App review

[daenas]

This is the second time that my review of an app (and the first review at that) has been deleted/hidden by the moderators.  This is a brand new game, Yacht II (think Yahtze) and after buying it I gave my review.  After not seeing my review, and someone else posted one, I hit "write a review" button again, and lo and behold, there it is w/ red bold letters telling me that it is innappropriate language used and if I edit it that the mods may reconsider it.  The is my review:

"I bought this as my neighbor and I play Yahtzee all the time and since the overview said "2 players" I thought this would be perfect for us! Well..... No option for 2 players to play at the same time. One plays all the rolls while the 2nd person does nothing and gets bored, until they finish then the 2nd plays afterwards until they complete the game. So no two people playing simultaneously. Graphics are very choppy and amateur at best and most of all, NO SOUND! No dice rolling sound, no bings, bangs, doings, zaps or anything. Maybe this app would have been worth .99 but $2.99-nope!"

I'm still waiting to hear why my first review of the Printershare app was hidden and I would like answers on this too.  What good are the reviews if we cannot be honest, use APPROPRIATE language (what other language would they like me to use?) and try to warn others to "buyer beware"?

This is a dishonest tactic by the mods (whoever it is) that controls the delete button and tries to hide bad reviews of apps.  Perhaps if my review was up then the person who's review did make it, and a bad review at that, would have thought twice about buying the app in the first place.

[daenas]

This is the second time that my review of an app (and the first review at that) has been deleted/hidden by the moderators.  This is a brand new game, Yacht II (think Yahtze) and after buying it I gave my review.  After not seeing my review, and someone else posted one, I hit "write a review" button again, and lo and behold, there it is w/ red bold letters telling me that it is innappropriate language used and if I edit it that the mods may reconsider it.  The is my review:

"I bought this as my neighbor and I play Yahtzee all the time and since the overview said "2 players" I thought this would be perfect for us! Well..... No option for 2 players to play at the same time. One plays all the rolls while the 2nd person does nothing and gets bored, until they finish then the 2nd plays afterwards until they complete the game. So no two people playing simultaneously. Graphics are very choppy and amateur at best and most of all, NO SOUND! No dice rolling sound, no bings, bangs, doings, zaps or anything. Maybe this app would have been worth .99 but $2.99-nope!"

I'm still waiting to hear why my first review of the Printershare app was hidden and I would like answers on this too.  What good are the reviews if we cannot be honest, use APPROPRIATE language (what other language would they like me to use?) and try to warn others to "buyer beware"?

This is a dishonest tactic by the mods (whoever it is) that controls the delete button and tries to hide bad reviews of apps.  Perhaps if my review was up then the person who's review did make it, and a bad review at that, would have thought twice about buying the app in the first place.

[WarBrand]

+1

[Glitchster]

A few negative reviews I posted were removed. Also, a red lettered explanation was given for one action. An example of the reviews is copied below with the response

that says " it contains inappropriate language"  The whole TOTAL review is copied below. I find this form of censorship to be insulting.

I do not ( and DID NOT) use inappropriate language.

If these kind of tactics are going to be used,( i.e. false accusations, oppressive manipulation of posted content, as well as, biased censorship.) I'll take my business and opinions elsewhere.

I was planning on purchasing a NOOK tablet next month for my birthday. BUT... After the way my reviews have been redacted, I have second thought of associating with B&N. By the responses of B&N to my reviews this must be what they're hinting at anyway. "Just shut up and give me your dough, Mr. Customer!!)

I guess I've been placed on a black list by B&N's Political Officers for action by the 'Peoples Politburo for the Elimination of Radical Reviews' Otherwise known as the PPERR. Wait a second that could have some hidden dirty meaning as well.

              Below is an exact copy of the review with supposed questionable language

                        ???????????????????????????????????????????????

Subject: WHERE'S THE UPDATE

Your Customer Rating: ** 2 stars were awarded

Any idea when this print app will be fixed? $5.00 still has some value to me. So, I amend my rating to 2 stars... for no response.

                       ????????????????????????????????????????????????

                                           B&N response to the review

Your Review is no longer visible by others because it contains inappropriate language which violates our Terms of Use. 

                ?????????????????????????????????????????????????

