May 19, 2011

  • Ronald is making our kids fat?

    So I was watching the news, something I rarely do, and I heard something very controversial, and may I say pretty upsetting. I wasn't paying full attention, but apparently a HUGE group of people are asking McDonalds to stop advertising to kids AND retire Ronald.  

    Ok, to be honest I'm not overly attached to Ronald and he's actually always creeped me out a little.

     

    I mean he's like part mime, part clown and just weird.  One guy on the news was saying Ronald made kids want to eat there. He said the yellow and red outfit and the huge, scary smile, were like a crack pipe to a crack addict.

     Sorry mister, but it's the fries.  No one can convince me that Bk's fries are better, no contest , so don't try.  Anyway, these people are all pissed off because McDonalds spends a lot of money on advertising, and lots of it is geared towards kids.  Really?  There's a shocker, they are a business, kids like their food, they like making money, and that's how it works.

    What's next?  Mattel needs to stop advertising to kids too?  Because I remember when I first saw Malibu Barbie on TV. I had to have her and an easy bake oven, and Mystery date, which by the way is on an antique site which almost made me cry.

    I would like to throw out the following senario,

    Kid is watching current TV. show that has annoying music and characters, then goes to a McDonalds commercial:

    Kid says " mommy can we go to Mcdonalds?"

    Mom " NO"

    Kid: "Pleeease, mommy I want some fries that are much better than Burger King."

    Mom: " No, and stop whining you may have an apple or a sugar, fat free, no preservatives or additives cookie, you choose."

    Kid: " Apple please, the cookies taste like the box my Malibu Barbie came in."

    OR

    Kid: " Mommy, I just saw a comercial with the creepy, clown, that never talks, and reminds me of a freaky mime and now I HAVE TO HAVE McDonalds." " And if you say no I'm going to cry."

    Mom:  "Well, humm, we just went yesterday and the day before, but since you run this house, sure."

    Seriously, if your kid is a fat ass, who is addicted to McDonalds, that is probably YOUR fault.  So far, I don't know many kids under the age of ten who can get themselves to McDonalds, order and pay for themselves.  And if your three year old can, well kudos for them and shame on you.

      My kids are pretty much done, and they are not perfect, but I'm sure not blaming some freak of a clown.

    So young parents, let me give you words of wisdom from an old lady, YOU ARE THE BOSS!  Simple, but it works.  Just say No.  They will live, I promise.  Sure, crying and whining, sucks and makes you want to hurt them, but a few scary looks and some really mean yelling will do the trick.  

    And McDonalds, you go ahead and run your business the same way you have for years, and thanks for the new healthy options, but I'm gonna stick with a double cheese burger and large fries.  And please don't replace the creepy clown with Lettuce Man, it just isn't right.

Comments (47)

  • I blame Ronald for my fat kids.

  • @TheTheologiansCafe - lol, poor Ronald.

  • @spinner_mom - no they aren't, its fun to eat what you grow.

  • loooooove this post! you are right, McDs fries are the BEST. I remember going to some McDonalds event years ago and getting to go up on a stage and meet Ronald. He made me a balloon hat. I thought he was ace.

  • @inadee - Wow, Ronald actually did something?  Well, he still scares me, but thanks for the compliment.

  • McDonalds is disgusting.

  • Here's the thing: I agree with you... mostly. Ronald doesn't make kids fat. The fast food industry cannot make kids fat on it's own (there are a bjillion other factors like lack of exercise due to a sedentary lifestyle (more tv, more video games, less playgrounds, etc.), terrible food additives messing with hormones, poor self-esteem at younger ages, and OF COURSE, terrible parenting, all of which contribute to childhood obesity.

    HOWEVER, the advertising industry IN GENERAL does brainwash kids. That's why, even though I have tried it and I think it tastes disgusting, I still crave Trix Cereal. It's why I remember almost every commercial and commercial jingle from my childhood by heart (Doublemint Gum, Polly Pocket, Mentos, Baby Alive, Raisenettes, M&Ms), and all of those still have some semblance of an effect on me. I can only remember one commercial from this year's super bowl.

    Then again, you are right. That is the advertising companies' jobs. They are supposed to get us into Coca Cola at a young age, and get us to stick to it. So you can't really BLAME them.

    My kids can watch TV. I don't think television hurts children, and I think it's a little ridiculous to pretend like it has any real negative effects. However, I don't think I am going to let my kids watch commercials. I have watched too many documentaries about the systematic brainwashing that they do, and I just don't want my kinds subjected to that. They will get enough of it from friends, billboards, product placement, etc. I don't need them to still remember the McDonald's jingle they heard when they were two, and to think that in times of sadness, Ronald McDonald will be there.

  • Many years ago I was a manager at McDonald's.  I loved it.  One of the things a fellow manager use to do was send Ronald McDonald dolls into the air with helium balloons. 

