With great power comes great responsibility

This article in the San Fransisco Chronicle is an ominous demonstration of the growing power wielded by bloggers and internet forum participants.

It seems that many people want to play Food Critic, and diners-out are taking them seriously. On sites like yelp.com and in countless personal blogs, people are shredding the reputations of restaurants, and it's actually hurting business.

On one hand, that sounds completely awesome. We've all had an experience where we've been treated like crap by the staff/management/owner of a restaurant, and it's great to have the ability to voice that injustice in a way that actually has an impact.

But how much of that is fair? How much criticism is stupid nitpicking about the color of the tablecloth? How much is disingenuous, if not altogether dishonest?

The job of food writer is a plum assignment at any newspaper. For chrissake, you get paid to eat in fancy restaurants all the time! But food writers are, more often than not, trained journalists, with a journalist's code of ethics.

A professional food writer does not accept free meals. A professional food writer won't visit a restaurant within 30 days of opening, so the fledgling establishment can work out its glitches. Above all, a professional food writer does not form his or her opinion before getting to the restaurant. I'm not so sure we can say that about bloggers.

Hey bloggers, if you want to be food writers, act like professionals. It seems both customers and industry people are listening with outstretched ears. You have the power, now use it wisely.