Tough time for standing up for what you believe in. As ever you have my support and respect Simon, I wish you well in navigating a troubled period. But stay strong
I have a solution. The art world has a "Banksy" you could be the "Banksy" of the wine world. Write an obit for yourself, go underground, reemerge under a nom de plume and start anew. Kidding aside, don't take down your article. Revise something factually wrong, but if someone didn't like your opinion they can leave their comments below as I am doing now. If a producer wasn't included in your review, shame on them. They need to do better at marketing themselves to not be forgotten the next time. I was on both sides of these headaches for 25 years and I can tell you I respected the journalists who didn't oblige requests whether I agreed with them or not.
Thank you Chris. Yes I share your assertion absolutely. I have never taken down an article but I'm always ready to listen and correct something if I got it wrong.
Yup - I hear you. Back in the day when I used to write actual restaurant reviews (not just listicles of restaurants I liked), the readers loved it but I would get all sorts of backlash from the restaurants. I'm not particularly thick-skinned either, and post-pandemic I basically decided to stick to my mother's mantra: "If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." I felt (and still feel) quite conflicted about this, but in the current world of online media where the business model is completely broken, I don't feel like we have much choice but to actively avoid biting the hand that feeds us. Good luck sticking to your guns.
PS. If you don't understand orange wine, what hope do the rest of us have?!
I hear ye Simon! Worry not! Remember... you are loved and respected the world over. Your expertise, your impartiality, your awareness and acuity are hugely appreciated. Narrow minds and shallow thinkers can't help the issues they have with opinions that differ from their own. Whatever you decide to do with the 2 articles, rest assured your subscribers have read and digested them. I for one will not feel short changed if you consign them to the archive. Indeed you should place some digital tombstones in their stead. Gone but not forgotten, if you catch my drift. Rest assured your work is of the highest order. Your tasting assessments are exceptionally researched and reported. Your opinions matters. They are what debate needs. Keep up the great work. Up the revolution!
Ahh I've always been amused by the wine industry's silence on any negativity. I feel like its one of the reasons there's so much angst these days. Never criticised, always adored and never learnt.
Disagreement is fine, we can't all get along all of the time. Being arrogant or entitled is not so much. Stick it out, stick to your principles and ignore the haters. It just means you're doing something right. You have a following for a reason!
I hope I didn't get you into any trouble?! In any case, if I can be of help as a sounding board or such like, you know how to find me. (Even though I'm not sure I have the answers; life is not simple here either!)
Alice Feiring may be able to give you some advice about dealing with people (subjects) who might disagree with her literary opinions. She appears to be unafraid and unapologetic when it comes to her work. Reading her “Parkerization” book years ago, I was astounded by the way she threw multitudes of people in the wine world under the bus. That was 17 years ago and she’s still at it. At any rate, I hope you can resolve your dilemma in a way that doesn’t compromise your standards.
I’ve just caught up with your articles after the summer break and, honestly, this is the first time I feel a bit split: on one hand, I totally agree with you, but on the other I can’t help thinking “if you don’t get orange wine, then who possibly does??”
In nearly 15 years in this business, I’ve met very few people as impartial, articulate and respectful towards other people’s work as you are. That said, I get your point. I am worst enemy of myself and the most critical! Negative feedback is part of the game—we live in a “free” world (do we?…😉)—but not everyone develops the thick skin needed to handle it.
Sure these feelings are long gone but I appreciate you share so, at least this lady, doesn't feel alone when criticizing work done! 😂
Tough time for standing up for what you believe in. As ever you have my support and respect Simon, I wish you well in navigating a troubled period. But stay strong
Thanks so much Alan! It's all pretty much under control I guess, I just like to lift the curtain sometimes, in case people think it's all roses.
