Originally posted by: Tom
from the CNN article you linked-
"The company earlier issued a statement calling the documentary "a super-sized distortion of the quality, choice and variety available at McDonald's." It says the film is not about McDonald's but about Spurlock's decision to act irresponsibly by eating 5,000 calories a day -- "a gimmick to make a film.""
That pretty much sums up my opinion of SSM. It wasn't anything but a stunt. There was nothing in that movie that everyone didn't know already. Just like his shows about prison and minimum wage, he's pretty much useless. He got a lot of attention in the media, because his gimmicks are the kind of crap that can fill up time on talk shows and infotainment shows, not to mention internet forums where everytime someone mentions a fast food place, references are made to SSM as though nobody knew french fries were fattening until SSM.
Which is why I don't associate any positive changes in people's awareness of healthy diet choices with that film.
You seem to lack the ability to view people outside of your bubble.
"It was a coincidence"
"People knew already"
"Everyone knew this already"
Notice a trend? You are engrossed in yourself which renders your contribution to the topic useless.
As someone already stated McDonalds is a PR giant. They are succesfull because of a clown, some toys and a catchy song when you are young. Than you are an adult who needs something quick and mcdonalds offers it, plus you are familliar with them. (Due to your experience as a child).
With this in mind, you can relate this to public relations and see that McDonalds lives and dies with that. Every incident of bad PR with McDonalds has been immediatly (instantly) met with a change by corporate to restore faith in the brand. It works. People even now say things such as
"Oh, they were bad, but now they offer (insert healthy option here)"
"I always ate there fries but since they started offering (insert option here) than I have that all the time"
Did people know it is bad for you? Yes, of course they did. So what?
People know that smoking will eventually kill them, will cause damage to there lungs and athetlic ability. People have the choice to do something else, yet millions upon millions continue to smoke. Why is that?
People continue to do things until it affects them, or they are smacked in the face with reality. Oh you smoked for 20 years, and now just watched your mom die a painfull death of lung cancer? I bet your chances of quitting just went up. This video served as that catalyst for a majority of people. They knew it was bad, but wow they didn't know it was this bad.
The major, major kick though was this.
He was eating there most popular meals, the meals that the average american joe was eating he was downing on the movie. People related to this because he was eating what they were eating. You think this would have been nearly successfull if all he did was go in and eat 5 servings of fries every meal? Hell no, the fact that he ate what Mr and Mrs Smith eat and give lil Timmy for lunch was what hit home.
So yes, the points you make are valid, but you need to think outside the box.
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