Sound off about a good or bad experience

If you want to learn all the reasons why Spreadshirt should be your one stop shop for custom designed tees, this is the place to go. If you want to sound off about those overdraft fees that Bank of America charged you wrongly, come on down! If you want to start a flame war or two with people who prefer Eukanuba Dog Food over Purina, this is your spot to say it.

This is generally why I visit, although sometimes I'll just sign on to see what's going on and get out of whatever it is I'm doing for a few minutes. This has changed through the years, I've actually been on here for almost 8 years and it's been somewhat of a constant through moves, career & life changes, etc. There are times when I think in reviews - how am I going to rate this place, or would I give this person a helpful?

Only as a corollary to writing an opinion. Or I'm writing about my ex-mother in law.......

I thought of writing in praise of a fine company that I have had the great pleasure of dealing with - WILD BLUE COMMUNICATIONS - but didn't think anyone would bother reading it, so why bother.

I woke up late for work this morning (something I never do) and I just noticed that I have two different color socks on. I need to re-trace back to when I matched the socks up and figure out how the heck this could have happened. Update to follow:

I think "sound off" sounds very arrogant, and there may be some who fit that description. I like the term "share a good or bad experience" better. It just sounds a little more on the delicate side. After all, I think sharing is part of what RIA is all about.

I think everyone does this a time or two.  Customer Service reps usually aren't the best, so this site gives people a chance to sound off without say.....getting their power shut off.

Must admit that now and then I do. Usually I rate a bunch of other topics. but sometimes when I have had a bad experience with something, this is a great place to write about it. I get it off my chest and  possibly warn others. I have seen this a lot on RATEITALL. It may help others to read of a persons' bad experience with something. so yes a good place to come to for "venting".

I'll admit it, this is what first brought me to the site. However, it isn't what held my attention.

Anecdotes from real life are fine, we all use them to prove or disprove a point, but too much personal information, or seeking advice beyond say finding out about a film or something is probably a bad thing. I really like the relative anonymity of the site, certain info's fine to share, other things are off limits. Respect the privacy of others and ask for it in return...

It's cheaper than seeing a shrink.

I don't do this much, and it doesn't seem many of the regulars do either. You can find a lot of one-time writers who do this though. Go to lists on ISPs or wireless providers or cars and you can find lots of one-shot rants by people who never returned to write another review.

I do this a lot for movies. After watching a movie, if it's REALLY bad (which I've had the misfortune of running into quite a few lately), I mumble and rant all the way home until I type it all out here. I come out of some movies thinking When I get home, I'm going to TOTALLY blast that P.O.S. on Rate-It-All . . .

I guess this can apply to everything on the site depending on the way you look at it. I took it to mean those people who create an account for the expressed purpose to rip on The Olive Garden or something. Seems to happen every day. Anyway, I don't understand what these people are trying to prove when they rip one particular Wendy's restaurant in their little Salt Lake City suburb who gave them bad service. Do you think that if you rip one place out of 2000+ Wendy's stores that it's going to stop me going there in Tampa? Huh? Now, ripping a computer brand or a car model is different. Those are mass-produced and your comments apply across the board (if true). But service oriented businesses quality can change radically from one to the next. Jiffy Lube in my town can be the greatest place on earth, but in your neighborhood they could be selling crack instead of doing their job. It's all relative. I just don't get the people who show up for that reason.