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Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

pagesix.com

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Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#221

Post by 67726e »

personZ wrote: post #216
67726e wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And my point went entirely over your head. If someone finds the business policies reprehensible and wants it to be made known, they have a damned right to let it be known. One doesn't just have to purchase a product or service to be allowed to comment.

No, it didn't "go over my head", though if that notion gives you more comfort, have at it. You brought up an absurd anecdote that is baseless and has zero applicability to this issue, but that you think props up your notion. Don't bring up absurd anecdotes if you don't want them deconstructed. Let me say again, and this relates to the sibling comment to yours -- none of these people piling on the internet circle jerk…

If you want to be thick-headed, obnoxious, and obtuse to feel better about yourself, have at it.

Given the love of litigation in this country and the cost of legal services, shitty business practices enshrined in the all-powerful contract can wreak havoc on someone. If a group of people who have not given patronage to a business otherwise with to make known that businesses vile practices and horrible attitude, then more power to them. This isn't bullying, this is a group of folks making damn sure that we know of the true bully here, this hotel and it's abusive business practices.

Is this whole thing a giant feel-good circle-jerk? Sure as shit is. But you know what? It isn't a bunch of jerks ganging up on a defenseless victim. The jackasses running that business brought it upon themselves by treating their customers like shit and making sure to abuse their position in the business-customer relationship.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#222

Post by jonathansizz »

rwallace wrote: post #133
chasing wrote: post #84

Yes. And because of this you should definitely go to Yelp and give them a one-star review. And destroy their Facebook page. And maybe go take a shit on their doorstep. That's definitely the answer when a small business makes an error like this. They're frustrated by something they don't feel is fair and made a ham-fisted attempt to fix the problem. Ruin them. (The ice machine thing, though -- that actually seems like…

In fairness, I'm guessing a lot of the people virtually stomping on this hotel are doing so in an attempt to nip a potential Overton window shift in the bud. If this hotel were to get away with such a policy, other hotels and perhaps other types of businesses would likely follow suit; that's how changes in what's considered normal behavior come about. Punishing the first defector can be an effective way to forestall…

I think you're being way too generous. They're trashing them because they can and it makes them feel powerful. A virtual vigilante mob without any risk.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#223

Post by JadeNB »

cookiecaper wrote: post #125
JadeNB wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Similar clauses are in many contracts. I'm not sure that I believe this. I can believe that there are some places out there that think that they can get away with enjoining you against posting negative reviews (until the law eventually settles down against that, as I'm sure that it will), but I find it hard to believe that there are many places that think that they can fine you for the actions of other people. Can…

If all we're saying is it doesn't pass the "reasonable person" test, then it's not obviously illegal. Some may feel it is reasonable to communicate the terms of the non-disparagement clause you've signed to the members of your party and that it is reasonable to expect the party's sponsor to pay a fine if the members fail to adhere to the rules. I'm not a lawyer so maybe I'm missing something obvious. I would just lik…

> If all we're saying is it doesn't pass the "reasonable person" test, then it's not obviously illegal. Some may feel it is reasonable to communicate the terms of the non-disparagement clause you've signed to the members of your party and that it is reasonable to expect the party's sponsor to pay a fine if the members fail to adhere to the rules.

I didn't claim that it was (il)legal or (un)reasonable, only that I wasn't convinced that language of this sort (where you are being held responsible for the actions of people when they are not under your immediate control) was common in contracts.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#224

Post by personZ »

positivejam wrote: post #161
imaginenore wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your sarcasm detector is broken. Call the repairman.

personZ understood the sarcasm: -literal meaning of Spooky23's statement: it's unreasonable to expect ice in the middle of summer. -sarcastic meaning of Spooky23's statement: it's completely REASONABLE to expect ice in the middle of summer. personZ acknowledges the sarcastic meaning (that it is reasonable to expect ice in the middle of summer), and is pointing out that based on the article, the guests actually DID in…

As gray mentioned, there was another deleted comment that was the target of the sarcasm comment.

