<strong>The Insider was an excellent, excellent film with great performances from Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, and Christopher Plummer.
THE ISSUE here is once again being looked at through very narrow perspectives. The idea that McDonalds could have any responsibility in the fattening of America is painted as utterly ridiculous by those opposed to holding Big Fat accountable. "Personal responsibility" is the buzzword used by opponents to stymie any arguments against the Fat Food companies. NOW I think that's ridiculous. One cannot paint this as an "either/or" situation. It's most certainly a combination of personal responsibility and BigFat's societal responsibility for the fattening of America.
JUST WHAT do obesity related illnesses cost our country? Billions of dollars? How much longer are we willing to let Fat Food companies profit from the fattening of America? The answer eludes me. I DON'T KNOW where to draw the line. BUT let's be realistic. Big Fat should play a greater role in helping stop America's destructive addiction to fast food. And a way to do this that should satisfy everyone is to FREE INFORMATION from its current lockdown. What I mean is that more should be done to promote the awareness of nutrition facts. They should be placed PROMINENTLY in all restaraunts. They should be on all packaging. Fast food should be taken out of schools, it should be scrutinized for being aimed at children who don;'t know any better. Remove soda and candy machines from schools. This benefits no one but the coffers of large Fat Food corporations.
THIS isn't brain surgery, folks. The status quo needs to be scrutinized for fattening America.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Your definition of social responsibility is so broad as to be meaningless. The restaurants supply food, and jobs. They do so at a reasonable price and pay reasonable wages considering the nature of the work.
Exactly how much more would you expect them to do?
As for your claim of locked down information that needs freeing. For years I have seen large posters in lots of McDonalds Restaurants that display the nutritional information for all the items they sell. I also know that the information is also available on request.
Additionally they do offer healthy food, however people simply choose not to buy it.
There is a big difference between being responsible and a nanny-state. McDonalds does offer choices.
American's are simply reaping the benefits of what we sow. If you are going to sue McDonalds for contributing to obesity. You had better sue ISP's, software developers, and computer hardware makers because the largest crowd of fat people on the planet is likely computer users.
Likewise you had better sue television makers, cable and satellite services, and all entertainment companies for inexpensively providing all the entertainment that keeps so many glued to their couches for 5+ hours a day (On average) instead of exercising.
Though I am sure the trial lawyers will get around to these folks eventually.
To mind, McDonalds is just one of many food distributors who have seriously impacted the quality of food to the detriment of all. Can we sue them when we basically enabled them to do it? I'm not sure that's right.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's more than just making bad food though, at least in my mind. It's motive and diliberate harmful actions I think. The laws that are in place might be fine, but if they're willfully being subverted then the corp is responsible.
I had that thread about personal responsibility a while back, and this fits into my belief about that. We can wring our hands and say people should just eat right, but obesity just recently passed tobacco as the leading underlying cause of death, and there's no doubt in my mind that the easy availability of cheap and extremely high calorie food is probably the biggest single cause.
So what do you do? We can yell about personal responsibility, but nothing NOTHING will change. No I take that back - things will continue to change for the worse. I'm not sure if suing these fast food companies is the way to go, but I'm not sure what else can be done. No one is ever going to pass legislation outlawing high-calorie food or mandating fruits, veggies, and exercise. Companies sure aren't going to take personal responsibility and stop selling the crap. People who shout about personal responsibility always seem to ignore the personal responsibility of the people who run the corporations. Yeah, it's legal, but is it really responsible to sell it and market it to kids the way they do?
Your definition of social responsibility is so broad as to be meaningless. The restaurants supply food, and jobs. They do so at a reasonable price and pay reasonable wages considering the nature of the work.
Exactly how much more would you expect them to do?
As for your claim of locked down information that needs freeing. For years I have seen large posters in lots of McDonalds Restaurants that display the nutritional information for all the items they sell. I also know that the information is also available on request.
Additionally they do offer healthy food, however people simply choose not to buy it.
There is a big difference between being responsible and a nanny-state. McDonalds does offer choices.
