SOM and the restaurant analogy
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:04 pm
In these discussions about the forum policy (and, yes, thankfully there is at least some discussion happening amongst us, and it hasn't been completely shut down yet), a common point raised in favor of SOM-censorship is that a restaurant or business wouldn't want a bunch of folks standing outside acting like picketers, and chasing away all these potential customers. The argument goes that the restaurant ownership should have the right to move those nonpaying folks someplace else, because those picketers are destructive of the company. And the company has a right to survival.
Perhaps, I could be persuaded about the appropriateness of that analogy for discussions about SOM, on the SOM facebook page, because that is a relatively public venue. But the analogy does not apply to discussions here in the SOM forums.
The correct way to conceptualize the restaurant analogy for these forums is that we are inside the restaurant, commenting about the quality of food and service provided by that restaurant. And not only are we inside the restaurant, but we've prepaid for our pizzas. I ordered, and paid for, a pizza with sausage and pepperoni, but it came with just the sausage. I ask, "Where is the pepperoni?", and I'm told by the restaurant staff that I am not allowed to discuss the food or service, because it would be destructive of the company and the eating environment for the other customers. "But where is the pepperoni?" No response. "WHERE IS MY PEPPERONI?" No response. "WHERE IS MY **** PEPPERONI!?!?!?! Nothing, except a letter saying that the policy of this restaurant is to not allow such discussions to take place.
The correct application of the restaurant analogy, for our situation here, is that we were served only part of our meal, a meal that we have already paid for, but we are not allowed to discuss the problems in the meal or in the service.
Why should I continue to buy meals at that restaurant? This is why I've decided that I'm done with SOM once my credits run out. They have my email address, and when they change their policy, and come up with a legitimate sale offer, I might come back. It is a fun game, and I've enjoyed the camaraderie within the community. But there is no reason to continue buying meals at a restaurant that doesn't serve what it said it would serve, and then doesn't allow any discussion about the issue.
Perhaps, I could be persuaded about the appropriateness of that analogy for discussions about SOM, on the SOM facebook page, because that is a relatively public venue. But the analogy does not apply to discussions here in the SOM forums.
The correct way to conceptualize the restaurant analogy for these forums is that we are inside the restaurant, commenting about the quality of food and service provided by that restaurant. And not only are we inside the restaurant, but we've prepaid for our pizzas. I ordered, and paid for, a pizza with sausage and pepperoni, but it came with just the sausage. I ask, "Where is the pepperoni?", and I'm told by the restaurant staff that I am not allowed to discuss the food or service, because it would be destructive of the company and the eating environment for the other customers. "But where is the pepperoni?" No response. "WHERE IS MY PEPPERONI?" No response. "WHERE IS MY **** PEPPERONI!?!?!?! Nothing, except a letter saying that the policy of this restaurant is to not allow such discussions to take place.
The correct application of the restaurant analogy, for our situation here, is that we were served only part of our meal, a meal that we have already paid for, but we are not allowed to discuss the problems in the meal or in the service.
Why should I continue to buy meals at that restaurant? This is why I've decided that I'm done with SOM once my credits run out. They have my email address, and when they change their policy, and come up with a legitimate sale offer, I might come back. It is a fun game, and I've enjoyed the camaraderie within the community. But there is no reason to continue buying meals at a restaurant that doesn't serve what it said it would serve, and then doesn't allow any discussion about the issue.