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Blog Gone Viral - 45,000 views in a few days!

45,000 page views in the last few days,

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 21 Msg: #145032 Delete Edit

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

B Posts: 10.9K

Does that mean we are shallow? curious? easily amused? Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 22 Msg: #145040 Delete Edit

EdVallance
Edward Adrian-Vallance

B Posts: 186

Everyone is laying so much stress on the fact that these blogs are alright because they are only opinion, not fact. So by that argument it's ok for me to say to someone, "my opinion is that your mum is the loosest woman in the world, but it's just my opinion so don‘t worry", or "it's my opinion that all <insert any nationality here> are cheating, depraved idiots who should all be shot".

The fact is in reality that yes, everyone has different opinions, but some should be kept quiet if they are impolite and likely to hurt people. Writing off Filipinos as smarmy and Manila as a dump is one of these. During my 6 months in the Philippines I never once considered the sir / madam thing to be smarmy, it never even entered my head, but thinking about it now I can see how it might come across that way to some people, how it might (as mentioned above) take some getting used to. In that case make the effort to get used to it and understand it, don't just write all Filippinos off as smarmy. You are in their country after all.

I live in a country, Russia, whose people get a lot of bad press. Hollywood films portray them as cold, criminal alcoholics and the media doesn't do much of a better job. The reality is that - guess what - Russians are real, normal people too! With a bit of effort and time, behaviour that at first seems rude, cold or just plain inexplicable becomes perfectly normal and you see the cultural reasons for it, realise you were misinterpreting it earlier and even come to like it and realise that underneath that exterior so culturally different from your own they are good, kind people like anywhere else. It just takes a bit of time and patience to understand and appreciate a culture that different. Anyway, the point of this last paragraph is that having a lot of Russian friends and a long term girlfriend whose family I spend a lot of time with, I know how upsetting it is for them to read people's stereotyped reports on Russians or see the ridiculous portrayals of Russians in Hollywood films. I imagine Filipinos feel the same about Jeff's blog.

Bottom line - yes you're entitled to your own opinions, but show some manners and keep them quiet if they might be offensive or upsetting. Racial stereotyping in particular should be kept to a minimum, seeing as it causes so many problems in today’s world.

[Edited: 2011 Oct 13 05:58 - EdVallance:85670 ]

[Edited: 2011 Oct 13 06:02 - EdVallance:85670 ]

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12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 23 Msg: #145055 Delete Edit

Jabe
John McCabe

B Posts: 460

There's plenty of really objectionable widespread behaviour in the world - human rights violations, genocides, male/female inequalities, governmental corruption, press misrepresentation, take your pick - more deserving of both the publicity and people's indignation than the "controversial" opinion of ONE random guy. Freedom of speech is something to be treasured, but the price for it is that you will encounter stuff that you don't agree with, in which case you can exercise your right to ignore it. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 24 Msg: #145061 Delete Edit

Maisondubonheur
Pierre-Alexandre

B Posts: 1,583

First...anybody who has a Hoogarden on his profile picture do deserve some credit. I'm belgian, drink more wine than beer...but have to admit it...I like my Hoogarden...

I finally read the blog. I'm sure Geoff you are the first surprise about the number of it. Ok, I admit, I read only few comments.

If published on tripadvisor, you would not have attracted much attention...and for those who want to know, the Peninsula is, or at least was not much more than 100usd few years ago before it's very long awaited renovation....

As yourself, I've lived for a little while in Asia, 15 years...and yes I do agree, when it come to racism, Asia beat everybody else by far...how many white face do hold a chinese or korean passport...or even black face...guess...

Liliram, I'm sure you are the first to be surprised by the power of internet.

This issue shows to me only one thing. Be careful what you put online, it can fire back...never know what people care about...

And as MJ & Jo would have put it....our best blogs are clearly not the ones who have the more hits...guess we are all warned now.

