In defence of the Golden Arches

[Major de Coverly]

The most vocal anti-MacDonalds campaigners are the French. And that should tell you something.

I myself, am partial to the odd big mac and fries. Even more so when I did the predictable student travelling before university. After a penang curry made of some form of dog, or those lamb omelette type things they knock up in the car park they claim is a food market in Kota Baharu, the site of the Golden Arches where you know you're not going to be reaching for the Imodium within five minutes of your last sip of "soup with bits", where the toilet will be clean and free, where you'll be able to sit down and take the weight off your rucksack and flip flops, and the food, whilst not winning any culinary awards, will fill you up and not kill you, is a welcome site.

Then at university, the golden arches off trumpington st were a convenient stop off between what lectures I attended and the odd foray into the library.

And now, at work, an egg and sausage muffin will mop up any alcohol still swilling round from the night before, and see me through to lunch without delaying getting to the office. And, when I worked out in Moscow, the MacD on pushkin square was cheaper and healthier than any pigs lard the Russians could serve up for a similar number of roubles.

Simply, having dined at some fabulously expensive, and fabulously over priced, and amazingly cheap and good places, MacDs consistently gives value for money and reasonable quality food.

It also provides, with very few exceptions, a clean and well looked after, family friendly addition to the high st, shopping maul or wherever, and employment and training which is rare at that level of pay. And all of this is provided with good health standards across the range, as a health scare would affect the whole brand across the world. Compare it to anything else serving hot food in that price range, and it will come off better on all counts.

MacDonalds also makes money, and allows, through its franchise system, people to open up and make money themselves if they run a restaurant successfully. Money that is made creates wealth, which pays taxes etc. Both in the west and also in less developed countries, where such enterprise and commitment to the community matters more. And with food all priced at an accessible level wherever you are, you get cheap good food which for many is a fundamental.

Sure, it isn't perfect. But it is, to my mind, a great success of the capitalist system, and easily a net contributor to society. And should be feted as such. People who knock it are whinging, small minded, ill-informed trippy hippy idealists who have no ability to think rationally or logically, who's only contribution in life is observing what is wrong. That'll be the frogs then.

Happy to discuss this further with any of you who disagree at the Liv St Mac Ds.

[Scardwel]

At the end of the day Maccy-D's is junk food, and in France food is and always will be taken *very* seriously, hence the attitude.
Prefer Burger King myself, as they do a Veggie burger that actually tastes nice.

[hallucienate]

I've still never eaten at McD, ever, not even as a kid (they weren't here until the 90's). I'm still not bothered ot. I'll eat most junk food except McD and Wimpy.

[mh]

I would also add that the kind of person who rants against Maccers normally comes from the "American Cultural Imperialism" stance, and is invariably 50 years behind in their ideology.

[DomConway]

BK beats McD's any day in my book...

[Quiff Boy]

I would also add that the kind of person who rants against Maccers normally comes from the "American Cultural Imperialism" stance, and is invariably 50 years behind in their ideology.

actually, i come more from the stance of it being s**t food (both in therms of taste and in terms of nutritional value), farmed/harvested/processed in the least hygenic and least ecologically friendly ways possible, exploiting the most people it can at every step, be it farmers, food packers or the poor muppets who work in the "restaurants".

"In defence of the Golden Arches"? there is no defence of the Golden Arches. burn them all down

[zigeunerweisen]

I ate once, many years ago, in a macdonald's. Never again. I hate the food, tastes like sh*t and hate what they stand for. And i'm not a hippy.
By the way, the french have real food, very good good, thus their disatisfaction with junk food.

[zigeunerweisen]

And now, at work, an egg and sausage muffin will mop up any alcohol still swilling round from the night before, and see me through to lunch without delaying getting to the office. And, when I worked out in Moscow, the MacD on pushkin square was cheaper and healthier than any pigs lard the Russians could serve up for a similar number of roubles.

This only tells you about how bad russian restaurants are, if when compared to them a macdonald's is actually a better choice. And it also tells me you didn't have enough money to go to the good places in Moscow.

Simply, having dined at some fabulously expensive, and fabulously over priced, and amazingly cheap and good places, MacDs consistently gives value for money and reasonable quality food.

Gulp, are you serious? value for money and reasonable quality food? you do know that it isn't even real food, right?

It also provides, with very few exceptions, a clean and well looked after, family friendly addition to the high st, shopping maul or wherever, and employment and training which is rare at that level of pay. And all of this is provided with good health standards across the range, as a health scare would affect the whole brand across the world. Compare it to anything else serving hot food in that price range, and it will come off better on all counts.

Again, are you serious? Macd's with good health standards across the world? Not this world, i presume. I don't now what kind of places are you going, but if you think macdonald's is actually better then them, you have been going to terrible restaurants.

