SC - Crayfish

[Donna J. White]

Maybe now you see how easy it is for someone to misunderstand what you
THINK someone is saying.

 "Obviously there is more to this situation than a simple disagreement.  I
> am apologetic that you took such great offense, especially since I have
> (until now) read your posts with great interest.  I assure you that if
> you do not wish for  me to respond to your listings, I will set my server
> to ignore your messages.  That way I will be sure not to offend.  I don't
> honestly think that is what you intended, but I should ask that if it is,
> please mail me privately so as to not make this a more public spectacle
> than it has already become.  Honor before glory, and all that."

What more could there be? I don't know you!

"Also, being a person with his own allergies, I am ultimately responsible
> to check the menu and decide for myself what I can and cannot feast upon.
>  As the cook for the feast I create the meal based on the recipe and I
> don't take anyone's allergies into consideration, including my own. I
> post the menu and below the menu is a list of food and ingredients,
> including wine if used. Often I will have plain chicken and or roast beef
> for the weak of palate or people with allergies.  (Too many times the
> word allergic is substituted for 'I don't like'.)  I know this sounds
> callous, but short of serving water at a feast I refuse to over taxing my
> staff and feast budget by 'guesstimating'. I present foods that have been
> well accepted or recipes like those that are well accepted. I have been
> cooking this way since 1972 and have never had anyone go away hungry or
> angry. I treat all my feasters with the same respect, "You know what you
> can eat'""
> 
>" Well, there are several issues here, aren't there.  I am not sure I can
> clearly present my entire argument, so I will be brief.  Please
> understand, there is no malice in my heart when answering you.  I truly
> respect your right to disagree with me, just as you should mine."
> 
> "As for the bit about not taking anyone's allergies into account -- I am
> sure that you do.  You even admitted to it, but I am not sure you
> realized it.  By posting the menu and the list of ingredients you are
> forewarning the guests of potential dangers to their health.  This is the
> only responsible thing to do if you are not going to listen before hand. 
> Providing alternate feast for those who are unable or unwilling to enjoy
> your feasts is not symbolic of a callous individual, but of a concerned
> host.  I applaud you for that, although I believe you may be transferring
> your frustration of the demands of feast mastering on to the guests
> through your "hidden hostility".  I am sorry if that is how you truly
> feel.  Realize, please, I am just speculating and not stating facts.  I
> have not called your honor into question, so put the flame thrower down. 
> The only thing I do hope is that the list is broken down by dish.  That
> way the feaster can be an informed consumer.  Why pay for something if
> you can't eat it?  Our feasters are our customers, after all. Customer
> service should be a concern of all individuals involved in putting on an
> event."> 
> "I do take issue with your comment that many say they are allergic to
> something and really just don't like it.  Are you willing to be the
> person responsible for someone's struggle through anaphlysis and possible
> death because you did not take them seriously?  I am not willing to call
> someone a liar just because I don't have "Proof" of their claim.  In
> addition, what is wrong with serving water at feast?  Some people prefer
> it.  I do, especially after a long hot day in the Texas heat or in the
> kitchen.  Offer it for those who want it.  That doesn't tax your kitchen
> crew any more than offering tea or lemonade."
> 

My feasts are listed by menu and that menus ingredients are listed,
including whether wine is used. Each recipe is broken down by ingredient.

My water statement meant, short of serving water is there any one food item
that someone somewhere  is not allergic to. Someone is probably allergic to
water. So with that in mind, how could anyone cook! The only course left
then is to cook for the majority and make sure that the people with
allergies are well informed of what is in what and make them be responsible
for themselves.

About people who use an allergy excuse to take the place of saying "I don't
like that." I have seen people claim allergies, rather than face being
chided by others because they don't like something. Why some people can't
say what they want to is something that you will have to take up with each
individual. So rather than cook for one, I'll cook for a group, post the
ingredients (by recipe) and let those who are allergic or those who choose
to be allergic decide what they will eat.

"I will accept your apology, for I was greatly offended.  I was not saying
> don't discuss recipes, I wanted people to expand their thinking.  I just
> wish you could have seen me for the kind of person I really am, and not
> some moron just trying to pick a fight.  I simply don't do that.  I am a
> rebel, not a trouble maker (although there are those purists out there
> that think that anyone not thinking just like them are nothing but
> trouble -- Inquisitionists is what we call them here)."

Now whether your character was attacked, that you will have to decide. I do
not know you, so why would I want to attack your character. What purpose
would this all serve. I do hope that anyone reading this posting realises
that you decided to use words like "moron" to decribe yourself, when in
fact I went out of my way to appologise if I misunderstood anything that
you said in your original posting. The only great offense that has been
taken during these postings is your need to put words in my mouth that I
never spoke! When all I was asking was, what did you mean by your posting?

Lord Mandrigal of Mu