do servers not listen anymore?

first of all, thank you to Robin, Steve, and Gary F for acknowledging my comments and seeing them for what they are... love and concern for the forum and not criticism or bitterness. i have reconsidered my original position and decided to BE the change that i would like to see on this board. i will rededicate myself to starting threads rather than merely lurking or piping in when i see fit. it is a fine line... i want to scream about some of the things going on downtown from the rooftops but don't want to come across as self=promoting or marketing...
that being said, i seriously believe in what we are doing at my restaurant and many others in our vicinity. i really think that there is a national focus on smaller cities right now and it is truly our time to shine!!! we have made louisville weird, now let's show everyone why. you know what they say... "with opportunity comes responsibility!!

Krista -

I understand your frustration about wanting to see more feedback on the positive posts. I am as guilty as others at nodding my head in agreement as I read and not putting my agreement into words. It is like what happens in my line of work - everyone slows down to look at the accident, but no one comments on the good job they think EMS, FD and PD are doing. Perhaps the suggestion of looking at how many people read your comments is helpful. Think of lots of us sitting at our screens, nodding our heads (what a visual!). When I was a server, one of my managers used the old chestnut: "If we do a good job, the customers will tell their family and friends, if we do a bad job, the customers will tell everyone!" I try very hard to give servers every opportunity to do a good job, I tip well, I tell managers on the spot about excellent service, I give places multiple tries before I give up on them if I see potential. On the other hand, I will not gloss over what I percieve as indifferent, surly service, poorly prepared food or sloppy presentation. I hope that you and Jeremy will have more patience with us, we are still "watching the car wreck", and help us put more of our agreement into words.

I did not pick up his challenge this time because, when he made a similar statement in the Maido thread, I urged him to reconsider and pointed out that his assertion is flatly incorrect; as, I believe, is your analysis, Reagan. There's a boatload of positive commentary on this forum. There is also plenty of criticism. That's what the forum is now about, has always been about, and ever shall be about.

Since you responses to me in the past have been so... (since snarky is to you a good word, no that doesn't apply here either...) I will break my points down so there is no room for confusion, deliberate or otherwise.

1. Robin, I did not address my post at you. Regardless, you are not qualified determine any level of my "correctness" in my "analysis." Deny that. (You also put the word analysis and commentary on the same print line, haha!)

2. I wasn't talking about this forum, nor criticizing it, but speaking as I tend to do in specifics, about the tone of a particular thread. Deny that.

3. Any reference to the overall tone of some posts in the forum (what did one non-challenged poster call the rules of customers only remembering the bad?) is only reinforced by actual statements and events. You refer to the Maido thread, thankfully I was actually working in the industry at the time and missed that ball of joy. Deny that.

4. You do not need to tell me what this forum is about, in any tense. I never wrote anything that suggested such a need. Deny that.

This thread has been quiet for almost 10 days. Now you've brought it back to life again. I wonder why you wanted to do that.

5. If you would read your own forum, you would see in my introduction that I have been busy, and reserve the right to read and react to the issues posted at my leisure. I have never written anything negative or nasty to anyone, so to question my motives at when I clearly stated them is sloppy at best and "patently insulting" at worst. Deny that.

For a journalist, I find your word choice in particular threads questionable. As a moderator, I find your attacks, for that is what they are, on my free speech to be enough to ALMOST ruin my Sunday.

Two questions, raised by your candid and sincere comments, Krista:

1. Should I "lock" this thread? My general policy of non-censorship goes against it, but sometimes a discussion reaches the point where it's just as well to close it down and invite everyone to go talk about something else.

2. I liked your post about Wiltshire, but - as Steve said well - I tend not to take up people's time with "good post" when there's not much to add. Do folks feel we should change this policy and give a little more time to prop each other up when someone posts a good review?

Three points.

1. Go with your gut. That IS censorship.
2. What policy do we have against this currently?

3. AGAIN, read my post. You may not qualify it as candid or sincere, yet I attempted, as I always do, to end and invite people to talk about something else, and make a note for the future talks on our supposed loves.

People who know me know me, and other people may have to rely on reading my posts, and the fact that I have given up most than most people get to actually work in this industry. So I'll take the Pepsi challenge against your right to write what I want. Only I am done, and well, let's just say that I am walking away whistling, not yapping, and save my snark for people who deserve and or can handle it. You can't deny any of my facts above, but save your journalistic integrity and word choice because I won't be here for the smackdown.

For the last time, I was only saying give Peace a chance, and let's Celebrate Food. It lasts even less time than we do. I am withdrawing from the Potluck, will read as a non-member how to donate, and will miss meeting so many of you in person, the vast majority of which I am sure are much better mannered than a "few bad customer service experiences" I mean rude people who simply just want to complain.

For everyone who is cool, I look forward to meeting you, as I have met so many before, in the bright or questionable lighting of ANY establishment that makes my belly and my mind happy. Blessings.

[Robin Garr]

I will break my points down so there is no room for confusion, deliberate or otherwise.

Reagan, I'm really sorry, but I'm afraid that didn't work out for me. You and I apparently speak English in a very different way to the extent that I find your post, even as organized as it is, stunningly difficult to comprehend. You appear to be dropping out of the potluck. What a shame. But I'm not going to try to argue with you or even attempt to defend myself.

If anyone would care to advise me here, I'll receive it respectfully.

I have never written anything negative or nasty to anyone, so to question my motives at when I clearly stated them is sloppy at best and "patently insulting" at worst. Deny that.

I deny that.

1. Go with your gut. That IS censorship.
2. What policy do we have against this currently?

Free speech and the Internet are not the same.

I will break my points down so there is no room for confusion, deliberate or otherwise.

Reagan, I'm really sorry, but I'm afraid that didn't work out for me. You and I apparently speak English in a very different way to the extent that I find your post, even as organized as it is, stunningly difficult to comprehend. You appear to be dropping out of the potluck. What a shame. But I'm not going to try to argue with you or even attempt to defend myself.

If anyone would care to advise me here, I'll receive it respectfully.

I totally agree with you Robin. I couldn't comprehend Regan's post either. By the way, what did she mean when she said you had analysis and commentary in the same print line? What is wrong with that? Sorry just not getting it.

Reagan, I'd advise the "write angry message, wait 24 hours, edit, and post" method next time. And I don't mean that in a snide way. I'm having trouble comprehending your message as well, but do believe there's material you've offered that we should be discussing. Care to clarify your thoughts?