Okay, This One Is Sad

On the "What ever happened to common sense" front: there is a woman in California who is suing the McDonald's Corporation because she claims it is too much trouble for her to continue to say no to her children when they want to eat there and get the toys.

Apparently, because they advertise the toys, her kids want to eat there often.

She and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (not a publicly funded company, by the way) claim it is a threat to society. The advertising toys to kids apparently "exploits a child's developmental vulnerability."

There has also been some talk about how because McDonald's has franchises in poor areas it is a threat.

They talk about how "ubiquitous" the restaurant is, and say that it makes it too hard to say no. Also, she says that McDonald's is getting in her kids heads without her permission.

Lets turn our brains on for a moment, please.

First, "No" is a complete sentence. Use it once in a while, and if the kid keeps whining, other consequences should apply.

Second, are we saying poor people aren't smart enough to choose when and how much fast food to consume? I think they are smart enough. I believe they do know what foods are good for them and which ones are not, and are able to make those decisions.

Third, streets are ubiquitous, too. Are you going to let your kids play in them? Or are you going to say no, over and over, no matter how long it takes to get the message through? Would you prefer to sue the government for having something as dangerous as a street where your kids can get to it?

Toys are ubiquitous in the grocery store, too, as are candy bars and other fun things, usually right next to the registers. That's there for a reason, so the kids will ask for them while waiting to check out. Should we be suing the stores for smart marketing? Or should we use that one word answer in the first point?

Fourth, all advertisers are trying to get inside our heads. That is the whole point of advertising. It is our responsibility to decide what advertising to believe, what to ignore, and what to tell our kids about how advertisers mess with our minds.

Fifth, what ever happened to personal responsibility? Lady, educate your children. Show them how that food is not good for them, at least not in large quantity. Tell them you have enough to eat fast food only once every 6 weeks, or whatever you decide. Mark it on the calendar where they can see it, and make it something special, a treat. If they whine before that, it gets moved back a week. Learn to say no. Learn to tell them "We are eating at home because it is healthier and cheaper."

One person, commenting on this, said that she is a child abuser who doesn't need to have kids, because she can't raise them. I'm not sure i would go that far, but i do think she needs to use more common sense.


Today is:

Cookie Cutter Day

Feast of the Fairy Godmother -- Fairy Calendar

National Day -- Bhutan

National Maple Syrup Day

National Regifting Day

O Sapientia -- Roman Catholic Church

Saturnalia begins (through Dec. 23) -- Ancient Roman Calendar (festival for Saturn, the planter god)

Sow Day -- Orkney Islands, Scotland (ritual slaughter of a sow for the Yule feast)

St. Lazarus' Day

Wright Brother's Day -- US


Birthdays Today:

Milla Jovovich, 1975
Duff Goldman, 1974
Mike Mills, 1958
Bill Pullman, 1953
Wes Studi, 1947
Eugene Levy, 1946
Chris Matthews, 1945
Bob Guccione, 1930
William Safire, 1929
Arthur Fiedler, 1894
John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807


Today in History:

The Ostrogoths of King Totila conquer Rome by bribing the Byzantine garrison, 546
Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur, 1398
Pope Paul III excommunicates England's King Henry VIII, 1538
Go-Yozei becomes Emperor of Japan, 1586
Shimabara Rebellion: Japanese peasants led by Amakusa Shiro rise against daimyo Matsukura Shigeharu, 1637
Congregation Shearith Israel of NY purchases a lot on Mill Street in lower Manhattan, to build NY's first synagogue, 1728
France recognizes independence of English colonies in America, 1777
Aztec calendar stone discovered in Mexico City, 1790
NYC traffic regulation creates first 1-way street, 1791
Opening of the first legislative assembly of Lower Canada in Quebec city, 1792
The US state of Kentucky abolishes debtors prisons, 1821
General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky, 1862
First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert, 1865
Violent riots in Montreal, as workers demand work or bread,1875
France declares Madagascar a protectorate, 1885
George Brownell patents a machine to make paper twine, 1895
A first prize of 100,00 francs offered for communications with extraterrestrials, but Martians are excluded - considered too easy, 1900
The Wright Brothers make their first successful flights, 1903
First flight of the Douglas DC-3 airplane, 1935
Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and dummy Charlie McCarthy first appear on TV, 1936
The SALT I talks begin, 1969