…to ask why the Filet o’Fish is a mark of cringe?

[girljulian]

Lighthearted, but I read on a recent “ick” thread that someone was at McDonald’s with a man and he ordered a Filet o’Fish, which killed her attraction to him. This reminded me of an old video I saw of Benedict Cumberbatch doing a fond impression of Tom Hiddleston in which he had him order “a Filet o’Fish, if you still do those.” I am getting the impression that ordering a Filet o’Fish is peak cringe, but googling “what is so uncool about the Filet o’Fish” is getting me nowhere.

Someone explain the lore to me??

The only thing I could come up with myself was that maybe it’s a holdover from a time when many vegetarians ate fish and vegetarianism was also considered unmasculine, so ordering one indicates that you’re an effeminate vegetarian; and/or simply it’s cringe because it’s “unmanly” not to eat red meat. Is that it??

IANBU: it’s holdover cringe because of outdated ideas about meat and masculinity

IABU: you’re about to tell me the real mysterious reason

Obviously that’s not why they’ve been designated cringe since the 80s, no.

Fun fact - in Geneva they are called a Mac Leman (after the lake - Lac Leman). I always thought that was quite good!

wonder what else it is called in other parts

This thread has turned my mood right around tonight 😂🤣😂

No,no. The filet has tartare sauce.

Not sure how ordering a fillet o fish is any more naff than ordering a burger if you're in McDonald's of all places.

I used to love fillet o fish as a kid but then that nematode worm thing happened...

I have never heard that they are ick or a joke thing. They are lovely. Always ordered one as a ‘vegetarian’ teen. I didn’t know they still did them.

Loving Philip the fish!

I had a fillet o fish for the first time recently and it was nice. I liked it. I think they have to cook them fresh because they're not as popular and don't keep warm very well. I'd order it again.

I would like to try one but I could not bring myself to stand there in front of one or more people and say that product name. I don't know why fast food places keep coming up with cringe names - "big tasty", "the garlic chicken one", these names that I would have to say out loud. I recently heard someone talking on a podcast about a hippie cafe they went to where the coffees were called things like "I'm magical". I wouldn't be able to cope

I’m in the US… they largely get ignored through the year but I think earn their spot on the menu during lent. Nothing like Catholic Guilt ™️ To keep a product alive 🤣.

Haven’t had one for ages as there’s better fast food fish options for that time of year. But I think they’re ok as good or as bad as anything else from McDonalds.

But what’s wrong with the name?

I suppose it’s the fact that it’s Filet o’Fish (weirdly foofy) instead of just Fillet of Fish or Fish McFillet

I adore them but I do get it! Loads of people are like ??? when I express my order lol

It's Jack Dee's fault, he did a routine about being embarrassed to order it because he didn't know if he had to say Filllaaay O Fish.

I haven't had one since they started doing the McPlant. I used to order on the app and you can customise. Extra cheese& onions! I'm gonna get one for my tea tomorrow now!

Jesus Christ you know people can talk about other things?

Did not even know they still did them. I love a homemade fish finger sandwich (brennans bread, mushed batchlors peas and fish fingers) but could not bring myself to eat one ever in maccers. On holiday years ago with another girl from Dublin and everytime we went to maccers she ordered her 'fillehhhh o fish' which we ribbed her for cos we with our dub accents would never have notions of a 'fliiehhh' when it is a goddamn fillet. T needs pronunciation!

Probably the same time of people who think having an android phone is an "ick"

The fries are literally just potato and salt? Why isn't this food?

I think it's because Filet o' Fish is only applicable in MacDonalds - any other place it would be a fish burger.

Maybe it's the going along with a company's silly name for an item, and the American way of pronouncing and spelling 'filet' that makes it cringey sounding!

I think it’s the name too. The app /touchscreen means that you can avoid the conundrum of whether it’s “fill it” or “fill ay” and you can’t just rely on ads from the past because sometimes the pronunciation changes over time eg Nestle wasn’t always Ness-lay

Delicious!!

I love them! They do fish fingers in the happy meal now, they are rather lovely too...

Vegetarians have NEVER eaten fish.

if someone eats fish, they are by definition not vegetarian.

Ridiculous if FoF is considered 'cringe'. I suppose it's kind of a fish finger sandwich, but so what? A burger is just a meat Pattie sandwich.

'Real Men Eat Meat'. Now that's a turn off.

I really want a FoF now.