Mc'Donald's Lawsuit and the truth =)

[CuzzinOlaf]

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1106573726371

This evening, as I was seeking a light, healthy meal to eat, I was accosted outside a local fast- food restaurant by no less a person than Ronald McDonald himself. Ronald leaped out from behind a plastic purple Grimace and shoved a gun in my ribs. "What the hell?" I gasped. "Shut up!" Ronald snarled, his clown-face twisted in anger under his bright red hair. "Get inside! Now!" he ordered as he pushed me towards the McDonald's door. I had no choice but to comply.

Once inside, Ronald urged me towards the counter with sharp jabs of his gun, which I now noticed was a chromed Colt .32 automatic with mother-of- pearl grips, in my side. "Damn, I always figured you for a pimp gun," I said disgustedly. But he didn't rise to the bait, entertainment professional that he is. He pulled out my wallet and tossed it to the counterperson, a bored- looking teenage girl. She opened it and pulled out a $10, then said to me "Is this all? Jeez." "What are you doing?" I yelled. "Call the cops, for crying out loud!" She just popped her gum at me and rolled her eyes. The gesture probably conveyed some complex message, but I didn't get it.

Ronald ordered me a Big Mac, an order of fries, an apple pie and a chocolate milkshake. He forced me with urgent gestures of the gun to bring the tray to a table, then stood watching as I squeezed into the plastic booth. "Eat it!" he demanded. "Why? Why are you doing this?" I asked him. His eyes blazed with anger, and he raised to gun to point at my face. Having no choice, I began to eat.

As I did so, I could feel my will to resist draining away. Without any volition of my own, I devoured the greasy cheeseburger, savored the special sauce, crunched the salty fries, and slurped down the chalky chocolate milkshake. Ronald McDonald watched my every move, his eyes glittering with malice. As I began helplessly to eat the sugary pie, his glare relaxed to a grin.

"You want to know why I forced you to eat McDonald's food? The truth is, I have taken your willpower, your freedom, your power of decision, and your ability to decide for yourself. You would never have come in here on your own and eaten my food if I didn't force you to! Now you're MINE! I OWN you! Hahahahaha..." Hiding the cheap-looking pistol in a pocket of his bright yellow jumpsuit, he got up and left, big red shoes flopping, probably to hijack another hapless pedestrian's willpower and force him or her to eat his lousy food.

So now I find myself in dire need of the Liberals' help. I ate McDonald's food because I was forced to, and now all that artery-clogging fat is coursing through my bloodstream just looking for a place to lodge where it can cause a heart attack. I wasn't given any choices; I wasn't allowed to go to a different restaurant or even choose a salad instead of a greasy burger. I can't be held responsible for the damage Ronald McDonald and his cheap pimp gun forced me to do to my body, can I? I'm just a helpless victim, and I need to sue that clown for forcing me to eat his food!

'Cause I need more money to go back for breakfast tomorrow..

 

[peter78]

Well don't get the salad, it is loaded with calories and fat. Also, I think our choice has been taken away. When my Son was born I made sure he never heard of Mc Donalds, but they put commericals on kids program and show the toy you get with the "kids meals".

You need to watch "Super Size Me" before you think McDonalds is all that innocent.:

 

[94yotarunner]

:iagree:

First off... don't make this another liberal vs republican issue, and then like most ignorants tie this to Kerry, and then say Bush is the man... please.

Secondly, I see your point, they aren't forcing you to eat their food. Obviously. They're telling you EXACTLY whats in their food, and how nutritious it is. Just this night I went to McDonald's, and when I got there they had all of their nutrition clearly available to deter anyone with health in mind. Ohh yeah... the salads are real healthy too. And like the other poster said, they advertise to your kids to get them hooked young, and obviously they have no idea about nutrition... so thats great too.
I'm sure, also, they choose the best ingredients to make a balanced meal, not the ingredients that are so high in fat and sodium and other taste bud arousing lab made tastes that are horrible for your body...
Plus... at least its real beef, not some half beef mixture with so many illness causing chemical additives... right?