American's are simply reaping the benefits of what we sow. If you are going to sue McDonalds for contributing to obesity. You had better sue ISP's, software developers, and computer hardware makers because the largest crowd of fat people on the planet is likely computer users.
Likewise you had better sue television makers, cable and satellite services, and all entertainment companies for inexpensively providing all the entertainment that keeps so many glued to their couches for 5+ hours a day (On average) instead of exercising.
Though I am sure the trial lawyers will get around to these folks eventually.
Nick</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm not defining social responsibility. I'm being realistic and concillatory in saying that there's a line that shouldn't be crossed and that I don't know where it is. I do know that Fat Food companies can do MORE. The "large posters" that you speak of are often confusingly laid out in small print and in obscure locations in the fast food place. A lot of the times, the nutrition information is ONLY available through request. They wouldn't even have any on premises sometimes. That's just unacceptable. We need to make this information ubiquitous. Just how many grams of fat are in a BigMac? Put it on the package. Everywhere- even to the point of Surgeon General type warnings. The fact is that status quo is unacceptable. It costs us so much to put up with obesity related illnesses that I don;t see how anyone could not support holding Big Fat more accountable.
It's one thing for an individual restaurant to sell food. But Nation and Internation companies that have set menus (like the Big Mac) should probably be federally regulated to include one of those information stickers you now see on all food. the ones that show how much stuff is inside and a percentage of daily allowance for a 2000 Calorie diet.
That seems like a logical step. they already know the food content since they're printing up info. Whatever companies are required by law to do that should also have to have those stickers on the packages.
I'm personally thinking about suing all the fast food restaurants I've eaten at before. I mean, I'm always at Taco Bell or Burger King, yet I'm still just a skinny azz motha****a.
[quote]<strong>The court system is not the proper place to bring about social change in the US. Learn that now and never forget it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Classic. Simply classic. That gets an early nod for Post Of The Year 2003, in my opinion.
bunge:
[quote]<strong>But to me it's sick and wrong that the corporations target kids well before they're old enough to understand what healthy food really is.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree with you 110%
It is disgusting how, what is essentially a mild and slow-acting poison, is so perfectly advertised to a nation of fattening children like some weird corporate version of Hansel & Gretel.
"PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!"
We expect informed nutritional judgements from a 6-year-old kid getting hit with McD's commercials since he could process sounds and visuals? No language skills needed, they see the bright colors on TV and recognize those golden arches on the road.
"THE PARENTS SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE! THEY BUY THE STUFF!"
Well that's dandy, they should be. What that has to do with liability on McDonald's' part I don't know...
People who push such amazingly unhealthy and (in the long run) deadly products probably shouldn't be allowed to run such disturbingly effective advertising to children.
And if you think fatty foods aren't addictive you are very sorely mistaken.
I'm not defining social responsibility. I'm being realistic and concillatory in saying that there's a line that shouldn't be crossed and that I don't know where it is. I do know that Fat Food companies can do MORE. The "large posters" that you speak of are often confusingly laid out in small print and in obscure locations in the fast food place. A lot of the times, the nutrition information is ONLY available through request. They wouldn't even have any on premises sometimes. That's just unacceptable. We need to make this information ubiquitous. Just how many grams of fat are in a BigMac? Put it on the package. Everywhere- even to the point of Surgeon General type warnings. The fact is that status quo is unacceptable. It costs us so much to put up with obesity related illnesses that I don;t see how anyone could not support holding Big Fat more accountable.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have never had trouble finding the nutritional information for McDonalds. Likewise it is doubtful that having the nutritional information would alter the views of the buying public. Smokers when quizzed on the health effects of their smoking actually overestimate the negative health effects. They will for example estimate that it takes 9 years off their life when the average is 7.
Obviously smokers know that smoking is harmful to them. I would guess that if asked to estimate the number of grams of fat and calories in a fastfood meal that most patrons would likely overestimate them as well.
It is really unlikely that this is what is making them decide to buy the food.
