It's generally not about rules, it's about interpretation on here. For example, Jacqui appeared a little offended that I called her facts a story and that wasn't my intention - I have met Jacqui and I'm sure she would never make up a story just to cause harm to a business or person - and I agreed on page 1 that the story (see, story - it is a story and that doesn't make it fiction at all) was enough for me not to want to give them my business. Actually I have never used the place (for no reason other than it never happened) and now I still probably wouldn't.
I am making two points which I realise are almost contradictory to each other. Firstly, that people should not take a story as being fact just because someone told you or you overheard it. "Don't use his bar he...blah...blah...blah" and "yes he has been ripping people off for years..." - honestly, if you live there you'll end up with nowhere to drink and if you fall out with people because people you know have fallen out with them you'll be all alone in no time
The contradictory point I would make is that enough people that you
know tell your their
opinion on a place, you don't need to go to make sure. This was the case with Kale Park - which we adored - enough people who's opinion we trust told us to forget it during our last holiday there, and we did.
