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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this hotel owner was in the right

122 replies

Rebeccaslicker · 23/01/2018 08:22

Why do some people think that it's ok to ask for freebies in return for a few blog posts these days? How about the novel concept of getting off the internet, getting a job and actually paying for stuff?!

Am I showing my age and being hopelessly old fashioned, or is this just someone being really cheeky. It's not as if she's Kim sodding Kardashian and would really raise the profile (although to be fair KK would put me off!!).

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/dublin-hotel-bills-vlogger-46-million-for-publicity-after-she-accuses-owner-of-bullying-over-free-a3746401.html%3famp

OP posts:
IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 23/01/2018 10:33

I was completely on his side until he sent her the invoice - he'd made his point and that was sheer dickish behaviour on his part imo.
I think that to be a social media 'influencer' you should actually have some skill or expertise in the area you are influencing. So I'd respect the view of a professional make up artist who was blogging about cosmetics but not someone with no hospitality experience plugging a hotel. That was plain cheeky fuckery on her part.

But the invoice was overkill.

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2018 10:33

Is it really slogging? [like other jobs require]

Is it slogging to be a writer or a journalist? Successful bloggers (most of whom still take quite small amounts of income from sites/channels) will need to build a style and content which attracts people back.

Most people can't do that or lack the persistence to plug away at it. Its a long time before the money comes in and if successful they need to negotiate building up a small business (very different skill set from writing/creative).

Its easy to assume what other people are doing is easy when we haven't done the job - look at the number of people who insist teaching is short hours and long holidays for example.

The small number of successes suggests that it isn't an easy ride even though it may look like it.

ShatnersWig · 23/01/2018 10:40

Dreamy Yes, most definitely from what I can see the majority are more on his side than hers and, as I said, most of those supporting her are other young bloggers. I've seen many genuine bloggers saying they totally disagree with what she did even regards the original email.

IWanna He didn't really send her that invoice. Just like he really hasn't banned vegans. Or bloggers. Or mothers who breastfeed. You may not like the humour, but a lot of people seem to take everything very literally.

iskegness · 23/01/2018 10:54

There should be an instant ban for anyone that keep posting about this self serving fame hungry hotel guy. It's been posted at least half a dozen times.

He's still vile, she's still cheeky but perfectly acceptable to ask for a freebie and he's fine to not reply to her request.

Original poster
Rebeccaslicker · 23/01/2018 10:59

Huh - so you think HE'S self serving and fame hungry for trying to promote a business that he runs, that employs people, pays tax, and brings tourists to the area - but SHE's perfectly entitled to ask for a freebie despite seemingly doing nothing useful?

That's a very interesting way of seeing things!

OP posts:
RedPanda2 · 23/01/2018 10:59

Side note - I have stayed here and it was awesome! You can have that for free

IWishYouWere · 23/01/2018 11:01

If this is genuine and not a 'collab' between the pair I very much doubt this is upsetting her. She'll be loving the publicity. I read a thread on here a while ago about youtubers manipulating there young followers and she does exactly the same. For example she'll do an instagram story and say 'loads of people have been asking where my jumpers from, unfortunately this ones sold out but I've found this one for you angels which is almost identical, swipe up to buy.'

When in reality what it really means is every time someone purchases anything using the link she gave them she gets paid a %. So if people asked where her red jumper was from she'd go to the affiliate website type in red jumper, find a similar one then make the story, 2 minute job but she'll make out she's been searching for agessss.
Also when she had her eye surgery she said the first thing she said when she came round was 'I've missed my angels. I think that might have been recorded not 100% sure, but it's just a load bull.
Obviously I see through this but not all younger fans will.
Anyone else hate her 'you do you boo' saying?

iskegness · 23/01/2018 11:02

Yes she's entitled to ask, he's entitled to say no or just ignore.

He comes across as the bigger twat and both are self serving and fame hungry.

ShatnersWig · 23/01/2018 11:02

Red I've yet to stay there but next time I'm in Dublin I'm going. I have friends who have been and said the hotel was great (with very funny notices in the rooms), the cafe was superb (especially the pancakes) and the staff were couldn't do enough for you.

ShatnersWig · 23/01/2018 11:03

IWish WTF does "you do you boo" actually MEAN???

tillytown · 23/01/2018 11:07

Lots of people ask for freebies in exchange for reviews, why was it wrong for her to do it too? Because she's young? A vlogger? Or because he decided to get some publicity by trying to embarrass and shame her, and everyone else decided to join in laughing at her?

iskegness · 23/01/2018 11:09

Lots of people ask for freebies in exchange for reviews, why was it wrong for her to do it too? Because she's young?

