Kuwaiti Reaction to Jailing of Taiwanese Food Blogger

the follow-up post by catherine_sr http://www.blogher.com/something-chew-over-regardi... ( http://www.blogher.com/something-chew-over-regardi... )

She is a blogger and journalist who has done research on this case. Also, keep in mind that this is a court in Taiwan, not the US. But as the Internet is world wide, all bloggers should pay attention to this case.

Race/Ethnicity Section Editor Grace Hwang Lynch blogs at HapaMama ( http://hapamama.com ) and A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ( http://www.blogher.com/ A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ).

Unless one has read the complaint and the court's decision, one shouldn't be too hasty to conclude that the blogger was convicted for the negative review. Froyo Nation says the blogger called the restaurant owner a "bully" and that is defamatory.

While it is good for bloggers to have a voice, it is also true that bloggers like jump to the defense of other bloggers without checking the hard facts.

CHECK THE FACTS FIRST.

Connie Veneracion

I lived in Taiwan for 2 years and it's pretty hard to avoid cockroaches in the restaurants, I have to say. It's just so hot and humid and they are everywhere. Also, I don't think he could get people to avoid parking poorly even if he wanted to. Those are cultural things and not necessarily fair to count against him personally.

Apart from that (and the fact that I'm a bit shocked by the jail sentence) I think the lawsuit was reasonable. It sounds like her assessment is a bit defamatory, which is against the law. It could ruin him. I do think bloggers need to be careful about what they write and not use their space as a free-for-all.

Just giving a different perspective.

Lady Jennie also writes at  A Lady in France ( http://aladyinfrance.com ).