McDonalds has been around a lot longer than the rise of obesity which has occured largely in the 90's. I would bet it was more information and internet age related than food.
We can debate the efficacy of warning labels all day long. I respectfully disagree with you and think that the bottom line should be more effort on the part of Fat Food companies to increase awareness. I think it's a crappy argument to say that since you know it's bad, everyone should know. I want Fat Food companies to show consumers just HOW BAD it really is. And not in some chart that doesn't even affect drive-thru customers or most customorers in general. We owe it our kids for more ubiquity of this information.
a) no one is forced to eat fast food...people make that choice, out of convenience, price, taste, etc.
b) anyone who has any sort of sense should be able to figure out that a steady, longtime diet of fried, greasy and high-calorie food is going to result in some weight gain.
You, and you alone, are kinda responsible for that. You don't get to turn around, after 20 years of not eating properly and taking other steps to maintain a healthy body, and sue because you wound up fat.
That's just nonsense and further evidence that people have totally lost their marbles.
Does anyone think ahead anymore? Anyone take some sort of responsibility for the actions they undertake? Does anyone think about being a little smarter and more careful in how they go through life?
Put all the labels you like on the food and it doesn't matter. Kids get hooked young when they have no grasp of not only the nutritional information but even their own mortality. They have absolutely no references.
pscates:
[quote]<strong>You, and you alone, are kinda responsible for that. You don't get to turn around, after 20 years of not eating properly and taking other steps to maintain a healthy body, and sue because you wound up fat.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You are responsible for your fatty mcfattyness, yes, and McD's is responsible for knowingly pushing very dangerous products onto impressionable and malleable children.
<strong>Put all the labels you like on the food and it doesn't matter. Kids get hooked young when they have no grasp of not only the nutritional information but even their own mortality. They have absolutely no references.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think you are right. I think something like that would benefit adults way more than children. Perhaps a similar measure would be to ban all Fast Food advertising to children. That's really one of the key issues, as Bunge and you have pointed out- The Children.
But even if that's so, maybe people need to exhibit a bit of forethought and self control? Still comes down to choices people make. And in the case of children, perhaps their parents should monitor things a bit closer, making sure their kids aren't eating this crap 24/7. That's kinda part of the job.
Besides, nearly all of the major fast food chains that I know of offer a "lite" menu these days, with things like salads and chicken-based meals, along with diet sodas (or water, juice and milk).
But again, people stand there and order the Triple Whopper with extra cheese and an extra large chocolate shake when they could just as easily order a side salad, some sort of grilled chicken sandwich (minus the mayo and oil) and a water or diet soda instead, right?
<strong>I'm sorry, I don't see it as "pushing".</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's certainly how the people doing the advertising see it. You know why they have the big purple guy? Or the big clown? To influence kids. Are kids capable of real independent analysis of something as abstract as an invisible substance in a food and how it will relate to their health in 20 years? Absolutely not. Do advertisers know this? You bet your conservative ass.
Now this is a harmless concept to us because we were raised not thinking about it objectively. "Well, of course they advertise to kids, the kids tell the parents to buy the stuff! It's good business!" And it is, it's great business.
But it's very seedy and it's very disturbing.
[quote]<strong>But even if that's so, maybe people need to exhibit a bit of forethought and self control?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Absolutely, still doesn't mean that McD's is absolved of responsibility (not punitive to individuals, but in a general sense).
[quote]<strong>And in the case of children, perhaps their parents should monitor things a bit closer, making sure their kids aren't eating this crap 24/7. That's kinda part of the job.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Again, how do the actions of the parent relate to McD's advertising practices?
Fatty McFattypants doesn't, in my opinion, deserve punitive damages from McD's. McD's, however, absolutely needs to be held responsible for its irresponsible and dangerous advertising practice.
People all across the country are dying because of obesity and the best you can think of is "well, maybe you shoulda thought of that ahead of time"?
It's a little deeper than that. Just a little bit deeper.