[daenas]

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Glitchster wrote:

A few negative reviews I posted were removed. Also, a red lettered explanation was given for one action. An example of the reviews is copied below with the response

that says " it contains inappropriate language"  The whole TOTAL review is copied below. I find this form of censorship to be insulting.

I do not ( and DID NOT) use inappropriate language.

If these kind of tactics are going to be used,( i.e. false accusations, oppressive manipulation of posted content, as well as, biased censorship.) I'll take my business and opinions elsewhere.

I was planning on purchasing a NOOK tablet next month for my birthday. BUT... After the way my reviews have been redacted, I have second thought of associating with B&N. By the responses of B&N to my reviews this must be what they're hinting at anyway. "Just shut up and give me your dough, Mr. Customer!!)

I guess I've been placed on a black list by B&N's Political Officers for action by the 'Peoples Politburo for the Elimination of Radical Reviews' Otherwise known as the PPERR. Wait a second that could have some hidden dirty meaning as well.

              Below is an exact copy of the review with supposed questionable language

                        ???????????????????????????????????????????????

Subject: WHERE'S THE UPDATE

Your Customer Rating: ** 2 stars were awarded

Any idea when this print app will be fixed? $5.00 still has some value to me. So, I amend my rating to 2 stars... for no response.

                       ????????????????????????????????????????????????

                                           B&N response to the review

Your Review is no longer visible by others because it contains inappropriate language which violates our Terms of Use. 

                ?????????????????????????????????????????????????

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Welcome to my world...  Censorship...good word!  Wish I had thought of it..lol

[KidneyKid]

I agree! It looks like we are not allowed to be honest in our reviews if we do not like an app. You would think B&N would fix this but maybe they only want good reviews left up so that we all buy crappy apps. I also was looking real hard at a Nook Tablet since my sister has one and it is a pretty nice little machine, but now I am thinking I should look at some other tablets and see what is there. I mean can we even trust any written reviews of the tablet on these boards or are they being censored too?

[j-andersonjma]

You may try this to get your review "re-instated" by B&N

Private message to BN_AlexG asking for a review.  Include your e-mail address and the App/Book that you reviewed with the "EAN" (I do not know what an EAN is but I think it is the Barns & Noble product number)

J. Anderson

[Glitchster]

To whom it may concern:

MIA CULPA!!!!!

I did not intend to offend anybody by reviewing products sold by B&N. I thought I was writing a non-offensive opinion (as well as trying to make a dry review a bit entertaining, that would express my experience with an item that appeared to me lacking in quality.

I have re-read the small print "Terms of Use" and now understand the logic in the mind-set that controls any customer input posted to the B&N Boards.

Being a "COLD WAR" veteran, I can fully understand the need for censorship and the need for limited freedoms while using B&N's free of charge assets ( i.e.. B&N's internet boards and blogs.) as stated in the context of "THE TERMS OF USE. (see below).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IX. TERMINATION OF USAGE
Barnes & Noble.com may issue a warning, temporarily suspend, indefinitely suspend or terminate any User's right to use or access all or any part of the Barnes & Noble.com Site including any account thereon, without notice, for any reason in Barnes & Noble.com's sole discretion, including without limitation violation of the Terms of Use, Barnes & Noble.com's belief that such access would violate any applicable law or would be harmful to the interests of, or potentially cause financial loss or legal liability to, Barnes & Noble.com, any Barnes & Noble.com Provider or another User.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I tend to get carried away when something is free ! I didn't intend to overuse my freedoms to cause harm to anyone person.

It's just like the term "..Carried away" can mean two different things when expressed in a free society or spoken in, say.... the old Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). It's all subjective. B&N's standards have become very clear to me and hope this comes as a warning to others that intend to express themselves, as I, so, unwittingly had with my postings.

After being so politely re-educated, I see the errors I have committed.  Looking forward to when every ebook, being offered by B&N,  through an editorial rehabilitation, will reflect the correct outlook we, indeed, should all be thankful for corporate.sharing. with us naive' customers.

My Apologies and Thank You...

[catarific]

I am soooo glad I found this!  I was on the phone for over an hour with various people in customer service to try and see why this happened.  I wrote a small review about the product  SMS Wish - and not offense in the least and got that same red remark as everyone else did:

Your Review is no longer visible by others because it contains inappropriate language which violates our Terms of Use.   If you update your content, it will be reconsidered by our moderators within three business days. This message will be removed when your content is approved.    

