Sorry, my blog is not a sounding board.

One of Merriam Webster’s definitions of a sounding board is a device or agency that helps propagate opinions or utterances.

For some bizarre reason, I get a lot of requests via email, private message, and even chat windows to publish on my blog grievances about restaurants, airlines, deal sites and other establishments, products, and services. The bad experiences range from finding hair embedded in the food to getting bumped off a flight without notice. Sometimes there are even accompanying photos and videos. These irate customers are actually my friends, relatives, and blog readers.

I am grateful for the sharing because it will help me be more cautious in future dealings with the companies involved, but I hope people will understand why I must decline these requests.

First of all, I do not blog about things that I do not experience for myself. It’s not that I don’t believe these good folks. I do. In fact, I sympathize with their plight. It’s just that my blog is personal and it will cease to be so if I keep echoing other people’s experiences and sentiments. Besides, if the account is based on something that actually happened to me, I can stand by whatever it is I end up writing 100 percent. I can’t do that with secondhand information and yet I have to take full responsibility for every single post I make.

Then there’s the negativity. As much as possible I really don’t like filling up my blog with what I’d like to think of as dark clouds. I’ve learned my lesson about ranting a long time ago. That, coupled with the fact that even the most neutral things I say tend to elicit a lot of reaction from people, are just not a good combination. I want people to be happy when they visit my blog. Sure, the complainant’s account will probably stir up a controversy and maybe give me a boost in traffic for a day or two… maybe even for a week or a month if it becomes viral, but it’s just not what I’d like my blog to be known for.

I remember what one of my mentors in make-up school would always say when he’s making a point – “Remember that these days, isang blog ka lang!” Yes, a blog potentially has the power to draw attention and spread news like wildfire, but let’s not bypass the other channels by which we can make ourselves heard. For establishments, brands, and companies there’s the manager, customer service, and even the owners themselves. It’s really best to take up the problem directly with the involved parties for the sake of resolution and closure. If everything else fails there are government agencies like the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry). There are also online directories and public forums where one can post reviews and experiences.   

Of course, not all bloggers are like me, and some actually publish these sorts of things. In the end, it’s really still a matter of personal preference, and I prefer not to.