635683 Fri Jul 10 20:17:15 -0700 2009 7 29 Not About Food 0 4848226 I suppose the internet has created a variety of dining-out conundrums that didn't exist twenty years ago. There was a restaurant that I was interested in eating at. I joined their Facebook group, which is managed by the restaurant owner. As a member of the group, I gained access to the group photo gallery... which included photos of the restaurant employees running around the restaurant (pre-opening day) in their underwear, which was adorned with rather unpleasant slogans relating to the end stages of the digestion process. To me, that kind of thing would be okay in a PRIVATE group that only staff could access, but to put it out there publicly seriously grosses me out. I don't want to sit on a chair that their underwear-clad butt was sitting on two weeks ago. Is the internet blurring the lines between customer and employee? Should I just accept that this happens at all restaurants and live with it? Or is this a sign of deeper unprofessionalism that could extend to my plate? Fri Jul 10 20:17:15 -0700 2009 131149 Jetgirly 1 4848435 A few thoughts, having to start with the obvious: 1. Chances are, everywhere you sit has had even worse on it before. You just don't want to _know_ about it. I haven't seen the pictures, but honestly, I am not going to worry about the parties and activities of restaurant workers, especially if they have nothing to do with food prep. 2. I think that has little to do with the Internet save for people's breathtaking lack of awareness regarding what 'public' means-- that or the staggering narcissism that gives rise to certain posts. 3. You're spot on about the lack of professionalism-- if only because of the lack of judgement that appears to be on display. A facebook group that is open to public should think about what kind of face they present to the world. Perhaps this is the restaurant persona they want to cultivate, in which case, yea them even as you clearly won't be having any more of it. If this is not the persona (or type of clientèle) they seek, they might wish to rethink their uses of a facebook group. Fri Jul 10 23:08:18 -0700 2009 4848226 16734 Lizard 1 4850196 Oh my! Probably more goes on behind closed doors than we'd like to think - but after learning an establishment would so willingly broadcast photos like the ones you describe, I wouldn't visit such a place. Sat Jul 11 19:54:23 -0700 2009 4848226 73756 enbell 1 4850205 This is one of the reasons I am so glad I've refused to join Facebook. I just don't want to know every little detail about people's lives or see 52 sets of various drunken festivities. Some things should stay private. I can see this sort of thing happening if the employees started a group without the manager's permission, but it's just unbelievable to me that the owner wouldn't put in some privacy controls. Sat Jul 11 20:00:44 -0700 2009 4848226 107671 queencru 2 4854026 Just because you have joined something like Facebook, that does not mean you are compelled to look at every little detail of people's lives. It's pretty much what you choose to make of it. In addition, you are a knowledgeable and astute individual, so you would not be one of those driven to post stuff that could come back to bite you. And just because the employees posted silly pictures, that didn't mean that the OP was required to look at them. Although I have to say that I would have been tempted.... Mon Jul 13 10:53:05 -0700 2009 4850205 90359 PattiCakes 3 4854092 You may not post stuff that could come back to bite you, but once you have a facebook profile, other people can post photos of you and tag your name on them. Make sure to have your settings to max privacy. Mon Jul 13 11:14:25 -0700 2009 4854026 139219 Sooeygun 4 4854549 good advice. thanks. Mon Jul 13 13:19:27 -0700 2009 4854092 90359 PattiCakes 3 4854547 I was looking for pictures of the restaurant's food! That's what I would expect to find from the group page managed by the restaurant owner! Mon Jul 13 13:19:01 -0700 2009 4854026 131149 Jetgirly