# McDonalds everywhere, good or bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 6, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162 "2003-02-06T06:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yong\_Lee\_Fampee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ba8739/32.png) [@Yong\_Lee\_Fampee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yong_Lee_Fampee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/1 "2003-02-06T06:49:02Z")
I am an American living in China and I live in a mid major city with several McDonalds stores throughout the city. One day I went to a McDonalds with a foreign friend who speaks the language and we asked the manager how much they pay the employees. The answer was 600 RMB ($72 USD) for 120 hours a month. The McDonalds in China is not any cheaper than it is in the USA. (NO 1/4 Pounders or kick ass McDonald breakfast though!) I looked at the McDonalds website and saw that there are McDonalds literally all over the planet. I know this, but some of the places they are interesting. Pakistan for one thing. Micky Ds in Pakistan? The menu is a little different though. Same as India (use lamb meat). Chinese McDonalds have that watery assed soup that they eat with everything on the menu. The question is, is this how we export Americanism throughout the world, through fast food? Is this our gift to the world, Ronald McDonald?? I would like to hear from all world trekkers and their McDonalds experiences. Ive had it in Korea, Taiwan and China. Lastly, is the Ronald McDonald on TV gay? ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/2 "2003-02-06T07:01:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yong Lee Fampee \* > **The question is, is this how we export Americanism throughout the world, through fast food? Is this our gift to the world, Ronald McDonald?? I would like to hear from all world trekkers and their McDonalds experiences. Ive had it in Korea, Taiwan and China.** Yes, it most certainly is. And apparently people around the world are eating it up (hey, there’s no such thing as a bad pun). Check out Eric Schlosser’s _Fast Food Nation_ and George Ritzer’s _The McDonaldization of Society_ to see how and why this is the case, and what longterm effects this might have on the cultures adopting this model of Americanism. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Wolfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfe)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/3 "2003-02-06T08:10:37Z")
\>\> I know this, but some of the places they are interesting. Pakistan for one thing. Micky Ds in Pakistan? Please elaborate. What do you mean by the above statement? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/4 "2003-02-06T08:29:35Z")
Actually, I believe that McD’s is cheaper in China. A Big Mac, Regular Fries and a coke meal deal is rmb17.80 or about USD2.10. What’s the price in the US? If it weren’t for the globalization of McD’s, then economists would no longer have the Big Mac index to work off of. Not familiar with the watery ass soup. Maybe that’s particular to your medium sized city as opposed to Shanghai or Beijing. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/5 "2003-02-06T08:45:05Z")
I hate to admit it, but McDonald’s is a guilty pleasure for me. I know that stuff’s bad for you, but darn it - I like those Big Macs. I like the flavorless American cheese, and the dehydrated onions, and the thousand-island dressing stuff they put on there. I don’t know, it just tastes good to me. I wouldn’t eat there every day, but I like to indulge about once a week or so. I don’t know what to say about the wages in China. Are they paying less than other companies? In the U.S., McDonald’s allows a lot of young people to get a start in the job market. Let’s face it - where else are you going to get a job with no experience? As for Ronald, he is a clown. Clowns aren’t supposed to have any sexual identity. They’re clowns, for crying out loud. They’ve probably had hundreds, if not thousands of men who have portrayed Ronald McDonald at one time or another. Is the current guy who portrays Ronald on the TV commercials gay? Who the hell cares? Oh, and the best McDonald’s I’ve had was in Japan. I really think they have a stronger work ethic there - the food just tasted fresher and better prepared than it does here. The strangest thing they had on the menu there was a macaroni croquette sandwich. IOW, breaded and fried macaroni on a bun. Also, I remember that McDonald’s in Germany has beer on the menu. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/6 "2003-02-06T10:27:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\* Also, I remember that McDonald’s in Germany has beer on the menu. \*\* If you ask nicely they’ll wipe it off. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/7 "2003-02-06T10:42:02Z")
I’ve been told there has never been a war between two nations that both had a McDonald’s. Does anyone know of a counterexample? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/8 "2003-02-06T15:39:33Z")
For the rcord, I eat at McD’s very rarely-- don’t care much for the food (except those wonderful greasy fries). But, as long as they are not forcing themselves (literallly at gunpoint) into a country then it is neither good nor bad, simply an economic fact of life. It may embarass you, but I think that’s you’re problem, not McD’s. Of course you also have the option of openning a more “high minded” American enterprise in a foreign country. Perhaps you’ll do much better than McD’s, and perhaps not. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/9 "2003-02-06T15:53:15Z")