I've lived for four years in Vietnam in the last century. The more "critical" people must be those foreigners who have lived there for more than 15 years..they are married to locals, have kids, speak vietnamese....still think it's such a waste when you really know where the country should be today.

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12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 25 Msg: #145065 Delete Edit

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

B Posts: 10.9K

Ed-- agreed.

Motto- just be nice. The world has enough ugliness in it. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 26 Msg: #145066 Delete Edit

EdVallance
Edward Adrian-Vallance

B Posts: 186

Freedom of speech is of course something to be treasured and everyone has the right to their opinions. I think this is less a matter of freedom of speech though and more a matter of politeness. If you get invited to someone's house you don't tell them you think they're boring and their house is a dump even if you think it. Likewise if you go to the Philippines and "share rice with people who are so poor they have nothing else to give", as Jeff did, then I'd choose words less severe than "smarmy" and "dump" when talking about the people and place.

Jabe - of course the world has much more serious issues than Jeff's blog (!!) but this thread is about his blog, not those issues! Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 27 Msg: #145087 Delete Edit

Jabe
John McCabe

B Posts: 460

Everyone has their own frame of reference for what they consider offensive, polite, or whatever. Much as we all might like to think that our own is the "right" one, there is no "right" one. That aside, though, Geoff is a guy who I have never met and who I know nothing about other than what he has chosen to reveal in his blogs. Further, this is the Internet, where there are millions of people who deliberately misrepresent themselves for various reasons - he could be one of them. From that meagre evidence, I'm going to take his opinions with a pinch of salt. It's not like he's the UK ambassador to the Philippines (I'm guessing!).

I saw this thread as being about the enormous response to his blog, rather than the blog itself - there are no doubt plenty of "controversial" blogs on here, but they don't usually get tens of thousands of views. My point is that I find it bizarre that something like this gets so much attention when many worthier subjects don't. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 28 Msg: #145097 Delete Edit

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

D Posts: 802

Ed, of course I respect your opinion but I would also respectfully suggest that you are making a mountain out of a molehill over one or two simple, non-offensive words. The two 'my opinion' examples you used have no bearing on this topic of conversation either, the first would of course be met with complete indifference and the second would be nothing less than an incitement to violence.

I am a real believer in free speech as long as it is not discriminatory, racist or incites hatred towards others. I fight hard for it because of the current inquisition that is being so actively carried out against it in my own country. I see that you are a Brit too, so you have no doubt seen how in the UK, freedom of speech is no longer tolerated by the bigoted and intolerant Politically Correct classes. The country I knew 10 years ago has now become an Orwellian dystopia and I could write and entire discourse on how the UK is returning to the dark ages, but obviously, this is not the right forum for a political debate.

The same goes for racial stereotyping. I'd personally love to see more of it, not less. It is stereotyping that defines not only our ethnicity, but also our culture, traditions and our way of life. This is something that should be celebrated not suppressed. Think of all the wonderful humour that would never had existed. All the greats from Spike Milligan to Monty Python would have been pale shadows of themselves if they hadn't been allowed to stereotype in some way.

These days, the slightest offence is taken by those who either do so on behalf of others or in the hope of a receiving a huge compensation payout. People need to grow a backbone and stop taking everything to heart. The word 'smarmy' is hardly what I would coin as offensive, having the same gravitas as the words 'bum' or 'poo'! Geoff strikes me as being a very literate guy with an incredible command of the English language. I'm sure if he could have found a more suitable word to use, he would have done so.

Sometimes it also takes the use of strong language to get things done. Who knows, maybe someone important in the Philippines will read Geoff's blog and think 'Hey, he is right, let's do something about it'.

Anyway, sorry to bang on so much, but the freedom of speech issue is a subject that I am immensely passionate about. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 29 Msg: #145099 Delete Edit

Susurros somnolientos
J. Lalo Cura

B Posts: 146

I saw this thread as being about the enormous response to his blog, rather than the blog itself - there are no doubt plenty of "controversial" blogs on here, but they don't usually get tens of thousands of views. My point is that I find it bizarre that something like this gets so much attention when many worthier subjects don't.

