Should "Happy Meals" Aimed at Kids Be Banned to Help Curb Childhood Obesity?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No more toy ads for transformers, barbie, hot wheels, etc..

No more video game ads....

No more playschool playset ads...

No putt-putt ads

No more Chuck-E-Cheese ads...

etc...

Yup, I'm sure that would go over REAL WELL.

Go over with who?

I have no problem with advertising per se, just not the kind that is intended to psychologically manipulate parents through their children.

In fact, it's socially harmful - it's how you get materialistic children who bully others for not having the latest brand labels.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I think they got rid of "super size"

which is just a "large" combo now...

Same difference...

I still call them their respective names at each establishment..

Jack in the Box - Jumbo Size

McDonalds - Super Size

Chick-Fil-A - Value Size

Wendys - Biggie Size

etc....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think they got rid of "super size"

They did - I think because the film generated negative publicity. Also because there was a lawsuit going on around the same time - the film probably made the issues more public.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Go over with who?

I have no problem with advertising per se, just not the kind that is intended to psychologically manipulate parents through their children.

In fact, it's socially harmful - it's how you get materialistic children who bully others for not having the latest brand labels.

that's called class envy.

Advertising didn't start that. That's been going on very regularly way before strong advertising was happening....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

that's called class envy.

Advertising didn't start that. That's been going on very regularly way before strong advertising was happening....

Reinforced by brand advertising....

If of course "class" is defined merely by how much money you have, rather than your parents occupations and backgrounds. If the former were true then then John Gotti would be a classy guy, wouldn't he...

Children perceive advertising differently from adults - there's a good deal of research out there on this. I believe we've had this conversation before...

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Reinforced by brand advertising....

If of course "class" is defined merely by how much money you have, rather than your parents occupations and backgrounds. If the former were true then then John Gotti would be a classy guy, wouldn't he...

Children perceive advertising differently from adults - there's a good deal of research out there on this. I believe we've had this conversation before...

Payless, Target, & Wal-Mart, etc.. all advertise just as much, if not more than Nike does. Perhaps it's not so much the "brand" itself, but who's representing it. If a child sees his favorite sports star (Michael Jordon 80's and 90's) wearing a specific shoe/sporting it, then that child will want that... BUT it you're just advertising the product itself, then that can make all the difference in the world....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Payless, Target, & Wal-Mart, etc.. all advertise just as much, if not more than Nike does. Perhaps it's not so much the "brand" itself, but who's representing it. If a child sees his favorite sports star (Michael Jordon 80's and 90's) wearing a specific shoe/sporting it, then that child will want that... BUT it you're just advertising the product itself, then that can make all the difference in the world....

It doesn't make much of a difference who is doing the advertising - an established brand image still exists in the minds of the child, regardless of whether the manufacturer is advertising it or some reseller.

Of course.... a "brand" IS more than the product. If it wasn't then there would be a much greater focus on product quality. If McDonalds sold their food products simply on the basis of taste and quality of ingredients, they'd be out of business

Edited November 8, 2010 by Ron Burgundy

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It doesn't make much of a difference who is doing the advertising - an established brand image still exists in the minds of the child, regardless of whether the manufacturer is advertising it or some reseller.

Of course.... a "brand" IS more than the product. If it wasn't then there would be a much greater focus on product quality. If McDonalds sold their food products simply on the basis of taste and quality of ingredients, they'd be out of business

Ummm, establishments don't stay in business unless their food is good...... While you may not ilke it, millions of people do.

[Marilyn. 340]

only thing relatively good at Mcd's are their Sundaes and apple pies...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ummm, establishments don't stay in business unless their food is good...... While you may not ilke it, millions of people do.

Fine dining establishments stay in business because of food quality.

The appeal of McDonalds' food is derived from decades of brand management. People grew up with it, have fond childhood memories of going to McDonalds, that has as much if more to do with it than the taste of their food.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Fine dining establishments stay in business because of food quality.