I hear these complaints about McDs from people from foreign countries. When iwas visiting Switzerland people kept complaining that McDs had ‘invaded’ their country. But if those Swiss didn’t eat there, they would quickly go out of business and leave. We aren’t imposing those McDonalds on unwilling countries. We aren’t forcing the Swiss (and Japanese, and Russians, and Egyptians etc.) to eat there. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/10 "2003-02-06T16:09:53Z")
Yeah, but the monoculture (as exemplified by McDonalds) is a compelling thing. It is designed to perpetuate itself and to wipe out other forms of culture. For example, McDonald’s targets children. Their advertising and promotions are designed to get children used to eating at McDonalds before they are exposed to and capable of making informed decisions about other food. Recently I saw a Play-Doh kit where you make fake little McDonald’s hamburgers out of clay. This kind of branding only serves to teach children that McDonalds is “real” food and the food cooked at home or served in non-chain restraunts is inferior. I don’t think there is anything that can be done about it, but I hate seeing unique cultures virtually wiped out and replaced with the monoculture. You can travel anywhere in the United States, and many places overseas, without ever having to eat at a restraunt, sleep at a hotel, watch a television show or even go to a night-spot that isn’t found at home. Not too long ago my Grandma went on vacation half-way across the country. Guess where she ate…Tony Roma’s. I find it sad to see our regional differences wiped away like that as the world becomes a bland and sterile place. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/11 "2003-02-06T16:18:35Z")
Parents buy their children McDonalds and McDonald’s Play-Doh kits. The parents are teaching the children to eat McDonalds not the clown. How does McDonald’s take away a unique culture? Do all the other resturants in a country close down when McDonalds comes to town? You can eat in familiar places if you want, but when visiting Paris there are many other food choices besides McDonalds. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/12 "2003-02-06T17:26:32Z")
NIMBY, TYVM. **China Guy** , that meal would cost more than twice as much here. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/13 "2003-02-06T17:57:27Z")
Autz: Exactly. I’m not saying that Fampee believes this, but there are many people who think they just know better than the “common man”, and the world would be a better place if only they ran things. Yeah, shut down McD’s. Those yokels who eat there just don’t know what they’re doing! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/14 "2003-02-06T18:07:05Z")
I don’t know about the cultural aspects, but it would be nice if it were healthier. I’d put it down on the negative side, mostly for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/15 "2003-02-06T18:24:25Z")
For retired people there’s no better meeting place for sausage biscuit and hash brown (1 dollar) and Senior coffee. That’s $1.50 – with 4 hours of good conversation!! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/16 "2003-02-06T18:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*I don’t know about the cultural aspects, but it would be nice if it were healthier. I’d put it down on the negative side, mostly for that reason. \*\* You _do_ know that they now have things like skinless grilled chicken and salad, right? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/17 "2003-02-06T18:45:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by even sven \* > **Yeah, but the monoculture (as exemplified by McDonalds) is a compelling thing. It is designed to perpetuate itself and to wipe out other forms of culture.** If that’s so, tell me; who designed the “monoculture”? Asserting this is some sort of grand design is like some weird Naomi Klein-meets-creationism intelligent design argument. There’s no “monoculture” that’s “designed” to do anything. McDonald’s is popular because it’s cheap and tasty, and that’s pretty much it. No culture worth preserving is going to be wiped out by Big Macs. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/18 "2003-02-06T19:12:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*You _do_ know that they now have things like skinless grilled chicken and salad, right? \*\* No I didn’t! Haven’t been to one in years. I guess I should check it out. ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/19 "2003-02-06T19:18:15Z")
Well, there aren’t any McD’s in Cuba, or, I suspect, North Korea or Iraq, maybe even Iran. Maybe there’s is some connection with this “axis of evil” deal… ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162/20 "2003-02-06T20:19:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MSU 1978 \* > \*\*I’ve been told there has never been a war between two nations that both had a McDonald’s. Does anyone know of a counterexample? \*\* Perhaps England and Argentina? I don’t know the status of McDonalds in Argentina at the time of the Falkland Island war but I am sure that McDonalds was in England. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-everywhere-good-or-bad/153162.md?page=2)