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Kbear, thanks for starting the thread, and lia, thanks for the link to the detailed discussions of Chowhound’s moderation issues!

I just had my 3rd CH post deleted in as many years (and I don’t post very much), the 1st and 3rd with no explanation (after reposting the 2nd with a request for the reason, the mod let the repost stay and admitted he hadn’t read the original!), and I still don’t have a good idea of what’s not permitted (beyond the obvious: flaming, shilling, and hijacking threads).

So, I was wondering about whether it was worth the time it took to contribute, and the discussions your link led to have answered that question for me. I’ve joined the ranks of people who will now only take from CH.

(I agree in particular with one line of thought that was consistently mentioned, that CH is an echo chamber that discourages opinions outside the conventional wisdom as defined by CH, in ways both subtle and not-so-subtle. To me this seems a problem that’s gotten alot worse over the years, but maybe I’m biased because of my feelings concerning the recent deletion.)

My goodness, I wonder how she can be so popular, when bloggers everywhere seem to hate her.

Personally, I love Rachael, and always have. I love her incessant cheeriness, and find it refreshing, not annoying. She is pretty, informative, and tells stories while she works. I see talent when I watch her, and she does not burn the food, like some other cooks. She chops veggies fast and fearlessly, and I like how she does every single bit in real time.

And I think Yum-O is a catchy, unforgettable name for a website, and a good cause, too.

She is coarse and vulgar. I wish I could spit her out of my mouth.

I think it's funny how she inspires such hatred in people (like the food snob JerzeeTomato above LOL). I think she is a cartoon, that's what her appeal is. I think that the very things that people are complaining about are the very things that draw attention to her; the voice, the armloads of ingredients, words like "stoup" and "yum-oh", the laughter, etc. She's riding the crest of popularity right now because the show filled a need on TV; fast meals for busy couples who are tired of fast food or carry-in meals. I don't think she'll have the staying power of a Julia Child or Frugal Gourmet, but she definitely filled a need for lots of people.