My comment was more than the linked blog post took a bit out of context to make the article more incendiary and hit luring.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#225

Post by IgorPartola »

ankitml wrote: post #62
IgorPartola wrote: post #45

Before mob justice drives this place out of business, perhaps those posting 1 star reviews should promise to take them down if the policy changes. Not that I agree with the policy, but a mistake like this might not be worth ruining some's life.

seriously? They are in hospitality business and such level of rudeness, lack of empathy for their customers and such superiority feeling about themselves should ideally take them out of business.

I agree. But mob justice rarely has only the intended consequences. I am all for teaching them a lesson, but I believe that's where it should end. You are talking about ruining people's lives over this incident. If every angry user of your product reacted like this, would you be a happy camper?

Once again, not defending their practice, just pointing out that the angry mobs don't usually produce the best outcomes.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#226

Post by DanBC »

IgorPartola wrote: post #225
ankitml wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

seriously? They are in hospitality business and such level of rudeness, lack of empathy for their customers and such superiority feeling about themselves should ideally take them out of business.

I agree. But mob justice rarely has only the intended consequences. I am all for teaching them a lesson, but I believe that's where it should end. You are talking about ruining people's lives over this incident. If every angry user of your product reacted like this, would you be a happy camper? Once again, not defending their practice, just pointing out that the angry mobs don't usually produce the best outcomes.

Indeed - nothing is happening to all the other hotels that have the same policy.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#227

Post by wubbfindel »

sumeno wrote: post #189
wubbfindel wrote: post #98

Imagine if this ridiculous policy on their website is actually the result of a malicious hacking. Then the hacker sends pagesix.com an anonymous tip about the policy. Then the hacker posts the pagesix.com article on HN. Now, that would actually make a good story... [EDIT: Typo & Grammar]

Judging from this Yelp review from 2013 I don't think that is the case: http://www.yelp.com/biz/union-street-guest-house-hudson?hrid... Seems like they sent harassing emails to people who leave bad reviews letting them know they are going to charge the wedding host

Agreed, I wasn't suggesting a serious theory, just that it would be an impressive social hack that could be pulled off.

I think a lot of these "Internet Vigilantes" would probably fall for it.

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#228

Post by wubbfindel »

Someone1234 wrote: post #144
wubbfindel wrote: post #98

Imagine if this ridiculous policy on their website is actually the result of a malicious hacking. Then the hacker sends pagesix.com an anonymous tip about the policy. Then the hacker posts the pagesix.com article on HN. Now, that would actually make a good story... [EDIT: Typo & Grammar]

This policy is in the same tone as other policies found on their web-site (e.g. cancellation policy). So I suspect it was written by the same individual and potentially at the same time. Interesting theory though. Reminds me of the Amy's Baking Company "hacking" of their Facebook page.

Yeah I saw the cancellation policy too. Crazy.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of the Amy's bakery thing...

Re: Hotel fines $500 for every bad review posted online

#230

Post by positivejam »

Spooky23 wrote: post #203
positivejam wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

personZ understood the sarcasm: -literal meaning of Spooky23's statement: it's unreasonable to expect ice in the middle of summer. -sarcastic meaning of Spooky23's statement: it's completely REASONABLE to expect ice in the middle of summer. personZ acknowledges the sarcastic meaning (that it is reasonable to expect ice in the middle of summer), and is pointing out that based on the article, the guests actually DID in…

As a guest of a lodging establishment, particularly a supposedly nice one that is hosting a wedding, I expect and demand a high level of service. A hotel defines a service business. The fact that the guests eventually received ice is irrelevant. There is no excuse for a reasonable & customary request in a hotel would be met with a rude response, period. If I want to sit in my room and drink 24x7, that's my problem, n…

Obviously I don't think it's okay for a hotel to provide services in a slow or rude way as long as they eventually provide them. No one would seriously suggest that.
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