In the past weeks I was wonder about the million comments and rates in million places in Gmaps. In a quick view I counted a lot of stars without comment or even the minimal explanation about the stars given. I think there is not such a thing like “LocalGuide Ethics and responsibility” maybe it is implicit that we (all the people) must have ethics and conscience by default. However, what is the reason to rate and evaluate and exclude an oppionion about their experience? if it is so bad that deserves ONE STAR why not make a brief description about why it is so bad?
As local Guides, we must take our responsibility about comments and opinions posted on local businesses.
We must NOT rate a place just with 2 stars and explain anything!! That is unfair for the business because they deserve the opportunity to improve their place helped by local guides committed with the project of create a best community. In my opinion is not an ethical behavior for a Local Guide to place a low number of stars (1,2 or 3) and not to explain the bad experience. We all know that the average of stars in any business could affect the place in a negative way. If you really want to help, let the people know what they can do better instead of just affect their reputation without sense. In any case, I think it is better not to rate.
Please remember that we are a selected group of people trying to improve our local environment [I say selected because we can afford a smart phone and Internet] and that implies a huge responsibility, starting with our comments and photos and finishing with what we say and how we rate local businesses. Many of these places depend of how people rate them, if they have one star their average is going down without a good explanation of what they do.
Please if you rate, add a reason for the rate. They deserve it and we deserve committed local guides.
Let me know what you think about!!!