Gamer's Rejoice! Smelly gamer dudes to lose Super-Size at McD's!

[daphatty]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=&e=8&u=/ap/20040303/ap_on_bi_ge/mcdonald_s_no_supersize_10

This is the first step (of many more I hope) to ridding the world of the overweight and smelly gamer we all know and hate. :D At least this will minimize the grease they sweat out!

[Mr Unoriginal]

While a step in the right direction, I can't help but think this is just a little ironic. McDonalds trying to say they are offering a more healthy menu can never be believed. Now the menu went from kill you in 15 years to kill you in 30! Oh Ray Kroc, where would we be without you?

[SneakyPenguin]

good. i used to work ther a year agoa and it sickened me to see these dumb, fat, ignorant, suburban slobs (chanelling Jim Norton) order three value meals all super sized. it was like i could see the cholestaerol pumping through their veins. mcdonalds is the reason this country is so fat, at least their trying to fix that.

[dtcarson]

This is a token effort, made to help McD's public reputation while not doing a frigging thing about the core issue.
No one forces anybody to go the McD's. No one forces them to buy SuperSize [or a soft drink, which is one of the classic wastes of calories.]
Maybe Videogames are the reason Americans are so fat, as stated in another thread. Maybe Sony and MS should require physical fitness tests before selling a game, or should pare every game down to only 1 hour of gameplay, that'll fix that.
If someone wants a lot of fries, well, they can order 2 of the Dollar Menu orders.
If McD's *really* wanted to change things, they'd fry them in canola oil instead of vegetable shortening, or hell, even bake the fries instead of frying them. A french fry is never going to be 'health food', but there are healthier ways of cooking them. That said, McD's is actually trying to change their menu and add more nutritious choices, which is good, but this cancellation of a product size is a red herring.
Actually, what probably happened, is that because everyone things Eeeevil McD's makes people fat, their sales of Super Size have dropped. Now they can get rid of a product that's not selling, *and* look like they're Doing the Right Thing at the same time.

[SneakyPenguin]

i think the funniest thing is someone ordering a super size diet coke. it just cancels itself out.

[daphatty]

i think the funniest thing is someone ordering a super size diet coke. it just cancels itself out.

I believe that is called an oxymoron. Funny stuff man!

[cruster]

This is a token effort, made to help McD's public reputation while not doing a frigging thing about the core issue.

Good Lord, thank you for saying what I've been telling my dumb co-workers. I would also argue that it's not McDonald's freakin' responsibility to worry about what people are eating. As you said in your post, no one is forcing people to eat there, and no one is forcing them to super-size when they do.
I think it goes back to people's reluctance in general to accept responsibility for their own actions - as in, "No, no, it's not MY fault that I ate those super-sized fries (600+ calories per) every single day, it's MCDONALD'S FAULT for MAKING those tasty, tasty fries and making it TOO EASY for me." Dumb. McDonald's didn't make you fat, YOU made you fat.
I'm not saying that McDonald's is bad, either. It's not good for you, no, but nothing in moderation is all that bad. I probably eat fast food once a month, and it's quite often McDonald's...but then, I play soccer twice a week and walk a mile each way to work.

[donssword]

I like the people who order the Diet Coke super gigantic size Big Gulps as 7-Eleven.

[MorganWebbLover]

What a fucking crock of shit I'm an adult and if I want to get fat eating Super Size Fries it's my business.

[Mr Unoriginal]

What a fucking crock of shit I'm an adult and if I want to get fat eating Super Size Fries it's my business.

I hope you are kidding. And if not, knowing you are just dying to kill yourself on fast food is even funnier considering your quote from Fight Club. Tsk tsk, I don't think Tyler Durden would agree with McDonalds.

[evilmax17]

What a fucking crock of shit I'm an adult and if I want to get fat eating Super Size Fries it's my business.

You know, if your replace "get fat eating Super Size Fries" with "snort a line of good Columbian blow", it'd be the same arguement. Can people be trusted to take care of themselves? It's a tough question.

