The banishment of Ronald McDonald?

Torplexed · 05-21-2011, 12:16 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...mpaigners.html

Quote:

Ronald McDonald and Happy Meals 'should be banned', say health campaigners
The character Ronald McDonald and McDonald's Happy Meal promotions should be banned because they attract children to junk food too much, according to health campaigners. The experts took out newspaper advertisements in the form of an open letter to tell the firm's management that the mascot and the meals, which come with a free toy, can be damaging.

Yesterday CAI ran full-page ads in US papers, which stated: "Marketing can no longer be ignored as a significant part of this huge problem."

The letter also urged the firm to stop advertising foods high in fat, salt and sugar to children.

A spokesman for McDonald's, which has used the Ronald McDonald character since the 1960s, said it was committed to "responsible advertising".

I can't even recall the last I saw the Ronald character being used in any McDonald's advertising. I figured he was semi-retired, and enjoying the occasional poker night with Mayor McCheese. The Jack in the Box clown has the higher profile nowadays.

I swear someday, the busybodies will inherit the Earth.

Platapus · 05-21-2011, 12:28 PM

Parents. Can. Always. Say. No.

So what exactly is the problem here?

HunterICX · 05-21-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Parents. Can. Always. Say. No.

So what exactly is the problem here?

responsibility which they do not want to take.

HunterICX

Platapus · 05-21-2011, 12:59 PM

When the failure is a lack of responsibility, the solution is not to take responsibility away.

Torplexed · 05-21-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

When the failure is a lack of responsibility, the solution is not to take responsibility away.

Exactly. I grow weary of the idea that society must always adapt to the most irresponsible or lazy.

I might have more sympathy with these busybodies if I believed for a millisecond that if McDonald's shuttered its doors and canceled its ads, people would stop being obese. However eliminating Big Macs, McMuffins and Quarterpounders won't make people any more virtuous, just as eliminating the clown won't make people more skinny. So I find extremely exasperating the request that businesses act more responsibly than we do ourselves.

Rockstar · 05-21-2011, 01:13 PM

The Happy Meal

A small order of fries OR sliced apples with a side of caramel dip.
12 oz soft drink (milk, chocolate milk, orange juice or apple juice.
A hamburger, cheeseburger or a four or six piece Chicken McNugget with sauce.
And get this, a toy is included too!

How can anyone allow this evil! It's outrageous! OH THE HORROR OF IT ALL.

.

MH · 05-21-2011, 01:17 PM

McDonald's the big evil company.
Good target for lawsuits and populist activist.

Someone save me from myself because i like killing my self with fat pizza shawarma beer and cigarettes.

Howard313 · 05-21-2011, 01:39 PM

Thank God I grew up before this whole "Stop kids from getting fat." phase started. Considering that I eat like a vulture and am borderline anorexic as it is, this lifestyle they are trying to push on people most like would've killed me.

yubba · 05-21-2011, 02:12 PM

I think we should start a movement, banning people from banning people from things they like, call it, mind your own damn business or get booted out of office movement. More of the nanny state let's see how they are going to pay for it.

Sailor Steve · 05-21-2011, 03:00 PM

Yep, just one more thing we need Big Brother to do for us.

Oberon · 05-21-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yubba

I think we should start a movement, banning people from banning people from things they like, call it, mind your own damn business or get booted out of office movement. More of the nanny state let's see how they are going to pay for it.

For once, I agree with you fully.

Rockstar · 05-21-2011, 03:35 PM

I would like to see Ronald McDonald replaced by Homey D. Clown.

Platapus · 05-21-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yubba

I think we should start a movement...

Frequently after I eat at McDonalds I have an urge for a movement too.

Torplexed · 05-21-2011, 05:02 PM

Indited for complicity in the obesity of American citizens, Ronald McDonald was brought in handcuffs by Officer Big Mac to Federal Court today. Arraignment proceedings should begin shortly. McDonald claimed collusion by rivals Burger King and Jack in the Box to set him up as a fall guy for America's poor nutritional choices. "I'm just a patsy" claimed McDonald.

vienna · 05-21-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

I would like to see Ronald McDonald replaced by Homey D. Clown.

I don't think so...Homey don't play dat!

05-21-2011, 12:28 PM	#2
Platapus Rear Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11,136 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	Parents. Can. Always. Say. No. So what exactly is the problem here? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-21-2011, 12:59 PM	#4
Platapus Rear Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11,136 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	When the failure is a lack of responsibility, the solution is not to take responsibility away. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-21-2011, 01:13 PM	#6
Rockstar Admiral Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Restaurant at the end of the universe Posts: 2,164 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The Happy Meal A small order of fries OR sliced apples with a side of caramel dip. 12 oz soft drink (milk, chocolate milk, orange juice or apple juice. A hamburger, cheeseburger or a four or six piece Chicken McNugget with sauce. And get this, a toy is included too! How can anyone allow this evil! It's outrageous! OH THE HORROR OF IT ALL. . __________________ __________________ 1942 called and said you can't ignore the world and be left alone in peace. We are involved. We have to be. We will be hurt sometimes, sure. But nobody will ever think we are a soft target.

05-21-2011, 03:00 PM	#10
Sailor Steve Just A Kid At Heart Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 600 miles from the nearest ocean. Posts: 44,776 Downloads: 406 Uploads: 227	Yep, just one more thing we need Big Brother to do for us. __________________ "Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right." – Laurens van der Post

05-21-2011, 03:35 PM	#12
Rockstar Admiral Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Restaurant at the end of the universe Posts: 2,164 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would like to see Ronald McDonald replaced by Homey D. Clown. __________________ __________________ 1942 called and said you can't ignore the world and be left alone in peace. We are involved. We have to be. We will be hurt sometimes, sure. But nobody will ever think we are a soft target.

05-21-2011, 01:17 PM	#7
MH Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,915 Downloads: 149 Uploads: 0	McDonald's the big evil company. Good target for lawsuits and populist activist. Someone save me from myself because i like killing my self with fat pizza shawarma beer and cigarettes.

05-21-2011, 01:39 PM	#8
Howard313 Engineer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: America Posts: 215 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	Thank God I grew up before this whole "Stop kids from getting fat." phase started. Considering that I eat like a vulture and am borderline anorexic as it is, this lifestyle they are trying to push on people most like would've killed me.

05-21-2011, 02:12 PM	#9
yubba Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: in a neighborhood near you Posts: 1,915 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 0	I think we should start a movement, banning people from banning people from things they like, call it, mind your own damn business or get booted out of office movement. More of the nanny state let's see how they are going to pay for it.

05-21-2011, 05:02 PM	#14
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Washington Territory Posts: 5,488 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Indited for complicity in the obesity of American citizens, Ronald McDonald was brought in handcuffs by Officer Big Mac to Federal Court today. Arraignment proceedings should begin shortly. McDonald claimed collusion by rivals Burger King and Jack in the Box to set him up as a fall guy for America's poor nutritional choices. "I'm just a patsy" claimed McDonald.

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