The reality is we all have a bias, and frankly I take everyone's opinion with a grain of salt. Do magazines highlight the good? Sometimes, do they hide the bad? Perhaps...
Yes, we ALL have a bias and at least for me, I tend to trust people who are open and honest about theirs. If nothing else, it helps to establish where they're coming from and helps to qualify their answers.
...but sometimes what one feels is a liability, another sees as an asset.
Can't see how something like a winch that doesn't work when you really need it to as being some kind of an asset to anyone but hey, that's just me.
Can folks on forums can be biased? From what I've seen yes, but as you mentioned, enough people over time experiencing the same issue whether good or bad can become a gauge in the decision making process.
And that's the beauty of a forum - it's a living organism and the information on it is constantly evolving. An article published in a magazine is static and dated - the ONLY thing you have to go off of is the word of the author, at the time he or she wrote it and under the watchful eye of the advertiser who provided the product for testing.
Since reviewing a product is a subjective thing, I'm not going to say that someone is being disingenuous or dishonest because their experience is different than mine.
LOL!! Subjective is one way of putting it I suppose. To me, when someone is reviewing a product from someone who pays their bills, I find it difficult to see how they can be "objective". Certainly, the proof is the fact that you never see them publish a scathing but honest review of anything - EVER. But then, that's just what I've seen.
I thought "revolver shackles" were down right dangerous when they came out yet some have found the opposite to be true and still run them with no issues. I wouldn't say they were dishonest about them, just in the minority. That's where looking at the experiences of the majority over time can help you make a better decision.
I suppose that's one way of looking at it. From my perspective, I rarely hear guys talking smack about a product that they just spent good money on. I mean, to do so would be admitting you made a mistake and I don't know too many guys who are willing to do that. No, most will defend what they bought to the bitter end even if you can prove they are mistaken.
Sorry to hear your friends were laid off, my friends have been in the industry for decades and have all been committed life long 4wheelers who have a passion to highlight what great things this sport has to offer.
LOL!! Don't know who your friends are but maybe Steve von Segren will chime in and let us know. As far as guys like Phil Howell goes, I don't know too many guys who've been working the rags longer than him but I do know that Ali Mansour is carry a much bigger load now and so did Pete Trasborg before he passed away.
I'm sure there are plenty of unscrupulous folks in the industry as well as the good.
Never said anyone was "unscrupulous" - just questioned whether or not anyone still cared about a product review in a magazine. Hell, I don't even know too many people who still read a newspaper to find out what's going on with the elections.
Whether reading a mag or forum, everyone needs to do their home work and do what is best for them.
Umm, that is pretty much what I've been saying all along and again, what I'm questioning. I just can't see how reading a review in a magazine amounts to real "homework". But again, that's just me.
