McDonalds is down with you

[dusematic]

How is this racist or bad?  I don't get it.  It could have been a bit more subtle in its language, but I don't see the issue. 

I'm not sure about it being racist.  I'm just shocked at the blatant pandering and the out of touch people who came up with this idea.

[Evil Elvis]

[Sheepherder]

How is this racist or bad?  I don't get it.  It could have been a bit more subtle in its language, but I don't see the issue.

Courtesy of Maddox

[schild]

How is this racist or bad?  I don't get it.  It could have been a bit more subtle in its language, but I don't see the issue.  

It really has nothing to do with racist, as I've said - IT IS racist - but it doesn't matter. If you really need the reason it's racist - when you're a giant corporation hellbent on dominating an industry, you can't really go around singling out races and creating special shit to make them notice you. It's pretty much the definition of low level racism in a corporate environment. It's the act of singling out that makes it racist.

Anyway, really, it's the audacity and ridiculousness of even creating sites like this. The fact they exist is flabbergasting. It's not insulting to me, it's hilarious to me, but it's insulting that people get paid to come up with this shit.

Still waiting for black-only coupons.

I guess I would lol a bit at new Asian Happy Meals though. ^_^

[Triforcer]

[ It's the act of singling out that makes it racist.

Brand positioning to a specific race is racist?  I see hair products in America all the time that specifically say "specially designed for your hair" with a picture of a black woman, and the same for east Asian women.  If you go to Chinatown or Japantown in various American cities, virtually all the ads with show Asian-American children or Asian-American adult models.  The gay hotspots/neighborhoods of cities will have ads with two men or two women holding hands.  Are those things racist and homophobic?  Don't even get me started on how bras are marketed with the implication that WOMEN should wear them. 

[schild]

You did not just use hair products and China/Japan Town as a comparison for racially driven fast food campaigns.

Are you even slightly aware how retarded that is? Like, even in the least?

Truly, you make the worst arguments in the world.

[NowhereMan]

Nonsense, african americans need different hair products from God's people just like they need 'different' fast food ('different' referrring to the inclusion of certain libido inhibiting chemicals )

[Sheepherder]

Triforcer, don't be retarded.  This is more than pictures, it's the whole fucking shortbus "we get you, you're just like a fucking tree you've never heard of from a continent you don't give a shit about."  It's blatantly fucking racist but apparently it isn't, because they're pandering to the traditional victims, and that can't be prejudiced, because they're the victims (note: we'll be building special fountains and installing special seat in our buses just for you!)  McDonalds has all the delicacy of a vulture feeding on a corpse, is marginally less detrimental to the victim, and is mildly more appetizing.

[Triforcer]

EDIT:  I had something written here, but I think the link alone suffices. 

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/165189 

[schild]

You're being retarded for the sake of being retarded, and I don't understand why.

[Triforcer]

I just don't see the controversy. I read the website and am honestly puzzled by the reactions here.  But I'll leave it at that, no need for this thread to go to a bad place. 

[UnSub]

I just don't see the controversy. I read the website and am honestly puzzled by the reactions here.  But I'll leave it at that, no need for this thread to go to a bad place. 

It's because MacDonald's got a bunch of their whitest guys together to develop sites for the coloured people.

There is no problem marketing differently to different target groups, but it has to be done well. This is like EQ's marketing campaign where they went, "Well, gee, what do nerds like? Hot chicks? Ok, put them in there, saying how great EQ is. Send SOE the bill."

It's not controversial, it's just clumsy. It'd be like McDonald's going, "What do we associate with white people? Mayonnaise!" and releasing the McWhitey.

[Arthur_Parker]

Courtesy of Maddox

That's awesome, I passed through Atlanta airport in 1996 and walked past Daley Thompson, the idea he might also have been referred to as an "African American" is hilarious.  He's the guy who whistled God save the Queen while accepting an Olympic gold, celebrities don't normally do much for me but just seeing him in the flesh made my whole holiday.

[Yegolev]

Here's the thing to do if you want to know if something is racist: ask someone of that race.

[Sky]

Fuck you all, we get shamrock shakes! Micks win.

[schild]

Here's the thing to do if you want to know if something is racist: ask someone of that race.

People can't be trusted to judge racism if it's directed towards that person.

You need to ask a comedian. If it's funny, it's probably racist.

Inspirasian is funny.

[Cyrrex]

9 out of 10 people can't spot the difference between racism and stereotyping either (made up facts, ftw), which doesn't help. 

[Sheepherder]

Oh, okay, as long as there's a difference it's fine then.

[Sky]

9 out of 10 people can't spot the difference between racism and stereotyping either (made up facts, ftw), which doesn't help. 

C'mon, we've already established that women and asians drive poorly.

[schild]

Yea, but none of us are marketing a save driving course to either. We haven't started the 3pointfemturn.com or anything. Please do try to stay on topic.

[Yegolev]

It's not like they put up a site called youcanteatwhitepeoplefood.org or anything.  That would be both wrong and racist.

[Broughden]

Could they be any more condescending? Who thought this was a good idea?

It's because MacDonald's got a bunch of their whitest guys together to develop sites for the coloured people.

Courtesy of Kasey Short, Marketing Manager, also a black female. She is on a video on the site under "Opportunities."
Or Greg Watson, VP US Marketing Strategy, also a black male. On the same video.

[Slyfeind]

Most certainly figureheads appointed by a white man. "Let's get one of them negro chicks on our website to show we're really down with them!"

[tazelbain]

YES, since finily captured the black experience in America, they can now get to informing me about my whiteness, I have been so lost. HELP me MCD.

[Engels]

Being black does not perclude you from being a marketing moron.

[UnSub]

Could they be any more condescending? Who thought this was a good idea?

It's because MacDonald's got a bunch of their whitest guys together to develop sites for the coloured people.

Courtesy of Kasey Short, Marketing Manager, also a black female. She is on a video on the site under "Opportunities."
Or Greg Watson, VP US Marketing Strategy, also a black male. On the same video.

So the explanation for doing clumsy race-based website marketing is...?

I'm confident that those particular people didn't look through the site(s) prior to launching; they more likely just signed off a budget on 'Racially-oriented online marketing programs'.

[Sheepherder]

We all know why McDonalds wants to score some credibility with the rapidly increasing black and Asian demographic in the U.S.  That doesn't make their efforts any less retarded or misguided, for reasons already covered.  To re-iterate: black people outside of Africa generally don't give a fuck about Africa, because they don't know fuck all about it.  On the other hand, if they had featured Dr. King front and centre on their webpage they would be fucking untouchable.