Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

@ AlBee - very well put. I'm tired of people excusing their rudeness by saying "I have strong opinions about food". So do I, but I refuse to make someone else feel small/stupid/unhip by presenting them in the "this is what I think and if you don't agree you're an idiot" manner. I grew up watching Julia Child, Martin Yan and Graham Kerr. I don't remember hearing a negative or elitist comment from them (well, except the day that Julia threw a long loaf of bread over her shoulder because it didn't have a good crust, but that was more funny than elitist). The first time I saw Jeff Smith (the Frugal Gourmet) he was demonstrating a very expensive duck press. He then said such fancy tools were nice but unnecessary and pressed another duck with a coffee can and brick. I learned a lot about cooking from him, most importantly that it's supposed to be fun and not to take it, or myself, so seriously. And yes, I'm aware of Rev. Smith's legal issues later in life. If it's true, it's a terrible, unforgivable thing that he did.

My sister is one of those people who will make rude, mean comments or remarks to people. ("I wouldn't serve this to my dog." "Nobody who's educated eats this anymore.") When called on it, she excuses it by saying "I'm only being honest" or "I have strong opinions on the subject". Very well, but that's also why I spend as little time with her as humanly possible.

I think that meanness and rudeness is becoming more pervasive because it's become socially acceptable to act that way. Spend a few minutes watching reality television. People are routinely sarcastic, mean and cruel to each other. Why should food shows/websites/blogs be any different? The only thing that you can do is not waste your time on them. I still come to SE, but a lot less often than I used to. I'm selective about which authors I read and don't usually bother with the comments.