I'm beginning to realize one of the reasons I am so addicted to having my diary reviewed. It's discovering the amazing range and variation of opinions, perceptions and points of view of people that I wouldn't normally get otherwise. I think the general rule of etiquette is if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything at all. When you request a review, in a way you give a license for a reviewer to honestly critique your work and to be open even if the opinion of your work may be a negative one. The better the reviewers are, the more constructive they are in their criticisms, pointing out things that don't bode well with them and making suggestions on improvement. To conduct a review in the best way possible would require one to read most if not all the subject's diary entries which in itself can be a daunting experience. The reviewer must then find both positive and negative aspects and most importantly be constructive and not insulting while trying to maintain some "objectivity" through a scoring system. The biggest pitfall is that nobody likes a low score even if the criticism is wonderfully constructive. Indeed it is a difficult tightrope to walk, which is why as of the present, I never chose to become a reviewer myself. Maybe someday when I get this "bug" to be reviewed out of my system...

Anyway, this is one of the few reviews where I received more criticism on the layout and more kudos on the content. It's usually the other way around where reviewers get wowed by the layout but are turned off by the content of my writing. Anyway, here's the review, I'll add my comments after:

liquid-mojo
2003-08-09 at 10:32 a.m.

[ http://liquid-mojo.diaryland.com | v.liquid-fade.1.8.1 ]

Layout: Ok, there is WAY to much going on here. Way too much. Now mind you it shows your flare for designing which is great. Nothing wrong at all with displaying your skills. However it takes away from your diary. The reader is too distracted by everything else to really get into what is going on with your writing, and isn't that what this is all about? This isn't a car, getting all of the options doesn't make it a bigger and better ride (pardon the pun). One thing I would lose off the top is the fade effect when you change pages. That annoyed the shit out of me. I hate hate hate hate hate that command. If you took that one little thing out there would be major improvement. Please don't get me wrong I'm not saying your layout sucks. There's just too much. There is a point where you stop and you've crossed it.

Content: This is where the real meat is. (God, pardon the pun again) I loved going through your entries...I was up for a few hours just reading every one and thoroughly enjoying myself. You have a knack for expressing yourself and a way about you that I like. You are not afraid to express whatever feeling or mood that you happen to be in. (Or at least that is the way it appears) I read through your entries for your other reviews and while, granted you spoke about sex quite a bit, there was more too "you". If the reviewer would delve deeper the reasons for writing the way you do are abundantly clear. Your philosophy page intrigued me as well. Extras like that on a diary I like. It's not a page of quizzes or surveys but links to special entries that feature a side or an explanation that is not normally given in a day to day entry. This is the shimmer in your diary and not your layout. Keep up the good work.

For a score I would give you a 96%, your writing earned it for you.

Reviewed by: Nicole

Having an uncluttered layout was one of my main design goals. I was trying to strike a balance between a "minimalist" and a "content-rich" design. Obviously I tipped the sale towards the latter. I could see how, even with all the design "gimmicks" that I used to fit everything into that fixed 1024x768 space that the layout would still seem cluttered. Fixing all of that would require a major redesign however and I would have to give up certain elements that I have grown attached to. All the "bells and whistles" I threw in there gives me at least the feeling that my diary is "unique." I know the fade effect is pure "window dressing" and I'm not "married" to that effect, but I did think it was cool when I had first seen something like it on someone else's and I was wowed enough that I wanted to incorporate that into my design. I'll consider removing it if I start seeing that effect being used in too many other diaries and it begins losing it's "uniqueness". If I have the urge and the energy to build a new layout, I'll definitely keep all those suggestions in mind.

I totally love the analogy with the car and the accompanying pun. I would be the last person to criticize puns because I myself would use them at every available opportunity. I guess a guy like me wants his humor (like almost everything else) cheap and easy. I also would be the last person to criticize sexual innuendo because let's face it if I started doing that I'd become the biggest hypocrite on the face of this Earth. ;)� I'm definitely the type of guy that is all for having a "bigger and better" ride and in my guy-ness I probably do relate everything to either my car, my penis or both on some subconscious level. I'm not necessarily proud of my male ego, but it's something that got attached to the penis and testicles I was born with so I figure I might as well revel in it every chance I get. ;)

I can tell that my reviewer Nicole is definitely a fan of substance over style and in terms of diary content, she prefers to indulge in only the finest, USDA prime select meat, all punning aside. ;) I think the key to good diary writing is brutal and complete honesty with one's own self. Whatever you are feeling just write about it. I found that the more emotions you have and the more descriptive you are of those feelings the better your writing will become. I spend most of my own life being careful, being in fear and second-guessing myself so I use my diary as a tool for my evolution out of that state of being. I explore my fearlessness, courageousness and expressiveness and I try to do it in the most honest way possible. The biggest pitfall is that it's almost too easy to lull into a state of depression and self-pity. There certainly has to be a balance of self-esteem and being constructive with oneself. I think one of the greatest gifts a person can give to oneself is being able to laugh at yourself even in the darkest of times. It's just a way of making life more palatable.

Anyway pardon all my divergence into all these tangents. I'm glad that some of the deeper aspects of my diary such as my philosophy page is not being passed over. It's not often someone is able to look beyond the surface, so I appreciate every time it someone not only chooses to explore my diary on a more profound level, but appreciates what he or she has found.

To Nicole, thank you for all the time and effort you put into reviewing my diary and for the high score and all your compliments and constructive criticisms.