Horrible mistreatment from an out of town restaurant owner

Hello folks, I have been MIA here for awhile, but I have a question regarding the actions of a business owner in Bowling Green, KY. I moderate a site for KY called city-data.com, and I am constantly referring folks over here for dining recs. Recently, I have been the victim of a viscious attack on me by a small business owner of (the Cellar), because he did not like a review of his restaurant I gave. His first two posts on my board were very rude. Please review this thread and let me know what you think and any experience with this restaurant or owner:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/kentucky ... green.html


I really do not feel I have done anything wrong here. As the mod, I could erase the whole thread, but I think such a rude business owner needs to be exposed across the state. Any input would be appreciated!

I'm not sure how him making a post in response to yours is "horrible mistreatment" or how posting the snafu here is going to lead to anything positive.

I participate in a few forums myself and this sort of occurrence is quite common. One thing to remember, myself included, is that on these forums we have no inkling of the body language, inflection, tone of voice, demeanor or any of the other non-typed and non-verbal methods of communicating that humans employ while in a face to face discourse. What we see here in online forums in only the written word. I sincerely believe a lot can get lost and/or misunderstood. I've been guilty of that myself, on this forum and others. I say make up and agree to disagree. Chalk it up to experience and live and let live.

I fail to see the issue.

You don't have a very high opinion of his restaurant and chose to say so publicly.

He didn't care for your opinion and chose to reply in the same forum you posted in.

You making a big issue out of this and posting it to an entirely different forum, for whatever reason, just kind of makes you seem like a whiny jerkhole.

But, of course, that's just my opinion.

I say keep the Bowling Green fight in Bowling Green and not drag it onto another forum. If push comes to shove invite him over to Lou-Lou for some real good food.

[Robin Garr]

Michael, I think you've had good advice here already, but I'll just add that from my point of view, if I reviewed a place negatively and the owner came on to post a passionate or even angry response, I'd be inclined to just let him do it. The beauty of online forums is that there's room for varying opinions; and one of my many original purposes in setting up this forum was to allow folks (including owners) to respond to my reviews on LouisvilleHotBytes - positively or otherwise.

Let's face it, even if it's a critic's job to post honest commentary, telling a restaurateur that his eatery isn't the best is sort of like telling a mother that she's got an ugly baby. You're almost bound to get an emotional response. Barring libelous or actionable remarks, it's generally kindest and most appropriate to let them have their say.

I kept waiting for the heavy fire in that thread and never really found it. One must have much thicker skin on many boards I read. Blow it off - on both sides of that discussion.

Hello folks, I have been MIA here for awhile, but I have a question regarding the actions of a business owner in Bowling Green, KY. I moderate a site for KY called city-data.com, and I am constantly referring folks over here for dining recs. Recently, I have been the victim of a viscious attack on me by a small business owner of (the Cellar), because he did not like a review of his restaurant I gave. His first two posts on my board were very rude. Please review this thread and let me know what you think and any experience with this restaurant or owner:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/kentucky ... green.html


I really do not feel I have done anything wrong here. As the mod, I could erase the whole thread, but I think such a rude business owner needs to be exposed across the state. Any input would be appreciated!

Maybe it is just me, but I didn't think it was that "horrible".
Maybe it is because I tend to be a bit on the sacastic side myself and frequently give my opinion in the forum and others. Some agree with me and some don't but this is a forum to share our opinions. If you give a negative review someone is going to disagree with you. If you give a positive review someone is going to disagree with you.
Let it go brother, it's not worth the energy - If you still feel the passion, start a poll or something to justify your position, but pissing in the wind just gets your pants wet!

I like that the moderator keeps threatening the owner with telling all his corporate friends to not eat at the restaurant. Can you imagine Robin running around Brown Forman telling all the suits not to eat at Blank restaurant because the owner did not like his review and told him so. Wow!

In Bowling Green "corporate friends"=assistant manager at the Big O.

Was the moderator drinking Hungarian pear brandy?

That sounds delicious! I should get me some!

[Robin Garr]

Can you imagine Robin running around Brown Forman telling all the suits not to eat at Blank restaurant because the owner did not like his review and told him so. Wow!

I can imagine me trying it.
I can also imagine Brown-Forman calling security.

In Bowling Green "corporate friends"=assistant manager at the Big O.

Hey, behave. That's my home town you're talking 'bout there!

Jeez Louise..... I can only echo earlier postings. Who is this guy and why is he posting here? Can he tell me once more that he is well-travelled and very knowledgeable about food and wine? All that post succeeded in doing is make me appreciate this forum and moderator more. It also makes me want to go and try The Cellar the next time (I meant first time) I go to Bowling Green.