The appeal of McDonalds' food is derived from decades of brand management. People grew up with it, have fond childhood memories of going to McDonalds, that has as much if more to do with it than the taste of their food.

not really. Most people know bad food from good food and what they like/don't like. For instance, there are 'bad' McDonalds out there that people can't stand the way they run the place/handle their food... so they'll drive an extra 5 minutes to go to another one in which the food is made better. Or there's cases where they simply may have grown up with it sure, but don't like the taste anymore.

Sometimes brand name means quality, sometimes it doesn't. Obviously McDonalds isn't the best quality food in the world for you, however they make a product people like, a lot of that having to do with their fries... Though Big Macs are kind of tasty from time to time too for many.

Chains market themselves well, yes, but they have to have a desirable product for that to happen.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

not really. Most people know bad food from good food and what they like/don't like. For instance, there are 'bad' McDonalds out there that people can't stand the way they run the place/handle their food... so they'll drive an extra 5 minutes to go to another one in which the food is made better. Or there's cases where they simply may have grown up with it sure, but don't like the taste anymore.

Sometimes brand name means quality, sometimes it doesn't. Obviously McDonalds isn't the best quality food in the world for you, however they make a product people like, a lot of that having to do with their fries... Though Big Macs are kind of tasty from time to time too for many.

Chains market themselves well, yes, but they have to have a desirable product for that to happen.

People *may* know what they like, but they *may not know* why they like it. Nor may they have the experience to know good food from bad.

Advertising is a psychological experience on several levels. There is significant research to support this - as there is with regard to eating habits, how they are defined in childhood and people who grow up with an unhealthy diet are likelier than not to have problems later in life.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

People *may* know what they like, but they *may not know* why they like it. Nor may they have the experience to know good food from bad.

Advertising is a psychological experience on several levels. There is significant research to support this - as there is with regard to eating habits, how they are defined in childhood and people who grow up with an unhealthy diet are likelier than not to have problems later in life.

There's evidence to support a lot of different things that we may or may not like. That doesn't mean we need a government intervention in things though.

For those who are effected by advertising, most aren't. Of course companies only need that small percentage to stay in business.

Some people may buy something because they saw it on TV, others will just laugh at it. Hell, some will purposefully not buy it because they saw it on TV. Advertising is a double-edge sword at the end of the day. The idea in advertising though, is that it's worth it even if you gain a 1% response ratio. Why? Because hopefully that 1% will tell their friends, and then tell their friends, etc... Word of mouth is far more a powerful entity than advertising could ever hope to be. It's also a lot easier for a product to lose customers than it is for them to gain them.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's evidence to support a lot of different things that we may or may not like. That doesn't mean we need a government intervention in things though.

For those who are effected by advertising, most aren't. Of course companies only need that small percentage to stay in business.

Some people may buy something because they saw it on TV, others will just laugh at it. Hell, some will purposefully not buy it because they saw it on TV. Advertising is a double-edge sword at the end of the day. The idea in advertising though, is that it's worth it even if you gain a 1% response ratio. Why? Because hopefully that 1% will tell their friends, and then tell their friends, etc... Word of mouth is far more a powerful entity than advertising could ever hope to be. It's also a lot easier for a product to lose customers than it is for them to gain them.

Decisions backed up by evidence are rather more solid than decisions made by someone's "gut"

I'm sorry to break it to you, but most people ARE affected by advertising. Even if they do not buy the products - they are usually familiar with the famous brands. Advertising is about awareness and getting your product into the public consciousness as much as it is about persuading people to buy it.

Edited November 8, 2010 by Ron Burgundy

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Decisions backed up by evidence are rather more solid than decisions made by someone's "gut"

I'm sorry to break it to you, but most people ARE affected by advertising. Even if they do not buy the products - they are usually familiar with the famous brands. Advertising is about awareness and getting your product into the public consciousness as much as it is about persuading people to buy it.

Awareness and being affected are two very different things. Just because you're aware of Nike or Burger King, doesn't make someone have a desire to buy that product..... Most people are well aware of the dry cleaners down the street, eventhough they may never use them. They are there. They don't even need to advertise for you to be aware of them outside of the sign out front.

Just because you know what a John Deere tractor is, doesn't mean you're going to be influenced by that fact.