that if I'm feeling on the fence about something, a negative or positive review might swing it. 'Baaaaaahh'.

(except dumb blockbusters - which i love even if they have no 'artistic merit')

DiS, Pitchfork, Metacritic = I'll probably check something out with a high score. Especially Pitchfork.

Why else would I read those sites?

Will definitely tend to persuade me to give something a listen, because I won't read them if I didn't respect them. And most of the stuff, say, Pitchfork recommend is actually usually very good. But a) my music taste does not begin and end with them, and b) the actual amount to which I enjoy something is by no means contingent about what they say (so I enjoy the self-titled Broken Social Scene album slightly more than 'You Forgot It In People', for example, and 'They Were Wrong So We Drowned' is my favourite Liars album, despite its at-the-time critical panning).

If it's something of a genre I'm unfamiliar with, then I probably won't give it a listen if it has bad predominantly bad reviews. If I'm familiar with it and know 'how to listen' then it's really unnecessary and I won't even read any reviews.

check out a band/film that I wouldn't have considered before, or not bothering when I had previously plnned on it. But I don't think it could sway me as to whether I actually like something or not if I am already familiar with it.

it depends what the reviewer says. I've read positive reviews which make me think something isn't for me and I've read negative reviews which make think maybe I'll like it where the reviewer didn't.

I'm lazy and I read reviews to be informed, rather than have an imagined argument with the critic about something I already feel passionate about.

Obviously, I amn't swayed by critics whose music/film taste I hate, or who I think sounds like an idiot.

Even so, and I sort of hate to say it, a really negative or positive review totally influences me.

Only if I haven't already seen/heard the thing in question. I mean, reviews don't make me change my mind. They just give me a lazy way to be biased for or against stuff

of friends with good taste who seen the film, listened to the album. I'm more open to advice on music than film or literature which I make my mind up on to the point of being stubborn. I think I just like reading reviews because i like words on a page and seeing what some stranger thought of something i may or may not see. i don't take it on board though.

I very rarely read reviews. I commend websites on solely bringing things to my attention, i check to see if the thing in question might tickle my fancy (genre etc), check the thing out and make up my own mind.

Not at all. Not one bit. I barely read music review anymore.

For films, well, i usually look at Rotton Toms before i got to see a film, and i have a subscription to Total Film...so i guess reviews do sway me quite a bit.

I can't help it.. I'm lazy.
Its better than being influenced by whats playing on the radio/tv obviously.