  • So true! And if you think advertising is bad, DON'T LET YOUR KIDS WATCH TV.  Drastic? possibly, but my kids aren't allowed to watch TV and they don't crave toys or fast food. And yes, they will stop crying eventually and they will eat when they are hungry.  A Good Mom = A MEAN Mom (at least from the kid's perspective).

    AND i liked your pictures!  Your ex has a ridiculously nice backyard!

  • I don't mind Macca's every now and then.... sometimes it just hits the spot.   But it's definitely NOT a every day or every week thing.

    As for Ronald - not really fussed.  

  • well aren't you just so smart. not only do you run the media, but apparently blogs too.

  • @sincerely_jennie -  how are you going to let your kids watch TV but not commercials? And television watching is correlated with increased incidence of ADHD, commercials or not.  For me, I think the negatives most definitely outweigh any possible positives. Of course, my husband and I haven't watched television in our home for more than 10 years now, so it was an easy decision to make with our children. Our older children get to watch 1 movie a week (Friday! Movie Day!) and either 1 episode of the old Star Trek show or 2 episodes of The Muppets on Saturday evening with their daddy.  The baby, as per the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, doesn't get to watch any TV (0 hours before age 2).

  • Dear Laura,

    I read about the bans on happy meals, and the push to overturn those bans in certain states,but never anything about banning Ronald. I have a section on McDonald's in my latest "Cultural Blender" movie. I grew up with Mickey D's, and though I don't eat there anymore because of health concerns, and the fact I'm an old man and have to watch that kind of thing, I will agree that they have the best fries of anyone.

    Sadly, I can't eat anything fried. (I'm not supposed to eat cheese either, and I forget to take those little pills the doc gave me so he'll probably think I'm due to have a heart attack next time I go see him, which I have to do soon, becuase it's been over a year since my last overpriced "check up."

    But I'm rambling. I really do have to get back to work.

    Did you know that the old Today show weatherman, Willard Scott, was the very FIRST Ronald McDonald? He wore a bag of fries on his head. I have a photo of him in the (shameless plug) video I link above. According to Willard, who was also a Bozo.(I mean he played Bozo on Television.) when they cancelled the Bozo show in Philadelphia, or wherever it was, he couldn't make personal appearances at the local McDonalds. (They weren't as ubiquitous back in the 50s. Only millions instead of billions sold) So he invented his own clown for the burger chain. Pretty neat bit of cultural history eh.

    (And don't forget to watch my Cultural Blender movie okay?

    Personal Confidential part of Comment: Some people mistake poking fun at one's Top blog aspirations and obvious humor as "harrassing". I'm too young an inexperienced to know why.

    One of my upcoming blog posts (more shameless promotion) will be interviews with ancient viral internet sensations, like Dancing Babies and Hampsters. Sort of a "Where are They Now" look at what happened to sensations like Charlie the Unicorn, that odd squirrel (forgot his name) and the Trololo guy.

    Back to point: At least when I was a kid, the cartoons were still the old Looney Tunes and Betty Boops and Popeyes which used to be shown in front of the movies. By the 80s, almost all cartoon shows were really toy advertisements "disguised" as cartoon shows.

    In the end, as you brilliantly and humorously state, it's up to the parents to monitor their kids.

    Boy, I do miss those McDonald's fries. You could get them at Disneyland for a while.

    Michael F. Nyiri,poet, philosopher, fool

  • @TheTheologiansCafe - Dan, Here's your next question: Should the U.S. send in Navy Seals to shoot Ronald McDonald?

  • Eh, well, one thing is for certain: the less people eat fast food in general, the better. Best thing to do is to just stop eating at fast food joints altogether. 

  • You are so right.
    Get the celery and  peanutbutter out or make popcorn on the stove  and teach your kids what healthy snacks are and go to McD's as a treat every so often not a lifestyle.

  • Ronald's fries are sticks and slivers, inedible when cold. Want real fries? Go to Rally's.

  • Yeah I mean I grew up around McD's and I am not overweight. I only went very few and far between. My mother was a really good cook, hence the lack of desire to get McD's.  I did like the toys though!

  • It is stupid to try to Retire Ronald. Its like parents have not control over their kids. Its Ronald's fault for making my kids want to go their. Please, when my 5 year old niece come over to visit we go to Mc Doanld's at least twice, and that is because they love the playground area. I do not know about other cities but the ones here, I have not seen fat kids chopping down #5 with a chocolate shake. We have control over our kids and the exercise that they do. If they get chunky it's our fault. Plus I love the way you wrote your post. 

  • I love the second last paragraph. It made me chuckle.

  • Thanks you stupid jerk! Now you've made it harder for me to sue them like the American I am =( Now the responsibility is back on all of us citizens. What have you DONE!!

