CN FORUMS ARCHIVE Telescope Reviews: Re: Don't Forget How CN Got it's Start.

These are some of the comments this post has generated. Some pro, some Con:

**I'm too inexperienced to write a review.

**I didn't want to review my piece because it's already been reviewed.

**Reviews can be so subjective it gets awful

**sometimes the newbie perspective will be one of the best perspectives to have of equipment.

**I don't have anything to write about

**When I have something concrete to offer, I will.

**not all of us can afford testing new equipment all the time

**you never know until you try it

**i think that full reviews of older designs and older products (as well as cheap designs and cheap products) are invaluable

**a review is your own personal assessment of the item in question. ...it's an informed opinion based on YOUR experience as an observer

**One main reason this place has become even more popular is because it is civil and respectful ...I feel that I have contributed to this portion of Cloudy Nights as a whole

Based on the comments above, there is no doubt writing reviews is not for everybody. But there are others that may feel they can't really contribute anything new because it's all been said before. I differ with that opinion. Even our site Editorial Comment differs with that. CN specifically requests reviews of items that have been reviewed before so readers can form their own opinions based on not one but what several people have to say.

And some say, well what do I have to write about. I say, if you have a desire to write, you will find something to write about. Almost every comment in response to my post has been directed towards equipment. If you were to spend a weekend on the reviews/articles side, I think you would find a dozen or even 20 different kinds of articles that are not equipment reviews at all. Relate your experience. That can even be your experience being inexperienced.

Almost all reviews are subjective. It is the comparison of subjective experiences, the more the better, that helps a future reader make his decisions.

The contributions of the whole to this site have helped make it what it is today. Everyone here that participates by asking, answering, steering, providing watch outs and having light bulbs go off has helped make it that. We are all contributors, none less than the other.

I want to bring to your attention some points from the CN Editorial. Everyone here should take the time to visit it and you may want to read the other links I provided above.

Editorial Commentary

Our goal at Cloudy Nights is to assist amateur astronomers in better understanding the equipment that goes with the hobby.

Part of the education process for an amateur is discovering what their needs are.

The number one request Cloudy Nights receives from readers is for authors to state their opinions in their articles.

Authors are asked to be fair-handed

Comparative reviews are especially welcome.

Cloudy Nights is particularly interested in posting multiple perspectives on the same telescope or accessory.

http://www.cloudynights.com/Editorial.htm

It's not that everyone need feel like they must offer something. It's that everyone should be given the opportunity to feel like they can contribute and if they have something to offer, it will be useful to someone else in the future.

Thanks,

edz

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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21

Edited by EdZ (01/16/04 08:22 PM)

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