How could 65,688 people be wrong?
So, I’m not sure you’re supposed to open a blog that you want people to read with the word “so”. But I typically don’t follow “The Little, Brown Handbook” in my writing. In fact, that book brings back some moments in a college English class that I would like to forget because it led me to take a class I didn’t enjoy two times more than I wanted to.
But I digress.
This blog isn’t about writing style, comma splices, run-on sentences, or even diagramming those run-on sentences. It isn’t about dangling participles or “I” before “E” rules. Although there is a great Brian Regan routine about that, here is the link (Brian Regan – Dumb In School). This blog is about those things we all love to read: Amazon reviews.
That’s right: Amazon reviews.
You know, those sometimes-lengthy, poorly written, overly critical, or hard-to-believe overly-glowing reviews about the latest and greatest wizzywig we must have.
It could be the latest fidget spinner, the world’s greatest coffee maker, or any one of these amazingly fabulous and useless items:
- Accoutrements Bacon Strip Bandages – Wait a second, I would love those!
- Cell Phone Jail – Ok, we have actually gifted that to someone.
- Burrito Blanket – I love burritos!
- Dill Pickle Lip Balm – Holy smokes, I may get this for my daughter.
Ok, despite those items actually existing, which is incredible; what is even more amazing is that over 65,688 people have taken the time to review those items. That’s right, more than sixty-five thousand, six hundred and eighty-eight people have taken the time out of their lives to review those products so you can have peace of mind if you decide you need them.
So, where does that leave us? It leaves us to understand that while Amazon reviews can be entertaining and even helpful at times, we should remember that the “social proof” they provide should be taken with a grain of salt. We can’t let the opinions of others, especially those we don’t know, sway us too much when making emotional purchasing decisions. While we’re at it, it’s worth noting that even “The Little, Brown Handbook” has its own set of reviews on Amazon, with only 292 reviews and a 4.5-star rating. Just goes to show that a well-known grammar guide isn’t immune to the subjective nature of customer reviews.