  • I'd like to mention that not all countries have double cheeseburgers, so it will have to be the McRoyal for me. Strictly w/o cheese at the kosher McD downtown.

    That said, my kids love to have carrots instead of fries with their happy meal. And the fruit combo is the most loved dessert. It's not as awfully sweet as the others.

  • I don't like reading baldmike's comments. From this day forward, I'm considering him a troll. I know that I say hateful things on xanga, but I make it clear I am hating. This old guy, on the other hand, spews out old farts, while consensus shows he is no troll. That is why I must exist, and that is why, I, must be granted the power to annihilate the human race, from the face of this planet. I'm sorry to all the Americans out there who "love" life. Just be happy in heaven, or something.

  • Ok I do not eat at McDonalds but old Ronald looks like a good cop out to me for blameing my fatness on.  Darn you Ronald it is all your fault.  I take no responsiblity for what I put it my mouth, it is your fault!

  • Great Post !!!!

  • i would have to agree with you.

    I loved the Hamburgalar, and I remember being so happy when I looked inside the bad and saw a Hamburgalar VHS. I hated hamburgers but tried something new because of it. My mom was able to use that and say remember when you used to hate hamburgers - Im sure youll like this too. And I would try it. It all depends on what the parents do. When my mom said no, it meant no...and I knew it.

  • people need to stop putting blame where blame isnt due.  

  • How dare you suggest that parents should be responsible for their own kids! 

    This country really makes me angry sometimes. McDonald's was always a treat to me growing up, not something that was expected. Like, if my brother and I behaved well on a long shopping trip, we MIGHT get to stop and get a Happy Meal on the way home. Granted, I've never really dealt with kids myself, but I'd imagine that the more you just say "no", the easier it gets and the less often you have to do it. Don't blame the company for *gasp* trying to be successful!

    Also, clowns are scary.

    Great post!

  • @JinnLedet - well I wouldn't go that far

    @sincerely_jennie - OMG I think you and I are going to have problems when you have kids
    @Randy7777 - cool sounds fun

    @miss_order - mean moms rock

    @baldmike2004 - I miss Mickey D's too, I also can't eat it anymore.  Thanks for the trivia, will check it out later, running late for a change and sorry for the " CONFUSION" on your site.

    @baldmike2004 - ha ha to Dan's new question

    @Axis_of_Doom - I agree

    @seedsower - now I am having a craving for peanut butter and celery.   BTW.  great moms think alike.

    @buddly47 - We don't have a Rallys

    @AmeliaHart - Yeah the toys were cool, unless they had to recall fror small parts.

    @looking_inside_me - Thank you and the playground is great.  it was a welcome break when my kids were little.
    @ange_lae - I love that you get my humor, not everyone does.

    @Coffee_Kaioken - No one reads this crap.  I'll sue too, my kids are not fat but the neighbor kids are and I will sue for emotional distress.  Mickey D's will PAY!!!!!

    @hevcoh - True, no meat and dairy.  And kids eat healthy and like it if that's what they are used to.

    @Frankenchrist - What does that mean?  Obviously I am not smart cause i don't get it.

    @venice - Sadly I have not had it for over a year, it messes with my diet.

    @RulerofMasons - Interesting.  Not sure what to make of that though.

    @tymedancer - You can sue with @Coffee_Kaioken and I.

  • @snikip296 - Thank you 

    @wolvenchic - I remember the hamburgler ha ha.  I was scared of my mom in a good way, so same, when she said no it was no.

    @shadesofanna - agree.

    @shpadoinkle12 - Thank you.  And I bet a huge majority of kids are afraid of clowns so it was actually kind of a bad choice on their part.

  • @momofjenmatt - You're #4 on Top Blogs. You might remember when you were taking your babysteps from your forced retirement that  I TOLD you it wouldn't take long for you to regain your throne as the Premiere Comedienne of Xanga (PCX).

    Woot.

    Michael F.Nyiri, poet, philosopher,fool

  • Well there's this 10 year old boy who weighs 150 pounds. True story. He was eating Doritos and being teased by some kids.

    Even our pets are fat.

    :(

  • I think they should just overhaul Ronald McDonald and make him into a muscular hunk with a better fashion sense.

    Seriously, I think they need to promote a healthier, alternative menu.

  • Parents should be able to draw their own lines.  For the poor kids whose parents don't or can't, eliminating McDonald's is going to do very little to help them.

  • @miss_order -  Well as to how I would do it- using only DVDs or DVRd TV shows and fast-forwarding.

    As to letting my kids watch TV- I am never going to judge anybody on how they choose to raise there kids, every parent is different and has different concerns for their children. However, I was pretty much raised by television (sorry momofjenmat- my mom) and I turned out pretty OK. I graduated high school valedictorian and summa cum laude from one of the top schools in the country, and I have a great job.

