Question about posting if you know the owner of a food truck ...

[PaulF]

a colleague is about to launch a food truck in Los Angeles.

Would someone mind telling me the policy about me mentioning her truck on the local board?

I wouldn't necessarily write a review -- though I might if it weren't against some rule -- but I would like to at least mention its existence on the Los Angeles board.

If I am open about the fact that I know the owner and stay out of the fray if reviews become pro and con -- is it cool if I mention the name of the truck and describe the menu?

Thanks

[nsxtasy]

>> Would someone mind telling me the policy about me mentioning her truck on the local board?

www.chowhound.com/topics/367605#2259233

[PaulF]

Thanks for that.

In this case, I'm a writer who interviewed and wrote an article about a soon to be on the road food truck. But since I write for a school-related publication and the article was slanted as an "alumni profile" -- I feel these rules apply to me. In other words, I have a peripheral reason to hope that this person's business is successful. We're not friends, exactly, but it's a better story if she succeeds.

When the truck hits the streets, I might mention its existence and menu. I'll disclose I've met and written about the owner.

I won't review it or respond to comments and I won't recommend it in other threads or in response to questions.

I think that keeps me within the rules.

[Servorg]

Paul, I think you may run afoul of "...as a rule of thumb, you should never be the first to mention your business in a thread..." if you are going to bring this truck to the attention of the board.

[PaulF]

Fair enough ... I think that may be true, too.

I'll be honest -- my intention in mentioning the truck is more curiosity than anything else. I'm curious, because I wrote the story and now know the owner, to see if others will find the product appealing. Sure I'd like to see the truck succeed ... because I'm a nice person ... but really I'm more curious.

I think I'll sit back and see if anyone else mentions this truck. I haven't seen another truck doing what they are doing ... so, we'll see.

[HillJ]

You may want to email the Mods directly rather than waste your writing skills.