McDonald's claims eating their food is safer than petting a pit bull

[enduser]

I see this the other way around. When McDonald's (purveyor of pink slime) is saying they're safer than you, the breed clearly has itself a bit of a perception problem no matter what the reality. Does it shock you that people think of pit bulls as a dangerous thing? If it does, you're not thinking with your "how people think outside of bully rescue" hat on.

[TraciDeb]

We know what people say and think about pitbulls - I get stares every day when I walk my dog. That's why when a huge corporation like McDonald's puts something so detrimental out there, it is very harmful and can ruin all the hard work people are doing to change the perception of pit bulls.

[Brandy]

I'm sure that Whitney, Traci and I, as pit bull owners, are all too familiar with how people outside of bully rescue feel and think about anything with the word "pit" in it. 

However, the irresponsible use of media to endorse and reinforce stereotypes does absolutely nothing to alter the situation.  Do dog attacks occur?  Awful, horrendous, heartbreaking dog attacks?  yes.  But only selecting to report the cases wherein a pit bull was involved is blatantly irresponsible. 

So was this mcdonald's irresponsible?  Yes.  If they had said "Petting a stray dog is risky", it would have been accurate AND educational, and wouldn't have been so offensive. 

[WhitNerd]

I see this the other way around. When McDonald's (purveyor of pink slime) is saying they're safer than you, the breed clearly has itself a bit of a perception problem no matter what the reality. Does it shock you that people think of pit bulls as a dangerous thing? If it does, you're not thinking with your "how people think outside of bully rescue" hat on.

Trust me, I'm fully aware of how many people view pit bulls, and I fight that prejudice everyday which is why the ad was a big deal. Obviously, I wasn't the only one that thought so or McDonalds wouldn't have received so many calls that they decided to make a public apology. Many owners didn't decide to be pit bull owners, they found a stray and realized what great dogs they are and how many homeless pit bulls there are because of the overwhelming amount of people breeding them. I can't tell you how many emails I get from people that will say something like "I found a pit bull, she is so sweet, not like other pit bulls." Most people's perception of pit bulls comes from what the media tells them about pit bulls, not from firsthand experience. Even my family members use to say "your pit bull is sweet because it's not like the other pit bulls." I would ask them about mean pit bulls they had met to make their basis of comparison and they couldn't recall meeting any.  An ad like this can do alot of damage to those of us working so hard just to be able to legally own the dogs we love.

[Opti1]

We know what people say and think about pitbulls - I get stares every day when I walk my dog. That's why when a huge corporation like McDonald's puts something so detrimental out there, it is very harmful and can ruin all the hard work people are doing to change the perception of pit bulls.

I know, I'm like the bully rescue of franchising, but McD's didn't put it out there. An asshat Z did and, I'm willing to bet a lot of money, McD's is going to smack him down.

The guy might also be Episcopalian. (And I know, I know -- he didn't use the Frozen Chosen logo, he used McD's. But he doesn't work for them, he works for himself, and he did an asshat thing. They can't fire him. McD's has 99 faults. This ain't one of 'em.)

[WhitNerd]

In their apology, it sure seems they were taking full blame for putting the ad out there.

[enduser]

We know what people say and think about pitbulls - I get stares every day when I walk my dog. That's why when a huge corporation like McDonald's puts something so detrimental out there, it is very harmful and can ruin all the hard work people are doing to change the perception of pit bulls.

I know, I'm like the bully rescue of franchising, but McD's didn't put it out there. An asshat Z did and, I'm willing to bet a lot of money, McD's is going to smack him down.

The guy might also be Episcopalian. (And I know, I know -- he didn't use the Frozen Chosen logo, he used McD's. But he doesn't work for them, he works for himself, and he did an asshat thing. They can't fire him. McD's has 99 faults. This ain't one of 'em.)

It's also a radio spot, and a local one at that. Probably got heard by 5 people on air, and then most people took their 'outrage' by hearing it once it was recorded and put on Gawker or wherever it surfaced.

I understand the dislike. I do. And I brought on all of the "I put my life into this cause" reactions, I can see that. I don't see this as in terms of media moments and influence, though, as something that would affect any large number of people to any large extent, so not really worth the full-on outrage given all of the other valuable things you guys spend your time on that involve saving actual dogs rather than worrying about deep-seated perception.

[WhitNerd]

We know what people say and think about pitbulls - I get stares every day when I walk my dog. That's why when a huge corporation like McDonald's puts something so detrimental out there, it is very harmful and can ruin all the hard work people are doing to change the perception of pit bulls.

I know, I'm like the bully rescue of franchising, but McD's didn't put it out there. An asshat Z did and, I'm willing to bet a lot of money, McD's is going to smack him down.

The guy might also be Episcopalian. (And I know, I know -- he didn't use the Frozen Chosen logo, he used McD's. But he doesn't work for them, he works for himself, and he did an asshat thing. They can't fire him. McD's has 99 faults. This ain't one of 'em.)

It's also a radio spot, and a local one at that. Probably got heard by 5 people on air, and then most people took their 'outrage' by hearing it once it was recorded and put on Gawker or wherever it surfaced.

I understand the dislike. I do. And I brought on all of the "I put my life into this cause" reactions, I can see that. I don't see this as in terms of media moments and influence, though, as something that would affect any large number of people to any large extent, so not really worth the full-on outrage given all of the other valuable things you guys spend your time on that involve saving actual dogs rather than worrying about deep-seated perception.

From my understanding, this did not just air in one city.

Another county in GA, just 2 days ago passed laws against pit bulls, so fighting "deep-seated perception" is a matter of fighting for my right to own my dog. I don't just rescue dogs, I fight Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) on a regular basis.  I have shown up to county and city meetings and I've spoken in front of various groups on the subject. There are many cities in the US where they can come into your home and take your dog and have it euthanized, solely because it looks like a pit bull. That scares the shit out of me because I love my dog and he's worth fighting for by preventing BSL.

[WhitNerd]

It looks like someone was upset the family didn't get a Dalmatian instead:

[MRice]

The kid on the left doesn't seem so sure. ;-)

[WhitNerd]

The kid on the left doesn't seem so sure. ;-)

I laughed so hard when I noticed her!     

[triumph]

I don't really have a dog in this ffff..... um..

Plenty of ignorance to go around in this one.

The motivation behind the cock-up of the ad campaign?


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57367638-10391704/british-teen-stacey-irvine-hospitalized-after-eating-nothing-but-chicken-nuggets-for-15-years/

[Leah]

The kid on the left doesn't seem so sure. ;-)

I laughed so hard when I noticed her! 

OMG ME TOO!

[Mollye Murder]

Saw this today:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46288307/ns/business-retail/

[enduser]

Saw this today:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46288307/ns/business-retail/

"the Kansas City-area radio ad for Chicken McBites"

Again, still wrong, but not a nationwide ad (not even a major metro) and radio-only.