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MNHQ

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

609 replies

JustineMumsnet · 01/03/2011 16:22

Good day MNetters,
We've been asked if we'd host ads for McDonalds, so we thought we'd ask what you think. Would you object to banner ads (ie like the one at the top of the page) on Mumsnet?
Let us know.

OP posts:
SeeJaneKick · 05/03/2011 10:38

Very well said Southeastastra.

I agree with you totally and hope MN HQ listen.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 05/03/2011 10:39

Do people really pay that much attention to the ad's on here ?? I might occasionally glance at one if it catches my eye, but otherwise they pass me by.

southeastastra · 05/03/2011 10:45

i don't suppose so nutcracker but surely children will see the ad and think mn endorses it

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 05/03/2011 10:53

Is the ad appearing on the MN site, or are MN being linked to MacDonalds on one of their TV adverts? I am okay asking as I've seen the argumenet that children will believe MacDonalds is accepted by a parenting site, but I dont really let DD see MN site and cant imagine I would when she is older either. Tend to MN when I'm at work or she's in bed / at dance etc.

pointydog · 05/03/2011 10:55

Would make no difference to me.

Panzee · 05/03/2011 10:56

If you explain to children that companies pay to have their name on things and it doesn't mean they endorse them, perhaps they won't think that.

Snorbs · 05/03/2011 11:15

I vote for taking the McD dollar but increasing the rate card for such companies with a "We don't like you" surcharge.

And I am more than a bit Confused about the idea that a child would see a McD ad on here and think that mumsnet thereby endorses it. My DCs view MN as, and I quote, "Are you on that sad old gimmers' site again dad?" Grin

southeastastra · 05/03/2011 11:15

would be so much easier not to have to explain surely - and i bet most posters children are around when they mn

i really think this will do so much harm to mn for little reward - so not worth it

LetThereBeRock · 05/03/2011 11:19

'they've eaten too much mcshit and it's addled their brains'

You're being very offensive and patronising now,SEA.

If people disagree with you, and don't have a problem with McDonalds advertising on here,it doesn't mean that they don't have any morals,or that they're mindless drones who haven't put any thought into their stance.

There are a number of issues that are important to me.This isn't one of them,and I'm quite sure that there are some issues that are important to me that mean little to you. Each to their own.

There's no need to denigrate posters simply because they don't share your priorities.

LetThereBeRock · 05/03/2011 11:20

'And I am more than a bit about the idea that a child would see a McD ad on here and think that mumsnet thereby endorses it. My DCs view MN as, and I quote, "Are you on that sad old gimmers' site again dad?" '

It's news to me too that children give a toss about MN's opinions on anything.

exexpat · 05/03/2011 11:34

I never eat at McDs - quite apart from thinking the food is crap, I'm vegetarian and they don't exactly cater for us as far as I know - and my children if they hear a mention of McDs just say 'yuck'. But I'm not bothered about them advertising here.

I don't think much of their business ethics, but I don't think they are very much worse than most other fast food companies, supermarkets etc. If they want to give MN money (and help keep this site going, which I presume we all think is a good idea) then that's fine by me. I can't imagine advertising here is actually going to change many people's opinion of them.

And unless MN is in future only going to accept advertising or input (competition prizes, surveys etc) from companies that have been through a rigorous ethical screening program, it just seems a bit tokenistic to say no to McDs just because it's an easy target.

Panzee · 05/03/2011 11:35

southeastastra they'll need to learn it at some point. Why not now?

LetThereBeRock · 05/03/2011 11:36

As for posters leaving,no one is so important,not even the most popular members,that the site can't and won't survive without them.

