The Internet, Product Reviews and Cynicism

I'd like to tell you a story about how I read the most cynical, shameless and well, 'Hutzpah' review on the Internet. We all (should) know that the Internet isn't what it seems. You look for product reviews in different web sites and if it's all the same, it should mean it's correct. But thanks to some clever SEO, all these different sites could really be one guy pushing an agenda. The following story, isn't like that. It's about a guy who thinks we're morons.

So I was interested in Rosetta Stone, a software for learning languages. What's the success rate, what happens after you finish it, etc. Googled some reviews and stumbled on the following website - language101.com. Here are some pearls from the review.

"I wish I didn’t have to say that because the people who work at Rosetta Stone are a talented great bunch of people.  Hopefully they will eventually develop language learning programs that really work."

Harsh words, but there's more!

What Works Better than Rosetta Stone?
There are two companies with programs that work much better than Rosetta Stone.  They are Pimsleur and Language101.com.

Dude, that's like your own website?!

There is a link to my Pimsleur Review near the bottom.  The overall Rosetta Stone review starts just below this.  If you are learning Japanese, you will want to read our Rosetta Stone review for Japanese.  There’s a link to it near the bottom.

I would totally read your in depth and impartial review. I'd even look at the review of the Japanese version or that Pimsleur product, if it weren't for what came next:

Try Language101.com – Click Your Language then “Try It”

No, I think I'll click on the back button or possibly that x in the top right corner of the window. I didn't bother imitating the above graphics but I will just say this:

Fail!