if it looks like it, and reads like it, and sounds like it and smells like it... then it has the stank all over it. damage done.

Oh, for cryin’ out loud. She made a mistake; she did something foolish. Go back and read this thread from the top. Who should be more embarrassed by it?

We don’t ever do foolish things, do we? Especially not in our own enthusiasms, whatever they may be.

That’s one thing I hate about these threads: the eagerness to pile on. Why? She made a mistake and everyone stands around beating their chests, king of the mountain. Is that what we want people to know about LTH? That we are a community that punishes people who make mistakes? Did her post cost anyone anything? Not so far as I can tell. And then, god forbid, what about the possibility that it’s actually a worthy and deserving place? Even posters who shill run the risk of being right. But we’re all so busy patting ourselves on the back that a good new place goes undiscovered for a little longer.

Dmnkly, to his everlasting credit, contacted the restaurant. And management posted an apology. At least we didn’t jump all over him…much. Then, the next series of posts is "oops...maybe we were too harsh." I can't wait for the next series to come: "Hey, you know what? It's actually a good place!"

I, for one, am embarrassed by the reaction to chicagoandi’s post—and to similar reactions to previous posts like it. I thought we were here for other reasons. And I fail to see any true damage caused by her mistake. Even if you don’t agree with me that it’s a mistake and are willing to ascribe nefarious motives to her post, does that mean that avoiding the restaurant is the thing to do? Take it a step further: even if you’re of the opinion that this evil deed was solicited, endorsed, sanctioned, approved, and otherwise entirely the result of management’s direct efforts, does that mean that the restaurant serves bad food? Does that mean that we all benefit by avoiding the place?

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Anyway, I'm not going to hold it against a restaurant that somebody loves it so much.

I think JILS hit the nail on the head. Not everyone is a PR genius. Not everyone has their fair share of common sense. And people who take the monetary, emotional, and all the other risks inherent in opening a new place should be cut a little slack, IMHO. If I had just opened a new place, I can’t say that I’d do all the right things. Can you? And do you want to be held personally responsible for all acts and omissions of friends, family, and new customers who like your place?

So they made a mistake. Or, as seems more likely, a friend of theirs a mistake. Can’t we get past this and focus on what’s more important? I sure hope so.

(Yea verily: here)

By dint of the powers of Hell, in service to her master, the daemon Shin, she hath transformed a post into a shill and a thread into an instrument of torture. I say therefore...

Grill her, grill her like a steak!

She's a witch!!!

Antonius Pontifex

And, and, she turned me into a newt...but, well, I got better.

Seriously, this issue seems to have been whacked to death; let's refocus on the food of this place, as has been done in a neighboring thread:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=12108

David Hammond wrote:And, and, she turned me into a newt...but, well, I got better.

Seriously, this issue seems to have been whacked to death; let's refocus on the food of this place, as has been done in a neighboring thread:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=12108

Geez, I thought I had just said that.

That’s one thing I hate about these threads: the eagerness to pile on. Why? She made a mistake and everyone stands around beating their chests, king of the mountain. Is that what we want people to know about LTH? That we are a community that punishes people who make mistakes?

Go back and read this thread from the top. Who should be more embarrassed by it?

Yeesh. This criticism of posters' harshness toward perceived shillers is harsher than the accusations themselves, and certainly adds no additional value to the discourse regarding the food quality at Bon Soiree. As you note, we don't want to be a community that punishes people who make mistakes.

On another note, I stopped in for what turned out to be a perfectly balanced cup of coffee yesterday morning, and can't wait to try the Underground restaurant. I've been on the mailing list for awhile and have salivated over the menu descriptions.

LTH,

Most other culinary chat boards have a one strike you're out policy on shilling. Any post that even hints at shilling results in further mention, no matter how brief, in the complete post being pulled. This policy has a tendency to annoy posters and, more egregiously, restaurants that never shilled being lumped in with similar sounding places. Bone Daddy and Smoke Daddy come to mind.

LTHForum has, not surprisingly, a much more lenient policy regarding shilling, we pull obvious shill posts, but anything that might be considered a fence sitter we leave for the community to decide. This may result in spirited discussion, but I think it's better than the alternative.

That said, I think we have flogged this particular mule enough for a couple of chat board lifetimes and I am going to lock the thread. Further discussion on the merits of Bonsoiree's culinary offerings should be discussed in this thread The merits of LTHForum's policy on shills may be discussed in Site Chat if so desired.

Please consider this the end of discussion re Bonsoiree and shilling.

Enjoy,
Gary for the moderators