Bad Reviews

I read in the newspaper today that my local government is going after companies that file fake reviews on their products. Some of them, like transportation companies and restaurants, are paying fines of up to $50k for going onto third-party websites like Yelp and writing glowing appraisals of their products. I'm one of those people who never trusts reviews. Not because shady companies sometimes review themselves -- I'm certain that happens -- but because I don't think anyone knows what they're talking about. I only trust myself as an arbiter of what's good and bad. It makes for a lot of mediocre meals while traveling.