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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:
EdgarAleNPie · 03/03/2011 19:45

their chocolate milkshakes are strangely moreish though....

Hmm
stiflersmom · 03/03/2011 19:46

Not this again

NO

LisamumtoJake · 03/03/2011 19:47

No problem with it here!!! I enjoy a cheeky mcdonalds now and then! And more pennies for MN!

nickytwotimes · 03/03/2011 19:53

really?

have they been on mumsnet?

i would probably go elsewhere tbh. i know that no companies are very ethical but macds are kind of like coca cola or walmart - kind of iconic capitalism taken to the nth degree nasty.

wigglesrock · 03/03/2011 21:32

Rather have McDonalds than Boden. Also not a fan of the wanky smug holiday companies advertising. PS whatever happened to the "is it ok for L'Oreal to advertise here" question from a few months ago. It was in relation to Nestle being a stakeholder in L'Oreal. Can't remember if it was resolved.

JoBettany · 04/03/2011 00:23

I would have a major problem with it.

madhattershouse · 04/03/2011 00:25

I say no! They may prompote the healthy option on the telly and in ads but we all know what they are really about...selling naff food to kids via pester power. Adding carrot sticks and fruit to the menu is not going to change the real aim...sell crap food to the masses and aid them on the road to obesity!

Grumpla · 04/03/2011 00:28

Wouldn't be very impressed.

But wouldn't get my knickers in a twist either.

FourFingeredKitkat · 04/03/2011 00:30

Sorry, I don't think it's a particularly good idea! Not quite this site demographic surely?

piprabbit · 04/03/2011 00:33

I hate to tell you, MNHQ, but I spend so much time on MN that my mind automatically edits out the ads and I don't notice them most of the time.

This is a site for adults, I think that as adults we should be able to handle seeing an ad without fainting or running mad if it isn't something we think is lovely.
What about ads for Fruitshoots, Greggs or Pedlars, would you pussyfoot around about hosting them as well?

LilQueenie · 04/03/2011 00:36

as its a site about children I dont see why mcdonalds is a good choice of ad. There has been too much problems fast food and childrens obesity the last few years. Why not market an ad for something child friendly.

SeeJaneKick · 04/03/2011 00:44

I'd be off I'm afraid. I come here for the good company, the witty repartee and the lack of crap...ads bring revenue but I can't honestly believe that this is a serious question.

If Macdonalds come here then it will cheapen the place for me.

I just don't associate MN with that company. For me this place is about honesty and good quality. If you have them you might as well have any old rubbish. Fast food is fast food. I'm all for cheap but it has to be good quality.

Those who say they don't notice ads. You do...believe me...you might not notice that you notice...but you do.

Ads all contrbute to the atmosphere of a website and they are not what MN is about.

coinoperatedgirl · 04/03/2011 00:48

I block all ads everywhere and get ever so slightly irate when I have breakthrough ads, so go ahead. Even if I wasn't blocking them I would have no problem tbh. How many people actually click on ads on the web really? apart from by accident, I don't understand how it is such a good revenue stream.

I would click on a McD/known brand ad that offered something free, apart from that well no. If it's just brand awareness, then I don't geddit you would be very sheltered to not have heard of McD.

JoBettany · 04/03/2011 00:52

I totally agree SJK. I won't be here if/when McDonalds are.

I honestly can't believe either that it's being considered.

wigglesrock · 04/03/2011 07:17

Sorry but really Shock at comments such as McDonalds will cheapen MN, not quite our demographic etc. Its a bloody website not an actual way of life. Mainly use MN for a particular forum and have mentioned before that I have had to "defend" MN to some friends ie no of course its not full of middle class smugness, judgypants, people overly concerned with spelling, grammar and their 4 year old reading ability Hmm, looks like I may have to eat my words, providing I don't choose to eat them at McDonalds.

SeeJaneKick · 04/03/2011 07:50

wiggle....tell that to the many well paid bods who work out which ads to target to which audience. Whether you like it or not, MN has a demographic. ALL companies work this out for their own benefit and for that of their audience.

If MN and Mcdonalds think there is an audience here...then it probably means there is...which means I don't belong here. Not that I'm too good for it you understand...of course I'm not...but I don't like massive business like that using me as a number and I would not feel happy sharing my details with them for comps etc.

As a parent, I work hard to keep certain things in my DC life at a minimum and Mcdonalds is one of them. I don't want to see it here. I want to see nice clothing advertised, nice holidays, toys...you say MN is not a lifestyle but it DOES refelct on your life....the things we're being sold here affect me. I use some of the ads...I click on some of them. I won't be happy if they come here.

ScroobiousPip · 04/03/2011 08:20

It doesn't seem appropriate to have any fast food advertised on a parenting support site. Imagine the Maccie D ad popping up on threads looking for advice on how to improve their family's eating habits or how to help their children lose weight.

Maryz · 04/03/2011 08:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ValiumSingleton · 04/03/2011 08:52

yeah, boden ads annoy me more. i've had more hamburgers than i've had merino cardigans.

glasnost · 04/03/2011 09:20

I'm sure you at MN have already made your minds up to take the McD dollar so this is just a PR exercise in feigning to pretend that you care about our opinions. I for one would be flouncing off MN for good. You'll water down content to keep the advertisers happy and would start censoring threads eg. critical of McD.

southeastastra · 04/03/2011 09:24

i can't understand this - they banned tv junk food advertising (hence the lack of itv kids tv) and yet people on here think it's perfectly ok to advertise mcds on here?

i don't want the big flippin logo staring at me when i'm on here and mn just doesn't need the revenue does it?? surely not.

octopusinabox · 04/03/2011 09:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

southeastastra · 04/03/2011 09:45

surely businesses can be ethical can't they

just say NO mumsnet Grin

BendyBob · 04/03/2011 09:49

No problem whatsoever.

We went in McDonalds the other day for the first time in ages and I was pleasantly surprised.

thomasbodley · 04/03/2011 09:50

Isn't it about time we accepted we're grown-ups and took some responsibility for ourselves and our children?

Some crappy ads aren't going to make our children obese; shite parenting is going to make our children obese.

Arf at those MNers raging because their children choose fries over carrot sticks - isn't that your fault for being unable to say "no"? McDonald's advertise the carrot sticks, not the fries; if your kids want fries anyway, you have to ask yourself what you've done at home to make them think fries are more desirable than carrot sticks.

McDonald's is no better and no worse than just about any other multinational corporate.They haven't become 'iconic' by accident you know - people have actually bought the shit they sell in billions. They're iconic because, ike it or not, they're popular and have been for a very long time.

Almost every university, museum and library has a foundation built on staggering and unethical wealth. Should we do away with those, too, because we object to their corporate history?

FWIW, I hardly notice the ads here. If corporate world money keeps MN free, that's fine by me.