She's a young pretty female. A perfect target for many people to have a pop at. Feeds into the narrative that all young people are lazy entitled freeloaders that don't know what work is.

Original poster
Rebeccaslicker · 23/01/2018 11:11

Because lots of people ask for freebies, THAT makes it ok?? Personally I believe in paying people for a good job when they're trying to run a business and make a living, not trying to cadge freebies out of them.

And I think she and her kind set a bad example by expecting something for what's really worth nothing in most cases. I don't want my DD growing up thinking she can pout online and ask for freebies in return for more online pouting. It just doesn't feel to me like it's something to aspire to.

Mind you, she's many years off that. Who knows what horrors will be cool when she's 13?!

OP posts:
IWishYouWere · 23/01/2018 11:16

Shatner I don't actually know, she. calls her fans angel and boo so I assume it means be yourself.

k2p2k2tog · 23/01/2018 11:18

I think her asking for the freebie was fine, that's how these things work.

The concept of asking for a freebie is OK, but there are ways of doing it. A professional proposal would research the target hotel properly and address any email to the manager using their name, lay out the types of people who are looking at the vloggers videos - YouTube has lots of analytics and data. Then telling the brand/hotel about other things you've done in the past and the benefits of a collaboration.

Along the lines of "I have 50,000 subscribers to my YouTube channel, and analytics tells me they are mostly female, between the ages of 25 and 35 and living in the UK. Last year I worked with Posho Hotel in Scotland, and they saw a 10% uplift in midweek bookings after my vlog went out."

A totally unprofessional, grabby and amateur CF would write "To whom it may concern, i want to stay for 5 nights for free with my boyfriend, worked with Universal last year and it was amazing". Hmm

iskegness · 23/01/2018 11:20

Worry about rasing your children with morals rather than a buisness practice that is comonplace and has always been.

How about not mocking a young girl while advocating and prazing a bully.

Original poster
Rebeccaslicker · 23/01/2018 11:20

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.urbandictionary.com/define.php%3fterm=You+do+you+boo&amp=true

It looks like it's saying exactly that - you do what you like, "boo".

It's almost as bad as "bae". Seriously. It only has one syllable. Why do you need to shorten it? Argh!

OP posts:
Original poster
Rebeccaslicker · 23/01/2018 11:21

She mocked herself by making a woefully greedy and ill thought out request - and then posting a tearful fake response. If you really can't see that, I think you're the one who deserves an instaban.

OP posts:
dustarr73 · 23/01/2018 11:26

And to be fair to the hotel fella Paul,he doesnt start the rows.Other people do,it just so happens hes better at clapback than most people.

iskegness · 23/01/2018 11:26

I'm critical of them both, you're not.

MadyaunMylford · 23/01/2018 11:32

WTF does "you do you boo" actually MEAN

you worry about/ look after yourself and I will worry about/ lok after myself...ie. do not get up in my business as it is none of your concern

it is a slang/ hip way to say stay out of my affairs :)

CauliflowerBalti · 23/01/2018 11:34

Her approach was rubbish but that doesn't justify public humiliation. Being a bit bad at your job doesn't justify public humiliation. People not liking her doesn't justify public humiliation. People thinking vlogging isn't a proper job doesn't justify public humiliation.

There is no excuse for the hotelier's behaviour.

MadyaunMylford · 23/01/2018 11:34

ok a few slightly different definitions Urban dictionary is always educational :)
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=You%20Do%20You

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=You%20do%20you%20boo

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=do%20you%20boo

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2018 11:40

Because lots of people ask for freebies, THAT makes it ok??

She isn't asking for freebies, she is pitching her business and asking for payment (in non monetary form) for a service. The hotel declined it (as would I given this kind of naff sales pitch).

Of course asking for payment in kind has tax/business implications as well which would suggest to me she hasn't thought it through business wise.

PoorYorick · 23/01/2018 11:42

youngsters see it and think it's an easy and fun way to be rich and famous rather than doing a real job. But then I wonder if I'm just behind the times!

There have always been silly people acting bad role models for youngsters, or ordinary people who are feared to be bad role models for youngsters (Elvis and his pelvis, shield your eyes!!!!). The young people of any given time are growing up in a different world to the older ones; that's as it should be (provided it is, overall, a better world than before).

We'll always have some idiots, but I really don't believe that the majority of young people truly believe they can get rich by throwing a bit of shitty content on the internet every so often. Really, I don't.