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Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

nytimes.com

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Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#111

Post by bsenftner »

Natsu wrote: post #98
bsenftner wrote: post #45

I suspect a carefully coordinated PR campaign for Chick-fil-A, as I've noticed uncharacteristically, frequent positive references to them in unrelated news items lately. I consume a lot of news, and noticing "fake" planted positive references in tangentially related articles is par for the course for any company that stepped in deep shit like they did. I suspect at least one of these positive comments here to be a pl…

The article mentions a dozen different restaurants. Why do you believe this was Chick-fil-a rather than one of the others?

Well, they are mentioned in the first sentence, and repeatedly returned to throughout. Any of the other restaurants are done in group references, without being singled out. My suspicion was up as the entire first person framing of the article began, pulling the reader into this fantasy reality where fast food meals are paid for by strangers. Perhaps its the lack of any point to the article. Sure, I can accept human interest articles, but that one smells to fishy.

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#112

Post by naterator »

e40 wrote: post #73

In the reddit thread for this same article, I found this the best comment: http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_ev... A much better "pay it forward" story.

I have reddit blocked on my computers because for a very long period I wasted so much time there, but I bet I already know what story you're linking to. "Today you, tomorrow me". It spawned a subreddit by the same name.

I avoid reddit because it's a time black hole (100x worse than HN for me), but I really wish I could still benefit from the few things like this that get posted 1 out of 1,000,000+ comments.

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#113

Post by jbrooksuk »

johnyello wrote: post #43
jbrooksuk wrote: post #25

Similar story here in the UK. I was paying for my McDonalds at the drive-thru when for whatever reason I looked in my mirror and saw a young girl sat crying in her car looking deeply depressed. I asked if I could pay whatever her meal, did so, picked mine up and looking in the mirror I could see a genuine smile appear. I hope that if I cheered her up for even 2 seconds, she can see whatever happened to make her cry i…

Perhaps she was crying because she was about to have to eat a McDonald's? Seriously, why the fuck would someone education enough to be on HN be eating that fast food crap? If you really want a burger in the UK, go to Byrons.

I live in the North - about 30 minutes from Manchester. I've never see a Byrons around here. Is there one in the Trafford Centre or the Arndale?

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#114

Post by triplesec »

npc wrote: post #103
protomyth wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really, that's what this article says to you? Sometime folks look at others who are not doing so well and decide to pick up the tab, or just feel like doing it for a complete stranger. Some of its religion, some of it is just spreading the wealth. Sometime its just looking at others in bad situations. Sometimes its just to make themselves feel better. I've done it a couple of times. I payed for a young lady at a McDo…

It's not that he doesn't believe this happens, but rather that the presence of a story about it in NYT where chick-fil-a is mentioned directly in the first paragraph is not an accidental matter. Chick-fil-a being the main restaurant talked about in a feel good article like this is great PR for them, discounting the possibility of it having been arranged deliberately just because the op was overly cynical is a bit pet…

It's not indeed (protomyth below) a matter of journalist or NYT deliberately giving column advertising to this company, but more the PR-fu of getting them to mention them anyway by feeding them the story in the right way, knowing that the journos will want to feel independent and objective. Clever PR people, upright journalists...

(I couldn't see a reply button on your comment just now, and now I see there is one. weird)

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#115

Post by triplesec »

npc wrote: post #108
protomyth wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the leanings of the NYT, I cannot imagine a feel good article about Chick-Fil-A will ever appear in their pages because of money. They have refused advertising several times because it doesn't jive with their editorial policy. [edit] also see Natsu's comment for an additional thought against it being an ad for Chick-Fil-A.

You can't believe it would happen for money, but you'd believe it'd happen for free? Anyway, PR is far more complex and subtle than "I give money, you write article". Someone posted a pg essay below that might be instructive. As to why I think this might (I make no claims to certainty) be a PR-influenced article: 1. Chick-fil-a is mentioned in the first paragraph, no other restaraunt is mentioned until the fourth. 2.…

indeed. journalists: even good ones, are under pressure for time and stories, and will often take excellent copy from a crafty PR verbatim. Such is capitalism.

