# Old folks using McDonald's as an old folks' home. What would you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926 "2014-01-16T02:03:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/181 "2014-01-22T02:32:48Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > So there are different rules for different people? I’m not comfortable with restaurants deciding that the desirables can linger, while the undesirables get kicked out. > > I’m fine with restaurants having rules about how long people can stay, but I think those rules should be applied consistantly. It’s not a matter of different rules for different people. It’s a matter of the sign has to have some number on it, but the restaurants are going to be flexible about it depending on the _situation_, not the people. They’re not going to kick anyone out who takes 30 minutes to finish a meal that was bought at McDonald’s even if they’re entitled assholes, they generally won’t kick anyone out if they sit for an hour or two during a slow period as long as they have bought something, but they generally will kick out anyone who decides that buying a coke at 6 am means they can camp out in the dining room until midnight and they will kick out people who have bought nothing. You don’t _really_ want them to apply the rule regardless of the situation- because that would mean McDonalds couldn’t allow the seniors to sit around between 8am and 10 am unless they also allowed people to sit around between noon and 3pm. Which they are not going to do. I absolutely agree that if they are going to allow this group of seniors to sit around between opening and 10 am after buying a single cup of coffee, then they must allow me and my 23 closest friend to do the same. Wonder what the seniors will say if we monopolize the seating first? ---
**Author:** ![weemart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@weemart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/weemart)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/182 "2014-01-22T02:37:04Z")
I think they need to clarify themselves more. They can’t on the one hand offer free refills (plural) to customers who buy 1 drink but also at the same time say that customers need to leave within 20 minutes. The 2 sets of rules aren’t compatible and they should discard one or the other. At least then ppl would know where they stand when they enter the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/183 "2014-01-22T02:50:33Z")
> [@weemart](#): > > I think they need to clarify themselves more. They can’t on the one hand offer free refills (plural) to customers who buy 1 drink but also at the same time say that customers need to leave within 20 minutes. Seriously? This is why we can’t have nice things. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/184 "2014-01-22T03:16:35Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Seriously? See join date. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2014, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/185 "2014-01-22T04:13:36Z")
What would give you the impression that I am a “supporter”? I’ve said repeatedly that it’s pretty clear they have no right to be there. But I don’t think it’s practical or productive for the restaurant, from a purely utilitarian perspective, to keep the tactics they were trying because it was likely to dig the seniors in further and alienate the community. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/186 "2014-01-22T13:39:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Maybe McDonalds can offer a Bulogi Mac. Or a Filet-O-Jellyfish. Or Kimchijeon and Sausage. Or a Bibimbappy Meal. Let me know when to stop. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/187 "2014-01-22T13:59:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Maybe McDonalds can offer a Bulogi Mac. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I want one of those! Hmm. With the bulgogi replacing one or both of the hamburger patties, or with it added (like the bacon on a bacon cheeseburger)? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/188 "2014-01-22T14:01:37Z")
I’ll never ask you to stop, puddin’. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/189 "2014-01-22T18:38:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The text of the full press release is [here](http://politicker.com/2014/01/mcresolution-elected-officials-help-broker-peace-at-flushing-mcdonalds/). Among other things, it says: > > "Continuing to be a part of the community and hoping to keep all of his customers happy, the owner, Mr. Jack Bert, has agreed to: > > 1. Extend sitting hours for seniors except high-traffic hours (11am-3pm); > 2. Post signs to communicate in both Chinese and Korean; and > 3. Work with our office to resolve any future conflicts and do not call the police; and > 4. Collaborate with local senior centers in providing transportation to and from the restaurant." > [@Blackberry](#): > > The agreement sounds overly generous. And I wouldn’t be surprised if those asshole customers still didn’t follow it. Why would they, when they’ve been so unreasonable so far? > [@SciFiSam](#): > > Wow. Is he going to lick their boots clean, too? I don’t see how this is overly generous. The McDonald’s owner got exactly what he wanted: the seniors will leave during the busy hours of 11am to 3pm. In exchange, he has agreed to allow them to stay longer than 20 minutes during the non-peak hours, which everyone here has said was almost certainly the unwritten policy before this conflict began, and to post the new rules in Chinese and Korean. As an added bonus for both sides, one of the many Korean senior community centers has agreed to come pick up the seniors at McDonald’s at 11 and bring them back to the McDonald’s after the rush is over at 3. Since there was no indication that transportation was an issue before, this probably won’t matter, but it gives the seniors a sense of having won something, since at least someone (not McDonald’s however) is giving them something new. And the center gets positive press and can show their donors that they are offering additional services, plus they might actually get the seniors to spend time at their center. