Why do people eat out at McDonalds?

[DinnerX]

There's something funny about quality. It's often claimed that people play or listen to bad art because they don't know better. But yet, everyone knows McDonalds is bad. Everyone. But it's incredibly popular.

This is something I have pondered for a while and decided to comment it here after watching Roger Ebert discuss the issue on some random video. His quality as a critic aside, he was surprised that when you he told people about one of the best movies ever made or about a power film or similar stuff, people were like "Eeeh, it's cool but I want something less".

And I think it's interesting to think why this happens. I have my own theories but I don't want to lead the coversation.

What do you think? Why do people who know something is better choose mediocre or even bad works over it?

I actually like McDonalds food. I know it's low grade and unhealthy, but I don't care. It still tastes good to me.

I was thinking about this idea just last night on a different topic. I was wondering why kids watch the Disney channel. Not everything on there is bad, but a large portion are pretty low quality. You can see the jokes coming a mile away and they aren't very original. The acting is usually bad. The "serious" moments in the shows are extremely forced and cheesy.

If the kids seemed to be enjoying it, I would simply write it of as them having a different taste in comedy. But they don't seem to enjoy it. It seems the target audience hardly cracks a smile. I don't understand why a person would watch a show like that, when there are other shows they actually laugh at.

I think it might be the familiarity of the brand or perhaps watching the channel is just a habit. Those could be the same reasons some people eat at McDonalds. It's sort of a familiar American tradition like Mickey Mouse or Coca Cola.

[brunoafh]

I actually like McDonalds food. I know it's low grade and unhealthy, but I don't care. It still tastes good to me.

Would you eat feces if it tasted good? Just curious. Not that there isn't feces and other delightful things in fast "food" meat.

I have a hard time understanding the "it tastes good so I'll eat it" mentality.

[jfrost]

If feces weren't actually poisonous, I'd eat it if it tasted good (as opposed to food generally considered unhealthy, which isn't poisonous but if eaten in large quantities might cause health problems).

I mean, the problem is that they cause health problems, isn't it? If it didn't, what would be the problem?

[AppleQueso]

it's all about moderation yo

[jfrost]

Just to clarify, I eat healthy and control my diet a bit strictly. After all, I've lost 44 pounds since February and I don't intend to find them again.

Yet, even with a good diet and everyday workouts, I do understand the urge to eat junk food. I allow myself to eat it from time to time, because salad is good, but isn't all there is to living.

[AppleQueso]

My high metabolism sorta keeps weight worries a very distant thought.

[DinnerX]

it's all about moderation yo

Pretty much.

And I agree with jfrost on the feces thing.

[Stark]

it's all about moderation yo

Pretty much.

And I agree with jfrost on the feces thing.

Well here you two go: http://inhabitat.com/poop-burger-japane ... man-feces/

For me, I think part of liking McDonalds food is the nostalgia of it. My parents would take me to Mickey D's for burgers now and then and it was always a special treat. McDonald's tastes like my childhood.

[J T]

I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years now. I always thought McDonalds was cheap crap, but I'd eat there if I was in a hurry or got a craving for a Big Mac.

Strangely, 10 years in with no meat, it's not my old favorite foods that I really get cravings for. Its stuff like motherfuckin McDonalds. It kind of disturbs me because it makes it apparent how good their marketing is. I often see a golden arches and immediately crave a Big Mac or some McNuggets. I never even ate there much in the past.

I don't know if that helps answer the original question, but there is something about stuff that is fast, easy, simple, and widely marketed that makes it really easy to think about and get cravings for, even if you don't think it falls in the realm of greatness.

[Betamax001]

I eat there because it's cheap and the food isn't that bad. Mostly because it's cheap and it's there. I would eat there a lot when I was at work because if I was running late I could run through the drive thru really fast and pick up some food on the cheap and eat it more or less while driving. (I know you aren't supposed to do it but...) Also there was a few times I had to work pretty late and the good places out here in the suburbs are closed/closing while Mickey D's is still open. Though that meal sucked because it was the bottom of the barrel stuff when they exhausted most of their day's stuff so it was the last bit before they opened up new boxes.