Precisely my point, Jabe, and very well said. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 30 Msg: #145101 Delete Edit

liliram
liliram

B Posts: 847

How and why it went viral? The blog provoked us to accept the many things wrong in our country. I posted the link to support a bid to improve our oldest airport terminal. Most comments (on the blog, on Facebook, on Twitter) agreed on this point. It's not all "indignation" over Geoff's blog. But it invited discussion between those who agree, and those who accepted but at the same time found it harsh the way Geoff dismissed Manila as a dump (his words, nothing to photograph?). Also how he labeled people as smarmy, or "smart" (i didnt leave the country, dont wish to ---so im not smart?) If it means one thing to him and another thing to some of us, who's to say who should adjust or see it this way or that? Besides, only Geoff can clarify exactly what he meant. Right? His opinion, yes. So let him. My feelings, so let me.

So, where does this all lead up to? Hopefully, all discussions would push our government to improve our airports, etc. That way, the "hype" and the "behavior" are justified. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 31 Msg: #145110 Delete Edit

wanderinghobo
Kaleb

B Posts: 23

I am a real believer in free speech as long as it is not discriminatory, racist or incites hatred towards others.

Freedom of Speech is meant to be used to express an opinion that is truthful and just ... and not to merely abuse.

This guy (Quartermaine) obviously abused this right. He offended thousands of people. I don't blame filipinos for being outraged.

Their reaction shouldn't just be dismissed and trivialized.

[Edited: 2011 Oct 13 22:27 - wanderinghobo:220159 ]

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12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 32 Msg: #145111 Delete Edit

JonathanCampion
Jonathan Campion

B Posts: 972

I don't think any of my blogs have even got to 1,000 hits, and some are three years old. Nowadays I'm happy enough with 100!

It'd be great though if some of the angry readers stuck around on TravelBlog and checked out a few more blogs - there must be some really positive ones about the Philippines here.

J. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 13th 2011 No: 33 Msg: #145115 Delete Edit

wanderinghobo
Kaleb

B Posts: 23

Imagine if countries like India and other SE Asian countries are as literate as majority of Filipino people who can read and write ENGLISH can read the things bloggers write about their people and country, how do you guys think they are going to react ?

Would you still have the FACE to come back to their country knowing the kind of mean stuff you wrote about them ?

Give it a thought ...

[Edited: 2011 Oct 13 23:57 - wanderinghobo:220159 ]

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12 years ago, October 14th 2011 No: 34 Msg: #145119 Delete Edit

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

D Posts: 802

Freedom of Speech is meant to be used to express an opinion that is truthful and just

and that would seem to be the case as far as Geoff's blog is concerned.

Parts of the UK are a complete and utter dump. There are areas of London that are akin to the worst that any third world country has to offer! Also, having been away from the UK for so long, returning home, I now find many English people to be rude, obnoxious, arrogant and narcissistic to say the least. I'm British, so I can say that, but I would also like to think that I'm open minded enough to accept this kind of critical observation, even if it did come from an outsider, because most importantly, it is the truth.

How can you write objectively unless you have the freedom to say exactly how you feel? Sometimes the truth hurts, but does that mean we have to tread on eggshells just in case we offend the delicate sensibilities of the few; these 'few' usually being those who seem to revel in taking offence on behalf of others?

The many Filipinos I have met strike me as being good, decent people with a nationalistic fervour that puts most of us in the West to shame. Yet they also seem to be very humble and modest people who have openly accepted Geoff's opinions and views on their capital, even if they have found them to be somewhat harsh. If you take time to look at the comments left on the blog in question you will find that the majority of Filipinos actually agree with what Geoff has written.