MacDonalds also makes money, and allows, through its franchise system, people to open up and make money themselves if they run a restaurant successfully. Money that is made creates wealth, which pays taxes etc. Both in the west and also in less developed countries, where such enterprise and commitment to the community matters more. And with food all priced at an accessible level wherever you are, you get cheap good food which for many is a fundamental.

Oh yeah, a guy with a franchise makes money, what about the 20 something employees that make less than minimum wage. Or all the forests that get devastated to create pastures for cattle, all the pollution involved in cattle production, people paying for something that is essentially junk, when publicity tells them it's healthy and good, publicity mostly directed at children, the most vulnerable of all target groups. I could go on and on and on.
Of course it makes money, that's the point of every business, it doesn't make it a good, family oriented, place to eat just because it makes money.

Sure, it isn't perfect. But it is, to my mind, a great success of the capitalist system, and easily a net contributor to society. And should be feted as such. People who knock it are whinging, small minded, ill-informed trippy hippy idealists who have no ability to think rationally or logically, who's only contribution in life is observing what is wrong. That'll be the frogs then.

Typical brit irrational hatred for the french, who thinks the world is england with a few places to go on holidays a little south and a place where they also speak english, to the west. This isn't directed at all brits, of course, only to the ones that behave like this, and you know there are lots like this.
By the way, how much are they paying you for you to say all this?
Everyone knows macd's is a great capitalist success, since when is this an indicator of quality?

No, i'm not a hippy or leftwing.

Damn, i always thought jokes about british food were only jokes, and that you, as all other countries, had some good food, but if you actually think macdonald's is a good place to eat, your food must be really terrible.

[zigeunerweisen]

I would also add that the kind of person who rants against Maccers normally comes from the "American Cultural Imperialism" stance, and is invariably 50 years behind in their ideology.

You make it sound like being against any kind of imperialism, american or any other, is a bad thing.

[zigeunerweisen]

By the way, i should also add that peole can do whatever they want, if they want to smoke, do drugs or eat at macdonald's, it's their choice and noone should stop them from doing it. It's your right to like macdonald's or junk food, just don't come out and say that people who disagree with you are the wrong, small minded ones. Enjoy your burger but allow others to not be fond of it. If there are people who want to keep on eating real food, it's their righ too.

[nearmethexperience]

hummmm,

for my 2 cents, i don't go to McMurderburgers simply for the fact it's a bag of sh*te.

i much prefer, as a recent convert, subway, it's a sandwich shop franchise chain, they make the stuff directly infront of you so you see what your getting, who made it, and the level of hygiene involved.

also, they have a much larger range, and have no issues about you mixing and matching contents (the number of times i got a s**t 'tude from some 17 year old gimp working in any fast food joint because i don't happen to like those green slimey things they hide in ALL burgers) and do both hot and cold sandwiches, whatever lights your candle.

i also like thier level of involvement in the community, the one in new ulm is constantly helping with various different projects in and around town, from donating money or free food, to the staff (who are also the franchise owners) getting involved with various projects.

i'm not saying that subway is perfect by any means, but i like em and at the end of the day i spend my hard earned dollars in the places i see fit

[Big Si]

hummmm,

for my 2 cents, i don't go to McMurderburgers simply for the fact it's a bag of sh*te.

i much prefer, as a recent convert, subway, it's a sandwich shop franchise chain, they make the stuff directly infront of you so you see what your getting, who made it, and the level of hygiene involved.

also, they have a much larger range, and have no issues about you mixing and matching contents (the number of times i got a **** 'tude from some 17 year old gimp working in any fast food joint because i don't happen to like those green slimey things they hide in ALL burgers) and do both hot and cold sandwiches, whatever lights your candle.

i also like thier level of involvement in the community, the one in new ulm is constantly helping with various different projects in and around town, from donating money or free food, to the staff (who are also the franchise owners) getting involved with various projects.

i'm not saying that subway is perfect by any means, but i like em and at the end of the day i spend my hard earned dollars in the places i see fit

Aye! Subway is brand new, we got loads ey them in Glesga! A Big Piece fae the Big Man 'n fae under a skydiver!

[mh]

I would also add that the kind of person who rants against Maccers normally comes from the "American Cultural Imperialism" stance, and is invariably 50 years behind in their ideology.

You make it sound like being against any kind of imperialism, american or any other, is a bad thing.

Totally unintentional. Please accept my apologies, I should have been clearer.

I meant the kinda person who froths at the mouth at the very sight of Coke, Levis, even McDonalds, purely because of their nation of origin, and not for reasons such as Quiffy had pointed out in his reply to me. We all know there are people like that out there.

If one is gonna dislike something, it should be for the right reasons - i.e. cos of exploitation, s**t food, or whatever, and not just because of where it's from.

[Planet Dave]

Scardy,

did you get to the Burger King at the Leidesplein last March? Banging techno with yer whopper! A truly life-affirming fast-food scenario. Ace!

Dave

[zigeunerweisen]

I would also add that the kind of person who rants against Maccers normally comes from the "American Cultural Imperialism" stance, and is invariably 50 years behind in their ideology.