I'd like strike down the choices argument. It's obvious when you view advertisments and promotions for Fat Food companies that healthy choices are advertised far, far, far less frequently or ubiquitously (if at all) than the regular fatty fare. Why this is important is because ALL advertising directed at children is the regular fatty fare. They lure them with Happy Meals filled with popular toys and establish unhealthy eating patterns from the start. These children don't have a choice.
Well, McD's is <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/food/eating_right/index.html"; target="_blank">quite concerned</a> with your child's health. Very sage advice from the venerable burger franchise to the children: "So why be shy? Give new foods a try" and "Cut the Sweets 'til After You Eat,"
I must've glossed over the part that says "To stay healthy, avoid McDonald's like the plague." because all I saw was "Try our shake after you eat yet another of our happy meals. Oooh and guess what kids! <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/whatsnew/happy_meal/index.html"; target="_blank">2 toys in every happy meal</a>!"
--
McD's recently cut down on some of the "bad fats" in their fries by a significant margin. Good on them for that.
I give up and am gonna have to bail on this thread before groverat and Shawn make me pop a vessel. I just can't believe this. Holy cow.
Let's just babysit everyone, cradle to grave, I guess? That's just how it has to be?
Eat fast food = get fat
Exercise some self-control and good sense = probably be okay
Parents can tell their kids "no", Shawn. It's actually part of the job requirement. It's not written anywhere that kids have to be fed fast food (or if they are, that it's always greasy Happy Meals 4-5 times a week). If they are, then that parent perhaps needs to be taught better nutritional practices and habits. They're ultimately responsible (I don't know any 7-year-old driving to Burger King and buying their own lunch).
As for McWhoever's "responsibility to the public", I think they do what they're required. This stuff is posted or is available if you ask for it. If someone wants to know exactly what they're eating, they can find out. I don't think it's in these restaurants prime interest or grand plan to beat people over the head with it.
Again, if you've spent any amount of time on this planet, you should already know what this stuff is about. This isn't some huge shocker that we're all just figuring out, guys.
You tailor your eating habits accordingly. Honestly, I LOVE Wendy's hamburgers. They're delicious. But I'm not going to eat them 5 days a week. I figure once, maybe twice, a month is an acceptable "treat". Makes me look forward to something, makes me enjoy it that much more.
I go up to the counter, place my order, pay my money KNOWING what I'm eating and that "okay, it's been awhile and I've been pretty good about things...this is cool...isn't gonna kill me...". I don't expect the 17-year-old behind the counter to rattle off a bunch of nutritional info, in case I want to change my mind.
That's NOT what I'm there for.
'rat, you're MAKING this "much deeper than that" and it really isn't hanging together. I'm fully aware of how deep things are or aren't. And this ain't.
Comments
<strong>The Insider was an excellent, excellent film with great performances from Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, and Christopher Plummer.
THE ISSUE here is once again being looked at through very narrow perspectives. The idea that McDonalds could have any responsibility in the fattening of America is painted as utterly ridiculous by those opposed to holding Big Fat accountable. "Personal responsibility" is the buzzword used by opponents to stymie any arguments against the Fat Food companies. NOW I think that's ridiculous. One cannot paint this as an "either/or" situation. It's most certainly a combination of personal responsibility and BigFat's societal responsibility for the fattening of America.
JUST WHAT do obesity related illnesses cost our country? Billions of dollars? How much longer are we willing to let Fat Food companies profit from the fattening of America? The answer eludes me. I DON'T KNOW where to draw the line. BUT let's be realistic. Big Fat should play a greater role in helping stop America's destructive addiction to fast food. And a way to do this that should satisfy everyone is to FREE INFORMATION from its current lockdown. What I mean is that more should be done to promote the awareness of nutrition facts. They should be placed PROMINENTLY in all restaraunts. They should be on all packaging. Fast food should be taken out of schools, it should be scrutinized for being aimed at children who don;'t know any better. Remove soda and candy machines from schools. This benefits no one but the coffers of large Fat Food corporations.
