I've been watching this thread with interest..
As long as ANY person has an opinion, there will ALWAYS be some bias in a report...
It doesn't matter if it's Norb, or Loiselle, or Strangis, or Winke, myself, Frank, Matt, Len, PW, 5Shot, etc...
There is NO way to be impartial, unless you are a complete novice, have never heard a thing about the subject, and have no point of reference WHATSOEVER..I.E. someone hands you a bow, tells you how to pull it back and they shoot it..
People like Norb can do all the measuring they want. There is STILL opinion in the report. e.g. In his report on the Martin Fury years back he said that he felt the bow was quiet w/ very heavy arrows. Seems to me that's an opinion. What about saying that a bow is tougher to draw? That's an opinion too, I might find the bow to be a piece of cake to draw. His whole last section of each review ("general commentary"
is largely opinion.
As long as human beings are writing the reports there is no way you will ever get rid of any opinion or bias.
Then there is the bias due to making a living. I'm not picking on PW here: I'm using him as an example..hope ya don't mind PW <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
PW sells bows for a living, inlcuding BT and Merlin. It's no secret he loves those limey bows <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> It's also no secret that he's had a problem w/ some of Bowtech's company policies. There was thread describing his feelings on the matter several months back. Conciously or subconciously that bias will come into play..it's human nature, and it doesn't make PW a "bad" person. As we have witnessed many times here, PW is quite the professional,and he does a VERY good job of minimizing any bias he might have, but it's still there..it is with ALL of us.
I have a bias against certain brands..due to my experience as a dealer/shooter..HCA or Golden Eagle for example,and my bias comes out..but I don't go giving my opinion unless the subject comes up (like the "what will it take" thread). I could never ever give an unbiased report again about a HCA or Golden Eagle bow...
It boils down to this: Can ANYONE give an honest unbiased opinion about anything? Only in the rarest of cases.
My reports are part factual, and lot's of personal findings/opinion..I've never said otherwise. They are purely to relate my experiences & for entertainment. I will be selling "oxy-clean" and "spacebags" soon If I keep on the path I am currently on <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I don't give my reports to sell a bunch of crap or to keep my sponsors happy. I'm not affiliated with anyone in the Archery Industry anymore, and I don't run a shop. I like to write bow reports. I try to write them w/ sincerity, and I try to be thorough. I might actually be helping someone, or maybe for the next guy it's a load of crap because we are all different. I have no agenda.
If people are not wise enough in this day and age to judge things based on their own wants/needs/likes/dislikes, then they have issues that need to be addressed by a mental health professional.
Being that Frank is a moderator here, I can understand his reports being an issue if some laywer type wished to take it up. Since he is a representative of this site, then the moderators need to have some sort of guidelines provided to avoid any hassles.
Enjoy the reviews for what they are and make up your own minds!
EDIT: Typo-HE!!
JeffB
Edited by - JeffB on 03/03/2002 11:19:37