Where to report policy questions for addons.mozilla.org
I think there's a problem with a developer's interpretation of policy for reviews of add-ons on addons.mozilla.org. I can't find an appropriate contact link there, so I'm wondering if this forum can point in the right direction.
I don't think it's at all controversial to give an add-on a low-star review because there are bugs (that's the main thing I come to the stars to look for.) The comments below suggest to me that a developer of a number of add-ons has been misinterpreting the idea that "bug reports shouldn't be written in the reviews" to think that reports of *bugginess* shouldn't be included in reviews. (Is it the developer's prerogative to delete reviews?) I can't find anywhere on addons.mozilla.org to make contact and inquire about this. Is there a contact route to check on the policy there, and to encourage the addons site maintainers to contact the developer if some clarification of comment deletion policy is needed?
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-style-manager/reviews/506344/
Too buggy to use Rated 1 out of 5 stars
by Drugoy on September 29, 2013 · permalink
There are too many bugs in this add-on, I'd say it's still in pre-alpha stage. Negative reviews get removed for some reason.
This user has a previous review of this add-on.
Developer's response:
You should be ashamed of yourself
by Girish Sharma (Developer) on September 29, 2013 · permalink
Negative reviews get removed because they are actually against policy. Reviewing is not meant to report bugs or hate on the developers. I will keep this review live until you read this reply and understand everything. The fact that Stylish keeps on adding features is that Stylish is heavily monitized and they bundle stylish with n number of spam addons which are not even fully reviewed to earn money. This addon is not like that and moreover, there are no issues in the existing features. Just that development is stalled because I have a lot on my plate. But I don't understand this thing, do you do this with all addons ? Like the addon which you like, you use it, and all the others in the same category, you go and give 1 star and bad review to them ? This is an open source software, if you cannot help, then you do not have the right to whine about it.
The original review that was deleted: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-style-manager/reviews/user:5622829
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
by Drugoy on April 3, 2012 · permalink
This add-on has a great potential and big chances to beat Stylish!
Wšě wotmołwy (3)
The Add-ons support forum is here:
https://forums.addons.mozilla.org/
hello, please refer to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/review_guide or https://wiki.mozilla.org/AMO:Editors/EditorGuide/CommentModeration regarding the moderation policies. developers can't remove any reviews themselves but only flag them for review.
Wot philipp změnjeny
Support Site for that add-on is here - http://grssam.com/addons/user-style-manager/ - per the information provided here - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-style-manager/ - to the right of About this Add-on, where that information belongs.
Under the Comments section of this page - http://grssam.com/addons/user-style-manager/ - there is a hyperlink to that developers github repository page - https://github.com/scrapmac/user-style-manager/issues/ - which can be used to report perceived Bugs in that add-on.
Quite honestly, that developer was too hard on that reviewer, but the fact is that perceived Bugs reports don't belong in the reviews. But then again, the "path" to github is convoluted, and even when or if a user gets there it isn't real clear to report Bugs there.
Overall, asinine or extremely negative reviews like that are one reason that too many add-on developer's don't use the Mozilla Add-ons website for hosting their extensions any longer, or never did. "Talk" like that face to face, and you're liable to get knocked on your ass. Why should the internet be any different? The unrealistic expectations or demands that some users of a free extensions place upon the developers is unwarranted, IMO. You take what's provided, and say thank you kindly. And if you make a feature request, you do it politely without any expectations.