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#116

Post by triplesec »

corresation wrote: post #66
hxa7241 wrote: post #30

This is quite pointless because it essentially cancels out. To get a cooperative structure you have to give away surplus -- that is, people with more have to give it to people with less. Yes, redistribution ! That seems a dirty idea in a substantial part of USA politics. So 'pay it forward' chains are a peculiar thing: they summon the feeling of cooperation, in an acceptable way, without actually being effectively co…

This is quite pointless because it essentially cancels out This is ultimately what makes this so bizarre -- in the end such a chain has a single "benefactor", and then a number of what could best be described as victims: People who become a part of this process because of social obligation. Given that the people were already in line and obviously ready to pay for their order, this is unwelcome generosity, and it take…

it's a good point that if I'm in line and have a cheap order and feel under pressure to pay it forward I might end up paying a few times my order. It pays to be mindful if you're hard up, and be able to say no!

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#117

Post by Natsu »

bsenftner wrote: post #111
Natsu wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article mentions a dozen different restaurants. Why do you believe this was Chick-fil-a rather than one of the others?

Well, they are mentioned in the first sentence, and repeatedly returned to throughout. Any of the other restaurants are done in group references, without being singled out. My suspicion was up as the entire first person framing of the article began, pulling the reader into this fantasy reality where fast food meals are paid for by strangers. Perhaps its the lack of any point to the article. Sure, I can accept human i…

> this fantasy reality where fast food meals are paid for by strangers

This is not a fantastical practice. While it is not particularly common, I've heard of it quite a few times (most of which had nothing to do with Chick-fil-A) and have done similar things myself.

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#118

Post by triplesec »

_red wrote: post #46
vidarh wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The chains are peculiar yes, but not that peculiar: It's strongly ingrained in us to return favours, to the point that giving someone something is a brutally effective way of exploiting them by later asking for a bigger favour back (e.g. consider Hare Krishna, that tended to use flowers for this purpose). The effect is so strong that we often try to prevent receiving favours because we don't want to become indebted.…

Quite right. In fact the opposite works - and its known as the Ben Franklin Effect ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin_effect ). The idea is that if I ask a favor of you (to loan me a book, in Ben's case) - you are more likely to become friendly to me in the future. Its a curious extension of what you mentioned above, by asking you for a favor - which you then grant - you gain a sort of psychological 'credit'…

ooh, that's evil and manipulative in the wrong hand. And explains a lot. Humans. All System 1...

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#119

Post by triplesec »

e40 wrote: post #73

In the reddit thread for this same article, I found this the best comment: http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_ev... A much better "pay it forward" story.

Thanks for posting that very relevant reddit. Oddly enough - and this is not a point that we should all get religious - to anyone brought up in church traditions (and rejected them or not) it likely reminds them of the parable of the good Samaritan. The idea that the guy you look down upon is actually the guy that may well be the one that helps you in your hour of need. The learning obviously being that you shoudl stop being such a snotty git and love your neigbour.

You don't need to be religious to love this story, but it's worth noting that this is ancient and useful wisdom from sages of older times. (and, why I tend to reject organised religions nowadays, the kind of good thing co-opted, hegemonised and bastardised into all sorts of controlling and political things by subsequent institutions)

Re: Ma’am, Your Burger Has Been Paid For

#120

Post by johnpowell »

shrikant wrote: post #19
alecsmart1 wrote: post #14

Am curious how this works. What amount do you pay forward or do you swipe your credit card for an amount?

When you're picking up your order at a drive-through, typically the person behind you had already placed their order. You then just ask for your bill to include theirs as well. Or if you're part of a chain then just state that you'd like to pay their bill instead.

What if you just ordered some fries and a shake and a minivan with five kids is behind you?
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