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In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

theguardian.com

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Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#51

Post by UVB-76 »

RodericDay wrote: post #2

Reminds me of this 2014 article about a "standoff" between McDonald's Employees and elderly Chinese people using it as a community space http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/McDonalds-Elderly-Senio... Also, chess players being evicted from a Vancouver mall after 50 years of congregation http://www.timescolonist.com/chess-players-offered-new-play-... I have an ideological axe to grind here, but I can't help but think…

By community space, I assume you mean public buildings like libraries, town halls, community centres, youth clubs, etc.

In what way are they better than private spaces? The main difference is that people can use public spaces for free, but only because the cost is borne by those who don't use them.

Meanwhile, using such facilities carries a social stigma, because they are, by and large, only used by people who cannot afford to congregate in private spaces (bars, restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, clubs, classes, etc.)

This article demonstrates how it's possible for companies to provide de facto public spaces, at minimal cost (the cost of a coffee, or similar), in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#52

Post by jonknee »

tetromino_ wrote: post #49
smokey_the_bear wrote: post #6

McDonalds is the only restaurant I enjoy eating at with my 2 and 3 year olds. Every other restaurant is a slog to get through the meal. Honestly I'd eat there more often if it weren't for the social stigma of it. (I live in Berkeley). I am pretty sure the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk are not much worse, and probably better, than the typical fare on a slapped together kids meal. When I was a kid, my…

Your kids are your kids and it's your choice how to raise them given your financial and time constraints, but teaching a 3-year-old to associate comfort and happiness with unhealthy food doesn't strike me as the wisest decision. When they are old enough and responsible enough for their bodies, they might decide on their own that they enjoy nicotine, corn syrup, salt, starch, and fry oil - but why bias them towards su…

> the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk

You could do much worse.

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#53

Post by bovermyer »

ticviking wrote: post #26

I often work out of my neighborhood McDonald's when working from home. It's about the only non-faith based multi-generational space in town. The mix of kids, a few other freelancers, and retired folks is unique.

Coffee shops fill this role for my area. There is a Starbucks near my apartment that is a thriving multi-nationality community hub. This surprised me, since prior to experiencing this, most of the coffee shops I've been to have had a more... niche... clientele.

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#54

Post by angersock »

grecy wrote: post #30

> I am pretty sure the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk are not much worse, and probably better, than the typical fare on a slapped together kids meal. Wow. It saddens me to see that statement. I thought it was commonly knowledge that McDonalds isn't actually "food" in the nutrition and health sense of the word any more than cotton candy and pure salt are.

There are certainly items on the menu of questionable value. That said, something like apple slices are pretty universal, no?

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#55

Post by RankingMember »

I remember driving through a Native American reservation in the Southwest and stopping at a McDonald's after seeing not much of anything for miles and miles. I walked in and it was like everyone in the reservation was there hanging out it was so alive with conversation and activity. I'm not a McDonald's fan, but I'm glad they exist to serve purposes like that, because I'm not sure where else the people in that one would've gathered.

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#56

Post by shrugger »

gh-lfneu28 wrote: post #50
CiPHPerCoder wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect they're being downvoted for comparing LGBT folks to "weirdos or spiky-haired freaks" moreso than having a contrary choice in fast food restaurant.

They didn't draw any comparisons though.

It doesn't matter to them. You either say exactly what they want to hear or you're wrong. Don't waste your time.

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#57

Post by spectralwarp »

_RPM wrote: post #34
smokey_the_bear wrote: post #6

McDonalds is the only restaurant I enjoy eating at with my 2 and 3 year olds. Every other restaurant is a slog to get through the meal. Honestly I'd eat there more often if it weren't for the social stigma of it. (I live in Berkeley). I am pretty sure the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk are not much worse, and probably better, than the typical fare on a slapped together kids meal. When I was a kid, my…

It sounds like you had a great childhood. My parents weren't really active with my academics, so that carried over with until it was time for college. Luckily I'll be a first generation college graduate in December.

Congratulations, that is a great achievement!

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#58

Post by bovermyer »

grecy wrote: post #30

> I am pretty sure the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk are not much worse, and probably better, than the typical fare on a slapped together kids meal. Wow. It saddens me to see that statement. I thought it was commonly knowledge that McDonalds isn't actually "food" in the nutrition and health sense of the word any more than cotton candy and pure salt are.

The grilled chicken sandwiches at McDonald's are actually pretty healthy.

I don't think anyone would claim that McDonald's is a healthy option, but saying that it's "common knowledge" that it's not "food" comes off simultaneously arrogant and ignorant.

For many families, McDonald's is one of only a handful of local food sources within their budget. Consider that, also.

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#59

Post by notliketherest »

smokey_the_bear wrote: post #6

McDonalds is the only restaurant I enjoy eating at with my 2 and 3 year olds. Every other restaurant is a slog to get through the meal. Honestly I'd eat there more often if it weren't for the social stigma of it. (I live in Berkeley). I am pretty sure the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk are not much worse, and probably better, than the typical fare on a slapped together kids meal. When I was a kid, my…

Social stigma? Why do you care what other people think?

Re: In poor neighborhoods, McDonald’s have become de-facto community centers

#60

Post by alex_sf »

grecy wrote: post #30

> I am pretty sure the cheeseburger, apple slices, and chocolate milk are not much worse, and probably better, than the typical fare on a slapped together kids meal. Wow. It saddens me to see that statement. I thought it was commonly knowledge that McDonalds isn't actually "food" in the nutrition and health sense of the word any more than cotton candy and pure salt are.

That's awfully ignorant. Hating on McDonalds and the like is the trendy thing to do now, but to say that there is no nutritional or health value in their food is ridiculous.

I just looked up the nutrition facts for a kid's happy meal with a cheeseburger, apples slices and chocolate milk. In total, you've got:

  450 calories
  12g total fat
  6g saturated fat (not that it matters)
  61g Carbs
  32g Sugars (22 of which come from the chocolate milk)
  24g Protein
Thats about 60% carbs, 24% protein, and 12% fat. Lacking a special diet, that's about ideal (textbook anyway) macros.

Wanna talk 'health' and specific micros?

You've got 820mg of sodium. High, sure, but so is all American food. 20% of your daily Vit A, 160% of your daily Vit C, 50% of your daily Calcium, 25% of your daily Iron.

You're getting a reasonable amount of calories, with a reasonable macronutrient ratio, and a fair spattering of micronutrients for, what, $5?

Plus a toy, and a playground. Two things that plenty of people don't have trivially available to them.

But it's not organic, or free trade, or antibiotic free, or gluten free, or made exclusively by third-world war orphans, so it must be crap. I get it.

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