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3 Responses to “But you’re no stranger, you’re Ronald McDonald!”
What’s interesting to me (in addition to the nostalgia) is that since the time of Aristotle the basic pitch hasn’t changed: “You can trust me.” Since this ad was broadcast, hucksters have just gotten better at it, whether it was President Bush drawing Congress into the war in Iraq, the corporate shills denying global warming, Robert Jarvik peddling Lipitor, ad nauseum.
The blatant messages like this one are easy. The challenge is teaching kids to be wary of the subtle stuff, without turning them into cynics (like me).
Jeff, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a cynic when it comes to media. If more people (including kids) were cynics, maybe it would balance out all those who passivley let the messages flow over them without a thought.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:41 am
I think I’d rather trust my kid with the stranger.. could Ronald look any weirder?
April 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am
What’s interesting to me (in addition to the nostalgia) is that since the time of Aristotle the basic pitch hasn’t changed: “You can trust me.” Since this ad was broadcast, hucksters have just gotten better at it, whether it was President Bush drawing Congress into the war in Iraq, the corporate shills denying global warming, Robert Jarvik peddling Lipitor, ad nauseum.
The blatant messages like this one are easy. The challenge is teaching kids to be wary of the subtle stuff, without turning them into cynics (like me).
April 17th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Jeff, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a cynic when it comes to media. If more people (including kids) were cynics, maybe it would balance out all those who passivley let the messages flow over them without a thought.