[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by rubicon

People, especially in this very highly charged troubled environment, are receiving more bad news than good. So it is understandable that some folks have already had their fill and little patience. It is also true that some folks seem to have a built in bias about anyone they view is complaining.

On the other side we have folks who are hard to please no matter what you do. But then you have some who develop a narrative that conveys their sincere effort of not judging harshly and you come to believe what they share.

From my view I find the vast majority of people commenting on bad food, service, etc have been objective .

But the real issue here is a repeated theme on this forum and that is this "Why do some folks complain about complainers? Should everything posted on this forum come under the heading of "kumbayah" Should no one be allowed to share their views, experience, etc with a vendor contractor, restaurant, etc?

One clue. I know some very smart owners of restaurants , Athens, being one that follows this forum so as to promptly respond to any legitimate criticisms. You may also remember that on any thread comments come down on both sides providing some good information on which to decide.

great post. I am always after the extremist. Over the top negative or over the top mushy are both extreme. Just be honest and don't try to spin it your way.

Lou

Lou

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by rubicon

From my view I find the vast majority of people commenting on bad food, service, etc have been objective.

True enough. But, any post that starts with "BEWARE" or "WARNING" in all caps is probably not going to be objective.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by MnGirl

I don't write much on TOTV but I do come to this site, like many others, and read other posts. I don't know why people feel the need to come to this site and BASH companies. If you didn't like your meal, post on TOTV you may be able to put them out of business. Never mind they have their life savings in what they're doing. Never mind that you didn't bring it up to management. Your dealing with with that one employee, the waiter, the chef, the hostess does not make a business. Everyone has a bad day.

Think you may be attributing a little too much power to ToTV.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by MnGirl

I don't know why people feel the need to come to this site and BASH companies. Never mind they have their life savings in what they're doing. Never mind that you didn't bring it up to management.

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Regarding reviews and recommendations: Discount the top 10% and discount the bottom 10%...........the remaining 80% will be reasonably close.

In general, I think it's wise to refrain from posting negative reviews about restaurants or movies. Every restaurant has a time when staff calls in sick or food isn't up to par. And people enjoy different things, and have difference tolerance levels. We don't all like vanilla ice cream.

I do think it is very helpful to hear about a business (such as landscaping) that has employees who are dishonest or who have threatened people or who have taken a deposit and failed to show up, that kind of thing.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by caseycasebeer

If we have a bad experience we generally just keep it to ourselves, and decide whether or not we choose to go back.

On the other hand, if we have a GOOD experience we generally shout it from the rafters. Example: A week ago we went to Carrabba's off 27/441. We avoided the dinner rush by going early, and when asked if we wanted to sit at the tables near the bar, we said 'Sure. As it turned out, during Happy Hour (3-7P) Carrabba's give those seated at the bar tables half off on draft beer and wine, AND half off on appetizers! (WaHoo!!) We had the BEST calimari we've ever had ANYWHERE, then we shared an entree that we couldn't finish, although it was Very Good.

When I asked to speak to the manager our waiter was polite ... but obviously a little concerned (until I told him I wanted to put-in a Compliment, not a complaint). The manager came over and we chatted. When I told him the calimari was the best we'd EVER had, he just 'glowed, and promised to pass it on to the kitchen. It was pretty clear that having a customer actually COMPLIMENT good food and service was a bit of a rarity.

Best,
Casey&Mary
PS: We went back a couple days later, and yes, the calimari was as good as the first time.
PS2: And when sharing an entree, we Always make a point to 'tip as though we'd both ordered entree's (versus shared...). Economical is good; Cheap is Bad.

Yay !!! My kind of people !!!

[Halibut]

Regarding reviews and recommendations: Discount the top 10% and discount the bottom 10%....the remaining 80% will be reasonably close.

I like that! When I'm buying online at a site that includes customer reviews, I always read the #3 middle scores first.

In a general sense, I do think negativity/bashing can cast a pall. It also seems to be contagious, much more so than optimism.

But the bad things are rarer, and thus worth comment. For example, I had an exasperating experience at a pharmacy this week ("How can you had misplaced my danged prescription twice!?") and I definitely griped about it to a couple of friends, but have I ever brought up the other 50 times my prescriptions have been filled correctly and on time? I have not. That's not a story.

[Bogie Shooter]

An example of an educated post on a restaurant thread.
'Went there twice not going back."

[Thnonne]

People have "bashed" the Daily Sun for being too positive, now some think TOTV posts should not be so negative. I think we should trust the reader to have educated opinions on both the printed news and the TOTV posts. Don't try to censor posts, let them stand on their own merit in the eyes of the reader.

[graciegirl]

There are some who have a need to bash and some who enjoy affirming. Debate is another issue. With one hundred thousand people who live here and a plethora of views, we will always have debate. NO ONE ever should take it personally.


But they do.

[Indydealmaker]

I have determined that the "word of mouth" attributed to TOTV food critics has hurt Burke's BBQ. This negative impact was unnecessary and undeserved. This mom n pop operation, as any other, deserves an opportunity to get their **** together.

Unlike chain restaurants with deep pockets who can bring in managers from other restaurants to assist in opening new stores, small biz owners have to shoulder everything on their own and almost always with limited capital. Chain restaurants have the added advantage that their "experimentation" with recipes is done out of the public eye in commercial kitchens. Mom n pops have to put it all out front and hope for the best.

Many of the complaints on here, although heartfelt, are based solely upon personal tastes. If those very personal opinions even have the slightest chance of hurting someone, they should be left unsaid in a public medium.

If the complaint involves poor customer service, cleanliness, etc., then the best approach, as pointed out here often, is the contact management.

The tone of much of the negative posts about businesses has a tint of revenge. That is just not right when you consider there a livelyhoods at risk.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

True enough. But, any post that starts with "BEWARE" or "WARNING" in all caps is probably not going to be objective.

I agree...Beware and Warning are probably not the best way to start a post. It might be better to say, I had a bad experience and describe what happened. A bad experience can be a subjective thing that might not bother another. Let me read about your experience and draw my own conclusions.

[skyc6]

Originally Posted by MnGirl

I don't write much on TOTV but I do come to this site, like many others, and read other posts. I don't know why people feel the need to come to this site and BASH companies. If you didn't like your meal, post on TOTV you may be able to put them out of business. Never mind they have their life savings in what they're doing. Never mind that you didn't bring it up to management. Your dealing with with that one employee, the waiter, the chef, the hostess does not make a business. Everyone has a bad day.

I agree. Well said!

[skyc6]

Originally Posted by Thnonne

People have "bashed" the Daily Sun for being too positive, now some think TOTV posts should not be so negative. I think we should trust the reader to have educated opinions on both the printed news and the TOTV posts. Don't try to censor posts, let them stand on their own merit in the eyes of the reader.

There is not nearly as much competition to the newspapers as there is with restaurants.

[Golfingnut]

We have been very satisfied with restaurants here. Considering how inexpensive it is to dine out, I can't complain. I have heard complaints about some that we find top notch. Lopez,, is as good as anywhere we have dined anywhere in the country for the price.

[mickey100]

Everyone is entitled to post their opinions about restaurants, contractors, The Villages, or anything, without being attacked for it. Its usually the same 5 or 6 posters that are doing the bashing to posters. That said, I agree that its not nice to bash someone trying to make a living, unless you've really had a bad experience with them on a repeated basis. I do think most people take the posts here with a grain of salt, and keep an open mind in spite of what is posted.