[Edited: 2011 Oct 14 01:44 - Cockle:46288 ]

[Edited: 2011 Oct 14 01:54 - Cockle:46288 ]

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12 years ago, October 14th 2011 No: 35 Msg: #145121 Delete Edit

Ali
Ali Watters

B Posts: 5,200

It'd be great though if some of the angry readers stuck around on TravelBlog and checked out a few more blogs

- Jon

That was my thought as well - though I don't think all or even the majority of Filipino readers were actually angry. I'll get in to that in a minute

There are thousands of blogs where people express their love for the Philippines - maybe not Manila so much - but due to blogs like Falling in love with an island off the beaten path...Derawan - I can't wait to get a month to explore. It seems that positive blogs - as with positive news stories - just don't get the attention that more negative ones get.

...openly accepted Geoff's opinions and views on their capital, even if they have found them to be somewhat harsh

- Nick C

Agreed - I ran through a lot of the twitter feed from this - and for every 1 comment expressing outrage at Geoff's blog, there were 10 expressing sad agreement. Another telling factor is the 11,000 facebook likes that the page gained - and due 99%!o(MISSING)f the traffic to that blog being from the Philippines - I would guess that these likes were heavily from them.

@Ed - I think your augments about free speech vs opinion vs politeness are a little undermined by your original post - "most narrow-minded stuff on the internet".

So, where does this all lead up to? Hopefully, all discussions would push our government to improve our airports, etc. That way, the "hype" and the "behavior" are justified

- liliram

I hope so to! - there have been so many on twitter directing the post to the Philippines government - if they monitor their accounts then they can't have failed to see this. I wonder if you'd posted a blog about all the things someone loves about the Philippines how much of a response it would have got?

Overall - this has been a very interesting case study for me, technically it proves that the TB servers can handle massive peaks of traffic and allowed me to analyze a viral post beyond anything that TB has experienced before.

For a single day; 11th October

28%!o(MISSING)f traffic of travelblog.org was from the Phillipines (32%!U(MISSING)S - usually 45%!)(MISSING)

It accounted for an additional ~50,000 page views on the site.

~40,000 of those were from facebook.

I think we gained an additional 20 or so members - but that is much much harder to track 😊 Reply to this

12 years ago, October 14th 2011 No: 36 Msg: #145127 Delete Edit

EdVallance
Edward Adrian-Vallance

B Posts: 186

Yes that "narrow-minded" comment was written before I read the Philippines blog whereas the others were after I read it. When I wrote that first comment the only real knowledge I had of Geoff was an abusive comment he left on one of my Afghanistan blogs which prompted me to read his own Afghanistan blogs. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 14th 2011 No: 37 Msg: #145134 Delete Edit

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

B Posts: 6,107

Observations of a city that has seen better days or shows signs of past glory...Manilla...your blog describes your disappointment...many cities can be described in similar ways.

Must say it was more complimentary than many hotel reviews I have read...a famous haunt in New York comes to mind.

I did not find your blog rascist, offensive or viral.

What disturbed me most was you didn't like the coffee...fair call...I feel your pain..!

[Edited: 2011 Oct 14 07:03 - Dancing Dave:192151 ]

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12 years ago, October 14th 2011 No: 38 Msg: #145179 Delete Edit

Aries and Rinka
Aristeo Rinka Lucea

B Posts: 20

I knew this would happen. I send a private message to Geoff less than a week when his blog was published. Sending my sad agreement to some points he raised on his blog, and warned him on the flak he will be receiving from my folks in the Philippines.
Yes, he migh thave taken a saracastic tone,but do believe that he is not attacking the Filipino people but an underlying system that has crippled our society, which most Filipino knows to be true. However, always quick to react violently when pointed out by a foreigner in whatever form of media. The slightest mention of the Philppines, be it on a popular show like Desperate Housewives or David Letterman to a remote stand up comedy show in rural America and obscure blogs can send shockwaves to the perpetrator of perceived attack on the Filipino people.
Liliram, Tita Lili, you did again.as I told you before, you shoud be our country's Tourism Secretary, so in the future, such nasty impression about our country will be a thing of the past. You do more to attract attention to our tourism than to those imbeciles being paid huge amoount to do so. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 15th 2011 No: 39 Msg: #145200 Delete Edit

QuartermainesWorld
Geoffrey James Quartermaine Bastin

B Posts: 33

In response to: Msg #145040 OK Edward, now we're off the "most narrow-minded" bit (written BEFORE you read the post... WTF), you have a very fair point of view.

