This evening I viewed the "60 Minutes" program with the "Mclibel" segment on the program. Subsequent to seeing the article I thought I'd take a closer look at what all the hoopla was about. After looking into the "Mcspotlight" information regarding the lawsuits, recriminations, and general name calling going on on the internet. I am simply astounded by all of the people that have an opinion, and not usually in favor, of McDonalds and the way they do business.It is true, I think, that McDonalds' does attempt to influence parents into the restaurants through advertising aimed at their children and further to make faithful consumers of the products through indoctrination methods that would make a dictator jealous. However, I believe this is a commonly used method by most giant corporations and organizations. I find it amusing too the story done about the whole mess on "60 Minutes". I mean, "David and Goliath" always made an interesting confrontational story, didn't it? And the entertainment industry also uses indoctrination quite effectively.
While looking through the information on the internet concerning McDonalds' and the litigants involved I focused primarily on the part dealing with the children. Since this would seem to be the most insideous aspect of what McDonalds' does for a living. I don't like the way McDonalds advertises. Specifically, if you didn't know what McDonalds was selling (burgers), you'd think it was a toy store with hamburgers as an afterthought. My children like the McDonald products and often want me to take them there. Occasionally I concede, or rather, rarely I concede. Primarily, because I consider their burgers to be the foulest tasting things one can stick in his or her mouth. They're like eating greased up sawdust. Also, it is my job as a parent to teach my children the values, morals, and life directions that I consider important. And I don't consider McDonald hamburgers all that important.
Also, I took interest in the media's ranting about McDonalds using company backed incentives for schools and organizations to further their image in the community. Well, I don't consider a kid winning a hamburger of any sort once every two weeks or months to be a threat to the free societies of the world. And if giving a kid a crappy tasting burger once in awhile to get him or her to go to school or to teach him that vandalism is wrong and instill in him or her that turning someone in for committing vandalism or some other crime is 'ok'. Then I still don't have a gigantic beef with McDonalds. Pardon the pun.
But, I reckon that as long as there are two people on this planet there are going to be differences of opinion. As far as I'm concerned, its much ado about a lot of nothing and I intend to find something else to do with my time now that I've put my two cents in.
None.
