American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

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Clutch Cargo
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by Clutch Cargo »

Ironically, it was an expat hotel manager who pursued the legal action, not the Thai owners.
This, and the fact Barnes made negative reviews despite the restaurant relenting on the corkage fee, suggests to me that it all got very personal between him and the manager.

And RandyN's post above, if it's the same guy we're talking about, Barnes has serious issues.
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by phuketrichard »

Image

Debates continue to rage on social media following coverage by international media about an American facing jail for posting negative reviews about a resort on Koh Chang.


https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... cfcbCBut-Y
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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jaynewcastle
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by jaynewcastle »

A single negative review is perfectly fine & acceptable

Spamming the internet with numerous fake reviews for a couple of months is completely different & not acceptable

From what has now emerged about the guys background, he is obviously mentally unstable to some degree
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by Cowshed Cowboy »

jaynewcastle wrote: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:15 pm A single negative review is perfectly fine & acceptable

Spamming the internet with numerous fake reviews for a couple of months is completely different & not acceptable

From what has now emerged about the guys background, he is obviously mentally unstable to some degree
Totally agree, and what I find a bit sad is the Anti Thai bashers with a social media presence like Andrew Macgregor Marshall and that self important part time Kindergarden employee Richard Barrow are totally ignoring the guy's previous because it doesnt suit their agenda or audience.

As Richard highlighted it was an arguement between 2 foreigners that seemed to get personal and escalate out of proportion, but these tubes are now making about how disgraceful the wider Thai tourism industry and govt treats foreigners.

All this over a bit of corkage, which everyone knows is standard the world over.
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by Doc67 »

Cowshed Cowboy wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:21 am
jaynewcastle wrote: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:15 pm A single negative review is perfectly fine & acceptable

Spamming the internet with numerous fake reviews for a couple of months is completely different & not acceptable

From what has now emerged about the guys background, he is obviously mentally unstable to some degree
Totally agree, and what I find a bit sad is the Anti Thai bashers with a social media presence like Andrew Macgregor Marshall and that self important part time Kindergarden employee Richard Barrow are totally ignoring the guy's previous because it doesnt suit their agenda or audience.

As Richard highlighted it was an arguement between 2 foreigners that seemed to get personal and escalate out of proportion, but these tubes are now making about how disgraceful the wider Thai tourism industry and govt treats foreigners.

All this over a bit of corkage, which everyone knows is standard the world over.
This whole business has backfired seriously on both parties, especially the poster. Not only is he facing legal problems, he now seems to be having his very dubious past dug up and smeared all over the internet, thus guaranteeing it front page position on any search engine results about him. I bet he didn't think of that when he was doing his dirty work. Good luck with future employment.

There is an old newspaper adage: don't pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel. These days the whole world has an unlimited supply of 'paper and ink' and with far fewer rules about what they write. Getting yourself into a social media storm which goes viral will always end up badly with all your skeletons being dug up and paraded, plus a few that aren't yours.

When you set out to dig a hole for someone, don't forget to dig one for yourself.
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by ergosemper »

Well deserved fate. Looking forward to a successful prosecution and an appropriately long sentence to teach such foreigners a lesson to remember.
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Sir Stephen
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by Sir Stephen »

I think this American run away to Thailand from criminal history in his country. Maybe he come Cambodia next. :dragonchase:
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phuketrichard
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by phuketrichard »

No Jail Time,
but his name and charterer are shit from now on

A US man in Thailand who was arrested for writing a negative hotel review will avoid legal action and jail time.


Wesley Barnes had posted several reviews allegedly accusing the Sea View Resort of "modern day slavery".

He was subsequently detained and charged under Thailand's strict anti-defamation laws.

Police said Mr Barnes and the resort had managed to reach an agreement, which included an apology to the hotel and to Thailand's tourism authority.

He was also told to send a statement to foreign media organisations that had previously written about his then possible arrest, including BBC News.

In it, Mr Barnes said that he apologised for his "repeatedly false and untrue statements... made to maliciously defame Sea View. These reviews were written out of anger and malice".

The statement said he regretted his actions, adding that "the hotel has forgiven me and agreed to withdraw the complaint".
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54473407
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by Username Taken »

charterer? Would that be character?
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phuketrichard
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Re: American facing jail for negative reviews of Thai resort

Post by phuketrichard »

He promised:
1. To issue a heartfelt and full apology to the hotel and staff and issue copies with the reasons for his actions to the following media: CNN, ABC, the Daily Mail, BBC, Insider, The Morning Call, The Sun, CBS, the Independent, NBC, Fox, Reuters, the New York Times, the Guardian, the Bangkok Post and AFP stating:

"I, Mr Barnes, am sorry for lying in my review that defamed the hotel".
He further promised to address untrue comments and slurs that he made regarding slavery, the nationaity of staff and coronavirus (things that he repeated many, many times, according to the document).

The statement continued:
"Nothing about my reviews was true at all". He admitted to getting 'carried away" and accepted that he was totally in the wrong and had expressed this to the hotel.

As part of this section of the agreement the hotel agreed to accept his apology, thank him for it and drop the case.
All this was to be conveyed to the media.

2. He must issue a letter of apology to the Trat branch of the TAT apologizing for damaging tourism in the province.
3. He must contact the Embassy of the United States with the truth of the matter.
4. He must contact Trip Advisor about his wrong doing and why he was prosecuted in Thailand. He must ask them to remove a "Red Badge" from the Sea View page and seek assurances from Trip Advisor that they will not advise guests to avoid the hotel.
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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