THIS isn't brain surgery, folks. The status quo needs to be scrutinized for fattening America.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Your definition of social responsibility is so broad as to be meaningless. The restaurants supply food, and jobs. They do so at a reasonable price and pay reasonable wages considering the nature of the work.
Exactly how much more would you expect them to do?
As for your claim of locked down information that needs freeing. For years I have seen large posters in lots of McDonalds Restaurants that display the nutritional information for all the items they sell. I also know that the information is also available on request.
Additionally they do offer healthy food, however people simply choose not to buy it.
There is a big difference between being responsible and a nanny-state. McDonalds does offer choices.
American's are simply reaping the benefits of what we sow. If you are going to sue McDonalds for contributing to obesity. You had better sue ISP's, software developers, and computer hardware makers because the largest crowd of fat people on the planet is likely computer users.
Likewise you had better sue television makers, cable and satellite services, and all entertainment companies for inexpensively providing all the entertainment that keeps so many glued to their couches for 5+ hours a day (On average) instead of exercising.
Though I am sure the trial lawyers will get around to these folks eventually.
Nick
<strong>
To mind, McDonalds is just one of many food distributors who have seriously impacted the quality of food to the detriment of all. Can we sue them when we basically enabled them to do it? I'm not sure that's right.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's more than just making bad food though, at least in my mind. It's motive and diliberate harmful actions I think. The laws that are in place might be fine, but if they're willfully being subverted then the corp is responsible.
So what do you do? We can yell about personal responsibility, but nothing NOTHING will change. No I take that back - things will continue to change for the worse. I'm not sure if suing these fast food companies is the way to go, but I'm not sure what else can be done. No one is ever going to pass legislation outlawing high-calorie food or mandating fruits, veggies, and exercise. Companies sure aren't going to take personal responsibility and stop selling the crap. People who shout about personal responsibility always seem to ignore the personal responsibility of the people who run the corporations. Yeah, it's legal, but is it really responsible to sell it and market it to kids the way they do?
<strong>
Your definition of social responsibility is so broad as to be meaningless. The restaurants supply food, and jobs. They do so at a reasonable price and pay reasonable wages considering the nature of the work.
Exactly how much more would you expect them to do?
As for your claim of locked down information that needs freeing. For years I have seen large posters in lots of McDonalds Restaurants that display the nutritional information for all the items they sell. I also know that the information is also available on request.
Additionally they do offer healthy food, however people simply choose not to buy it.
There is a big difference between being responsible and a nanny-state. McDonalds does offer choices.
American's are simply reaping the benefits of what we sow. If you are going to sue McDonalds for contributing to obesity. You had better sue ISP's, software developers, and computer hardware makers because the largest crowd of fat people on the planet is likely computer users.
Likewise you had better sue television makers, cable and satellite services, and all entertainment companies for inexpensively providing all the entertainment that keeps so many glued to their couches for 5+ hours a day (On average) instead of exercising.
Though I am sure the trial lawyers will get around to these folks eventually.
Nick</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm not defining social responsibility. I'm being realistic and concillatory in saying that there's a line that shouldn't be crossed and that I don't know where it is. I do know that Fat Food companies can do MORE. The "large posters" that you speak of are often confusingly laid out in small print and in obscure locations in the fast food place. A lot of the times, the nutrition information is ONLY available through request. They wouldn't even have any on premises sometimes. That's just unacceptable. We need to make this information ubiquitous. Just how many grams of fat are in a BigMac? Put it on the package. Everywhere- even to the point of Surgeon General type warnings. The fact is that status quo is unacceptable. It costs us so much to put up with obesity related illnesses that I don;t see how anyone could not support holding Big Fat more accountable.
That seems like a logical step. they already know the food content since they're printing up info. Whatever companies are required by law to do that should also have to have those stickers on the packages.
[quote]<strong>The court system is not the proper place to bring about social change in the US. Learn that now and never forget it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Classic. Simply classic. That gets an early nod for Post Of The Year 2003, in my opinion.
bunge:
[quote]<strong>But to me it's sick and wrong that the corporations target kids well before they're old enough to understand what healthy food really is.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree with you 110%
It is disgusting how, what is essentially a mild and slow-acting poison, is so perfectly advertised to a nation of fattening children like some weird corporate version of Hansel & Gretel.
"PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!"
We expect informed nutritional judgements from a 6-year-old kid getting hit with McD's commercials since he could process sounds and visuals? No language skills needed, they see the bright colors on TV and recognize those golden arches on the road.
"THE PARENTS SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE! THEY BUY THE STUFF!"
Well that's dandy, they should be. What that has to do with liability on McDonald's' part I don't know...
People who push such amazingly unhealthy and (in the long run) deadly products probably shouldn't be allowed to run such disturbingly effective advertising to children.
And if you think fatty foods aren't addictive you are very sorely mistaken.
<strong>
I'm not defining social responsibility. I'm being realistic and concillatory in saying that there's a line that shouldn't be crossed and that I don't know where it is. I do know that Fat Food companies can do MORE. The "large posters" that you speak of are often confusingly laid out in small print and in obscure locations in the fast food place. A lot of the times, the nutrition information is ONLY available through request. They wouldn't even have any on premises sometimes. That's just unacceptable. We need to make this information ubiquitous. Just how many grams of fat are in a BigMac? Put it on the package. Everywhere- even to the point of Surgeon General type warnings. The fact is that status quo is unacceptable. It costs us so much to put up with obesity related illnesses that I don;t see how anyone could not support holding Big Fat more accountable.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have never had trouble finding the nutritional information for McDonalds. Likewise it is doubtful that having the nutritional information would alter the views of the buying public. Smokers when quizzed on the health effects of their smoking actually overestimate the negative health effects. They will for example estimate that it takes 9 years off their life when the average is 7.
Obviously smokers know that smoking is harmful to them. I would guess that if asked to estimate the number of grams of fat and calories in a fastfood meal that most patrons would likely overestimate them as well.
It is really unlikely that this is what is making them decide to buy the food.
McDonalds has been around a lot longer than the rise of obesity which has occured largely in the 90's. I would bet it was more information and internet age related than food.
Nick
After all, you deserve a break today!
[ 01-23-2003: Message edited by: ShawnPatrickJoyce ]</p>
a) no one is forced to eat fast food...people make that choice, out of convenience, price, taste, etc.
b) anyone who has any sort of sense should be able to figure out that a steady, longtime diet of fried, greasy and high-calorie food is going to result in some weight gain.
You, and you alone, are kinda responsible for that. You don't get to turn around, after 20 years of not eating properly and taking other steps to maintain a healthy body, and sue because you wound up fat.
That's just nonsense and further evidence that people have totally lost their marbles.
Does anyone think ahead anymore? Anyone take some sort of responsibility for the actions they undertake? Does anyone think about being a little smarter and more careful in how they go through life?
Yeah, that's what I thought...
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
I honestly hope that any and every judge who gets one of these cases tosses it out immediately.
pscates:
[quote]<strong>You, and you alone, are kinda responsible for that. You don't get to turn around, after 20 years of not eating properly and taking other steps to maintain a healthy body, and sue because you wound up fat.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You are responsible for your fatty mcfattyness, yes, and McD's is responsible for knowingly pushing very dangerous products onto impressionable and malleable children.
It really is simple.
<strong>Put all the labels you like on the food and it doesn't matter. Kids get hooked young when they have no grasp of not only the nutritional information but even their own mortality. They have absolutely no references.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think you are right. I think something like that would benefit adults way more than children. Perhaps a similar measure would be to ban all Fast Food advertising to children. That's really one of the key issues, as Bunge and you have pointed out- The Children.
But even if that's so, maybe people need to exhibit a bit of forethought and self control? Still comes down to choices people make. And in the case of children, perhaps their parents should monitor things a bit closer, making sure their kids aren't eating this crap 24/7. That's kinda part of the job.
Yes you're right...it is quite simple, isn't it?
But again, people stand there and order the Triple Whopper with extra cheese and an extra large chocolate shake when they could just as easily order a side salad, some sort of grilled chicken sandwich (minus the mayo and oil) and a water or diet soda instead, right?
