I too prefer to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly about places I plan to visit. Sometimes I find these boards (TA included) tend to be all about what is wonderful and the negative is never mentioned. When it is, often the poster does get attacked by those who love the place being discussed which to me is just silly. Everyone has different experiences and views the world differently.

In this case, I agree that expecting English to be spoken is absurd and hardly a critcism of a place. Not only that, on both my visits to BA, lots of people spoke English, so I found the comment odd from that perspective. BA is a wonderful city and I love it, but it surely does have its warts, but what place doesn't? I always figure if someone doesn't like a place I do, that's 1 less person there.