Although it’s been less than a week since the start of the whole Obolo fiasco, somehow it feels like this has been dragging on for ages. Let’s move on, shall we? All that needs to be said has been said. I just want to start blogging about food again! =)
But first, I want to thank you, my readers, for all the support and encouragement (I know I sound like a broken record)! You took a stand and spoke up against what I deem is wrong. For that, I applaud you!
So, a million thanks to all those who left your comments (I hope I didn’t miss anyone out! And no, this doesn’t apply to you, Mr Timothy Tang):
Benjamin, Patrick, Ethan, My Caddy, Ian, Gum, Anon, Michael, Alan Lee, Sistafood, James, Chris, Matthew, Fen, SG Alonso, Mohamad Nazry, Garry, DK, Ryan, SINCITY, Jacelyn, Zen, Auntielucia, Rinaz, Daniel, Kok Meng, CS Tan, Derek Low, Sting, John Gan, xizor2000, Mood Food Blog, Superdog, Paikia, xingrencha, jman, Dylan Ng, White Fairy, Ber, Mumusings, Ter, Elaine, Lalaland, Ron Ng, Jack, Heng Lynn, Ilovecakes, Ang CY, Richard Lim, Cloudywind, S.Falzon, Harris, Veron, ET, PaulKami, Teddy, Puff, Rick Lim, T, chillycraps, dt, Ivan, cy, Contrarian, min, Bobuttkua, sardine world, benbak, wy, His Food Blog, Nick, Ken, Nicholas, groovygenie, whatthe, citizen, Charlene, Soph, Ben Phay, Communalist, Nutty, critics 002, Lh, noodles, John, Fuzzy, wAnGz, Darren, yhtomit, WP, The Apprecier, Never Trust a Scrawny Foodie, Carrie, BOYCOTT Obolo, Lin, Sha, Justin Pereira, yyh, Sophia, Ratatouille, Fuzzy, Jess, YH, xianx, T, Ber, Rui, Lydia, and critics009.
Anyway, an article was published today on The Straits Times which may interest you:
All I want to say now is: A review is just a review, alright? Lighten up =)
Jam will never be the same again…
But what if you really ate the worst thing in your life inside a particular restaurant??? As well as the 2nd worst, 3rd worst, etc etc??? Oh dear oh dear lol.
As for that smallest cake in the world, I think the Guiness Book of World Records might want to hear about it!
Seriously though, I wish the defamation experts in that article had commented on Kaelyn’s review instead of making those off-the-cuff examples. Their views on the precise facts of the case would have been invaluable.
Haha Kaelyn. Yups let it end. But I do like the part where it states “a criticism in an entry is allowed by law if it is based on fact and made without malice” – seriously justifies all the work food bloggers have been doing.
And I don’t really agree with the opinion made by Mr Bryan Tan. His examples are unfortunately very similar to what people would say in everyday conversations. And if people are going to get charged under the law because of what they say everyday in life, I think it is almost paramount to censorship being in place everywhere.
I still think that the best way to settle any negative reviews is to be objective about it.
Haha, Kaelyn. Let’s hope our outing this Sunday would be good.
Ethan: Haha, I suppose it means that even if you really eat the worst thing ever in a restaurant, you can’t blog about it. Or maybe you can rant, just don’t get caught! Ya, I agree that the article was a tad too generic and there’s no solid conclusion. In a way, I think we bloggers are still at a loss at what words constitute as “ok” and what’s not without crossing the line.
Justin: Like you, I don’t think any blogger blog with malice. Who would be so free to do such a thing? But sadly, people still misunderstand us sometimes. On a less serious note: YAY, my 1st ever food bloggers’ outing!! -excited- Haha, all are welcome to join!! =)
Hey Kaelyn,
Just surfed by your blog after the recent news.. It’s good that you brought this issue up. I write food reviews myself and I don’t understand why that Obolo post deserved such a lawsuit..
At the end of the day, companies need to be able to handle constructive criticisms and bloggers now need to learn to blog responsibly. Gone are the days when blogs are just “personal diaries”..
Anyway I just did Lasik recently too! it’s the best invention ever man!!
hahaa! kaelyn! bring me to more good food places!=) i want to play with ur cam too!
I think they just wanted to flex some muscle with the hope that it will frighten the blogger into submission. They didn’t realise that such bullying tactics (and we can all see that it’s bullying) won’t sit well with the public.
However, I don’t think all the “boycott” is going to have any permanent effect on the company’s business. People in the food business work their asses off, but they don’t need to be nice guys. Just look at all the rude hawkers and how good their business is. If you ever see a polite hawker, chances are, his food is no good.
after this fiasco, i think no restaurants would dare threaten to sue anymore. see how much negative publicity obolo is getting, and now they are shrugging off the matter.
Just like how “boomz” entered the Singapore lexicon recently, maybe “jam” should now be used for any food we find not to our liking?
I hope food bloggers won’t censor themselves unnecessarily after this, or to become emboldened and start getting really nasty.
Obolo is just one of those bad eggs – a misguided shop that underestimated the real backlash they received for trying to reduce imaginary backlash to one negative review. Bakeries, antique or otherwise, should take note and know when to pick their battles!
acutally, “obolo” should now be used for any food we find not to our liking
Hey Qiuyi. Hope you will continue to keep up your good reviews on food! =)
Really liked reading your blog. Haha. =)
lets end this whole saga… and continue with ur blog on foood!!! now ur blog is even more attractive to readers given the frank comments u give… i simply dislike bloggers who blog about “everything-in-the-world-is-also-nice”… keep on blogging!
“everything-in-the-workd-is-also-nice” because the blogger wants to be friend to the makan places/hawkers.
actually there are good and polite hawkers serving good food. don’t believe go check out the uncle selling glutinous rice in chinatown complex. the name is niu che shui famous glutinous rice. open at 6am and sold out by 10am. disclaimer: not related to them at all, but i am always amaze with such long queue how he maintain the smile all the time.
“Today I ate a scoop of ice cream which is so ‘OBOLO’ sweet! I guess I will stop eating any sweet stuff for the rest of the month.”
sounds ok? will i be sue? ;P
Ms Glitzy: Hi, fellow food blogger! Oh yes, lasik is awesome, isn’t it! Totally worth the price tag. Anyway, I like your article.. Interesting read.
YH: Haha, I’m waiting for you to make time for me!! Good luck for your midterms!
Dr Chan: Yup, so long as the food is nice, there will surely be customers. But first, the restaurant needs to be sure that its food is really THE BEST out there before it can throw customer service out of the window.
Wombat: “Bakeries, antique or otherwise, should take note and know when to pick their battles!” –> Haha, I like your subtlety.
Benjamin & ter: Thanks! People like you (and of cuz, the food) make me find the joy in blogging.
Bobuttkua: Wow, I can tell you really like that stall! Gotta tell my mom about it =) One of the other places with great service is Tom’s Palette. The owners are always so friendly!
sgnohope: Your comment makes me laugh out loud, haha.
hahahahaha! take that obolo!