Posted: 2006-10-31 22:49:13
HSS,
Written comments - good or bad - will influence business - good or bad, and according to me absent comments simply spell no good.
Removal of bad news is of course sencorship, but to keep everybody happy (3 parties) this cannot be avoided on a commercial site like this.
However, I can see your point of the value of referrals being undermined, hence suggest following:
Leave the comments as per current, including whatever sencorship you want to apply.
Introduce a rating-system where patrons can vote their visit.
This vote should be accompanied by some comment in text, firstly to prove that the voter did visit, but also for reason of explaining/justifying his rating.
Only the rating will be displayed, never the accompanying comment, and inclusion in the displayed rating on the site will only happen if you're happy with reading the comment.
That means HSS that you'll have some work cut out.
Never ever should you react on those comments. If you don't believe them just discard the vote, but if you do amend the girl's rating. Those comments are for your eyes only, and your prerogative if you want to take them up with the girl in question.
However, what will remain is the girl's rating - a simple stat that never will be removed, next to whatever comments will be there. I would suggest some additional stat's like lifetime & number of vote's it's based on, nothing more is necessary I think.
One thing should be mentioned: If a girl decides to change her name, but does want to continue with her earned comments, also her rating will be carried over.