It's Like a Train Wreck Out There!

Northwest Indiana is all abuzz with the news of the massive train wreck in Jackson township of a week ago today.  What further makes the story more interesting is the news that the emergency workers were infected by a bug picked up from the Jimmy John's on Lincolnway.  Read for yourself if you have been living in a cave for the last few days: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/valparaiso-jimmy-john-s-blamed-for-illness-outbreak/article_57ea95fc-9b34-587c-b051-e42b5773d6cf.html#ixzz1jC6EZ0aq

When I checked in on urbanspoon this morning, I wanted to see if anyone had mentioned it under the review section.  After checking the Jimmy John's on Lincolnway and seeing nothing, I double checked the Jimmy John's on Calumet.  Sure enough, some brainiac had copied the article and placed it in a review of the WRONG restaurant.

Upon further reflection, several things are really disturbing about the whole scenario--not to diminish the anguish of those suffering from gastroenteritis--but not the least of these is the dingleberry who has wrongfully trashed the incorrect restaurant.  So consider this: as of this writing, no one has been able to say that the employees of the Jimmy John's (on Lincolnway, that is) are infected or are the source of the infection.  Yeah, I know a headline in the Post-Trib screams:

Sandwich shop worker infected food eaten by train responders


By Erin Guerra Post-Tribune correspondent January 11, 2012 2:55PM

but the article itself does not say, and as of yet probably cannot say that it originated from a Jimmy John's employee.  So;  to Erin Guerra of the Post-Tribune and the reviewer on urbanspoon, both of you are irresponsible.  Who is to say that a customer didn't carry this bug into the restaurant?  Or perhaps the mail carrier was carrying more than the mail? Maybe a rival sandwich shop owner planted a bug to discredit Jimmy John's?  Maybe an infected customer used the restroom at this location?  Maybe this is all an evil plot by Martians posing as simple restaurant workers to take down the United States through our sandwich shops and Subway is next on the list  The point is: who really knows at this time? 

That, in a nutshell, is the problem with a lack of accountability in reporting and a corresponding lack of responsibility in online reviewing.  The former is protected by a big corporation and the latter by anonymity.  I really wonder whether the significant loss in reputation and revenue to the restaurant could result in some equally significant liability for the newspaper and the careless urbanspoon reviewer? 

Of course, if it turns out that a Jimmy John's employee really was to blame... well then, nevermind.