My rant about video reviews

M

medicguy

Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
383
Browsing videos online, review after review has these guys reviewing a particular blade, with $2000 worth of Sebenzas, Striders, etc. sitting on the 'Chris Reeve' cloth below them, just so they can be shown off. I get it, you spend an exorbitant amount of money on knives. And all these reviewers state that they "have EDC'ed this blade exclusively for the last 3 months..." when there clearly isn't so much as a fingerprint on any of the knives. I agree, these knives are cool, but they're just tools guys. Get out there and have some fun with them! And if it's just a fancy collector's collection, that's cool too. Just don't profess how you "hard use" all your knives. How can you be an expert on what makes a good knife when you're sitting inside making videos all the time? Cutting paper, cardboard or rope gives you very little indication of how good a knife is. Everyone makes fun of Nutnfancy, but at least he gets out there and plays a little.
 
The envy is strong with you........


It's not hard to work out exactly who you are referring to, they are Blade member.
 
medicguy said:
Browsing videos online, review after review has these guys reviewing a particular blade, with $2000 worth of Sebenzas, Striders, etc. sitting on the 'Chris Reeve' cloth below them, just so they can be shown off. I get it, you spend an exorbitant amount of money on knives. And all these reviewers state that they "have EDC'ed this blade exclusively for the last 3 months..." when there clearly isn't so much as a fingerprint on any of the knives. I agree, these knives are cool, but they're just tools guys. Get out there and have some fun with them! And if it's just a fancy collector's collection, that's cool too. Just don't profess how you "hard use" all your knives. How can you be an expert on what makes a good knife when you're sitting inside making videos all the time? Cutting paper, cardboard or rope gives you very little indication of how good a knife is. Everyone makes fun of Nutnfancy, but at least he gets out there and plays a little.
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Some of us really do use our knives on a daily basis. ;)

Cardboard and rope are very good indicators of what the knife will do edge retention wise and cutting wise (Performance).

Don't know about others, but I cut a lot of cardboard.....
 
I get a lot of use out of video reviews. It quickly shows you a three dimensional view of the knife and its the best way to get an idea of the size of the knife. I feel they shouldnt be longer than 10 minutes though. I dont watch Nutn anymore because his are now like 40 mins long or something ridiculous like that. As to whether they use em hard or not, there are plenty of demo vids around if that's your thing.
 
They could EDC the knife for 3 months and not have a scratch. EDC doesn't mean everyday use. So the review can be from the POV of someone who keeps a knife in their pocket and does almost no cutting. This could be an honest review from someone who just doesn't use knives that much. Of course, there isn't much value to such a review. They could tabletop the unboxing and cover the ergos and how pretty it is without waiting three months.
 
Personally I just reckon folks would like to see similar ballpark examples. I currently have 4 expensive ($350-500) folders. Through the 11 years I've been a BF member sometimes I have 8, sometimes I have One. If I'm gonna review my new Shirogorov, I reckon ideally folks would like a comparison with a Senenza & a SnG, ect... I use all of the above because I am an enthusiast. My EDC selection consists of a few very nice folders & 1 or 2 "beater" fixed blades. I do B/S/T fairly often though... The spice of knives! I take care of/treat with respect ALL of my knives. I don't carry them in the same pocket with rocks I'm collecting. I clean/sharpen them when they get gunky. Why wouldn't you? Oh, I'm "iAMboognish" -ARCHMAN & I LOVE a good critique!
 
That was an ok rant, but I don't mind seeing nice knives. What I hate about review vids is the reviewer rambles way too damn much. I want bullet points! I get tired of the "um" "uhh" and the many extra words people use when they dont have to. Its like listening to a 15 year old girl talk about some shoes, or a skirt or something, get to the point damn it.
 
I'm going to going to make you see blue with this pic then:

2012-02-13_07-42-50_35.jpg


You would actually be pretty surprised at how well the CRK stone washing hides scratches on the blade.

cOLD said:
Worst part of every review.. "Hey guys...."
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+1. I'd also throw in cutting printer paper.
 
Cynic2701 said:
+1. I'd also throw in cutting printer paper.
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That is usually pretty useless on a desktop type review...... I have cut around 1,000 FT of cardboard and was still able to cut printer paper with some knives....

