An OPEN LETTER to Facebook Food Fanatics of the Upper Ohio Valley:
What a cool idea for a Facebook page, right? Likely the next best creation since the Ohio Valley Road Report, I would think. The membership levels aren’t equal, but there’s a chance it could happen because we sure do love our food. Some go to The Pointe at Wheeling Island Casino, others prefer Undo’s, and many opt for Dicarlo’s when feeling that craving for square pizza with cold cheese.
And now, on a daily basis, Foodies unite!
Most of the photography is flattering while featuring delicious-looking dishes from both sides of the Ohio River, and no doubt some establishments have seen an increase in customer base. There have been bacon cheeseburgers, seared salmon, smoked wings, glorious food buffets, perfectly grilled steak, and grilled cheeses, and a few soups, too.
But also there have been underdone chicken and disheveled dishes, too, and some of the harshness that has appeared on the page has been the type that can plummet a struggling eatery straight to Hell.
Ever own a business? Gone into debt keeping people employed? Attempted to hire – and retain – new staff members? Deal with no-call-no-shows? Fill the shift in the dish pit, on the line, or on the floor? Go in on a day off to do the same?
Stay awake all night worried about the next day’s deposit because a big bill is due the day after? Been a server needing the rent money or the cash for the cable bill or the car payment?
And have you ever had someone post a performance report on you at your job for more than 5,700 people to read with one sweep of their newsfeed? Did such a review decrease your compensation? Make you worry about the impact, your financial future and consider a Plan B?
Hey, listen, the praise on the page likely has helped some business owners, so please continue with the food-porn-pics because it’s always a good thing to expand the options, but allowing the nasty and negativity is harmful. We all have bad days, and if your food is not of the quality you expected, inform your server and help the owners make it right before trashing them on social media.
Now, if those efforts aren’t successful, please post away on your own page instead of on a forum that’s become popular and could, potentially, cause impact.
THINK ABOUT IT: We’ve all scorched a piece of toast and overcooked the chicken and burned the burgers, but have you ever heard that old saying …
“If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”
Sincerely,
Food Service Survivors