I have a solution. The art world has a "Banksy" you could be the "Banksy" of the wine world. Write an obit for yourself, go underground, reemerge under a nom de plume and start anew. Kidding aside, don't take down your article. Revise something factually wrong, but if someone didn't like your opinion they can leave their comments below as I am doing now. If a producer wasn't included in your review, shame on them. They need to do better at marketing themselves to not be forgotten the next time. I was on both sides of these headaches for 25 years and I can tell you I respected the journalists who didn't oblige requests whether I agreed with them or not.
Thank you Chris. Yes I share your assertion absolutely. I have never taken down an article but I'm always ready to listen and correct something if I got it wrong.
Yup - I hear you. Back in the day when I used to write actual restaurant reviews (not just listicles of restaurants I liked), the readers loved it but I would get all sorts of backlash from the restaurants. I'm not particularly thick-skinned either, and post-pandemic I basically decided to stick to my mother's mantra: "If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." I felt (and still feel) quite conflicted about this, but in the current world of online media where the business model is completely broken, I don't feel like we have much choice but to actively avoid biting the hand that feeds us. Good luck sticking to your guns.
PS. If you don't understand orange wine, what hope do the rest of us have?!
Ha! Good question.
Feedback both negative and positive comes with the job I guess, sometimes it's just a bit more distracting than others.
Strange world… I always find your articles super balanced and not overly critical at all! Keep doing what you are doing!
Thanks Jan, I try very hard to always show balance. But the wine world just isn't used to serious critical writing. Easy to cause offence it seems!
I hear ye Simon! Worry not! Remember... you are loved and respected the world over. Your expertise, your impartiality, your awareness and acuity are hugely appreciated. Narrow minds and shallow thinkers can't help the issues they have with opinions that differ from their own. Whatever you decide to do with the 2 articles, rest assured your subscribers have read and digested them. I for one will not feel short changed if you consign them to the archive. Indeed you should place some digital tombstones in their stead. Gone but not forgotten, if you catch my drift. Rest assured your work is of the highest order. Your tasting assessments are exceptionally researched and reported. Your opinions matters. They are what debate needs. Keep up the great work. Up the revolution!
Thank you kind sir! I will survive :-)
Ahh I've always been amused by the wine industry's silence on any negativity. I feel like its one of the reasons there's so much angst these days. Never criticised, always adored and never learnt.
Disagreement is fine, we can't all get along all of the time. Being arrogant or entitled is not so much. Stick it out, stick to your principles and ignore the haters. It just means you're doing something right. You have a following for a reason!
Thank you so much Anna. And don't worry, I will always stick to my principles. Even if it creates issues sometimes.
Much more interesting that way, please do.
I think I've finally decided to do the same. Hopefully, I keep it up
I hope I didn't get you into any trouble?! In any case, if I can be of help as a sounding board or such like, you know how to find me. (Even though I'm not sure I have the answers; life is not simple here either!)
Not at all! And thanks so much for the offer.
Alice Feiring may be able to give you some advice about dealing with people (subjects) who might disagree with her literary opinions. She appears to be unafraid and unapologetic when it comes to her work. Reading her “Parkerization” book years ago, I was astounded by the way she threw multitudes of people in the wine world under the bus. That was 17 years ago and she’s still at it. At any rate, I hope you can resolve your dilemma in a way that doesn’t compromise your standards.
Thanks Bill. Yes I think she's always taken a robust and unflinching stand!
I am quite sure all dilemmas will be resolved. With a bit of headscratching, sweating and swearing but that's what it takes sometimes.
Hey Simon,
I’ve just caught up with your articles after the summer break and, honestly, this is the first time I feel a bit split: on one hand, I totally agree with you, but on the other I can’t help thinking “if you don’t get orange wine, then who possibly does??”
In nearly 15 years in this business, I’ve met very few people as impartial, articulate and respectful towards other people’s work as you are. That said, I get your point. I am worst enemy of myself and the most critical! Negative feedback is part of the game—we live in a “free” world (do we?…😉)—but not everyone develops the thick skin needed to handle it.
Sure these feelings are long gone but I appreciate you share so, at least this lady, doesn't feel alone when criticizing work done! 😂