 

[Loki]

It's my right as an American to have access to fast food that will clog my arteries and slowly kill me. These lawsuits are getting way too much airtime. Totally frivolous.

With that said, the real question is why anyone wants to eat crappy mcdonalds food in the first place. Wendy's is MUCH better (but will likely kill you even faster).

 

[94yotarunner]

I always thought it was kind of funny.... its your right as american to fill your veins with grease, but not alcohol (if minor), not drugs.... they're both bad for you. I know theres a difference, but they both lead to quicker death....

 

[doctob]

:soapbox:This is ridiculous....You willingly go to a store, you willingly order an item, you willingly pay for it, and then you willingly stuff it down your throat, and you think the restaurant is at fault? Bullshit...

We have a whole population of people in this country now who don't want to take responsibility for the actions THEY choose....This McDonalds suit is a prime example.

You can't use advertisement practices to condemn McDonalds either. You as a parent have choice over what your kids eat, especially when they are young. Now I agree, as they get older that control becomes less and less. However, it is not McDonalds fault that your kids are in there buying the food. They, like ANY OTHER COMPANY are advertising their product as best they can. I don't sue cigarette companies for advertising their product the way they do, and I don't smoke either because I take into account the health risks and CHOOSE not to (tobacco is the worst offender of all). They are a food service company, and their product is aimed at people of all ages. I can not tell you how many times I have had patient's parents come to clinic and say "Well little Johnny or Susie won't eat anything but coke and candy...". Well, little Johnny and Susie had to have someone buy those products for them, and that same individual at some point made them accessible and appropriate to be included in their diet. Is that Coke's fault? Nope.....

Super Size Me does show what the health dangers of eating fast food are, you are correct. However, anybody who goes to McDonalds is able to clearly see the nutritional information if they choose to look. No one is forcing them to drive or walk to a McD's and order what they are ordering. I know exactly what I am getting everytime I go to McDonalds, and yet I choose to go there or Burger King when I go because I want that product or because I am craving a hamburger (read....Not craving a specific product but a particular food item). It is that simple. As far as restricting alcohol or drugs to grease, you cannot compare those. Alcohol and drugs not only become detrimental to the person ingesting them, but they are also, more often than not, dangerous to others as they impair the judgement and actions of those taking them. Not only that, but they are much, much more likely to become addictive than grease. Although, you have to watch out for those guys on a grease bender. :rolleye2:

It is ridiculous the amount of irresponsibility that people are breeding in our society. As a physician, it is particularly scary. No matter what you do, someone can sue you and suffer no liability or reprecussions for their actions. As such, we have a total draining and vicious cycle in our judicious system today. Penalties, civil/financial or criminal when appropriate, should be attached to these frivolous lawsuits, and get some of this nonsense stopped.

Off my soap box.....:soapbox:

J

 

[24runners]

I agree...I saw "Supersize me" and it was a horrible film. This guy ordered a supersized meal...and forced himself to eat ALL of it...I dont know about you, but when I'm full, I stop eating!!! He ate until he puked...then blamed the food. All that proved to me was that he is an idiot.

If you eat 5,000 calories a day of ANYTHING (not just McD's food) and you do not burn enough calories during the day, you will experience what he did (weight gain...etc)

Why did he order a double quarter pounder instead of a grilled chicken sandwich? or a salad? Simple...it was HIS choice....now if he had a double quarter pounder meal and worked it off (exercise) there wouldn't be a problem. I know people that eat McD's all the time and NEVER get fat or out of shape. Thats true with ANY food and different people....some people have a hard time with weight...some people eat anything they want and dont gain anything.

I eat at McD's all the time...but I exercise and stay in shape....so I say DONT TAKE my choice to a good fatty burger away from me! *LOL*

As for the kids....when is the last time you saw a 5yr old pull into McD's to eat? Thats what I thought...kids eat at McD's when their parents bring them there...hmmm....so you mean it is the PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY to watch what their kids eat? No way...it HAS to be someone else's fault... *sarcastic*

But if you want to have 3 supersize meals a day and not burn it off so you can complain about how McD's is making you out of shape...go ahead...I'll put your name down on my list of morons

McD's made me fat....c'mon....jeeez at the lawsuits in this country. I wish people would start taking responsibility for their OWN actions and CHOICES...

