointing out that 99% of the reviewing I do nowadays is based on legal promotional copies. I wouldn't be too happy if a feature were implemented that prevented me from doing pre-release reviews.

Easy Money wrote: ^ that is a good idea, it would take Max to see if it is doable or not.

Let's say that ProgBand release the album "II" on 12. December.

You add the album today with the release date 12. December in an own entry box. I get/steal a leaked version and tries to review it. I should then get a denied service message "Sorry, this album is not out yet" and a grayed out entry field for the review. This according to SQL.    

 

harmonium.ro wrote: The best solution would be to close the rating/reviewing service until the release date and only allow real promo reviews upon request.

Totally agree.  

(I am pretty sure this technically can be implemented if this forum is SQL based) 

Edited by toroddfuglesteg - November 13 2010 at 12:13

I agree with John there, and I know what would be the proper decision (speaking about future, we all know such cases will repeat again and again).

Till PA let to add new album for everyone who would like to do it, you can't control if every new album was added in time or before of its official date of release.

If only members who have responsibility will be able to add albums, then we will be sure what happens, if we will decide that new album could be added only in the day of official release, or later. Without such changes we will always have some pre-release added albums

Easy Money wrote: If you guys want to delete the reviews go ahead, but this is an illogical system. Out on the open on PA, a new album addition comes with an automatic prompt and encouragement to write a review, meanwhile, back here in secret we are going to delete those reviews and the people who are being encouraged to write reviews don't even know this, it makes no sense. EDIT: I realize the reviews should go, but its weird they are being encouraged first.

Nobody is reviewing the album John, except for Conor who was an obvious case of promotional reviewing. There are only ratings. But now that the album is oficially out, I think we can let them stay. Yes it's possible to check the date when the ratings were posted but now this is not that interesting for anyone anymore.

You're right John, it doesn't make sense.  So let's decide if we're going to allow it, and either change the rule or enforce it.  You guys in Admin need to make the call, and I encourage you do so, so we can end these debates. 

And I don't have the authority to delete reviews, or they'd already be gone.  I don't care one way or the other, I just like to see some consistency with our stated policy. 

IMO the problem with such ratings (and sometimes reviews) is that often bands and/or their staff are watching PA, which is the case of Agalloch (especially considering they were interested to get a promo review from PA), and we don't want to look as a place where those who pirate gather. The best solution would be to close the rating/reviewing service until the release date and only allow real promo reviews upon request. And regarding the strong marketing done with promo items, I hope none of you actually believes those Agalloch ratings come from promo copies...

I see the Agalloch reviews/ratings are still there.   Are they going to be removed?  Or are we going to change the policy to allow reviews prior to official street date?

Something has to give.  You can't have published rules that everyone just ignores.  If the rule sucks and everyone hates it, then lets change it.  Otherwise, let's enforce it.