Posted April 20, 2012
I think we can all learn from our mistakes. I'm sure spinefarm would admit to anything he did wrong. Hopefully he can say so in this thread.
That said, and while I agree that this a douche thing to do, I doubt that one single user can have such an impact on the system. the system isn't that fragile. Spinefarm was just more outspoken about his exploits than others.
Also, note that we currently don't know why exactly the review system has become restricted. So far there is no official statement about it. It _could_ have to do with the exploits, it could also be that the system was just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of reviews being written recently. We don't know.
That said, I _am_ pretty angry about people abusing the review system this way, for a number of reasons:
(1) They are exploiting a useful system for personal gain.
(2) They endanger this useful system because the exploitation may need to be stopped eventually.
(3) They show blatant disregard for fellow gamers who are reading the reviews, trusting them to be at least honest, and base their own purchasing decisions on it.
(4) They make it harder for people who put effort into writing honest, responsible reviews to get them published and be rewarded.
In effect, these people are saying (through their actions), that it's perfectly okay to lie to readers who may trust them, as long as it pays them the equivalent of 15 cents. And this is what I really find detestable, this eagerness to screw others over for a personal gain that is so minute. How huge must one's greed be, how low must one regard honesty, to justify such actions?
Therefore, I wouldn't mind at all if the system got improved and copy/pasters got punished.
Post edited April 20, 2012 by Psyringe
