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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
TotorosOcarina · 07/03/2011 14:28

Fucking Hell, its just McDonalds.

Go for it.

Why do you need our permission?, its your site.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 07/03/2011 14:34

@BecauseImWorthIt

Whilst I think the discussion has been interesting, perhaps you could now do a poll? Post a link on the site to the survey.

That will then give you 'proper' statistics.

You could also publicise the poll in the round-up, or parenting news, or the other ways that you regularly communicate with MNetters.

We could if we were going to use these stats for anything other than to inform our own policy. But we aren't. What we needed to have a nuanced conversation where we could get a sense of the strength of feeling. What's more active conversations, as said, is by far the most visited page on the site - getting loads more eyeballs in a week than the newsletters or any poll we've done.

OP posts:
DamnYouAutocorrect · 07/03/2011 14:34

Mila, that was my point I think. The people complaining about the process are really complaining because they don't like the result. Unless they were 'wondering' like BIWI which is different Grin. It's fair enough to be pissed off about the result if its something you feel strongly about, but this is how MNet has always done consultations.

MilaMae · 07/03/2011 14:41

Justine could you answer my question and glasnost's further on down.

Not getting at you but fear they may have been overlooked,I've posted a lot Blush.

Himalaya · 07/03/2011 14:47

Thanks Justine for coming back and giving us a bit more background on the decision making process you are going through.

For what it is worth I think it is that 2-way conversation and not holding scientifically-representative survey that makes for a good consultation.

Talking this issue over on the forum is perfectly in keeping with how MN'ers interact, and has allowed you to take the temperature of opinion and let people with strong and not so strong opinions to have their say and hear others. What more can you ask..

After that its up to you, this not being a democracy and all. I guess it comes down to a business decision about the MN Brand. I think the strongest argument against at this point is oneofsuesylvesterscheerios 's that it would undermine MN's unique selling point that, despite some limited advertisements this place does stand out amongst the Bounty, baby mags, NetMums, Cow&Gate marketing bumf that you get when you have a new marketing opportunity baby, as a place that is 'less commercial' and more of a community.

Whatever you do I do think you will need to review the overall policy a bit, although it doesn't need to be etched in stone and can always come back for a bit more argy bargy discussion.

I think getting controversial companies onto MN for a webchat is great (have you had Nestle?)

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 07/03/2011 15:07

@MilaMae

Ooo good news re Co-Op quite like them....unless there is anything else I need to know?

Re the healthy eating Justine how on earth are you going to get involved in any future discussions regarding this issue? I feel when you're interviewed at the moment you/mn carry a certain amount of respect on issues you engage in,I fear this will be lost if you run a McD ad.

Also although you may not be condoning it do you not feel that promoting junk food on a parenting site is wrong?

Hi Mila,
The answer to this really is that we regard MN as a site for parents, rather than a site that tells people how to parent IYSWIM.

OP posts:
MistyB · 07/03/2011 16:34

In that case, why the statement regarding Nestle, McDonalds and cosmetic surgery on your "About us" page? What had changed?

MistyB · 07/03/2011 16:34

that should read "what has changed" ....

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2011 16:39

I see we've gone up to a million members again, according to the blurb about Justine, in that page linked by Eleison.

glasnost · 07/03/2011 16:50

Sorry but you still haven't said why you're prepared to alienate so many thinking mums by running these ad's when you could just as easily take another company's cash.

TotorosOcarina · 07/03/2011 17:09

'thinking mums' Confused

what so McDonalds eating mums are braindead?!

MilaMae · 07/03/2011 17:11

I also don't get why in Aug last year you said you were keen on "making a statement about Nestle and their unethical practices" but you don't now seem to feel the same about McDonalds.

Nestle claim to have "cleaned up their act" too so why is not advertising one unethical company ok but not another one.

Personally I don't want to see either on here however it's double standards to veto one but not the other.It feels as if one is more fashionable to veto than the other.

There is also glasnost's question, if you don't need to run with it then why on earth do it?

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2011 17:11

Glasnost - for a thinking mum you are having a bit of bother with your rogue apostrophes.

glasnost · 07/03/2011 17:21

bibbity the apostrophe in ad's is for the missing letters vertisement ok? Not to make a plural. Do there.

glasnost · 07/03/2011 17:21

Even: SO there.

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2011 17:24

Oh, I was unaware of that convention.
Must be because I am not a thinking mum, I suppose.

usualsuspect · 07/03/2011 17:26

MN ,the thinking mums website Grin

MilaMae · 07/03/2011 17:28

I don't think glasnost was inferring anything by using the phrase "thinking mums",just posting on a parenting forum makes you a thinking mum,we all are. Your insecurities infer she meant otherwise.

You're being a tad petty and unreasonable Bibboty pulling apart her punctuation.I'm not here for an English lesson Hmm.

boosmummie · 07/03/2011 17:29

Can't resist on the apostrophes point - isn't needed in ads only if one was saying ad is.... does that make me a thinking mum then? Grin

MilaMae · 07/03/2011 17:29

To Totoros

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 07/03/2011 17:30

@MistyB

In that case, why the statement regarding Nestle, McDonalds and cosmetic surgery on your "About us" page? What had changed?

As I posted earlier down:

We have traditionally said no to McD's because we've had this discussion periodically and over the years quite a lot of folks have objected because they felt McD's buying policies, in particular, have been unethical (The Fast Food Nation critique). Last time we we had this discussion - maybe a 2 or 3 years ago - the reaction was around 50-50. We asked again this time because there is some suggestion that McD's are getting their act together on this issue a bit (although we don't claim to be experts). And indeed it seems that analysing the response on this thread (and the other one in AIBU) it does seem that the "don't minds" now outnumber the "do minds" by some way. So we are of a mind to change our policy on McD's.

We will update the About Us page to reflect this shortly.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 07/03/2011 17:31

You are not here for an English lesson,I'm not here to be told what my kids can and can't eat

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 07/03/2011 17:33

@glasnost

Sorry but you still haven't said why you're prepared to alienate so many thinking mums by running these ad's when you could just as easily take another company's cash.

Hi Glasnost, There's no either/ or about it, the McDonalds ads wouldn't be instead of another. We have capacity on the site for many more ads than we sell. The Mark Warner/Boden ads for example aren't paid for - they are an affiliate relationship. If people click on them and buy something we get a small %. We run them when have spare capacity, which we always do.

OP posts:
MilaMae · 07/03/2011 17:34

How is not running a McD ad telling you what your kids can and can't eat exactly?

RoundOrangeHead · 07/03/2011 17:38

have to say, I'm developing a soft spot for glasnot

and no, it's not because i've eaten too many happy meals