NIB knife cuts paper....... Really? ........ Well it should be sharp enough to do that at least.

WOW it's sharp....

Well it should be, it's NEW and unused.....
 
There are very few reviewers who say anything useful. I normally mute them (and then skip past the first few minutes of still shot of the box it comes in...).
 
hardheart said:
They could EDC the knife for 3 months and not have a scratch. EDC doesn't mean everyday use. So the review can be from the POV of someone who keeps a knife in their pocket and does almost no cutting. This could be an honest review from someone who just doesn't use knives that much. Of course, there isn't much value to such a review. They could tabletop the unboxing and cover the ergos and how pretty it is without waiting three months.
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Pretty much, if they don't really use it then how can one comment on performance. ;)

I like the ones who say they used the knife for months etc, etc....... And it still has the factory edge on it....... And yeah we can tell....
 
My major problem with video reviews is that so many people don't seem to consider the media they're using. If you're not using the knife at all, why not do a written review? It's much easier to revise, you're more likely to stay on topic and it's far easier to refer to data in print than in a video. I appreciate videos for comparison purposes and seeing how the ergonomics interact with an actual human hand, but I would MUCH rather read what you have to say than watch it. If you're demonstrating what a particular knife is capable of in a video that's absolutely fine, but don't just talk. Most people are bad at public speaking and that transfers to video all too often.
 
As a quick and random side note, the ideal review format for me is mixed media. Long(ish) written review, with separate emphasis on objective (weight, length, angle acuity of tip, etc.) and subjective (aesthetics, ease of carry, ergos, value, etc.) a quick video showing the knife and, perhaps, making a few cuts into varied media like cardboard, potatoes, meat, wood, ropes just to see what the blade cuts well and where it falls short and a moderate number of clear, still images.
 
I dislike the shakey camera work, fast movements, poor lighting, etc.. My dog could do a better job than many.
One You Tube review of the Winkler Sayoc hawks is about as useless as they come. The kid has two of them, unused, yet suggests that we all get them, because they are cool. Yeah, it's fine to collect things, but a "review" should be based on use. While a "show and tell" is a different type of video, and I get to see it in hand, I just think they should be called something other than a "review".
Same for written reviews, on anything. "I just got this today, and it's great!" "I just got married today, marriage is great, everyone should get married!" Yeah, check back in after a few years, then tell us how great the knife, car, wife, etc.. is ......
 
Insipid Moniker said:
As a quick and random side note, the ideal review format for me is mixed media. Long(ish) written review, with separate emphasis on objective (weight, length, angle acuity of tip, etc.) and subjective (aesthetics, ease of carry, ergos, value, etc.) a quick video showing the knife and, perhaps, making a few cuts into varied media like cardboard, potatoes, meat, wood, ropes just to see what the blade cuts well and where it falls short and a moderate number of clear, still images.
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Most people just do the youtube video reviews for fun. What you're talking about is work.
 
medicguy said:
$2000 worth of Sebenzas, Striders, etc. sitting on the 'Chris Reeve' cloth below them, just so they can be shown off. I get it, you spend an exorbitant amount of money on knives.
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This just sounds like envy to me. Sure, the reviewer is probably showing their collection off to a certain degree, but it also serves to allow for size comparison between the knife being reviewed and other popular knives.



medicguy said:
And all these reviewers state that they "have EDC'ed this blade exclusively for the last 3 months..." when there clearly isn't so much as a fingerprint on any of the knives. I agree, these knives are cool, but they're just tools guys. Get out there and have some fun with them! And if it's just a fancy collector's collection, that's cool too. Just don't profess how you "hard use" all your knives. How can you be an expert on what makes a good knife when you're sitting inside making videos all the time? Cutting paper, cardboard or rope gives you very little indication of how good a knife is. Everyone makes fun of Nutnfancy, but at least he gets out there and plays a little.
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So because I carry a knife, and use it every day at work to open packages, cut zip ties, etc, and it doesn't look like I took it to Afghanistan and back, that means I'm not qualified to give my opinion on the knife? Get over yourself...
 
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