The Reviewer Comment Hall of Fame 💔🤣
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Let’s spill the tea on peer reviews — the comments that made us laugh, cry… or both.
Join us as we dive into the rollercoaster world of academic paper reviews!
Welcome to the “Not-Lying-Flat” Academic SalonForget boring conferences—this is your backstage pass to the researchers’ real life:
- 🥹 The frustration of getting rejected by Reviewer #2
The laugh-out-loud absurdity of unexpected comments
The joy of sharing and munching on academic melons online
🧨 Theme of the Day:
What’s the most unforgettable comment you've received on a paper submission?Leave your story in the comments below. Let's roast or toast those legendary lines together!
Section 1: Brutal but… kinda funny?Here are some iconic reviewer burns that left authors speechless:
️ "Reject – More holes than my grandad’s string vest!"
—Ouch. That paper must’ve been a sieve. 🧺️ "This paper is desperate. Please reject it completely and then block the author’s email ID..."
—This reviewer didn’t just reject the paper—they wanted the author excommunicated.
️ "The biggest problem with this manuscript... is the terrible writing style."
—Reviewer nearly lost the will to live. No pressure
️ Section 2: Genuine Gems of EncouragementSometimes, a reviewer becomes your biggest cheerleader. These comments melted our hearts:
"There was little I could think of to improve. A top-notch paper."
—The dream review every academic hopes for! "It is always a joy to review manuscripts such as this. Well edited. Clean. Pristine. From start to finish."
—Who needs a warm blanket when you have this kind of validation? "Very much enjoyed reading this one, and do not have any significant comments. Wish I had thought of this one."
—Bless this reviewer. Truly.
Section 3: The Slap-Then-Clap ComboLet’s talk about that time a reviewer said your work wasn’t good enough for CVPR,
but you submitted it to NeurIPS unchanged… and it got accepted
And then there’s the classic:
"Please cite this paper..."
…which turned out to be the author's own paper
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🧑
Section 4: The Helicopter Reviewer (a.k.a. the “Academic Parent”)These reviewers didn’t just give feedback.
They rewrote the rules, flagged typos, corrected tables, and helped you pass your thesis defense early.One PhD recalls:
“They even spotted my duplicated table rows and missing columns.
I was annoyed at first, but now I light incense for them every semester.”They’re strict, but we love them. 🫡
Final Thoughts: The Academic Review SpectrumFrom savage to saintly, reviewers paint a wild picture of the academic jungle:
- Some wield red pens like swords
- Others offer kindness like rare drops of sunshine
️ - A few… just want to make sure you cite their stuff
What About You?Have you ever received a comment that made you:
- 🤯 Scream internally?
Fall out of your chair?
Frame it on your wall?
Drop it below!
Let’s laugh (and cry) together in this glorious mess called peer review.
🧪 Stay curious. Stay caffeinated. And always read your reviews with a grain of salt... or a bucket 🧂