[WhipSmartBanky]

Damnit...Super-Size was the only reason to eat at McDonald's in the first place. Guess I'll just have to King-Size it at Burger King from now on.

[dtcarson]

If people can't be 'trusted' to take care of themselves, that's their problem [Obviously excepting the mentally or physically infirm]. I do think restaurants should give consumers the information they need to make an educated decision. If a restaurant is being fraudulent or misleading about what they're putting in their food, or putting in stuff like cyanide or strychnine, that's one thing, but come on, is there any dumbass out there who thinks french fries are 'good' for you?
Virtually EVERYTHING we consume or do can be Good or Bad for us. The key is variety, like cruster said above. Nutrasweet is better for us [depending on whom you listen to] than sugar, but eat enough of it, you'll still have your teeth, but you'll have cancer. Just watch the ads for any drug on TV--'Try new RedPill. You'll be breathing pollen dust with no problem! (May cause insomnia, diarrhea, irritability, heart attacks, or death. Consult your doctor)".
If McD's wants to quit carrying this item/product, that's their prerogative. I think it's foolish to claim that it's a step toward the ending of obesity. And I think ultimately there is a business decision behind it, and they really couldn't care if people got fat off their products, as long as they A. didn't sue and B. continued buying them.
Heck, there have been cases of people DYING from drinking WATER. Let's ban water, otherwise known as the dangerous chemical Dihydrogen Monoxide [there's an excellent social study about that].
Cars? Pssh, a two-ton killing machine. Video games? Carpal tunnel and violent tendencies. People have died from videogames also.

[bradr]

Good move on McD's part. Makes them look like they care but in reality they'll make more money. Instead of paying 50 cent more for Super Size, the people who really want that much food will have to pay another $1.50 (or however much it is) for another large fry in addition to the large fry they're getting. Good move, Mickey D's! Ray Kroc would be proud.

[bradr]

but come on, is there any dumbass out there who thinks french fries are 'good' for you?

No, french fries are not good for you but that double quarter pounder! That's a different story. I'm just waiting for the triple quarter pounder. :)

[Scrubking]

i think the funniest thing is someone ordering a super size diet coke. it just cancels itself out.

I know someone who orders like 2 or 3 large burgers then orders a diet soda, and then acts like that is helping.

Anyway, this is a stupid move cause fries were the best thing they had going for them. I would actually buy a burger somewhere else and drive to a mcdonalds to buy the fries.

[magilacudy]

I read this article, sorry I don't have the source, it was from some magazine I was flipping through while on exercise bike. Anyways this one guy ate nothing but McDs food for 6 months. He ended up gaining 50 lbs or so, damaged his stomach and throat lining and needed a bypass and some other surgery to keep him from dying.

Big deal that they're phasing out supersize. Its the actual food itself thats the problem

[SS4Brolly]

Has anybody here been to Arby's lately? I've seen a few times a 64 or 128 (Whichever is a half gallon) cup of soda. Its more of a bucket than a cup though. Even has a little handle that you can use to carry it.

[dtcarson]

I read this article, sorry I don't have the source, it was from some magazine I was flipping through while on exercise bike. Anyways this one guy ate nothing but McDs food for 6 months. He ended up gaining 50 lbs or so, damaged his stomach and throat lining and needed a bypass and some other surgery to keep him from dying.

Big deal that they're phasing out supersize. Its the actual food itself thats the problem

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4078903/

Made a documentary about it..
This one only did it for 1 month, but it still tore him up.
But even while he says "nobody’s supposed to eat this food that often, no wonder all these bad things happen," he also says, But they do, and if McD's would do better, the world would be a better place.

Wow, I haven't seen the Arby's drink. Haven't been to one lately, however.
I generally don't get a soft drink unless I'm in a certain thirst mood, and they have Mt Dew [that's the only soft drink I drink.] It galls me to pay 89 cents for 12 oz of a beverage, when I could get a two-liter for that much. Plus I drink a lot of water anyway.
A coworker has got a mug that is, no lie, at least eight inches across. It probably holds 1/2 gallon as well. But she fills it with water, and it stays cool all day at her desk.

