Maybe They Could Just Stay Home

Boorish. That's the word I think of most of the time when I in to the quagmire of online reviews. Because of social media and review websites like Yelp, Angi (formerly Angie's List) and others, we have opened the way for people to say “I had a bad experience and EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT!”

I understand, sometimes you go in to a business and it's a bad experience. Trust me, I've had my share of them. And, there is the case that needs to be made that sometimes an operation is drifting from the service and experiences that we expect. When we can leave an observation that actually make a positive change, then our criticism is beneficial.

But, more often when I look at the reviews online my thoughts tend to be more along the line of a spoiled brat not getting their way. And when these types of “reviewers” don't like anything, they feel it is their right, perhaps even their duty to let everyone know about it.

Even our venerable National Parks are not above the ire of those who need to be critical of everything.

Here are some samples of one star reviews on Yelp about Zion National Park. And by the way, these are taken directly from the reviews so if you see some words misspelled they were posted that way.

Idiots!

Jackie T. from Albany, California was unhappy with her fellow park visitors. “Very crowded with e- bikes on the only accessible trail for wheelchairs and dogs. No bike etiquette whatsoever. Speeding over bridges and had to walk single file in order to not get run over. Do not recommend. Would be a lovely walk but the bikes and idiots on them made for a experience that was not enjoyable at all.” A crowd at Zion National Park? I'm stunned.

Weeds!

The 'I'm Smarter Than You Are' Sally F. from San Francisco, California wanted to let you know that she knows the mission of the National Park Service, and that Zion National Park just doesn't cut it. “The NPS Mission Statement declares; 'The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.'”

Her complaints? “Long entrance station lines because of inadequate staff=hours of waiting for buses and to pay fees at entrances. 1000's of visitors in concentrated areas=The Narrows. Yuck! Dangerous Wildfire fuels just accumulating and accumulating each year! Noxious weeds everywhere!”

Weeds in a park! Unthinkable!

And the town of Springdale also was the subject of Sally's disdain, “Springdale the town has an obscene amount of new construction=at least 6 major construction sites currently on main street. Airbnb has one night stays in Springdale for $700/night-for a 2 bedroom loft
Median price of a home in Springdale=2.3 million dollars. Disgraceful!”

Her conclusion about Zion National Park? “Zion NP has obscenely failed at its mission!”

Boring Tacos!

And if you don't like heat but do love tacos, according to Bob P. from Boston, Massachusetts, Zion is not the place for you. “Scenery is grand and huge and up in the air and distant and impersonal. I got bored fast, and the 109° heat didn't help in the least. Inside the park we ate at the sit down restaurant. Salmon cakes were good. The taco bar incredibly boring but may be suited for kids. It looked like more interesting food was in the town.”

I know the main reason I got to a national park is to check out the taco bar, and if it's boring, I'm outta there!

Again, I know bad experiences are not what anyone wants to have, but we all have them. But I have to tell you, I don't recall ever changing my plans based on a bad review. So, I will continue to enjoy the beauty around me and if it's not your thing that's ok.

Please feel free to leave a one star review of this article below, but I'll probably ignore it.