Message: | Chowhound.com is a great product. On this point, there seems to be site-wide consensus. The question seems to be, why are folks not willing to BUY this product when they are so willing to consume it when it is FREE.
Perhaps we believe that, as with other Internet experiences, if Chowhound goes under, another will pop up to replace it. Not so. Simply Google out there to see what else is available. NOTHING compares.
Perhaps we're cheap. Maybe some of us are poor, but I reckon none of us are really cheap. We post our willingness to drive 25 miles for the "best" taco al pastor & our disappointment with a particular '89 Haut Medoc. Yet we're reluctant to part with $30/year to perhaps discover a "better" taco al pastor in ChowNews? I don't get it.
At this point -- not quite a week into the effort -- maybe we are reluctant to hop aboard a sinking ship. Clearly our leader is depressed. Shall I send him money & then have him commit webi-kebi with it? Shall I pop for a newsletter that may never happen? Tough question that we -- and our leader -- need to come to grips with. I think many folks need assurance that, despite dire warnings, Chowhound has not hit the iceberg (God, an awful analogy...) & with a modest investment, will find its way to open water (that keeps getting worse).
For the Grubster, I have already ordered my shirts. And when finished with this will subscribe to ChowNews. Despite the Big Dog's defensive arrogance and occasionally ham-handed censorship, the Grubman loves the site, the posters, the info, the joy of discovery. Besides valuable current information on my favorite topic -- food, good food, a lot of good food -- Chowhound daily brings me hours (don't tell the ol' employer) of sheer entertainment.
Although I've been cranky about the censorship issue recently, I'm doing my damndest to rise above it. Even to the extent of, yes, thank you Leslie, opening my wallet. I encourage everyone to join the party. |