It WAS harsh and insensitive of me to make the "smarmy" comment. One indeed should get used to different people's ways of interacting. And I guess I do allow my tongue to run away with me sometimes when I'm irritated. Noted. I'll do better.

Edward is also right that expressing just any old opinion is wrong. Mine was actually directed at an airport terminal that is a real disgrace and a hotel where I was among the first residents 15 years ago and which has drastically declined. Yep, I was a Grumpy Old Man for the entire visit - and I write about my visits and experiences, is all.

Actually I've worked ... note folks - "worked" all over the Philippines from Mindanao where people get massacred and which is an astonishingly beautiful place and where I stayed for months in a little hotel which had black silk sheets and a huge aquarium behind my bed place to Aurora (where they shot the helicopter scene in Apocalyspe Now) and where the insurgent NPA operated - I lived in a shack. So probably my opinion is not without some knowledge. If someone wants a professional essay on why the Philippine economy has declined so much in comparison with its ASEAN neighbours, let me know.

Racial stereotyping. Again Edward makes a good point; I get really sick of people saying that all Thai women are sex workers and seeing any CNN or BBC report shot in Pattaya or Patpong (by the way, unfortunately lots of Russians in Pattaya behaving JUST like they're supposed to - there I go again.).... Seriously, it is frustrating that we don't all see people as individuals.

By the way I'm a Brit - English in fact, since I no longer know what being"British" really means (Wow! Now THAT should lead to more than 50,000 hits!). We English are "colonialists", "stuck up", "up our own arrogant a...s", "reserved", "cold", "boring", "lousy lovers", the food sucks........ I could go on and on. Indeed my daughter (half Thai) bought a book on understanding the English so she could cope with me. Some folks simply need to grow up and see that we all do this.

That said, in my work - which is development - you MUST take cultural aspects into account. I don't care if your colour is green or you are from Mars (my wife is coffee coloured and from Thailand - so what?), I'll disregard what you LOOK like, but I must make allowances for how you might behave or the project will fail. Actually in the blog it let's me off this hook and I just report what I feel at one specific time and place. For fun.

"Be nice"..... Some one said that there's enough hurt in the world so just be nice. I just find this kind of attitude completely at odds with my philosophy, which is to be out there, checking things out, sticking my nose in and letting people know what I find. be nice, stay at home, cuddle up in front of the fire and it'll all go away. Oh please.

Very last thing - question to Edward: I'm not normally "abusive"... so please let me have a link to what I said about your Afghanistan post - I don't recall it. If I WAS abusive perhaps it was because I was in Kandahar in the middle of a battle. But give me the opportunity to review the article and I'll apologise if called for.

And do PLEASE read the posts before commenting, and the name is spelled "Geoff", not "Jeff". LoL

Keep em coming😊

Cheers - and that beer in my hand is REALLY good! Thanks!

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12 years ago, October 15th 2011 No: 40 Msg: #145202 Delete Edit

wanderinghobo
Kaleb

B Posts: 23

In response to: Msg #145200

Yes, perhaps you can enlighten us with your "professional" essay about the Philippines with less abusive tone and contempt (that filipino readers probably failed to pick up, having ENGLISH as only their second language).

The one positive thing that came out of your "negative" blog is the desire of the Filipino people to improve their country.

[Edited: 2011 Oct 15 03:01 - wanderinghobo:220159 ]

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