One Good Thing About Blogs

One great feature of blogs is the author of the blog has freedom to say what he or she wants. So I will use this freedom today.

As I said when I first started this blog, sometimes I have been frustrated when I write letters to the editor of the Washington Post that aren't published. In other areas of life, I might take the time to bring a concern to someone's attention and they don't pay any attention to that concern.

For instance, this past week, I wrote an email to our local community yahoo group. The typical posts are people seeking suggestions on home repair personnel or other advice on local services. Every post on that group is moderated. However, there has been a huge trend on that listserve for people to state a complaint against a business or an indiviudal. Then other people join this bandwagon. Personally, I don't think this is professional or respectful. It seems to me the business being criticized should have a right to review the allegation and have some chance at self-defense against the claim.

Anyway, my post was rejected, "for now". Here is an edited version of what I wrote:


I don't know if this will post but this is a concern that had been w/me since I joined this listserve. First, I appreciate the great resource this board is for learning about businesses in this community. However, so many times people complain about a business, restuarant, doctor's office, etc. Then other people join in the complaints. (and I know I contributed a comment in the recent thread about not eating at [a restaurant that had been criticized for unsanitary techniques]. I totally agree sometimes these might be well-deserved, etc. Often people praise a particular person, ie a hair stylist will get lots of people saying so and so is so great. Currently a local realtor is being criticized. Luckily someone is defending this person. In the past, doctor's have been criticized. Harsh comments have sometimes been made that have the potential to seriously damage one's business/livelihood. While many concerns are perhaps legitimate, it seems the business has no recourse and perhaps no knowledge of how they are being discussed on this board. I know often the person making the post is venting and is following things up w/the business in an appropritate manner. My suggestion is this group have some sort of neutral moderator/contact person to "contact" the supposed offending party. (I am at a very busy and stressful time in my life and will not be able to volunteer to do this job. But I've been thinking about making this post for months now and feel such a moderator would be a valuable idea. I hope you will consider this idea.) If a complaint appears on this board, the moderator would notify this business that they are being discussed on this board and give that person or business a chance to respond and to correct wrong representations, allegations, etc. To me, this seems only fair in that the way things are shared on this board is sometimes unfair. If there are legitimate complaints and concerns, typically there is a way to resolve those. I think this board is a good one and performs a good service. I don't want people to be mad at me or think I am trying to act like a holier than thou judgmental person. But I am tired of watching people complain if these same complaints aren't also being mentionned to the person/business. If there are things that business could do to improve, share the concern w/them so they can develop and improve. Perhaps this could be a form of "quality improvement" that we can do to help the businesses in [this community]. Anyway, for whatever it is worth. Nita :)

Anyay, we write to be read, it is frustrating to spend time writing to no avail. The moderator of that group was going to respond to my letter, she hasn't yet. Meanwhile, at least I am saying what I want to say even if those who I wanted to read it won't read it.