I think we should spread the word as much as possible regarding this, and ask local foodies we know well to not post on CH any longer. This is more than unfair.

Maybe we need to start a new site: http://www.chowhoundsucks.com (Edit — Oh, crap, someone already started that site, and it may not be entirely appropriate for work!)

A couple weeks ago, I put up a link to Chowhound. I’ve now taken it down.

Jujube take 2:

Your failure to even respond to my e-mail is puzzling. You may know by now that a number of Triangle area food blogs are discussing the ban on discussion of Jujube. Perhaps you are irritated at the rather frank criticisms being levied against Chowhound by myself in particular.

Of course, I’m not sure how you’d expect anyone, about whom there have been implications of wrong doing, should act when the group making those implications refuses to even address the issue either publicly or privately. Put yourself in my shoes for a moment. Not only am I being excluded from one of the forums where people discuss good places to eat, but my good name is being questioned whenever anyone tries to post something. Honestly, you must have some reason to believe this is justified and I hardly think it unfair for you to, at very least, contact me about this.

Honestly, what exactly are you trying to accomplish here? I understand that you want to keep your site “hype free”, that’s fine. If you have reason to believe that somebody is abusing the site, look into it. But, you should really, in fact, look into it not just say you are.

Charlie Deal
Jujube Restaurant

…I finally got a non-automated response. It is as follows:

Unfortunately, we’ve been backed into a corner on this one because our private communications on this matter have been made public. Since we don’t make public announcements on these sorts of issues, and private communication is not possible, we will have no further comment on this.

I don’t exactly understand what they are saying. It does seem rather cryptic. The best I can determine is that they are upset that people have been posting their “private” communications on the subject. It should be noted, however, that every posted e-mail from Chowhound has been a form letter. When I followed some of the above links to other people complaining about Chowhound, the letters were exactly the same as, for instance, the one that Ross Grady posted. Thus, this was hardly some intimate communication that was intended for Ross’ eyes only and he somehow violated their trust by showing it to all of us.

Whatever…

Another CH’er told me about a post that he’d seen before it, and the entire thread, got pulled… someone had posted a snarky comment about having to know Charlie in order to get a good meal.

Really really quickly afterwards, all mention of Jujube was obviously banned.

The only way I “know” Charlie is by repeatedly having been to his restaurant – and the only reason I would part with my money repeatedly at a place is if I love the food and service. The fact that CH blacklisted the place is utter BS.

It is great to think that there are chefs out there reading all comments, good and bad, on their restaurants AND participating discussions on the board. I’m all for requiring honesty and integrity on the boards, but this policy doesn’t seem to be an effective measure to provide it. All it seems to do is to discourage chef’s from participating, which is a shame.

A note on Watts – I wanted to like Watts food the first time I was there; But I didn’t, and posted as much. As much to give feedback TO the restaurant as ON it – Because I know that they’re listening. I just hope that they’re listening to E-Gullet as well, since I think I’ll be moving my occasional postings back there from now on. And THAT ought to catch CNET’s attention. So Chowhound – Finish this investigation and restore the JJB posts.

Personally, I’m planning on posting on Chowhound a full account of the Jujube Chef’s table that a number of us will be enjoying in a few weeks.

I’d also be happy to post the entire text of the letter on my blog too.

I know this has been touched on elsewhere, but perhaps if an independent entity were to list everyplace that is banned by Chowhound, it would both put pressure on them and let others know that “If you post about X on Chowhound, it’s gonna get deleted.” It might also help lift the stigma of the “investigation” bs. Perhaps that’s just too much work, especially on a national basis. Again, I don’t post on Chowhound, so I’m kinda talking out of my @$$ here.

I’m quite certain they know about this. I’ve even noticed that someone from a CNET.com IP address has been visiting this blog. In the end, however, they just don’t care. It’s their site, their moderators, and their rules (although unclear or unwritten ones).

In terms of Joe’s response. One would think that they might have figured out what they were going to do about this in 6 mos. The 48 hours since I personally contacted them is one thing, but they’ve been implying that I may have acted inappropriately for some time now and one should expect that they were obliged to actually look into and determine if that was actually happening by now.