The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas • Hacker News Board

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#31

Post by DigitalSea » Wed, May 01, 2013, 2:35 AM UTC

alwaysinshade wrote: post #21

DigitalSea wrote: post #17

I get the theory behind recommending the worse idea so that people recommend something that isn't nearly as bad but what is so bad about McDonald's? Here in Australia there aren't many fast food establishments opened at 3am besides McDonald's and when you're driving to work or had a night out on the town which is worse: dodgy kebab, slightly warm 3 day old curry or McDonald's? I tend to use a similar tactic when we'r…

> what is so bad about McDonald's? Here in Australia [...] McDonald's Australia has excellent QA, process management and supply chain. I received some insight through someone...involved in all that good stuff (my background is QA/Environment so I get to meet some interesting people from various industries). Coworkers from the US all tend to say the same thing after going to an AU McDonald's - great burgers but ~3x th…

Very well put. I can't speak for US McDonald's but Australian McDonald's where I worked in my youth for a bit had very strict QA processes. The store I worked at was in a low income area, but it was kept spotless, food was kept for the minimum amount of time (maximum 10 minutes for fries I think), burgers made to order.

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#32

Post by programminggeek » Wed, May 01, 2013, 3:05 AM UTC

I throw out ridiculous ideas all the time, but the thing is, a lot of the time they are only slightly exaggerated. A lot of times a truly bad idea has some good idea hidden just beneath the surface.

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#33

Post by riffic » Wed, May 01, 2013, 3:53 AM UTC

bravura wrote: post #10

Related hack: When you can't make progress and choose between two comparable options, Dan Ariely (behavioral economist) recommends you flip a coin. As you flip it, the impact of a potential decision might prompt you to realize the outcome you truly want. However, there is a caveat: "The coin trick is indeed only useful for cases where the two options are of the same type (two cameras, two movies, etc). In your exampl…

This is the Arnold Rothstein method of decision making, as seen on Boardwalk Empire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v...

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#34

Post by [deleted] » Wed, May 01, 2013, 3:58 AM UTC

alxp wrote: post #23

flatline wrote: post #6

Of course, there is the risk that everyone thinks McDonalds is a swell idea, and then no one will ever do anything nicer for lunch ever again. Not to stretch the analogy too far, but I have had this happen both literally and figuratively.

There's a fable warning about the problem of throwing out a suggestion because you think one needs to be made, and then everyone going along with it because it's what they think the group wants, when no individual actually wants to do that thing. It's called the Abilene Paradox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

[deleted]

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#35

Post by yoster » Wed, May 01, 2013, 4:01 AM UTC

I happen to like McDonald's every once in a while.

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#36

Post by [deleted] » Wed, May 01, 2013, 4:02 AM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #34

alxp wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a fable warning about the problem of throwing out a suggestion because you think one needs to be made, and then everyone going along with it because it's what they think the group wants, when no individual actually wants to do that thing. It's called the Abilene Paradox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

[deleted]

[deleted]

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#37

Post by [deleted] » Wed, May 01, 2013, 4:03 AM UTC

alxp wrote: post #23

flatline wrote: post #6

Of course, there is the risk that everyone thinks McDonalds is a swell idea, and then no one will ever do anything nicer for lunch ever again. Not to stretch the analogy too far, but I have had this happen both literally and figuratively.

There's a fable warning about the problem of throwing out a suggestion because you think one needs to be made, and then everyone going along with it because it's what they think the group wants, when no individual actually wants to do that thing. It's called the Abilene Paradox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

[deleted]

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#38

Post by mynameishere » Wed, May 01, 2013, 4:04 AM UTC

yoster wrote: post #35

I happen to like McDonald's every once in a while.

There are a few items on the menu specifically aimed at adults who would be otherwise reluctant to bring their children.

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#39

Post by incompatible » Wed, May 01, 2013, 4:04 AM UTC

alxp wrote: post #23

flatline wrote: post #6

Of course, there is the risk that everyone thinks McDonalds is a swell idea, and then no one will ever do anything nicer for lunch ever again. Not to stretch the analogy too far, but I have had this happen both literally and figuratively.

There's a fable warning about the problem of throwing out a suggestion because you think one needs to be made, and then everyone going along with it because it's what they think the group wants, when no individual actually wants to do that thing. It's called the Abilene Paradox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

Wikipedia is actually a great example of how getting something started can eventually lead to something much better. Here's the first version of that article: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abilene_paradox&#3...

That's what Wikipedia was like after it was created: random people writing a few words about some subject they thought they knew something about. It didn't seem like it would amount to much, at the time.

Re: The McDonald's Theory of Bad Ideas

#40

Post by yoster » Wed, May 01, 2013, 4:05 AM UTC

DigitalSea wrote: post #31

alwaysinshade wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what is so bad about McDonald's? Here in Australia [...] McDonald's Australia has excellent QA, process management and supply chain. I received some insight through someone...involved in all that good stuff (my background is QA/Environment so I get to meet some interesting people from various industries). Coworkers from the US all tend to say the same thing after going to an AU McDonald's - great burgers but ~3x th…

Very well put. I can't speak for US McDonald's but Australian McDonald's where I worked in my youth for a bit had very strict QA processes. The store I worked at was in a low income area, but it was kept spotless, food was kept for the minimum amount of time (maximum 10 minutes for fries I think), burgers made to order.

Nothing wrong with McDonald's in the states. The guy is probably some hippie who thinks he's too good for fast food. You know, the type who flairs his nostrils if he can't order his favorite bottle of wine at a restaurant.