The Bitter Truth: Why I Refused the 'Influencer' Menu
To put it bluntly, as is my nature, I did not enter the world of food b/vlogging because I have neither the stomach for polite lies nor the patience for shallow praise. I am, by temperament, a surgical diner. My critiques are often too sharp for the "good vibes only" culture of modern content creation. I am the type of guest who does not just question the seasoning on the plate, but the very values of the person who owns the kitchen. The "Free Lunch" Dilemma In the early days of my blogging era (back when "weblog" was a fresh term and video was an afterthought), I found myself caught in the trap of the "invite." As a fledgling writer, there is a certain pressure to accept every invitation that lands in your inbox. But I quickly discovered the heavy price of a "free" meal: the unspoken expectation of a glowing review. I found myself staring at mediocre dishes, struggling to find the "courtesy" to write something palatable abo...
