McDonalds Ads - tell us how do you feel about them folks?

"a lot of mums are going to think oh I know MN cares about child health due to the Nestle ban so McD and junk food are obviously absolutely fine"

Sorry Mila but I just think this is utter balderdash.

Lemon, you are right. It's a meal, its a toy and its cheap so what's not to like? I can see the sense there, I really can. But what bothers me - and what Macd's and all the other fast food companies have latched on to - is that they exploit this. They keep their prices down, they give a not half bad toy, but to perpetuate the notion that junk food is a treat is damaging to future generations.

And from my own experience of being rewarded with food I know this too well. Like so, so many who have been overweight and on diets, it goes back to childhood.

I'm not having a go at you Lemon - I see what you are saying and get it - but I think you have raised an important issue.

MacDonalds does not make children obese. Or malnourished.

Parents do. And MN isn't here to tell you how to be a parent.

Though LemonDifficult is willing to step in with some strong opinions wherever needed...

I think MN is different to other businesses in that what it sells is us,without all of us there would be no ad space to sell.

MN also frequently "speaks" for it's members so I think some baring on members views does need to be taken into consideration.

I still don't get the double standards re Nestle and McD. MN is not here to teach us how to parent so why the Boycott Nestle logo,inviting Mike Brady on to "inform" us of the perils of ff and consulting MB on policy making etc even though the vast maj of mums do use formula at some point. There is also the matter of the Let Girls Be Girls campaign.

There is a childhood obesity problem in this country,junk food plays a huge part in it. Banning Nestle and not McD sends out an awful message ie we care about babies but once they're weaned we don't give a shit. Personally as a nation I feel this attitude is half the reason why obesity is such the problem that it is.

Banning Nestle and taking on McD goes one step further as having banned Nestle a lot of mums are going to think oh I know MN cares about child health due to the Nestle ban so McD and junk food are obviously absolutely fine.

It's double standards and I think you need to sing from the same hymn sheet.

Mumsnet - Please take the McDs money. They are a good company and do a lot more for farmers in the UK than, say, the supermarkets that 95% of the objector on here will shop in.

The restaurants are clean, they are well priced, the toys are good quality. They pay the staff a proper wage.

If anyone from MacDonalds is reading this then thank you for the v easy treat I'm able to give my DC when I'm skint. And for the balloons.

Glasnost - do you still reckon you're being polite on these threads? "Nothing as long as they don't expect intelligent posters to make up their demographic any longer."? So anyone who doesn't have a problem with this is obviously less intelligent than you. But you don't think you're being rude...

My point isn't aboput JO's opinion on anything, but to make the point that a programme with a high profile sleb had to be made to make parents think about what their children were being fed by the schools, by the catering firms contracted, by LEAs, by the Government. And if we can't trust our children's health with these institutions we're screwed.

Glasnost -

I don't usually go in for public displays of pedantry, but since you say you're an English teacher I feel I have to.

Apostrophes are used when there is a contraction with letters missing (don't, i've, there's) but not for common or garden abbreviations. You know this, because you write ad not ad' in your posts -- but when it comes to the plural you added an apostrophe by mistake and then backward engineered a rule.

No apostrophes in docs, specs, autos, prams, regs, abs etc...

what shrieking has just highlighted is very OTT

MN can take the site in whichever direction they like even if it disappoints some of us.

I think what many of us are disgruntled about is being used to validate business choices.

Quoting Eleison:

"I think there are two entirely distinct things:
(1) a business owning a talk platform and selling ads; and
(2) a set of talkers. I have never wanted a say in the business, because I have never wanted to pretend that a business can champion me. I only want to ensure that whenever the business claims to talk for the talkers, it does so on very good grounds. "

As I posted what seems now like AEONS ago now MN have already made their dollar signed minds up. It's a sad, sorry, well trodden path this one. MN has become bigger and wanto see their returns growing exponentially. What's wrong with that? Nothing as long as they don't expect intelligent posters to make up their demographic (yukky term) any longer.

I'm out of here for one. (Hoorah I hear you cry!)

"If it takes a 'celebrity' chef to make us think twice about what is OK for our children to eat at school, "

Would that be the same "celebrity" chef who praised McDonald's last year for it's progress in using better quality beef, free range eggs, and improving other standards too - pointing out that the UK franchise is very much different to the US one??

I have to say that if we were in the US - and it was the US McDonald's wanting to advertise my answer would be a big fat no. - But I'm still on the "don't care".

OFFS, good post!

hear hear offs

I agree with a lot of what Maryz says, I'm not arguing against the existence of MacDs, I'm saying fast food should not be advertised on here.

I agree with Maryz.

That's a great post OFFS.

I agree with Maryz

By the same token, MacDs doesn't reflect MN. Everyone is saying it won't make them buy it.

But I agree that UK Campsites probably is more MN than MW. Perhaps there's a way forward there. Maybe it's time to review without selling out?

OFFS,great post.

Hear! Hear! Ohforfoxsake Well said!

So Macdonalds = childhood obesity

Don't computer games and inactive children also = childhood obesity ?

Why have I just seen an advert for Wii on MN then ? - any objections to that ?

Advertising on MN doesn't reflect us MN - I hate Boden , I cannot afford a Mark Warner holiday whether in the sun or skiing .

get some dog food adverts , cheap campsites in UK and we'll be sorted .

Oh, I also meant to say that if you are considering a radical policy change, as this is, you should have this as a 'sticky' and not let it slip down Active Convos.

My arguement on here has always been a 'no' to advertising fast-food generally. Not Macdonalds, not KFC - none of them. I don't think it's responsible.

I disagree with you Justine about MN not telling people how to parent. I think there is a very real need for positive role models now that we no longer live in communities where we have parents, grandparents, extended family. Often we turn to strangers on the internet for advice and support. It has become an important part of our lives. Just because a lot of people say Macds is fine doesn't make it fine. You have a much bigger audience now, and good for you, but with that comes a greater responsibility.

You can't raise awareness of eating disorders, obesity in children, health dangers of poor diet and take the money of fast food companies. If it takes a 'celebrity' chef to make us think twice about what is OK for our children to eat at school, who is going to do that at home? Nutrition is vital to our children being healthy and active, their bodies and brains functioning properly - paying attention in school and sleeping well at night. Its fundamental to their well-being.

A lot of people are savvy, and will give their families a balanced diet. But a lot aren't. And as this site grows, so will their contribution, and good for you for listening to their voices as they will be louder than the one's say 'I don't think that's right'.

Parents choose to formula feed, but MN has a loud Breast is best voice. But if you aren't going to tell parents that, let them find their own way. If they to use formula, pipe down with the breastfeeding stuff. And what's the deal with Nestle? They clean up their act, all is good. Get them on board, will be good for the coffers.

I've invested a lot of time in MN over the last four years. It's given me a lot of knowledge, a heck of a lot of really emotional support when I was on my knees, a place to go. I feel very sentimental about it. But this has shown me that its moved on. The 'NO!'s turned into 'maybe's, and turned into 'I couldn't give a shit's.

So Justine, go ahead with advertising fast-food, but you'll be letting me down, you'll be letting Mumsnetters down, you'll be letting your other investors down, but most of all, you'll be letting yourself down.

(I have been dying to say that! )