McDonald's Appeal? A 'Safe' Meal - Max Barry

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/07/15/Max_Barry_on_Risk

Satirical author Max Barry argues that one of the keys to McDonald's success is safety. He says consumers are comforted by the stability found within the Golden Arches.

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Bestselling satirical novelist Max Barry explains how our attitudes toward risk both define and confine us. He uses the mishandling of financial risk in the corporate world as a springboard to a more general discussion about the ways our attitudes towards different kinds of risk define us as people -- how risk informs the fundamental decisions we make about our lives. - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Max Barry is a contemporary Australian author. He also maintains a blog on various topics, including writing, marketing and politics. Barry is also the creator of NationStates (a game created to help advertise his novel, Jennifer Government) and is the owner of the website Tales of Corporate Oppression.

In early 2004, Barry converted his web site to a weblog and began regularly posting to it. In the November 2004 issue of the magazine Fast Company the novel Company was ranked at number 8 on a list of the top 100 people, ideas, and trends that will change how we work and live in 2005.

Barry has recently finished writing the screenplay for his novel, Syrup, which was optioned by Fortress Entertainment. Universal Pictures has acquired screen rights to Company, which will be adapted by Steve Pink. Jennifer Government has also been optioned by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney's Section 8 Films.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• macdonalds
• hamburgers
• fast
• food
• safety
• restaurants
• dining
• eating
• french
• fries
• happy
• meals
• mcdonald
• golden
• arches
• safe
• fora.tv
• foratv
• fora
• tv

[wmg111]

Fast food should be regulated like every other addictive life threatening product.

It's comfort masquerading as food.

[dreamdewil]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about safety in a psychological level rather than a physical one.

[damnyancey]

This vid has nothing to do with politics, yet Nazi liberals come out of the of the damn wood work like roaches to leave stupid remarks. I happen to like a greasy ass hamburgers with extra cheese & don't need any health Nazis regulating my damn hamburger. fucking liberals. I swear! you would scratch your ass if your head itched.

[paradigm71]

@TheCuriousSkeptic Did you actually watch the video? Speed, convenience and consistency was exactly what he meant by safety. It's a "safe" choice because you're know what you're getting at a food chain as opposed to trying food at a local burger joint you've never tried.

[paradigm71]

@RitvarLegend Aside from your poor English, what's your point?

[paradigm71]

This is so true. I've argued exactly the same thing to friends. I admit I have a weakness for McDonald's and this is exactly why. You know what you're going to get. It may not be the best, but it's the same, no matter which one you go to or when you go (although the fries can vary a lot).

[xexixk]

@blackiron60 It's interesting b/c it is true of many people. However, I've always been the reverse. I have the sameness of chains across the country from one coast to the other. I like to go to places to eat that each different from each other, not the identical same places with the same food, etc. Same thing with retail store. It's so boring really. I like variety and differences!

[xexixk]

@RitvarLegend I seldom eat hamburgers or other fast food. Actually if I was going to have a hamburger I'd prefer to make it myself - much better than those tasteless fast food things. I don't drink much Coca-Cola or any other sodas. I don't smoke. I don't use cocaine or other illicit drugs. Porn doesn't do anything for me. I do drive quite a bit because I have no other choice, if one wants to get around here you have to drive. You are right though that Bush was an idiot.

[RitvarLegend]

@hardyboyzrko yeah stupid but he fucked the towers!

[hardyboyzrko]

What a fucking idiot, Bush hasn't been President of their country for over a year. Keep your stupidity to yourself .

[RitvarLegend]

the americans pigs eat more 50 million burgers a day.

they are the top consumers of the fallowing products:

oil, colombian and mexican cocaine, coca-cola, cigars, pornography.

and they got the most stupid president called bush that fucked their own towers.

ATT

ROFLCOPTEr

[Bluewo1f]

It's really hard to say fastfood joints and the people that handle the food before it gets to your stomach is really a bit of a risk as to the hiring requirements of most low-cost chain resterants