Well, in another instance of what I consider irresponsible behavior and perhaps even unethical behavior by a casino, I draw your attention to Fort McDowell Casino in the metroploitan area of Phoenix, Arizona.
Rather than re-phrasing and re-writing much of what my wife, Judy, and I have already written on Facebook, I am just going to copy and paste what we have already written about it all along with the comments of others on Facebook.
First off, here is what has been written on Judy's Facebook wall throughout the day of February 4, 2013:
Judy Rosenberg Hansen:
I just posted this on The Fort FB page, but they will most likely delete it, they don't like negative comments, TOO BAD, here it is! Super Bowl $$$ drawing every quarter!
One unhappy lady got her name drawn but didn't get the money because she didn't have a picture ID with her! It was in the hotel room and they wouldn't give her time to go and get it! She was know by Casino Boss but even that didn't help her! WTH is wrong with this, everything!!!! Shame on The Fort!!!!
Roland Louis Hansen:
Hey, Judy! The Fort took your comment off their Facebook page already.
Roland Louis Hansen:
Incidentally, The Fort also put a few photos on their Facebook wall of people in the food line and at the slot machines. I wrote under one of those photos, "I wonder if the people in the photos have given permission to The Fort to have their pictures made public." That also was removed by The Fort within minutes.
Judy Rosenberg Hansen:
I knew they would do that!
Roland Louis Hansen:
I just wrote another comment under the same photo on the Facebook wall of The Fort.
It reads: "Why has my comment under this photo been removed??? All I did was to write "I wonder if the people in the photos have given permission to The Fort to have their pictures made public." Apparently, the Fort practices censorship of comments with which they disagree. My wife and and have been regulars at The Fort for many years. That is not good public relations. If The Fort fears negative publicity, it needs to respond constructively not with ignoring legitimate criticism and removing legitimate comments. If this censorship continues, we will consider the possibility of no longer going to The Fort; and we may even write about this censorship on our blogs. Oh heck, we may even bring it to the attention of the mass media of television, radio, newspapers."
I will go back to see how long that one stays there.
Judy Rosenberg Hansen:
Oh No, they just tagged my Club card, Darn! No more Fort McDowell for me!!!!!
Roland Louis Hansen:
Well, The Fort Facebook people have already removed my comment and have removed my ability to make comments on their wall.
Nara Goldman Dedrick:
that is terrible that they did that
Judy Rosenberg Hansen:
I can't comment either! Just wait until they see what and where I post it next!
Roland Louis Hansen:
I just wrote something on the wall of 3TV Phoenix. It is as follows:
I wonder if 3TV Phoenix will allow this comment of mine on their Facebook wall. I wonder if 3TV Phoenix will consider the possibility of an investigative report on the use (or misuse) of Facebook by businesses who manipulate and censor the stories on Facebook pages. So, here is my story:
My wife wrote a comment on the Facebook wall of Fort McDowell Casino that was removed by whoever manages the Facebook page of Fort McDowell Casino. I had written on my wife's FB wall this comment: "Incidentally, The Fort also put a few photos on their Facebook wall of people in the food line and at the slot machines. I wrote under one of those photos, "I wonder if the people in the photos have given permission to The Fort to have their pictures made public." That also was removed by The Fort within minutes. I then wrote on the Facebook wall of Fort McDowell, ""Why has my comment under this photo been removed??? All I did was to write "I wonder if the people in the photos have given permission to The Fort to have their pictures made public." Apparently, the Fort practices censorship of comments with which they disagree. My wife and and have been regulars at The Fort for many years. That is not good public relations. If The Fort fears negative publicity, it needs to respond constructively not with ignoring legitimate criticism and removing legitimate comments. If this censorship continues, we will consider the possibility of no longer going to The Fort; and we may even write about this censorship on our blogs. Oh heck, we may even bring it to the attention of the mass media of television, radio, newspapers." That comment was also removed and my ability to make further comments has been blocked.
Dianna-Sis L Kamper:
Wow that's crazy. She should have gotten her prize fair and square. Maybe it's time someone stands up to them, but boy did they mess with the wrong ones
Nara Goldman Dedrick:
can't believe that. They are obviously afraid of something
Alyce Segall:
i would boycott the fort since there are so many other casinos to visit
And here is an exchange that appears on the Facebook page of 3TV Phoenix (beginning on the morning of February 4, 2013 through the morning of February 6, 2013 and up until the writing of this Roland Hansen Commentary in the mid-afternoon):
Roland Louis Hansen:So, there you have it. First, it was Hollywood Casino Toledo; and now, it is Fort McDowell Casino.