 

[peter78]

I agree...I saw "Supersize me" and it was a horrible film. This guy ordered a supersized meal...and forced himself to eat ALL of it...I dont know about you, but when I'm full, I stop eating!!! He ate until he puked...then blamed the food. All that proved to me was that he is an idiot.

If you eat 5,000 calories a day of ANYTHING (not just McD's food) and you do not burn enough calories during the day, you will experience what he did (weight gain...etc)

Why did he order a double quarter pounder instead of a grilled chicken sandwich? or a salad? Simple...it was HIS choice

Maybe you watch the movie agian. He made some simple rules in the beginning. He had to eat everything on the menu at least once. He would not supersize his meal unless asked by Mc Donalds. He also pointed out that the salad had more calories then a Big Mac, the reason is they put stuff in it to taste good. My favorite is how they make tender chicken nuggets. As a result of this film McDonalds no longer asks if you want to super size it, they used to ask it all the time and now they stopped it. They also changed their process in making chicken nuggets.

So next time you decide to eat a salad at McDonalds read the nutrition facts, that is if you can find them as they tend to hide this info and remember you thought a salad is good and it is worse than a Big Mac, do you feel that maybe someone is getting fooled???

 

[24runners]

I never eat the salad anyway...but still...the point is that they list right there next to the counter EVERY caloric value of everything on the menu.

It is YOUR responsibility to monitor your caloric intake vs your caloric burn...regardless of whether it is at McD's or anywhere else. If you take in more calories than you burn, you gain weight...simple science (in most cases).

Are there more healthy things out there to eat? Of course....but all I'm saying is that it is NOT McDonald's fault if you pig out and get fat.

If you dont want to eat McD's, then don't. My argument is with people that WILLINGLY eat there, then complain about it. STOP EATING THERE IF YOU WANT and let those of us that DO enjoy it continue to eat there

It is personal choice...stop passing the blame.

 

[24runners]

Plus...is my assumption that the salad is better for you than a big mac McDonald's fault? NO WAY...as you pointed out, I just never looked....that is ALL ME!!!! Would I get a salad knowing it has more calories than a big mac...sure...if thats what I wanted...

I have no problem with knowing what you are eating....you are the consumer...it is up to you to know what you are eating...McD's does not hide their information, but they dont require you to read it before you order be smart...if you are concerned about the caloric content of what you eat...READ!

 

[Loki]

Maybe you watch the movie agian. He made some simple rules in the beginning. He had to eat everything on the menu at least once. He would not supersize his meal unless asked by Mc Donalds. He also pointed out that the salad had more calories then a Big Mac, the reason is they put stuff in it to taste good. My favorite is how they make tender chicken nuggets. As a result of this film McDonalds no longer asks if you want to super size it, they used to ask it all the time and now they stopped it. They also changed their process in making chicken nuggets.

So next time you decide to eat a salad at McDonalds read the nutrition facts, that is if you can find them as they tend to hide this info and remember you thought a salad is good and it is worse than a Big Mac, do you feel that maybe someone is getting fooled???

Any idiot knows if you put blue cheese dressing, ham, cheese, etc on a salad it stops being 'light'. You can't add calories to lettuce, and they do offer low cal dressing so you haven't really supported your conclusion that there is a an outright attempt to fool people. People have the same choices when going to a supermarket to buy food. You can get the fatty great tasting dressing or the light tasteless dressing. If you choose the tasty fattening dressing it's your own fault if you get fat and die of a heart attack. Just as ignorance of the law is no defense, ignorance of what is healthy and what isn't is no defense. It's common sense that if you are concerned about your health you need to research the nutritional value of what you are eating. By the way, Mcdonalds provides nutritional information for all their products. It's next to the counter in a fairly obvious location.


As someone already stated this is really about people who refuse to take any responsibility for their decisions and actions. It's a growing attitude in today's culture and it needs to stop. A solid family upbringing in which kids learn morality and responsibilty is what we need the most. Unfortunately it's hard to come by these days.

