The purpose of a product review, if that review is to be
objective
and constructive, is to answer two questions. First, what does the product actually
do? Second, does
the product do what the producer asserts it does? We
at the The Martialist do
not attempt to answer the question, usually, of whether you should wanta
given product or should buy it. Rather, we examine each and
every product in context. We ask, "If this was the item we
had,
would it work?" We do not compare the product to its
alternatives
(unless that is the stated aim of the review). We do not attempt,
generally, to steer you away from one item and toward another, if both
items work as advertised.
In this way, we avoid the trap into which so many reviewers
fall.
By refusing, whenever possible, to editorialize our reviews,
we
do not make the reviews about us.
We are more interested in telling you our opinion
objectively.
We are not concerned with making sure you know that the
opinion
is ours. A
product review, to
be useful, must be objective and constructive. Otherwise it
is
merely a vehicle for one's ego, a means of saying, "This or that sucks"
as a way of making the author feel authoritative.
The exceptions to this rule are those products that, to be frank,
are so absurd that they cannot be viewed as anything but utter
failures. In those cases (and always at our expense) we will,
indeed, ridicule the ridiculous. If a product is so bad that it
should not be purchased, we can at least entertain you by making our
evaluation of it as humorous as possible.
New reviews will appear in this section as they become
available.
We have on hold our older reviews. We will be condensing and
republishing many of our vast catalog
of previous product reviews, as well as adding new material to this
section, as we move forward. Thank you for continuing to
trust The Martialist,
founded in 2003.
FULL DISCLOSURE: We
regularly accept product samples submitted to us in exchange for the
consideration of the reviews published here. Unless otherwise
specified, assume that the reviewed item was so submitted. We vow
that our objectivity in publishing an evaluation will NEVER be
compromised; we cannot
be bought. Accepting such submissions allows us to review a much
broader cross-section of the market. Ethical and honest
manufacturers and innovators welcome our objective reviews of their
work because they do not shrink from legitimate criticism. We
will never lie to you.
