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The blogosphere once seemed like a such promising forum for honest and open dialogue, exchange of information and ideas, and a place to bring troubling issues out into the open where they could be addressed in the light of day. Perhaps that’s a fantasy… Perhaps meaningful dialogue can be easily killed and unpleasant blog posts easily “disappeared.”
For instance, Robert Scoble, respected tech blogger and publisher of Scobleizer, posted an account of how his brother Ben had allegedly paid a company called Java Jo’z a deposit of $30,000 for a franchise and could not get it returned. Posts on three Scoble brother blogs set off a torrent of posts and debate, with other alleged victims coming forward with their stories. Several of these (alleged) victims alleged that the company merely changed its name from Java Jo’z to Cuppy’s Coffee & More, with the same employees, office, etc. at least in part to get out of obligations and debts incurred when called Java Jo’z. The company vehemently contended that it was an entirely new company, and threatened at least one blogger (me) with legal action if represented otherwise.
A lively debate ensued, taking place, in large part, on the franchise portal Blue MauMau and on a number of private blogs.
But then odd things started happening. Like a classic movie murder mystery, blog posts started getting killed off.
The Death of Dialogue.
The original Scobleizer post vanished without an explanation.
Ben Scoble’s blog (and perhaps Ben) was disappeared and in its place was a lobotomized post recanting all prior concerns and singing the Cuppy’s company song… in a writing style not evenly remotely Ben’s. (http://bscoble.blogspot.com/)
Alex Scoble’s posts on his site have been replaced with “NOT FOUND The requested URL /notes/2007/01/why_java_joz_pr.html was not found on this server.” And there’s the post (Cuppy’s Is New Company, Not Java Jo’z) that says “Let’s cut Cuppy’s some slack now.” Huh?
At http://mooresinflorida.blogspot.com/, outraged posts by another who had deposited tens of thousands of dollar with Java Jo’z have been replaced with posts on visits to the circus.
A Cuppy’s franchisee’s web page that referred to Cuppy’s being formerly Java Jo’z was also disappeared… perhaps by Col. Mustard… in the parlor… with the candleabra.
And then came the flood of happy happy Cuppy’s blogs and comments:
Negative blog comments were then swept away from search engine prominence by the warm waves of I Love Cuppy’s posts that appeared on sites like Cuppy’s LiveJournal, Cuppy’s Xanga
Then came the nasty comments:
Anonymous comments were posted on BlueMauMau.com and FranBest.Com accusing attorney Paul Steinberg (who had commented on the Cuppy’s/Java Jo’z connection on Blue Mau Mau) of having lawsuits, tax liens, judgements against him… using references that were in fact against a different Paul Steinberg.
BlueMauMau coincidentally began having major technical difficulties, their servers inexplicably were being overloaded.
Who will be next?
Some remaining posts wait around nervously, hoping they won’t be next. Which will it be?
Franchise Pundit: When Blogs Attack… Cuppy’s Coffee & Java Jo’z
FranBest.Com: Java Jo’z, Emerald Coast Mfgr., Roy Snowden?
Company Says Java Jo’z is NOT Cuppy’s Coffee & More?
Franchisor Marketing’s: Java Jo’z Coffee Franchise Blogs to Top Google Position
Steve’s Bitter Java Blog?
FamousReviews.com Review of Java Jo’z? [UPDATE: 1/18/07 All references to the "C" words have been purged and the comments have changes]
Blue MauMau: Java Jo’z Controversy Gaining Attention Via Blogs?
The Death of the Blogosphere
It’s really the vitality and the potential for honest dialogue for whom this bell tolls.
When voices as influential as the Scoble’s are this effectively silenced, what hope is there for the rest us?
[NOTE: This post has been dugg. Go here and digg us.]
Does Cuppy’s Coffee or Elite Manufacturing owe you a refund? Provide an update at: Does Cuppy’s Coffee or Elite Manufacturing Owe You Money?
His last name wouldn’t be Bates, would it?
If so, decline his offer to settle the suit with gift certificates to his motel.
Is this the post that will not die, or what?
Sean, I tried to write about hangovers but decided I needed to do more field research ;)
By the way, “Norman” is a pseudonym for a mentally-disturbed party in a lawsuit in which I am representing a client. He is not involved in franchising, just a run of the mill wacko.
Norman:
No, I think it’s the psychiatrist Paul Steinberg who writes about hangovers for the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/opinion/29steinberg.html
Or maybe Rabbi Paul M. Steinberg was a dean at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York for 50 years. Wait, he’s dead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/nyregion/25steinberg.html
Or Paul Steinberg, the electrician whose work we admired in American Gangster:
http://movies.nytimes.com/person/408721/Paul-Steinberg
Or Paul Steinberg, set designer
http://www.amrep.org/people/steinberg.html
Is this the same Norman who keeps posting the same comment on Franchise Pick, BlueMauMau.Org and FranchisePundit.com? I’m generally a proponent of Freedom of Speech, but in your case, Norman, I believe an exception should be made.