 

[24runners]

Amen Loki...I agree 100%

As a kid I swore I would eat ice cream and chocolate all the time when I was "grown up"...now that I can eat anything I want...I'm smart enough not to over do it *LOL*...If i pigged out on chocolate and ice cream could I sue them for "making me fat"? Thankfully I was brought up with a little common sense.

This argument could be made for any grocery store...they have TONS of 'bad for you' items. No one is suing them for selling any products.

I watch what I eat most of the time...but sometimes I order me a big fat juicy double quarter pounder with cheeeeze mmm yummmy..another several hundred calories from an extra large Dr. Pepper...even better....Do I eat that 5 times a day? No, cuz I'm not stoopid *LOL* And even if I did...I would exercise/run alllll the time to work it off and most importantly I WOULD NOT BLAME McD's!

 

[doctob]

Well said Loki, 24Runners......Nice to see some common sense applied

 

[Loki]

Here's a few questions you should ask yourself if you do feel McDonalds is culpable in any way:

-If you put the wrong oil in your car and it dies early because of it, do you sue the person who either made or sold you the oil?

-If you buy a set of knives and cut yourself, do you sue the knife manufacturer?

-If you can't read a traffic sign because your glasses are not correctly made for you and you get in an accident, do you sue the person who sold you the glasses?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should be suing God for your brain defect. heheh

 

[doctob]

Loki.....LMAO:lmao:

 

[peter78]

It is YOUR responsibility to monitor your caloric intake vs your caloric burn...regardless of whether it is at McD's or anywhere else.

I work for the State and one of the jobs we do is inspect restaurants. I started in a County back in 77 and we had 550 restaruants. Back then we had about 60% Mom & Pop independently owned rest and maybe 40% chain or franchise rest. We now have 1,900 rest. and maybe 10% Mom & Pop indepently owned and most of those are ethinic, like a Chinese rest.

I am planning on going out west this summer and visit parks in the Rocky Mountians. I find it distrubing that when I go to a new area, I find McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Wendy's and you have to hunt down a nice independent rest that has the flavor of that area. You say it is our responsibility to choose, well my point is our choices are limited. I will say as far as sanitation goes, chains have improved the overall standards, however going mainly to fried fatty rest with inexpensive food is the way this country is headed.

 

[24runners]

It is Toyota's fault that I'm out $35k

They offered 4Runners for sale (how dare them!)...

I bought one....

Now I have $35k less

I should be able to sue them for making me broke and reducing the quality of living that I can now afford

 

[24runners]

...I find it distrubing that when I go to a new area, I find McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Wendy's and you have to hunt down a nice independent rest that has the flavor of that area. You say it is our responsibility to choose, well my point is our choices are limited. I will say as far as sanitation goes, chains have improved the overall standards, however going mainly to fried fatty rest with inexpensive food is the way this country is headed.

I won't disagree with you on that. The increase in the number of fast food places have definitely had an impact on mom&pop 'home cooking' places.

 

[Loki]

It is Toyota's fault that I'm out $35k

They offered 4Runners for sale (how dare them!)...

I bought one....

Now I have $35k less

I should be able to sue them for making me broke and reducing the quality of living that I can now afford

LOL!

 

[94yotarunner]

It is Toyota's fault that I'm out $35k

They offered 4Runners for sale (how dare them!)...

I bought one....

Now I have $35k less

I should be able to sue them for making me broke and reducing the quality of living that I can now afford

I don't know... I just think when a conversation comes out and people comment like this, its just rude to anyone with another point of view other than your own. Its MUCH different than your 4Runner analogy and you know it.

Like most of you know, its your rights as americans to bitch and moan about any little thing. Go bitch about the hot coffee lawsuit... go figure the coffee was hot. Go bitch about the lawsuit where a burglar fell through a sunroof, landed on a kitchen knife and sewed the persons home. Go bitch about the little kid who rode a vaccum cleaner naked and got his johnson cut off by the fan. People do stupid things, and luckily your elected government protects their stupidity... so stop bitching. Its either the ability to bitch and moan about everything or no right at all.