Choices.
[ 01-23-2003: Message edited by: pscates ]</p>
<strong>I'm sorry, I don't see it as "pushing".</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's certainly how the people doing the advertising see it. You know why they have the big purple guy? Or the big clown? To influence kids. Are kids capable of real independent analysis of something as abstract as an invisible substance in a food and how it will relate to their health in 20 years? Absolutely not. Do advertisers know this? You bet your conservative ass.
Now this is a harmless concept to us because we were raised not thinking about it objectively. "Well, of course they advertise to kids, the kids tell the parents to buy the stuff! It's good business!" And it is, it's great business.
But it's very seedy and it's very disturbing.
[quote]<strong>But even if that's so, maybe people need to exhibit a bit of forethought and self control?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Absolutely, still doesn't mean that McD's is absolved of responsibility (not punitive to individuals, but in a general sense).
[quote]<strong>And in the case of children, perhaps their parents should monitor things a bit closer, making sure their kids aren't eating this crap 24/7. That's kinda part of the job.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Again, how do the actions of the parent relate to McD's advertising practices?
Fatty McFattypants doesn't, in my opinion, deserve punitive damages from McD's. McD's, however, absolutely needs to be held responsible for its irresponsible and dangerous advertising practice.
People all across the country are dying because of obesity and the best you can think of is "well, maybe you shoulda thought of that ahead of time"?
It's a little deeper than that. Just a little bit deeper.
3.5 grams of saturated fat in a Chef's Salad? How the hell do you even do that? Saturated fat can only come from animals! (correct me if I'm wrong)
<a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/social/index.html"; target="_blank">Comedy</a>
Well, McD's is <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/food/eating_right/index.html"; target="_blank">quite concerned</a> with your child's health. Very sage advice from the venerable burger franchise to the children: "So why be shy? Give new foods a try" and "Cut the Sweets 'til After You Eat,"
I must've glossed over the part that says "To stay healthy, avoid McDonald's like the plague." because all I saw was "Try our shake after you eat yet another of our happy meals. Oooh and guess what kids! <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/whatsnew/happy_meal/index.html"; target="_blank">2 toys in every happy meal</a>!"
--
McD's recently cut down on some of the "bad fats" in their fries by a significant margin. Good on them for that.
[ 01-23-2003: Message edited by: groverat ]</p>
Let's just babysit everyone, cradle to grave, I guess? That's just how it has to be?
Eat fast food = get fat
Exercise some self-control and good sense = probably be okay
Parents can tell their kids "no", Shawn. It's actually part of the job requirement. It's not written anywhere that kids have to be fed fast food (or if they are, that it's always greasy Happy Meals 4-5 times a week). If they are, then that parent perhaps needs to be taught better nutritional practices and habits. They're ultimately responsible (I don't know any 7-year-old driving to Burger King and buying their own lunch).
As for McWhoever's "responsibility to the public", I think they do what they're required. This stuff is posted or is available if you ask for it. If someone wants to know exactly what they're eating, they can find out. I don't think it's in these restaurants prime interest or grand plan to beat people over the head with it.
Again, if you've spent any amount of time on this planet, you should already know what this stuff is about. This isn't some huge shocker that we're all just figuring out, guys.
You tailor your eating habits accordingly. Honestly, I LOVE Wendy's hamburgers. They're delicious. But I'm not going to eat them 5 days a week. I figure once, maybe twice, a month is an acceptable "treat". Makes me look forward to something, makes me enjoy it that much more.
I go up to the counter, place my order, pay my money KNOWING what I'm eating and that "okay, it's been awhile and I've been pretty good about things...this is cool...isn't gonna kill me...". I don't expect the 17-year-old behind the counter to rattle off a bunch of nutritional info, in case I want to change my mind.
That's NOT what I'm there for.
'rat, you're MAKING this "much deeper than that" and it really isn't hanging together. I'm fully aware of how deep things are or aren't. And this ain't.