In reply to:

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Poster: ErikD
Subject: Re: what would you do if..........

So in a way, the Hunt Report has become as useless as some of the internet hunt report forums, where negative reports are frowned upon?

Erik

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Posting negative reports is always difficult for the forum/website. As sometimes very quickly the operator tries to squash any negative report with legal action and it is aimed not at the poster but at the host of the website/forum.

One possible action for the website in these examples is to "moderate" hunt report forums like NitroExpress.com does, and keep the report private until the operator has had a say and reply. That way the report stays more "sane" and does not get out of control.

If they immediately resort to legal action, a public notice saying the outfitter has threatened to sue over the report could be posted instead. It is a matter of provable fact and not liable if posted publicly.

I think the honest outfitters do not quickly resort to legal action or threats as they usually have evidence to counter the allegations. As we have all seen on the net, where REAL evidence does not exist at all, all sorts of other tactics start to get used.

There was an example of an outfitter getting canned in Botswana recently where a couple of clients tried to rubbish them for over-charging, not delivering etc. The outfitter came out with good documentation, signed by the client, and all the allegations appeared to be completely false and motivated by other factors (in that case by the client wanting to be a agent for them, but were turned down). I actually assisted them in getting their documentation up on the net for everyone to see.

That outfitter probably got goodwill from the marketplace in how they handled the situation, and their honesty, and probably got some bookings as a result.


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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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In reply to:

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If an outfitter knows a competitor being considered is dishonest, not ethical, or has questionable practices,

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John,
I think the important word here is "knows".
I believe it is fair to say something if the person saying it does actually know first hand, and beyond any doubt that what they are saying is absolutely true.
Over many years working in the guiding business, I've heard numerous stories about unethical/dishonest/illegal actions of others in the industry, and many of those stories were based on nothing more than rumour and heresay.
They may be true, maybe not.
I personally know of an instance where one operator was/is spreading the word far and wide about some dishonest actions of a rival operator.
I also "know" as fact that the accused operator had absolutely nothing to do with it.
In that case it was nothing more than sour grapes and professional jealousy, but throw enough mud and some will eventually stick.

I guess I don't have a problem with disclosing information regarding a dodgey operator, publicly or privately, so long as that information is "known" to be correct.

Otherwise I think it is maybe best left unsaid.
Just my 2 cents.

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