I wonder if 3TV Phoenix will allow this comment of mine on their Facebook wall. I wonder if 3TV Phoenix will consider the possibility of an investigative report on the use (or misuse) of Facebook by businesses who manipulate and censor the stories on Facebook pages. So, here is my story:
My wife wrote a comment on the Facebook wall of Fort McDowell Casino that was removed by whoever manages the Facebook page of Fort McDowell Casino. I had written on my wife's FB wall this comment: "Incidentally, The Fort also put a few photos on their Facebook wall of people in the food line and at the slot machines. I wrote under one of those photos, "I wonder if the people in the photos have given permission to The Fort to have their pictures made public." That also was removed by The Fort within minutes. I then wrote on the Facebook wall of Fort McDowell, "Why has my comment under this photo been removed??? All I did was to write 'I wonder if the people in the photos have given permission to The Fort to have their pictures made public.' Apparently, the Fort practices censorship of comments with which they disagree. My wife and and have been regulars at The Fort for many years. That is not good public relations. If The Fort fears negative publicity, it needs to respond constructively not with ignoring legitimate criticism and removing legitimate comments. If this censorship continues, we will consider the possibility of no longer going to The Fort; and we may even write about this censorship on our blogs. Oh heck, we may even bring it to the attention of the mass media of television, radio, newspapers." That comment was also removed and my ability to make further comments has been blocked.
Thomas Smythe:
It's their page, they have the right to remove whatever they darn well please. If you don't like it, you don't have to post there. And if you keep trying to post things that they don't want you to, they have the right to block you. Just like they apparently did.
Next time, don't turn such a simple thing into such a crusade. Oh, and threaten to not return all you want....financially, your absence won't even TOUCH the casino's income.
Roland Louis Hansen:
To Thomas Smythe: Thank you for your kind comments. You seem to have considered all the factors involved prior to reaching your well thought out conclusions. Yep, I am sure everyone wishes to have their photos on Facebook without necessarily having given permission to do so. And, I suppose you are also correct, Thomas Smythe, in your perspective that ignoring and/or censoring the expression of customer concerns are good, sound, positive, public relations business practices. And, of course, Thomas, you must be correct that people should just keep silent rather than voicing concerns about possible injustices or mistreatment. Your approach reminds me of the following quotation that has been attributed to Martin Niemoeller: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Tom Nowel:
Write a letter to the editor of the Republic and find another casino.
Hal HalYes Yaffe:
Your comments could have been answered rather than edited or removed. This is a fair question. However, i think you "allow" the casino rights to your pictures simply by being on their property. Do they have a stated policy at their location?
Thomas Smythe:
Honey, I don't need your quotes, I'm quite aware of that one; and it doesn't even come close to applying in this instance. You sure do a good job of making yourself sound repressed, though! You really should be a speechwriter; some of these politicians could use such skill. Because just like with the politicians, you just made a whole lot of nothing at least SOUND like something.
You didn't "out" them for doing something wrong; I guarantee you'll find wording in the small print of the forms that you filled out for those silly little gambler's cards that says they have the right to use your image. What more likely happened was you didn't enter the comment correctly, then went on some crusade when you didn't find it later, thinking that they deleted it. And when you made a spectacle of yourself, they got rid of the problem. Either way, you went nuts about it trying to take them to task; so much so that when they had enough of you and banned you, you ran out to a news page and not only wrote a novel about it, but threatened to write some silly little blog about it. And even if they DID delete your original comment, it's not like they were covering up some huge conspiracy. They could have simply been erasing nit-picking that they felt was not conducive to the enjoyment of other customers....which, again, is their right. It's THEIR timeline, you have your OWN for a reason. Grow up and get over it already.
Roland Louis Hansen:
Aw, gee, Thomas Smythe, again I thank you for your perspective. I simply disagree with your blind devotion to and adamant defense of Fort McDowell and its questionable practices in the area of business ethics and public relations. On the other hand, I believe the public has a right to know and I would be remiss if I did not share the information about Fort McDowell and any other businesses that employ questionable business practices; the phrase "caveat emptor" may be apropos with the full and complete disclosure of such businesses.
Roland Louis Hansen:
Thank you, Hal HalYes Yaffe. Your perspective that the spokesperson for Fort McDowell Casino could have answered my concern rather than delete my comments on their Facebook page is reflective of my thoughts on the matter. I do not know whether or not Fort McDowell Casino has a stated policy posted at their premises on their use of photos of customers without the customers written consent; I have never noticed such a posted policy if one does exist. None-the-less, it seems to me that the administrator of the Fort McDowell Casino Facebook page could have provided a reply to my expressed concern rather than deleting it.
I guess the casino business just does not have any business scruples or morals. We all know the odds are in favor of the house and that the casinos make millions upon millions of dollars in profits. So, why, oh why, do the casinos need to stoop to immoral, unethical, irresponsible, unscrupulous business practices??!!!!
But, that is just my opinion.
What are your thoughts on this?
2 comments:
If this is the kind of person you normally run into on the internet, buddy, no wonder you get along with my b.s.!
Oh, heck, CW!!! That is very mild compared to the many vicious personal attacks I have endured from many, many rude and crude people of whom I have come across over the years at places like Facebook, Toledo Talk, Glass City Jungle, and SwampBubbles -- just to name a few.
I have always had the perspective that people as individuals may disagree with one another while still remaining friendly and respectful even in those situations when satire, sarcasm, and colorful adjectives may be used. Generally speaking, if someone has taken something I have stated in a generalized manner as a personal attack, I will attempt to clarify that my statements were not intended to be anything directed at an individual. I do my best not to make personal attacks on individuals; however, I shamefully admit that on a few occasions I have done so after someone else has first maliciously, purposefully, and with evil intent maligned me as an individual. None-the-less, I have learned that the best overall approach toward those trolls and flamers who continue to make personal attacks upon me is to simply not respond to them.
Post a Comment