Reasons to Report a Listing

Here at Bloggerstan, we are not censors. But, alas, we must discourage:

  • Content that might lead travelers to illegal or dangerous activities or places.
  • Accommodation and restaurant reviews of individual establishments. Travelers find millions of them elsewhere on the internet.
  • Selling goods and services at the search location. Content is supposed to be unbiased advice.
  • The usual bad stuff, such as hate speech. Please, take it easy here… we’re not another front in the culture wars. 

Our “No No List” below is mostly cautionary.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We don’t have the desire or capacity to screen all the original material listed on Bloggerstan. So we have a “Report” button on every listing. If you see something in the creator’s original content that violates the “No No List” or any other serious abuse, please let us know by clicking the “Report” button.

The No-No List

REVIEW OF a SINGLE HOTEL OR RESTAURANT

The internet has loads of these already. Booking sites and review platforms abound.

While we can all benefit from quality reviews, Bloggerstan could become clogged with information better found elsewhere.

Please report if you encounter a “review” and we will gently notify the creator. Casual mentions of accommodation or restaurants are fine. So are lists, such as a blog post about the “Best hostels in Athens”.

ACCOMMODATION & RESTAURANT REVIEWS

The internet has loads of these already. Booking sites and review platforms abound.

While there’s nothing wrong with quality reviews, Bloggerstan could become clogged with information better found elsewhere. So we don’t want reviews of individual establishments.

Feel free to mention a wonderful lodge in Kandy or list the best halal eateries in Spitalfields.

Shape

SELLING AT THE SEARCH LOCATION

Content creators are free to make money on their sites or channels in all the usual ways. Affiliate links (taking you to a booking site, for example) are okay.

Yet, they’re in a conflict of interest if their content tries too hard to sell you something at the destination when they’re supposed to offer unbiased advice.

Please report aggressive direct selling at the search location

SELLING AT THE SEARCH LOCATION

It’s fine to make money from your content.

Box ads and affiliate links are okay.

Direct selling of tours, lodging etc. at the search location is not okay.

Beyond that, your credibility is at stake. If you sell too hard, travelers might conclude that you represent the vendor and not them. They will go elsewhere for travel advice.

HIGH-RISK ACTIVITIES

Is that whitewater rafting on Class II rapids or Class V rapids?

What is “manageable risk” for an intrepid content creator might not be manageable for you. 

It’s okay for content to include extreme sports and other risky activities, as long as the risks are explained.

Please report if you see a potentially harmful activity without a risk assessment.

HIGH-RISK ACTIVITIES

Was your whitewater rafting on Class II rapids or Class V rapids?

What is “manageable risk” for you might be dangerous for an innocent traveler. 

It’s okay to include extreme sports and other risky activities in your content, as long as you assess that risk.

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

Maybe a content creator wants to help you relax with a little weed. 

If it’s about how to buy marijuana in Canada, no problem. Pot is legal there. But if you’re told how to buy it in Singapore, where it’s very illegal, you could land in jail.

Please report content about activities that are illegal at the search location. However, warnings about illegal activities, such as gay sex in some countries, are very welcome.

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

So, you want to help a weary traveler relax with a little weed? 

No problem writing about how to buy marijuana in Canada. Pot is legal there. But if you write about where to buy it in Singapore, you could land a naive traveler in jail.

Don’t discuss activities that are illegal at the search location. However, warnings about illegal activities, such as gay sex in some countries, are very welcome.

DANGEROUS PLACES

What about perilous destinations? You didn’t intend to piss-off this militiaman in Eastern Ukraine, did you?

Please report listings where creators talk up dodgy places, without clarity about the risks. But don’t be too harsh judging danger. Our own governments’ “travel advisories” are often way too cautious.

Exception: the creator is blameless if a place gets ugly after the publication date. 

DANGEROUS PLACES

What about perilous destinations? You didn’t intend to piss-off this militiaman in Eastern Ukraine, did you?

If you want to talk up dodgy places, be very clear about the risks.

Exception: you’re blameless if a place gets ugly after your publication date. Still, you might want to update or remove your listing.