# Sure, freedom fries were kind of lame. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 21, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970 "2003-03-21T02:27:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/1 "2003-03-21T02:27:05Z")
But at least we didn’t attack French based businesses. For some reason protestors in France felt the need to destroy a McDonald’s. That’ll teach us. Marc ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/2 "2003-03-21T02:39:09Z")
Its not just the renaming of “french fries” to “freedom fries”, its the idea that an entire nation could just decide that one which has slightly opposing views (no war, but still anti-terrorist) could become ostracised just because of those views. If France had decided that the “Big Mac” should be renamed the “corporate invasion burger” I’m sure we would have had only few arrogant Americans (because of course _we_ have a shortage of them) trashing little French cafes. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/3 "2003-03-21T02:43:20Z")
You’ve proved that there are idiotic form of protest in more that just the USA. Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/4 "2003-03-21T03:13:26Z")
Maybe they liked dark meat McNuggets better. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/5 "2003-03-21T03:16:20Z")
I saw our local MacDonald’s sign advertise a “quarter pounder with freedom fries.” I have to admit that I find this to be ridiculous and distasteful. I mean, what the fuck, is it considered more patriotic if you supersize? ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/6 "2003-03-21T03:18:08Z")
**andygirl** , If that happened in my town I would seriously consider “fixing” that sign. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/7 "2003-03-21T03:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\*I mean, what the fuck, is it considered more patriotic if you supersize? \*\* Considering the obese nature of a significant percentage of the population, the answer may well be yes. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/8 "2003-03-21T03:22:57Z")
Today I also saw a bumper sticker that said “You cowardly bastards, God Bless America!” The linguistics major in me is having a field day with this. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/9 "2003-03-21T03:26:12Z")
Funny, over here we call that [rioting](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/27/MN98171.DTL). ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/10 "2003-03-21T03:27:17Z")
McDonalds is discusting. That restaurant has been begging to get trashed for a long long time. I figure it’s just a big coincidence it finally happened in France, now. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/11 "2003-03-21T03:32:12Z")
I liked the dark meat nuggets a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![sciguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@sciguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciguy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/12 "2003-03-21T04:02:01Z")
On a completely non-war related hijack, I think “Corporate Invasion Burger” would be a great name for the Big Mac. But more for the way it sits like a lump of clay in my stomach than for any real political/economic reason. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/13 "2003-03-21T04:03:59Z")
> [@](#): > > For some reason protestors in France felt the need to destroy a McDonald’s. Isn’t it kind of silly for there to be a violent protest against McD’s? After all, it’s not as if somebody forced anybody to patronize them. If they are so out of place in the culture, why then, no one would go there, right? Not that I am saying McD’s is a great place. It isn’t, and I don’t eat there myself if there’s an alternative. I mean, if you had a choice of a nice sidewalk cafe or a McD’s (or any other “fast food” place) it is kind of a no-brainer. Food is one thing the French do well. But rioting about it? Jeez. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/14 "2003-03-21T04:04:04Z")
I agree. I think “traitor taters” is a better term. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/15 "2003-03-21T04:06:59Z")
A bit of a hijack here. . .okay, a lot of a hijack, but speaking of “freedom fries” and all, well, it suddenly occurred to me, does this mean that Larry Bird’s hometown is now Freedom Lick? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/16 "2003-03-21T04:10:21Z")
[Tens of thousands in French anti-war demo outside Paris US embassy](http://www.spacewar.com/2003/030320212617.hn7pepkr.html) > [@](#): > > The demonstration in Paris was peaceful on the whole, except for one incident in which several students threw rocks at a McDonalds, breaking the windows of the restaurant, an AFP journalist reported. No one was injured. It only takes a coupla yahoos to spoil things. What’s newspeak for ‘provocateur?’ ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/17 "2003-03-21T04:12:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl Snake-Hips Tucker \* > \*\*I agree. I think “traitor taters” is a better term. \*\* Traitor tots? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/18 "2003-03-21T04:13:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*What’s newspeak for ‘provocateur?’ \*\* “Freedom teaser.” ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/19 "2003-03-21T04:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*What’s newspeak for ‘provocateur?’ \*\* More importantly, what’s the French word? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970/20 "2003-03-21T04:46:03Z")
Funny that every McDonalds I’ve been to in France is always packed to capacity. And I’ve been to several, on many, many occasions. 😕 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-freedom-fries-were-kind-of-lame/162970.md?page=2)