Is this the same Paul Steinberg whom the State of New York filed tax warrants against for over $30,000 just 4 years ago? Search “tax warrants nys” then search “paul steinberg” then go to the second warrant.
My understanding is that Cuppy’s is trying to abide by the AAFD fair franchising standards and in order to get the AAFD seal, they will be having to get an affirmative vote from their franchisees.
From what I can see, they are trying to do the right thing and put the past behind them. As to the profitability of the outlets and/or wisdom of investing in the particular system, I don’t know. But they do seem to be promptly responding to f’zee concerns, and the complaints are now remarkably sparse.
Beverly: If comments appeared here they shouldn’t have disappeared (sometimes they could get caught by SPAM filters before they appear). Often the comments were actually left on another post here or at franchisormarketing.com or franbest.com, our sister sites.
Cuppy’s has since worked with the AAFD to create a franchisee-friendly agreement and the furor has quieted down. Medina, the eqpt company, is selling other franchise concepts. We had one angry comment on one of these blogs recently, but haven’t heard much new. ANYONE?
Search for the Franchise Times article post here on Cuppy’s… that’s interesting.
If you hear more, please let us know.
Just found this site and the last comments were made over a year ago. I would like to know if there has been any updates to the cuppy fiasco?
I to have posted many comments about Cuppys but return to find them missing.
1580 days ago
[...] was one company (that shall remain nameless) whose controversy was first posted on Franchise Pick but spread throughout dozens of blogs [...]
1580 days ago
[...] was one company (that shall remain nameless) whose controversy was first posted on Franchise Pick but spread throughout dozens of blogs [...]
1612 days ago
[...] The Death of the Blogosphere OR Who’s Killing the Cuppy’s Java Jo’z Blog Dialogue? January 26th, 2007 – 22 Comments [...]
If the Paul Steinberg you’re talking about has the middle initial W., went to St. Johns Law School and has an office at 14 E 4 St, NY, NY, Ste 408, then NY State filed two tax liens against him for around $32,000 from 2002 to 2005. Go to 1 http://appsext8.dos.state.ny.us/stwarrants_public/st_search and search just Steinberg, look for Paul W.
1714 days ago
[...] The really brilliant part? Quiznos was smart enough not to sell a franchise to Robert Scoble OR his brother. [...]
1721 days ago
[...] The really brilliant part? Quiznos was smart enough not to sell a franchise to Robert Scoble OR his brother. [...]
I agree with you, and I have had several people approach me with disturbing information. But where the people most affected will not come forward, and others who have information are afraid that if they speak out that they will be targeted for background investigations– well, there is only so much that can be done.
If you read Janet Sparks’ column on BlueMauMau, it really just shows yet more linkage between Morgan, Hibbing, Snowden, Cuppys, and Java Jo’z.
By the way, is it true that Hibbing is a Computer Network Engineer? That might explain a few things.
When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.
I am so really extremly shocked to see all of the post on the matter I discussed earlier are gone. Everything I have posted on this matter has been deleted. Someone tell me there has got to be something I can do about this. Cuppy’s is/ has to be breaking some law by deleting these post and redirecting URL’s. I fully plan to look into this, I spoke to the IT guy At work today and he says it is a break of federal law. That these people seem to just be getting themselves into more trouble. This really has my attention now. And anyone interested in free speach or even the gift we have been given to blog our thoughts and opinions should be deeply concerned by this company’s obviouse attempt at silencing it’s criticts. I can not believe that any lawyer representing this company would give them this advice. I know one thing I am not Scoble , I will set up a 1000 different blogs and let them delete them so that I can sue. Not for money but principal. How dare they think they have some power over the internet.
1926 days ago
[...] Next, Sean Kelly over at FranchisePick, has had a very interesting week looking into some unusual activity on other franchise blogs. I can’t go into too much detail here but I can say it is well worth reading. Find the first article here….”The Death of the Blogosphere OR Who’s Killing the Cuppy’s Java Jo’z Blog Dialogue?” That post is followed up by this interview, “Rockn’ Interview with Rockn’ Joe’s Kevin Brennan“. [...]
1926 days ago
[...] How come I’m missing all the exciting stuff? I went to read a post at CopyBlogger and there I found a link that talks about how some posts and comments about a controversy involving Robert Scoble’s brother and some shady company have been disappearing mysteriously right and left. Sean at Franchise Pick writes: [...]
1927 days ago
[...] This caused quite a bruhaha and I left a comment on Shel Israel’s blog regarding the subject It all began to sound like a conspiracy theory with numerous comments on Roberts post “big gadget sites don’t link to blogs”. Here’s most of the information I am sure (in fact I am positive) that Scoble would not have taken down the post without very good reason and I hope all’s well that ends well. Technorati Tags: General, pat phelan, roam4free, scoble, Shel IsraelShare and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
1927 days ago
[...] The Death of the Blogosphere OR Who’s Killing the Cuppy’s Java Jo’z Blog Dialogue? [...]