Are Members Being Objective Enough When Discussing Products?

I'm not trying to get people to change the style in which they post, but rather the substance of what they post and the motivation for posting it.

 

Google joe jones for me and take it in stride 'cause I love this forum and have learned a lot from it and all the input from the very knowledgeable guys...and gals..on it. But I have a computer to secure right now and I think this is a useless thread. Sure there are newbies like me but do we need to read this? Or maybe I should ask myself why I did?

 

If your only concern right now is to secure your computer, then why would you bother reading a thread titled "Are members being objective enough when discussing products?", let alone bother posting in it. If you don't like the thread, then don't read or respond to it, it's as simple as that. Ugh, I don't get people sometimes.

 

If you wish to opine keep it pithy and don't be a popinjay!

 

This really isn't bad advice. And no offense, but what other situation could this apply to...?

 

I've only gone off-topic to respond to your off-topic posts. Granted some of my posts might be lengthy, but then again the nature of the discussion sort of demands it, at least to address it fully. If I was that concerned about how others think of me here, I wouldn't have made this thread, as it is directed at all the members. People generally don't like being criticized, so if my aim was to be thought highly of, I wouldn't go ahead and criticize them.

 

And may I add that the same goes if you don't like someones bias opinion of a security software product. Simply don't respond to it.

 

Again, the point of this thread is not so that I don't have to be bothered with biased comments, because if it were then I wouldn't have made it and I would just ignore such comments. Rather, as I've said many times already, it is because such comments lower the standards of this forum and are unhelpful if not counterproductive.

 

Peace,my friend(I hope) and I am going. This was nice intellectual reading and I hope I can learn something from you and the rest of the members here. I can see your strong views and stick with them. On the other hand....lets just say I sit on top of the fence and look both ways. Hope to converse with you again in a more constructive way. My apologies(if accepted)....

 

Had to unzip for just a moment. In the title of this thread, it uses the word "objective". But in reality, couldnt that be 'subjective" depending on the member and his or her view on a issue. Oh well, enough for me right now. take care all of you.

 

Not really. I use objective in the sense of one's views and comments not being rooted in or unduly influenced by the biases discussed in this thread, so basically synonymous with unbiased. Perhaps the title should be changed to that end.

 

Apology accepted. I genuinely appreciate the change of heart, or more precisely the change in perspective. I also hope that you can learn something here, as that fulfills the purpose of this place. I'm always open to making new friends and conversing in a constructive manner, but next time lets start off better and do it in a way so as not to detract from an important thread.

 

Tyipcallyoffbeat said,"... step outside of themselves, so to speak, to determine any potential biases they might have and then take concerted efforts to mitigate them."

I believe this is possible. all one has to do is keep an open mind and say I could be wrong. I'll listen carefully to what the other guy has to say.

 

TypicallyOffbeat,

Aside from a few.....doesn't it more or less seem like you are sort of being "ganged up on".....simply for pointing out there there are many software product "fanboys, haters, and bandwagon jumpers" present in this forum?

Guess you must have touched a nerve there, and some people must be offended and/or feel akin to being a part of one of these groups. Otherwise, I'm really surprised WHY anyone would spend the time to question your opinion to the extent to which it is being questioned......and/or post some of the responses that they are in this thread. It does make you wonder......

 

Here...Here... ...I agree.

 

No. Consider the source. They have bragging rights. They would be fools not to shout this from the rooftops.

 

Not too sure what to add here, but to me, it doesn't matter if a member here has 4 posts or 4,000, or are self-professed noobs or experts. Anyone who would rush out and install/buy a product just because they see it being endorsed by members here who either have a high post count or are perceived as experts are making an impulsive decision IMO. Wilders isn't the only place on the Web I look to gather security information or insight.
Being strictly objective would seem to give favor to those who are more knowledgeable or experienced about a product or technique and would probably tend to stifle input from those who aren't. Take a quick look to see which members are currently online, and you'll always see that Guests are exponentially higher in numbers.
As others have said, it's up to the readers to determine for themselves which information to keep and which to discard, and spend some time using the Search function. Learning who the fanboys are becomes evident after x amount of time anyway.
Asking people to only be objective... what's next? Follow the Scientific Method? It would be unfortunate if Wilders took a different direction otherwise. I like this place just the way it is.

 

A writer's words only have the power accorded to them by the reader. As with any literary work, a quick death follows when readers simply turn away without comment.

Blue

 

I must be missing something, but I don't see how londonbeat's post answers my question or explains what you meant. I apologize if it is obvious, but I'm a bit worn out from my extensive input into this thread and a long day at work.

 

It may not be the only place but the level of expertise and the quality of debate here makes it the first place that I would turn to if I had a problem. It's easily the best such forum that I know of.

As an average user, I didn't really know how to secure my PC before I started reading here. That situation has changed and it's not as if I'm using a battery of appliances; just four in fact and SAS on demand.

The guests may be a little intimidated by the dexterity and know-how on display here. I don't think there's any need for people to feel that way, if indeed that is the case.

I must say that I have found it to be a friendly and welcoming forum and have never felt inhibited in expressing myself even though my knowledge is very basic.

I'll second that. The mix of people that one finds here make it a very interesting and at times amusing place.

 

Again, the same confusion many are having with the point I'm making. I think the strange way this thread started, the usage of 'objective', and perhaps my unclear writing(?) have contributed to this confusion. Primarily, I think the usage of objective is throwing people off, as it is often used at this forum to differentiate between the various factors concerning product evaluation. It would seem that this other usage of 'objective' that is more commonplace here actually takes on two forms. The first usage of 'objective' would indicate utilizing outside (third-party) sources such as av-comparatives whereas 'subjective' would be based on ones own experience with the product. The second usage of 'objective' would consist of detection rates or more generally technical effectiveness whereas 'subjective' would consist of usability, customer support, etc.. In this thread, as I've said before, I'm not using it in either of those ways, which is where I think alot of the confusion is coming from. Henceforth, everyone should think 'unbiased' when they read 'objective' in this thread. I'll try to use unbiased instead of objective from now on and I'll see if I can get the title changed to reflect that.

 

No confusion at all - you're beating a dead horse.
BTW, aren't you the same person who managed to get two threads similar closed?
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=178231

 

Obviously there is some confusion. Otherwise, your comment that I quoted in my last post wouldn't make sense. It seems obvious that your understanding of 'objective' is in line with one of the other usages of it that I pointed out in my last post.

I don't see how that is relevant in any way. It is unfortunate that people resort to disparaging remarks simply because they disagree about something.

 

Again, no confusion, and I'm perfectly in tune with the meaning of "objective".
Nice dance, though.

Oh, I think it's relevant - you're obviously dissatisfied with Wilders, and want to make it a "better" forum; perhaps it's time to start your own forum. I'm sure it would be a fun experience for all.