[cruster]

EDIT: Oops - sorry, me and DTCarson were writing at the same time, methinks.

I read this article, sorry I don't have the source, it was from some magazine I was flipping through while on exercise bike. Anyways this one guy ate nothing but McDs food for 6 months. He ended up gaining 50 lbs or so, damaged his stomach and throat lining and needed a bypass and some other surgery to keep him from dying.

This was actually for a documentary, a guy did it to film the results. The result is called "Super Size Me" and it's supposed to be pretty gruesome - it really f'ed him up, as you said.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/awards/sundance/reviews_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2060050

I think it's supposed to have a wide release in the Fall.

[vshekar]

I like the people who order the Diet Coke super gigantic size Big Gulps as 7-Eleven.

I don't understand what this means. Diet Coke has no nutritional value, and thus zero calories. You could drink a gallon with every meal and you wouldn't gain weight (well maybe a little water weight). So people who order the big huge Diet drinks like soda a lot, they just don't want the calories.

But I can see the point about ordering two big burgers and a diet soda.

[thatstoobad]

i don't care about mcdonald's doing this, since i'm not a fan of the business. wendy's is where it's at. but, in a related topic, i'm not a fan of that "fatty tax" or whatever is going on in england (i think) where they are increasing taxes on the fatty foods. that's stupid. sure, when people get fat and smelly it's gross (sometimes really, really gross) but that's their choice. just like the whole idea in this country about an even higher tax on cigarettes. i don't smoke, and i hate smelling smoke, but it's wrong to try to discourage something that is legal by making a "sin tax" or whatever they are considering calling it. why not put extra taxes on everything that is bad, like fatty foods (as already mentioned), eminem and techno cds, julia roberts movies, porno magazines....you could go on and on. plus, in making extra taxes like that, it sets precedent. where would it end? it's safe to say we're all familiar with the argument that violent video games (manhunt, for example) are made for adults, and that adults have the right to choose to be able to play it, but should adults have to pay extra to be able to? it's funny, because as soon as it's something that these same people don't like (fatty foods, smoking, whatever), all of a sudden it should be taxed or banned.

anyways, mcdonalds screwed it up when they changed their fries, since their burgers always taste like mush. i'm going to wendy's later, and getting my meal biggie sized in honor of this.

[vshekar]

But the thing about junk food and cigarettes is that they cause health problems that we all must pay for through higher health care costs.

[daphatty]

Wow. This thread got way more serious than I expected it to.

[The-Bavis]

i think the funniest thing is someone ordering a super size diet coke. it just cancels itself out.

I know someone who orders like 2 or 3 large burgers then orders a diet soda, and then acts like that is helping.

Anyway, this is a stupid move cause fries were the best thing they had going for them. I would actually buy a burger somewhere else and drive to a mcdonalds to buy the fries.

Just to point out a few things, a Super Size Diet Coke doesn't cancel itself out. Diet Coke has 0 Calories, or maybe 1 per 12 oz. can. So, if you're that thirsty and choose diet coke, your not ingesting a bunch of Calories you would with regular Coke.

Yes, buying a bunch of unhealthy food and then a Diet Coke seems a little silly, but you are at least not drinking regular Coke or a shake or something. 100 Calories a day more than your body processes (less than 1 12oz. Coke) will cause the average person to gain 10 pounds in a year. It's a simple problem of putting more fuel in the furnace than it can burn.

McDonald's isn't at fault. This is a mutli-cause problem. People are too busy, due to an increase in entertainment and responsibilities. Women aren't stuck in the home making healthy meals for the family all day, and there are lots of fast, fattening and tasty foods available at a cheap price. People aren't exercising doing everyday tasks, like walking, much less manual labor. McDonalds is just trying to make a buck. It's a business. People are humans, not animals, and need to realize that they don't have to eat McDonald's crappy food all the damned time. Turn on the damned stove once in a while, or buy some lunch meat and bread. It's not all that hard and takes just as long as buying a burger and fries.

