— witsandnuts

You will notice that a few hours after publishing my entry ‘Hello Sunshine’, I made corrections to the artists’ name as follows:

Baby, I Love Your Way (UB40 Big Mountain)
Girl, I Wanna Make You Sweat (Bob Marley Inner Circle)
Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bob Marley Bobby McFerrin)
Red, Red Wine (Bob Marley UB40)

I decided to use strikethrough to take note of our (usual) misconception. Being great, most of the reggae songs/versions are associated and a number of times credited to Bob Marley. It also happens that one group’s hit is merited to the other. That, of course, is not fair to the concerned artist(s).

When I wrote ‘Hello Sunshine’, I simply wanted to share one of the playlists (covering beach tunes-for my taste) I came up. I could have plainly listed the title of the songs without mention of the artist. But I did to particularly take note of the specific versions, since there could be more than one to too many (e.g. Baby, I Love Your Way). I based the information on iTunes. And it’s my habit whether work-related or not, to at least double check citations.

That early morning before going to the beach, I got an email from somebody, correcting four details in my entry (refer to the strikethrough). I cannot say that the timing was imperfect (imagine being corrected so early in the morning). At a quick glance, it could have ruined my beach mood. I initially wanted to ignore it and respond few days later primarily because I was about to head to the beach. But I gave in because there is something about the correction. The approach was respectful.

So after a few exchange of emails, and checking all the possible sources, googling, etc., I concluded that he is right (an understatement). A better way to announce it is that he has valid claims. To cut the story, I didn’t know that the person I was ‘peacefully debating’ with is indeed Robin Campbell, the singer guitarist of UB40. “But it’s based on iTunes, I checked You Tube, etc.”, I initially countered. Here’s a video of Red, Red Wine. Robin Campbell is the singer-guitarist in black sweater.

People in general keep an open mind. We don’t mind being corrected, as long as it’s valid and approached intelligently and humanely. As to giving due credits, I can just imagine how the artists/groups feel when their works are credited to someone else. This old age politics actually happens in our day to day interactions, in different forms.

On the other hand, in relation to my entry ‘Caveat on the resto’s name’ , I got a comment in my guestbook (which is still held for moderation) last December. It annoyed me for a second, but lucky me that I was too happy and busy that time (while on a trip in Hong Kong) that I was easily pacified and completely forgot it. Few days after that, I got a barbaric comment (through a post). After basic verification, it turned out that they are using the same IP address. I do not say that they are the same person, but it logically sounds like (i.e. the speech pattern, negative tone, etc.) that.

Here is the comment through the guestbook:

Dear Author/Administrator,

I have visited your site today and found out your article ‘caveat in resto’s name’ which is written under our competiotors inspiration to spoil our Image. Most of the statements are pejudiced and not true. Please note that we are not here to kill anybody or beat anybody. Our aim is just to do the buisiness for our (including our employees) survival only. We respect other businessmen eventhough you feel that they are our competitors. Please be understand that when similar business starts in any particular area of a city, normaly the business of all parties will increase and that area will be converted as a corner of that particular business.

So we request you to remove this article and photgraphs from the site immediately.

Rogie Mark,
Manager,
Kamayan Barrio Fieasta
Abu Dhabi

What? Asking me to remove my post and photographs? Are there any legal grounds? That I have written that to spoil their image? Rogie Mark has a very imaginative mind.

Anyway, here is the other comment from a certain Jennythm, who provided a non-existing email address and no URL:

UNFORTUNATELY I READ YOUR COMMENT AND DUE TO THAT ONLY I DIDN’T GO BARRIO FIESTA ABU DHABI UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY COUSIN FORCED ME TO GO THERE. AFTER DINING FROM BARRIO FIESTA ABU DHABI INCLUDING YOUR SO CALLED ‘AWFUL KARE KARE’ WHAT I FELT WAS THAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE BIASED. (TO HELP SOMEBODY OR R U THEIR COMPETITOR IT SELF). I FELT THAT THE FOOD IS GOOD, PRICES ARE ECONAMICAL AND WHEN I WAS THERE THE RESTAURANT WAS PACKED ALSO.

I have not replied to these and have no intention. It is amazing how an informal restaurant review affected them. We know the power of word of mouth and blogging, but nothing is threatening enough if you are secure that your operations are good. Take Jollibee in Dubai for instance, it is not flawless but people go there because they like the food and for the feel of temporary easing up of homesickness. These are some of the must-be considerations of restaurants aiming to target the Kabayan market. I am not a professional blogger, but it is just a matter of going back to basics when we are sharing information (rendering food or any other review in particular). We need to find balance between tact and honesty. And which ever way you view it, there is always a better means to say it.

Further, there’s this rare instance of welcoming a commentator asking for (through the guestbook) KC Concepcion’s address because her University wants to invite her to an important affair in Iloilo. Another one asks for updates about Rob Pengson (of Chef To Go), claiming she’s googling about him and never found new information.

I never thought blogging is this fun. What about you? What are your not so usual encounter with the commentators/comments?