Oh my god, it’s such a Monday.
Dreary grey weather? Check.
Disastrous tube journey? Check.
Spilled all over a crisp white shirt? Check.
Angry e-mails from all sides that I was totally unprepared for? Check.
Existential crisis re: where my life is going? Check…but that’s every day lately.
For some reason, I got it into my head that a McDonald’s lunch would make me feel better. I did enjoy the chicken nuggets quite a lot- and they’re all white meat, which makes them perfectly nutritious.
I don’t indulge in McD’s all that often, but lately, I’m overcome by a tidal wave of guilt whenever I do so. Actually, I can trace it back to when I moved back to the UK. It might not be all that healthy. Whatever, everything in moderation.
But more than that small fact, it’s the assumption that I’m somehow promoting American soft imperialism that seems to trigger the judgemental looks. Yes, I’m paranoid, but there’s no doubt that people are more snobbish about Big Macs and the like on this side of the pond. It’s irritating, and frankly, these people are fighting a losing battle when they whine about the golden arches blighting their neighbourhood charm. For every food snob you find, I’d guess there are at least 5 people waiting to get their McDonald’s fix at any given time. And it’s not because these people have particularly bad taste; it’s just so damn convenient…and satisfying.
This is not unlike the mainstream media. I realise I still haven’t posted my thoughts on integrity in journalism. It’s because I have too much to say.
Why did I just write “not unlike”? That’s pretty Brit.
Anyway. Yeah, same goes for Starbucks- only it’s not particularly cheap. Coffee snobs shudder and run around with petitions when they get wind of a Starbucks moving in (as some of the boho residents of Baltimore did when the plans for Charles Commons were released - you can imagine how much worse it is here). Does anyone think that will change the course of the extremely successful franchise that is Starbucks? Hate it all you want, but it’s going to continue to attract customers with its solidly established brand. Imperialism, hard or soft, happens for a reason. In the case of these companies, someone provides a product/service in a novel and convenient way, and no one can compete straight away. If you don’t like it, treat it as incentive to come up with a better idea. No one likes a hegemonic power.
I was suddenly reminded of that movie “You’ve Got Mail” when Tom Hanks puts Meg Ryan’s antique bookshop out of business with his huge conglomerate. Yeah, that kinda sucks. In an ideal world, these two would co-exist through marketing to a specific type of consumer. I know that’s not always the case. I just want to eat my McNuggets in peace.
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