<takes nerve medicine>

[dtcarson]

That's a good point, but in a way, it's self-solving--people who eat more junk, and people who smoke a lot, are more likely to die earlier, thus limiting the amount of time they affect the healthcare costs. And that's a good argument *against* nationalized healthcare--if healthcare were more privatized, or if we relied on healthcare spending accounts, so that you could actually see *your* balance going down as you go to the doctor, you'd be a lot more likely to change something about your life, since it's hitting *your* wallet.
That argument, however, can also very easily become a slippery slope--depending on what research you do, some sources say the food intake affects the health more, some say the lack of exercise. So what would be next, mandatory exercise, or a no-exercise-tax?

[dtcarson]

I read an interesting article that had a good sociological point--Historically, people either lived in cities, or rural areas. In cities, they didn't need a car; in rural areas, they generally were more active [working on the farm, etc.] So they were more fit.
But now that we have suburbs, it's too close to run a farm, and a lot of houses don't have big yards or access to playgrounds to play in, or sidewalks; and it's too far to walk to work, the store, whatever, so we drive everywhere. Driving little Jimmy to karate or band rather than having him play outside or work on the farm, has a long-term impact. Plus there's a greater focus on doing stuff inside [tv, internet, video games, home theater], and a worry about kids being outside [traffic, kidnapping, accidents, etc.]. All of which helps to increase the obesity/unfit rates.
Another interesting article mentioned the Amish--in general, they eat high sugar/high flour/high fat foods, lots of pork, milk, etc. But have you ever seen an obese Amish? They also do 50-60 hours of manual labor a week, which burns off most of the excess. So they 'earn' the fattening stuff they eat, and use it as energy. Like The-Bavis says, it's input [food, and quality thereof] versus output [energy expended.] Changing both would be ideal, but to single one out as the 'evil' is fallacious, imho.

[dcfox]

I understand that people choose to eat at these fast food restaurants but one thing people forget is that sometimes people they can't help themselves. Its just as easy to form an addiction to fatty foods as say smoking or drinking. And just like smoking or drinking its tough to overcome an addiction. The responsibility of stopping still falls on the individual. Also family and friends should be aware of also try to help their loved ones whose habits and behavoiurs have become self destructive.

[MaxBiaggi3]

A few years ago when McDonalds was introducing some new salad entries into their grease-laden menu, Jay Leno had an interesting question to pose. "If McDonalds really cared about your health, wouldn't they just close?"

Of course, adding or subtracting a menu item or two can garner plenty of media attention (look at all the free press they're getting right here!), but the long-term affect to McDonalds' overall fat-laden menu will be minimal. If you're going to continue to eat there regularly (knowing full-well that McDonalds doesn't offer a balanced diet), you get what you deserve as far as your weight and health are concerned, and you should be laughed out of court if you try to sue McDonalds. It's your own stupid fault for being so ignorant as to eat fast food all the time without exercising, seeing a doctor, etc.

[punqsux]

What a fucking crock of shit I'm an adult and if I want to get fat eating Super Size Fries it's my business.

so make them yourself and no one will tell you you cant ^^

[Doylerulez]

I never knew people here were that concerned with the health of the country. I haven't had McD's in at least 3 years, not so much for health reasons as the fact I hate their ads. I'm lovin nothing.

[evilmax17]

i don't care about mcdonald's doing this, since i'm not a fan of the business. wendy's is where it's at.

True, true.

[Mr. Anderson]

i don't care about mcdonald's doing this, since i'm not a fan of the business. wendy's is where it's at.

True, true.

w0rd

[Reality's Fringe]

I think the problem with this move is its future ramifications. So it's only Super Size now? Well, what happens to Little Debbie in 3 years? What happens to all that high-carb pizza? I feel that, despite his "good" intentions, this guy has opened the flood gates which shall wash away all foods I hold dear. Damn you random film guy. Damn you to hell.

[JSweeney]

Well, filmakers were never people that let facts get in the way of telling a good story. Just because the guy is going to eat only McDonalds so that he can document the effect it has on his health doesn't mean that he should go in and eat around 5000 calories a day.