You make it sound like being against any kind of imperialism, american or any other, is a bad thing.

Totally unintentional. Please accept my apologies, I should have been clearer.

I meant the kinda person who froths at the mouth at the very sight of Coke, Levis, even McDonalds, purely because of their nation of origin, and not for reasons such as Quiffy had pointed out in his reply to me. We all know there are people like that out there.

If one is gonna dislike something, it should be for the right reasons - i.e. cos of exploitation, **** food, or whatever, and not just because of where it's from.

I agree with you on this one. I don't like macdonald's, not because they're american, but because they suck. I couldn't care less where something comes from, i care more about what do and how they behave.

I actually wear levi's, they may be american, but they still make my butt look good

[nearmethexperience]

i drink coke (not pepsi)

i wear levi & calvin K & tommy H clothing (simply because they are the brands that make me look less fat/short/shoddy than i really am)

we drive a chevy car (gallant sports 2 door auto with a 3.2lt engine, kinda old but goes) and are currently deciding between a dodge/chevy/ford/jeep SUV (you need one here in winter)

apart from the cars (in the uk i didn't drive and in spain i had myself a scooter), i have always bought/used the above products, not out of any love of america (nor do i dislike america, i dislike stupid inbred war mongering world leaders where ever they come from), but because i liked them, simple.

i find most americans, apart from the one mentioned above, to be nice, highly educated, funny, open people, not the types we get bombarded with via the gerry springer show nightly on most european cable/sat tv channels.

so i find most anti american feeling as laughable, mostly caused by the same people who support whatever nationalist party is available in their country and read the sun newspaper (or whatever) on a regular basis.

to judge an entire population because of a couple of tv shows and a world leader even they refer to as 'the chimp' is pretty ucking dumb IMHO, as well as narrow minded.

anyway, the point, oh i don't know, i lost that ages ago

oh yeah, golden arches?? isn't that like a sexual deviance thing???

[Major de Coverly]

Oh my, oh my, oh my,
I just popped out for a big mac and fries,
and just look at all the replies.

Ziggy, ziggy, ziggy. Ziggy. I absolutely disagree with every one of your points. But I defend your right to make them. It is important to have opinions, and be able to express them, even if they are wrong.

As such, I shan't be responding to your points in detail, save that:

1. Until 18 I lived in Belgium. Since then, I have lived in England, Singapore and Russia (as well as the odd stint in the Crimea with the beautiful CP). I have no English blood in me.

2. The only reason I bash les froggies is because it is fun. In their favour, they do have some mighty fine cuisine and I'm happy to have a pop at other nations too. Americans shot John Lennon but made Garth Brookes an international superstar. Now there is no excuse for that.

[Black Planet]

I could make a crass remark here about John Lennon, but you probably wouldn't get it as it's an anti beatle remark.

It's about time someone..and thank you NME for stating it....got to the point regarding liking or disliking *things* because they come from particular country. Your points are right on the mark.

And thank you for that.

Oh and McD? Sucks! Burger King is better tasting. But the really healthy food is Subway.

[hallucienate]

Subway are good! There used to loads of them around here but the all closed down about a year ago, all except one that is, which I stumbled across last Sunday and got myself a foot long club sub, no tomato, on wholewheat.

here we also have Kauai, and they are my all time favourite.

[RicheyJames]

must admit i am rather partial to a maccy d's breakfast. the egg and sausage mcmuffin being a particular favourite. but the rest of the time bk is way superior.

in fact, does anybody know what bk's breakfast menu is like?

[James Blast]

I used to like the odd trip to the Golden Arches, then I got my own BBQ.
Have only had one trip back since and I was left, sadly, wanting more.
In defence of fast food I used to love an Arby's Hot Ham and Cheese, they only lasted for about 6-9 months in Glasgow before going bust, I make my own now

[Big Si]

I used to like the odd trip to the Golden Arches, then I got my own BBQ.
Have only had one trip back since and I was left, sadly, wanting more.
In defence of fast food I used to love an Arby's Hot Ham and Cheese, they only lasted for about 6-9 months in Glasgow before going bust, I make my own now

Peckham's are no bad, but ye cannae beat a Subway!

The Maggie's no bad ferra Scooby Snack, and nothing beats a roll 'n sausage wuv black pudding!

[rian]

I prefer Burger King, but I also eat at Mc Donalds sometimes. Not very good, but when you are stressed and hungry, what the hell. It fills your stomach. Sometimes I just eat a hotdog for lunch. But that's not enough.

[Major de Coverly]

No, you are right. It is not enough.

There is an English adage which says you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

It is an old saying, but I do believe in it- even if I don't always follow it.

[rian]

No, you are right. It is not enough.

There is an English adage which says you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

It is an old saying, but I do believe in it- even if I don't always follow it.

Oh. I never eat breakfast. Maybe I should. I drink a lot though. Is that good?