Adventures In Writing

Wanna Get Lucky?

I write reviews for www.blogcritics.org. The last few days one of the reviewers has written to the main board because he felt he might be treading on thin ice ethically. He's received free tickets to a show he's going to review. Now the people want to throw in a free, fancy dinner before the show as well.

He's worried about being compromised, and about the expectations of the people providing everything.

I was quiet for a few days. I thought it would all work itself out. But he's been getting all kinds of advice from different people.

Myself, I prefer simple, easy-to-understand advice.

When I couldn't sit back quietly anymore, this is what I sent to him:

Okay, I've sat back and kept my mouth shut. Can't resist adding my two cents.

Think of the comped meal as a date. They're asking you out on a date. I've asked women out on dates, and had women ask me out on dates. My wife and I both have hectic schedules, so we still set up dates. It's the only way we can do a lot of things together.

But I digress.

Here's the bottom line: Just because you agree to go out on a "date" with someone, they should know better than to expect to get "lucky." Man, if taking someone out to eat was all it took to get "lucky," I'd have been handing out McDonalds gift cards to women who caught my eye a long time ago.

I apologize if I offended anyone, but this just seemed too humorous to pass up.

Don't stress. Go. Enjoy. The last thing they want is a bunch of empty seats at the dinner tables.

Best,
Mel