We've survived a mass exodus before, though many did return,and recently we lost a number of particuarly popular members,but MN will still continue.
We're constantly getting new members,and not all will stay with MN for years as others have,but with a constant influx I doubt MN will collapse if some of the oldies leave,however popular and influential they might be.

southeastastra · 05/03/2011 11:40

ok so i was a bit rude sorry.

i think that if posters leave because of this it is very sad and am depressed that people think it's acceptable

southeastastra · 05/03/2011 11:42

they'll need to learn?? don't get what you mean

has anyone put forward a convincing argument FOR the advertising? (apart for the couldn't care less posts)

glasnost · 05/03/2011 11:58

How can you credibly encourage MNetters to boycott nestle and then host ad's from McD's? Doesn't add up. As I've said on other thread you'd have no more credibility AT ALL.

Snorbs · 05/03/2011 12:14

has anyone put forward a convincing argument FOR the advertising?

What, you mean apart from "mumsnet costs money to run and that money has to come from somewhere"?

McDs doesn't have the best of ethical reputations but then neither do many of the companies MN has done business with - both Disney and Ford have questionable histories, for instance. MN have run competitions with both of them and that is arguably more of an MN endorsement than simply carrying an ad.

I don't recall you threatening to flounce leave MN in protest at Disney's shoddy record on sweatshop production of its branded toys and clothing, restrictive labour practises in its parks, its reinforcement of ethnic and sexual stereotypes in its films, or the dubious morality of old Walt himself.

southeastastra · 05/03/2011 12:18

i haven't threatened to flounce at all (sorry!)

disney doesn't make you ill does it (though i suppose i could argue that)

i didn't know mumsnet were hard up and needed the advertising? they certainly don't imply it in the op do they?

LadyThumb · 05/03/2011 12:24

If it helps this site keep going, then I do not have a problem. I am an adult - I can choose whether or not to take any notice of adverts.

popcrackle · 05/03/2011 12:29

This site is certainly not at risk of having to use money from an unethical company/ brand to keep it going.

LetThereBeRock · 05/03/2011 12:36

'i think that if posters leave because of this it is very sad and am depressed that people think it's acceptable'

No one is making them leave.They're choosing to do so.I don't see why MN should be held to ransom over the whims of a few.
That's not to say they should accept the contract,just that I don't see why the 'threat' of a few posters,leaving should be a deciding factor.
People move on all the time for various reasons. It doesn't seem like a major issue to me if a few more pack up and go over this.

And how do we decide whose ethics the site should follow anyway? I realise that it's generally a left wing site,but we're a diverse group.We don't all fit the MN stereotype.
I'm a leftie myself and don't agree with every campaign they've had,or agree with other lefties on every issue.

There are some universal wrongs imo,but for me MN allowing McDonalds to advertise on their site isn't one of them.

NoWayNoHow · 05/03/2011 12:42

Haven't read whole thread, but agree with the first few responses I did read. This is a site for adults, it's not kids TV - we're perfectly capable of deciding whether or not we are going to go to McD and how often - an ad isn't likely to change that (don't tell McDonalds this, they probably haven't figured that out yet - get yer money while you can!!)

oricella · 05/03/2011 12:45

I don't like McDonalds; remember McLibel; am up to speed with the Amazon; don't eat meat and would dearly see a change in the world order that would mean less influence and dominion by multinational cooperations that are hardly accountable to anyone

Having said that - I am also pragmatic, grown-up, kind of like MN and appreciate that to keep 20 odd people in employment money will have to come from somewhere, and have no major issue with McD advertising on here.

What I would object to is if that would go hand-in-hand with a censure of topics we could discuss; so as long as we'd be free to start an "IABU to have fond memories of the mclibel case" thread, as soon as a McD ad crops up, I have no problem with this

colditz · 05/03/2011 12:49

I don't care.

notwavingjustironing · 05/03/2011 12:51

MN is a business. You can dress it up all you like, but the bottom line is to make money.

Most advertising is offensive to someone, somewhere.

But I would be surprised if people left the site in droves, simply because they didn't approve of an ad. Whilst it's a polite thing to do to ask posters their opinion, it's not really any of our business.

I don't agree with everthing I read on here, or even some of the campaigns that are waged, but I don't get upset about it.

I can either choose to post, or not, in the same way I can choose to go to McDonalds or not. I don't see it as an "evil" place.