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/190 "2014-01-22T18:49:59Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I don’t see how this is overly generous. The McDonald’s owner got exactly what he wanted: the seniors will leave during the busy hours of 11am to 3pm. Except that it seems they [aren’t all](http://http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/nyregion/hitches-in-compromise-at-a-mcdonalds.html?ref=nyregion) doing so and it seems like the restaurant owner is afraid of having the security guard remove them althought he doesn’t fear removing the loitering Hispanics. Didn’t someone say something earlier about different rules for different people? Here it is- the Koreans are permitted to loiter when others aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/191 "2014-01-22T19:12:28Z")
So the seniors aren’t all abiding by the agreement. That’s disappointing and somewhat predictable, but it doesn’t mean the agreement itself was bad. The owner is scared to roust them presumably because of the threat of boycott, not because of the agreement. And now he has Assemblyman Kim who can come and put pressure on the seniors from within their culture to abide by their agreement. And if one or two truly recalcitrant seniors eventually do have to get arrested or committed, Kim can assure the rest of the community that it was a few bad apples that caused the problem, not something that requires a boycott. And he will, because otherwise he looks bad for failing to resolve the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/192 "2014-01-22T19:26:09Z")
But that article said that the managers weren’t aware of the new policy and the signs in English, Mandarin and Korean weren’t yet posted, so it sounds like no one is aware of the new policy. And perhaps they need a Korean speaking security guard or restaurant employee to explain the new agreement to the loiterers. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/193 "2014-01-22T19:49:30Z")
If the loiterers don’t know about the agreement, it’s… not an agreement. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/194 "2014-01-23T08:16:56Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I don’t see how this is overly generous. The McDonald’s owner got exactly what he wanted: the seniors will leave during the busy hours of 11am to 3pm. In exchange, he has agreed to allow them to stay longer than 20 minutes during the non-peak hours, which everyone here has said was almost certainly the unwritten policy before this conflict began, and to post the new rules in Chinese and Korean. > > As an added bonus for both sides, one of the many Korean senior community centers has agreed to come pick up the seniors at McDonald’s at 11 and bring them back to the McDonald’s after the rush is over at 3. Since there was no indication that transportation was an issue before, this probably won’t matter, but it gives the seniors a sense of having won something, since at least someone (not McDonald’s however) is giving them something new. And the center gets positive press and can show their donors that they are offering additional services, plus they might actually get the seniors to spend time at their center. It says McDonald’s is supposed to “collaborate with local senior centres to provide transportation.” That sounds to me like McDonald’s will be collecting people from the senior centres; if it were just the centres driving their members to McDonald’s there’d be nothing to collaborate about. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/195 "2014-01-23T08:31:10Z")
And the very next sentence says that one particular center, the Korean Community Services Senior Center, will be providing transportation. Presumably the agreement was for the center to liaise with McDonald’s rather than the seniors themselves, for obvious reasons. ETA: It’s also possible that McDonald’s is subsidizing the cost of the transportation. The point is that it was McDonald’s responsibility to ensure that transportation was made available through one of the centers, not the seniors’. That’s to everyone’s advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/196 "2014-01-23T08:34:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If the loiterers don’t know about the agreement, it’s… not an agreement. Well you can’t issue a summons to ensure that every senior who comes to the McDonald’s shows up for the negotiation. Until the signs get printed, it’s too early to call this a failure. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/197 "2014-01-23T14:47:54Z")
I was under the impression that this was the same group of people every day. Maybe the group is a bit more amorphous than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/198 "2014-01-23T19:44:57Z")
That agreement stinks of rewarding bad behaviour, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/199 "2014-01-25T17:42:42Z")
What would I do about these old folks? Well, I guess I would avoid growing old. Does anyone know how to do that? (aside from premature death, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926/200 "2014-01-25T17:53:38Z")
I tied to edit my above post but I was out of time. * * * Old folks using McDonalds as an Old Folks Home. What would I do? Well, after pondering this question for quite a while, I suppose what I’d do is … I would try to avoid growing old. I mean, what else could I do? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-folks-using-mcdonalds-as-an-old-folks-home-what-would-you-do/678926.md?page=11)