My day job is in social media and PR. I read daily about stupid social media criminals. While they may not be breaking the law, they are most often running their mouths on Facebook or Twitter and end up getting canned.
Damian Cardone from here in Colorado is one recent example. This guys works in Glenwood Springs at an Italian restaurant. He’s a chef and days ago posted a snarky comment to his Facebook page, and now he’s in hotter water than a pound of penne.
“Gluten-free is bull*%#@! Flour and bread have been a staple of life for thousands, and THOUSAND, of years.
People who claim to be gluten-intolorent dont realize it’s all in their disturbed little heads. People ask me for gluten-free pasta in my restaurant all the time, I tell em sure, then I serve em our pasta,Which I made from scratch with high gluten flour. And you know what? Nothing. NOTHING! ever happens! People leave talking about how good they feel gluten free and guess what, They just had a full dose! Idiots!”
The Gluten Free Life blog and Celiac Handbook on Facebook first broke the news and it’s gone viral since then. “He won’t be able to work at the snack counter in the local gas station soon,” one commenter said.
The gluten-free world is up in arms! Some are soliciting letters to the Attorney General of the Colorado State Department of Law, and others are leading people to the restaurant Yelp page (however no visible backlash there yet).
In essence, this man has “poisoned” his patrons. People don’t choose a gluten-free diet for the fun of it (and if they did they’re missing out). Many experience the most uncomfortable of symptoms and go through years of identifying their condition. Flour products can weaken your teeth and is known to also cause migraines.
I liken the situation to lactose intolerance. While most people with this condition can stomach dairy, it causes extreme discomfort and can ruin an evening out. If I order a pasta or salad and blue cheese suddenly appears, I’m upset. The taste lingers, the flavor of the dish is changed and, with time, my otherwise “normal” evening turns into a cramped mess. Whatever happened to “the customer’s always right” even if that means substitutions?
Let’s all take a step back and acknowledge that this guy is human, too. His behavior is inexcusable, but now his is being made an example of. On Facebook. On blogs. And on Twitter. It’s only a matter of time before his mother calls him up and asks him to explain himself.
Anything we post online can be recorded and embossed online forever. Know your privacy settings and if you can’t figure them out, Google it. Or ask me.
If you have to question yourself
before clicking “print” – don’t do it.
Gourmet Glee 