    Side Note- I am totally kidding about being raised by television. I DID watch a lot of TV as a kid, but my house was also FULL of books, my mom gave us lots of creative stimulation, and we played outdoors for basically the entire summer. You DO need a balance. But if it was a rainy day, and my mom wasn't feeling well, what's wrong with a little TV/movie marathon. I STILL love TV today! It hasn't made me stupid or sedentary. I still work out, I still read at least one book every two weeks, I still hang out with live people. But I still adore television. Everything about it makes me happy.

    Not only that, but television made me creative, it got me interested in acting as a child, and I adored it. My brother and I literally built games around the TV. We would play the game while the tv show was on, we would interact with the tv, we would build castles and pretend we were part of the story... and maybe that was just us, but we NEVER passively sat on a couch and watched.

    I studied quite a bit of developmental psychology in college, and while I am no expert, and while I know that some experts disagree, I do not see the harm that could come from a baby under the age of two being exposed to television. To a baby under the age of two, all that is coming from that TV is color, shapes, and sounds. The same stuff that comes out of toys or real life. They don't know the difference. There's not much that could convince me that TV could negatively affect a baby, when it is literally just color, song, and sound coming out of a box. If that's ALL they were exposed to, that would be another thing altogether. Babies need touch and live nurture OF COURSE.

  • I blame the commercials during the hockey games for my buying an angus burger at McDonalds every day of the stanley cup playoffs.  

  • What they think the issue is underlying the correlation between amount of TV watched and increased incidence of ADHD is that the rate of activity (scene changes, pacing of the story, etc) is so much higher than in real life (such as in a classroom) that it essentially resets the brain to have a harder time paying attention to/ being adequately stimulated by the rate of normal life.  Of course you need to make your own choices about your own children; I have made my choice and I'd rather play it safe. I have a PhD in neurophysiology and I teach neuroanatomy at a medical school and I just feel like there isn't enough evidence that television is not harmful and I want more for my children. They are already going to be nerds, I may as well go whole hog. (-:

  • @baldmike2004 - I'm pretty sure I dropped, but yes you did say that AND I think you are one of the nicest people on the planet. 

    @millionofstars - It's true, sad state of affairs America.  

    @sincerely_jennie - well yes you did have a lot of TV. however as you said we did other things too, don't forget museums and pumpkin farms, the pool, play dates, lots of pre school/camp so I'm sure that helped.  But as you said everyone needs to do what they think is best and no TV. isn't harmful either.  Just personal preference.

    @ohellino - As you should 

    @miss_order - sorry my lovely daughter likes debating, queen of nerds.  Just because my kids turned out ok doesn't mean all kids will.  Good for you, play it safe and do what you think is best.  But when I babysit, it's TV. time all the way ( my unborn grand children) I'm tired.  Cut her a break too, she has no kids, it all changes once you do.

  • I agree with everything my daughter and granddaughter said!  Guess I raised my kids right.  Mom of Momofjenmatt

  • What a shame!  Everyone knows it's the Hamburglar that's making America fat!  Put the blame where it is due. Once again it's pick on the redhead and blame them for everything!

  • @momofjenmatt - She asked a question. I was just answering her, not debating. As I said, I think everyone should raise their children in the way that they think is best. I would never say anyone's way of mothering is good or bad (besides neglect or abuse, obviously), but she asked why I thought I would let my kids watch TV, and that was the answer I gave her.

  • @miss_order - That makes sense. I guess I just don't imagine a baby following the story or the scene changes, except maybe rapid changes in color or picture wouldn't be ideal. But most babies don't even pay attention to TV when it's on. Who knows, maybe by the time I have kids they will have baby tv that doesn't even utilize story-lines or rapid scene changes- doesn't baby einstein sort of work like that?

    Regardless, my point was not about Television (I was originally just trying to assure my mother that I would not be forbidding my children to watch tv- because if I did she would refuse to babysit). I just think that the advertising industry is really good at implanting ideas in our brains at a young age, and that really freaks me out. I don't want my future son or daughter to be some kind of freaky slave-consumer.

    Ultimately, my mom is right. If your kid is fat, Ronald McDonald probably isn't the reason.

  • Haven't been to McDonald's for years and years.. I don't drink coffee so they have nothing to offer me. I don't watch much TV, so I don't really care if Ronald goes away or stays.

    I'm just fine the way things are.

    Don't people have something better to do with their time than bitch about Ronald???

  • @sincerely_jennie - agree!  Also, "Baby Einstein" is a crock. Face time is the best way to teach your baby.

  • @greatredwoman - I guess not

  • But sure your own utterances are realistic
    financial advisors | sci fi mmorpg free | Japan Etf

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