Ronald McDonald: Yay or Nay?

I was doing some online news-browsing and came across this. This may not be news to some of you but I was completely unaware of this. Basically, a bunch of people want McDonald's mascot, Ronald McDonald, gone.

Why?

Because they claim that he's seducing children into wanting to eat meaty cheeseburgers and greasy french fries.

The CEO of McDonald's was all, "Pfft, get real," and claimed that Ronald McDonald's promotes exercise. And, if you've seen the kid-oriented commercials with him in it, I do remember a lot of running around, for some reason.

Even as someone who believes strongly in feeding kids healthy, balanced meals, I have to send a big old, "Really?" to the people who actually took this opinion all the way to the CEO.


I think the problem in situations like this is that lots of people underestimate the intelligence of kids, while at the same time lots of other people are just irresponsible.

Have you ever actually seen a kid who gave a damn about Ronald McDonald? To me, as a child, he was the creepy clown who hung around that place with the really good chicken nuggets. I mean, I never looked at Ronald and thought, "Well, I was going to ask Mom if we could get some apples on the way home, but I think now I'll force her to take me to get a cheeseburger." He wasn't what made me like the place. It was the food. It was the greasy, salty food with free refills of my favorite sugary drink that made me like the place. And if it was a FunHouse, the ball pit.
Point being, I highly doubt that if you took away Ronald McCreeper here the kids would suddenly decide to eat better. They wouldn't stop wanting to go there, and any 3-year old with a sense of smell will probably want to venture into McDonald's if he passes by one, regardless of what their logo or mascot is. So, concerned doctors and parents, cut it out. Stop thinking kids have below-average intelligence. You're as bad as people saying Juno promotes teenage pregnancy. Most of us teens aren't braindead, thankyouverymuch. Ronald is a marketing scheme, but I always thought it was toward the parents, not the kids who don't give a crap about some clown who works for a restaurant. I thought it was supposed to say, "Hey, moms and dads! We're family-friendly!" Not, "Hey, kids! EAT THIS GREASY FOOD!"

And moms and dads? Stop being morons.

News flash: if your kids want to go to McDonald's, just say no. They will get over it.

If you don't want your kids eating that junk, then keep it away from them. It's that simple. If you're the kind of parent who gives in to a beg or two, stop. It's okay to give in occasionally when Sally wants a stuffed animal. It's stupid to give in when Sally wants a Happy Meal which may or may not come with a tiny stuffed animal and a side of childhood obesity. You are in control when it comes to what your child eats. Even if Ronald does make your kid want to gorge his/her face on chicken McNuggets, the ball's in your court. Don't be like that woman who sued McDonald's for making her fat. If you know it's bad for you or your kid, don't blame someone else, especially not some inconsequential mascot, if you or your kid ended up eating it and suffering ill effects.

Okay. Soapbox rant over.

:D?


PS: I've been getting a lot of comments on this post, and I have no idea where you people are coming from. I mean, welcome and thank you for commenting, but I'd love to know how you found me because I don't link back to this post anywhere else on my blog so it's rather strange that I'm getting so many replies to it. :)