{"id":78003,"date":"2017-06-28T14:29:42","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T12:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/?p=72378\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:49","slug":"geen-hersencellen-verliezen-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/06\/28\/geen-hersencellen-verliezen-2\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Don\u2019t kill my brain cells’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Name: Halil \u00d6zkal (27)
\nDegree programme: Medical student on clinical rotation
\nType of reviews: Locations on Google Maps (403 reviews, local guide level 5)<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

I\u2019m often sitting on the couch with my wife, watching those mindless programmes on TLC like Say Yes to the Dress and Sister Wives. At one point I thought: rather than slowly killing off my brain cells, I could also rate places I\u2019ve been on Google Maps. It\u2019s become something of a habit.<\/p>\n

First all I did was add stars; later on, I starting adding text too. I can easily rack up 10 reviews during one of those 30-minute programmes. And say you do it once a week, you get 403 reviews in no time. It all started with a restaurant that I visited with friends. It was incredibly shitty: we arrived with a Groupon coupon, and I noticed straight away that they didn\u2019t really want us there. They gave us a free pot of tea, but we had to pay for every extra glass. We said to each other: if we review this place on Google, future customers will know what\u2019s up, so they can avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018Previously, I stood around waiting for my wife; now she\u2019s waiting for me\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

I do a lot of reviews, but I don\u2019t review everything. For example, in our neighbourhood, there\u2019s this little statue up on the wall \u2013 art, apparently. Google suggests discussing it. Not interested. I do get interested when it\u2019s a bit more expensive. Like the dildo gnome on Eendrachtsplein, because that\u2019s funny. I take a picture and add something in English. What\u2019s more: I\u2019ve started to enjoy shopping in the centre. Previously, I stood around waiting for my wife; now she\u2019s waiting for me.<\/p>\n

Other experienced reviewers<\/h2>