Qype - Live and tell

This week we have a chat with Tim Dickinson (or, the Timinator) about ‘warm fuzzies’, winning lots of wine and being a rocket scientist…

Tell us more about you.
I’m 39, married, and live in Ealing, London. I’m Canadian, from Nova Scotia originally, but moved to London for work in 2001. I naturalised as British a couple of years ago and so am now a dual citizen (being able to choose the shorter queue at airport immigration is a good thing). I’ve been working for an IT/networking company for just over 10 years now, but had some unusual jobs before that: I have been a rocket scientist, a nuclear physicist and a military scientist. None of those jobs were as cool as they sound.

What do you enjoy most about Qyping?
I’m the sort of person that researches places before I go. I know some other people do the same so I’m always recommending places to anyone who’ll listen (one man’s mouthy opinions are another man’s value-added info). I often write about establishments I visit on my personal blog, but Qype means people that need the info I might have to share are more likely to find it. That gives me warm fuzzies.

What makes you happy about the places you review?
I’m a big music fan and go to a lot of gigs. I don’t have a favourite venue because different places are appropriate for different acts. But I love almost all the places that bands can play for their own particular characteristics. Reviewing them means recalling experiences I shared with hundreds - or thousands - of people.

What annoys you the most?
If you mean what annoys me most about places that I might review, then cynical, purposefully middle-of-the-road lowest-common-denominator places bug me. It’s one thing if your establishment just turns out to be ordinary because you’re not that imaginative. It’s quite another if you intentionally try to make it as bland, uninteresting, and uniform as you can in some attempt to maximise customer appeal. Thinking about this, though, I’ve just realised that I haven’t Qyped the rubbish places I’ve been to as much as I have the great places. I suppose I should.

If you mean what annoys me most about Qyping in general, then that would be wildly unhelpful reviews that consist of fewer than a dozen words, like, “This place is great!”

What was the place you wanted to keep a secret?
If people suddenly start flocking to my local Italian - Osteria del Portico - and make it hard for me to get a table then I will become very angry. And you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. Even if I am Canadian. (Siany is guessing that link to his review hasn’t helped. Er… sorry.)

How can people write better reviews?
Obviously, helpful information is key. Don’t agonise over whether you should give the place a 3 or a 4. Tell me what happened to you there, what the decor and vibe is like, make sure the map pointer is correct, and so on.

I’m also a stickler for spelling and proper punctuation. If a reveiw is writen lik this….LOL……then i just can’t take it serouisly, no matter how glowwing it iz!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anything else you wanna say?
I found out about Qype when they sponsored a Meetup of London Bloggers, of which I’m a member. Qype enticed us to contribute by offering a case of wine to the person who submitted the most entertaining review of the pub where that meetup was held, the Camel & Artichoke. That was my first Qype review, and I won the wine. Any service that gives my gob another forum and gives me booze is tops in my book.

Some of you may have met The Duck at the 1st Qype party at the Coach and Horses. If you didn’t, you may have heard about his escapades afterwards which mean he doesn’t remember getting home. With socialising mischief like that, Siany was compelled to have a chat with him.

Tell us more about you.
I am a well travelled 25 year old Womble. Meaning I’m from Wimbledon. I womble free about the place making good use of the things that I find. I am full of ideas and love making new friends.

What do you enjoy most about Qyping?
I love being able to share my experiences and tip people off about the great and poor things I find on my travels. Receiving from other users in return is wonderful too and I often check if meeting someone at a station if there is anything recommended highly nearby.

What makes you happy about the places you review?
Two things have made me happy…one is overhearing someone in one of my favourite places say how they heard about the place on Qype. The other is the owner of one of the other of my favourite places telling me he had read my review and ask me if I want a coffee on the house for being so kind….I had forgot I had written it many months earlier.

What annoys you the most?
People rating things higher then they deserve ie give it a 4 when i would offer a 2 - but it is perspective. It would be better to rate up to ten really and not being able to offer a a big fat zero.

What was the place you wanted to keep a secret?
I cant keep secrets about places I like, I love socialising too much and socialising alone is not fun really.

How can people write better reviews?
I like reviews that offer prices of things they have bought, or services received. Some people love to have a lot of information, others love to read concise reports. Reviews should also say why you liked somewhere and what sort of audience it is ideal for. If I was with my young nephew I would not want to go somewhere I would go with 5 of the boys for drinks…probably!