Why are there so many bad reviews online?

[Elly]

I can't remember how many times I've been disheartened to the point of near despair after reading reviews of crucial items that I needed to get.

(For example, back before I transferred to the generic form of my seizure medication due to cost, I read reviews of them to get an idea of what to expect. It ended up featuring so many accounts of breakthrough seizures that I could barely sleep due to panic.)

The idea that most positive reviews are really plants from the companies only serves to make the ordeals worse.

So what's the deal?