Of course, most people won't bother to closely examine things like this, and will immediately take the knee-jerk reaction and blame McDonalds and the fast food/snack food industries for the health of thier customers.

[magilacudy]

I'm sure any college student can verify how hard it is to find healthy non-fried food anywhere. Its not really fair to blame McDonald's or the customers for the customers' health. Its a combination of things. At least McDonald's is trying to make some effort to change things. Overhauling their whole menu would anger millions of customers and would cost billions of dollars. Customers want food fast fresh and hot for cheap and minimal effort. Thats just the way our society works. Maybe I'm a pessimist but I doubt anything save a worldwide meat shortage that causes everyone to become a vegetarian would cause any nationwide thinning down. But then again someone would probably find a way to flash fry broccoli negating that =/

[Wshakspear]

how freakin hard is it to stop at Krogers/Farmer Jacks/Meijers/Local Super Market and pick up some food to be prepared later? If you dont know how to go and pick up food that IS healthy, its YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT. i eat at fast food places, but i also do my own food preperation. I even bring lunch to work. Also, i dont care if people say its an addiction....i call it natural selection, and thier sorry fat ass should f'n die. Ive got a guy (family actually, but he's been doing it longer) who lives on my street who hasnt had a home cooked meal in 20 YEARS. Yes, every meal he has is from Mc Donalds, Applebees, Wendys, or some other place that is not his house. And yes, he now has heart, lung, and other problems.

Who's fucking fault is that?


(Sorry for the outburst...im at work on my day off, and coincidentaly i havent eaten all day today and its almost 5.)

[WhipSmartBanky]

Mmmmm...fried broccoli. Can I have some melted cheese-whiz on that?

[magilacudy]

how freakin hard is it to stop at Krogers/Farmer Jacks/Meijers/Local Super Market and pick up some food

I didn't have a car until junior year of college. Plus I couldn't just get a ride whenever I was hungry to go food shopping. Plus the only kitchen appliances I had was a fridge and a microwave. Plus no job=no money=only meal plan to buy food. I'm not saying thats any excuse, but once you get in the habit its hard to break out. I've been blessed with strong willpower to at least go to the gym and such, but I've got a bunch of friends who never recovered from the Freshman 15-20 etc. If its that difficult when you're still in college to eat right, how much harder is it for someone who commutes to work, gets home around 8 or 9 pm and has to wake up at 6 the next morning to find the time to go to the market, whip up dinner and clean up after themselves. I know it is possible for some people, but for the majority of people I think its tough when you get in routine.

Got dam don't even ask how hard it is to pick up food at the market, by the time I get out of class is rush hour.. so I have to fight traffic both ways on Route 1, which was voted the worst road in NJ (which is sort of like voting someone as the greasiest McDonald's employee) for 20 minutes each way to get to ShopRite.

[defender]

Your wrong. McD does have blame. Read Fast Food Nation.
Work fast food for a while and you might understand. I have 3 years Burger King and 1 year Taco Bell.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060938455/qid=1078704878/002-7015356-9526438?v=glance&s=books&n=507846


This is a token effort, made to help McD's public reputation while not doing a frigging thing about the core issue.

Good Lord, thank you for saying what I've been telling my dumb co-workers. I would also argue that it's not McDonald's freakin' responsibility to worry about what people are eating. As you said in your post, no one is forcing people to eat there, and no one is forcing them to super-size when they do.
I think it goes back to people's reluctance in general to accept responsibility for their own actions - as in, "No, no, it's not MY fault that I ate those super-sized fries (600+ calories per) every single day, it's MCDONALD'S FAULT for MAKING those tasty, tasty fries and making it TOO EASY for me." Dumb. McDonald's didn't make you fat, YOU made you fat.
I'm not saying that McDonald's is bad, either. It's not good for you, no, but nothing in moderation is all that bad. I probably eat fast food once a month, and it's quite often McDonald's...but then, I play soccer twice a week and walk a mile each way to work.