Here is what I said - and I do not think it was over the top

This looks like it could be a great app - but whenever I leave a note and check it online (tested it by sending to myself), my text does not appear just a box.  When I check the preview, the text is there.  Am wondering if this is because of the new upgrade altough I did not download it prior??     (I gave it 2 stars)

I was so angry when I saw this - so I  first went on to live chat but they couldn't figure out what to do and told me to call Customer Service who transferred me to digital tech and they couldn't figure it out - who then tried to transfer me to a supervisor - who wasn't there - and then the tech disconnected me  

I then called back and spoke to a very nice lady in Customer Service who gave me an email to write to explaining what happened and asking for assistance.  I do not know if this will work, but here is the email she gave me:

readerreview@book.com

Hoping to get some help.  I will keep you posted.

[Glitchster]

I hope you get some response. At the moment, I don't have time to sit on the phone. I did install an Android OS CM7 on my NOOKc, after getting treated so unfairly. Thank You...

[catarific]

I pmed BN_AlexG and all is fixed now.  I wish I had seen this thread before calling Customer Service who were really no help at all!  By the way if you need to have your posts cleared - you need to send Alex your email addy and the link where the post is hidden.  If you need help in how to pm him - just do this.

Click here

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/464668 

and it will take you to Alex's profile page - on the right of that page under contact,  it says send this user a private message.  Click on that and leave your message. 

Alex if you stop by here, thanks a million! Really appreciate it!!

[BN_AlexG]

Hi All,

We certainly do not intend to limit your freedoms and especially not freedom of speech. Unfortunately, as is all too common on the internet people take this to mean that anything and everything should be allowed.

With that, we moved over to a new moderation scheme which at the moment has proven to be effective but at times over zealous as well. If your review was inadvertantly flagged, please send me a PM with your account details and the ISBN/EAN of the product and I'll be more than happy to remove the restriction.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, hope this helps.

- Alex

[A_Wilson]

Alex,

Do you know if the "Powers that Be" are looking at modifying the new moderation scheme?  I have to wonder how many are just not posting reviews due to these issues, or who just give up and don't bother to take it to the Mods for permission for a fair and valid review to acutally be posted.  After seeing the issues others are having I am one who just doesn't bother to post a review (despite daily e-mails asking me to do so), too much of a headache.  Knowing that there is the inability for many of the reviews to actually make it onto the boards have sent me to other sources for recent reviews, and on occasion for the book.  I love B&N, I love my NookColor, but the inability of CS to adjust is making it more difficult.

Thank you.

A_Wilson

---

BN_AlexG wrote:

Hi All,

We certainly do not intend to limit your freedoms and especially not freedom of speech. Unfortunately, as is all too common on the internet people take this to mean that anything and everything should be allowed.

With that, we moved over to a new moderation scheme which at the moment has proven to be effective but at times over zealous as well. If your review was inadvertantly flagged, please send me a PM with your account details and the ISBN/EAN of the product and I'll be more than happy to remove the restriction.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, hope this helps.

- Alex

---

[catarific]

Ok - I got an email to write a review about the nook color.  I wrote a very complimentary review and guess what - I am back again with the nasty red remark:

Your Review is no longer visible by others because it contains inappropriate language which violates our Terms of Use.   If you update your content, it will be reconsidered by our moderators within three business days. This message will be removed when your content is approved.   

If you check here - you will see my review - please tell me what I did wrong - I am getting so paranoid!

http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/revie​ws.aspx?viewid=2154252&ean=9781400532650&pc=

[daenas]

---

catarific wrote:

Ok - I got an email to write a review about the nook color.  I wrote a very complimentary review and guess what - I am back again with the nasty red remark:

Your Review is no longer visible by others because it contains inappropriate language which violates our Terms of Use.   If you update your content, it will be reconsidered by our moderators within three business days. This message will be removed when your content is approved.   

If you check here - you will see my review - please tell me what I did wrong - I am getting so paranoid!

http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/revie​ws.aspx?viewid=2154252&ean=9781400532650&pc=

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Paranoid...LOL  I can relate!  PM Alex, he took care of mine.

[catarific]

I did PM Alex and it was fixed today!  Thank you Alex!  Just wondering - what phrases or words need to be avoided?  I saw many who had negative things to say - my review was positive - yet theirs went through and mine was flagged.