So it's come to this, has it?

[Drtooth]

Companies to Rewrite Rules on Kid's Ads

Ten Major food and drink makers, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Campbell Soup, announced yesterday that their child-oriented advertising will do more to promote health foods and exercise. The companies agreed to reduce the use of outside characters-think Little Mermaid and Shrek- to pitch unhealthy foods. They also said they would not advertise in elementary schools.

Well, I guess they finally bowed down to the annoying skinny health food advocates that have been pushing for this for so long. I guess this means we'll clearly see an end to all those great commercials with cartoon characters that have their own brand of cereals. Not to mention, this could (but I'm hoping not) kill collectable figurines in Kid's meals based on cartoon characters.

While I do think these companies should make some sort of step towards getting kids healthy, this pretty much will not work. Or resort to silly extremely bad junk food ads where they hock a fatty product (like Lunchables) and add 3 seconds of telling kids to play some stupid sport.

I do agree we need to do something about the children's health... but did you SEEany of these health food advocates? They're all well to do thin people with bratty kids they can't control. They feel that the old advertisments "Brainwash kids into wanting" said foods. Are you kidding me? Isn't the entire point of advertising to make an unappealing product into something that everyone doesn't need, but feels empty unless they go out and grab it right now? These advocates always complain about how their kids throw a temper tantrum because mommy wants to buy some $5 organic cereal that tastes like mulch, and not the shiney box with Spongebob on it. I mean, while you're at it, try getting rid of toy commercials, because it promotes avarise and greed. Your kid will throw the same temper tantrum if you don't get him a deluxe green ranger figure.

I know their hearts seem like they're in the right place, but if you can't raise your own kids, what gives you the right to raise everyone else's?

[Katie]

you can't force morals or lifestyles on people. it's something you have to come to on your own.

I agree to an extent that advertising needs to be checked....but people should be smart enough to make up their own minds about what they eat and such.....and what they feed their children.

[Drtooth]

I agree to an extent that advertising needs to be checked....but people should be smart enough to make up their own minds about what they eat and such.....and what they feed their children.

Exactly! They lose all their credibility by talking about their kids throwing temper tantrums.

I mean, kids grew up watching Yogi Bear, Bugs Bunny, and the entire Jay Ward Canon at the time bilk various sugary cereals (though, to be fair, a lot of Bullwinkle ads were for Cheerio's, the healthiest cereal kids love). ANd this has only been a problem now.

What it all boils down to is choice. If someone doesn't care, and is happy with themselves and they are fat, let them be. I mean, if someone has psycholgical problems and uses junk food as a crutch, then they need emotional help.

PArents have the right to say "NO." Hell, my mom and dad sure said no alot. Of course, we were pretty poor, but that's besides the point.

[Jo Dawn]

PArents have the right to say "NO." Hell, my mom and dad sure said no alot. Of course, we were pretty poor, but that's besides the point.

Alot of parents just don't SAY no, though. That's a whole other rant I won't get into... They say YES! Whatever the kid wants! Wanna see an R rated movie? You're only 9? You're friends are doing it and you'll seem more cool? YES!

You want $80 highlights? You're 10? Sure!

Examples (thought true, and I have tons more)... but parents just don't say no enough anymore. Plus, well... yeah.

[Drtooth]

Alot of parents just don't SAY no, though. That's a whole other rant I won't get into... They say YES! Whatever the kid wants! Wanna see an R rated movie? You're only 9? You're friends are doing it and you'll seem more cool? YES!

That's what I mean. They don't say no because they're afraid of reprisal on behalf of the kids. They let their kids go crazy, and blame it on ANYONE but themselves. Some idiot kid is left alone, burns down his house? Who's fault? The parents? NO! Beavis and Butthead. They let their kids watch inapproprate TV shows, and all the sudden, they blame cartoons for them being violent, amking said cartoons horribly bland. They let their kids get GTA, and they get pissed when they find out there's a secret naked code or something.

Basically, this is the same logic that ruins cartoons and video games. Now they got rid of junk food. Almost seems like a personal attack on me.

[Stimor]

it is not like junk food is going anywhere, nor should it ever be a personal attack ._.

[Ra]

...

*eats some McDonalds chips* That is just horrible *sips Pepsi* It has come to this? *eats a Burger King burger* What's there to worry about, any way? *stuffs her face with chicken nuggets*

[Drtooth]

it is not like junk food is going anywhere, nor should it ever be a personal attack ._.

Everyone's on a half assed health crusade these days. Sesame Street supposedly has 90% health education now (at least that's what I hear), and I think it's doing diddly squatt for people getting healthy. In fact, if you nag people, the less likely they'll listen to you.

Plus, everyone thinks of this as a black and white issue. There are no grey areas. The truth is, we need to make it possible for poor people to get healthier foods more often. And we need companies to stop making their employees work through lunch hours, or even giving them lunch hours that last an actual hour. There's much much more than just getting rid of Twinkie or Cocoa puffs ads.

But what it all winds up with is this. In a given society, there will always be fat people. Why? Because some people are just born addicts. You can't eliminate junk food more than you can eliminate Smoking or drinking. Even if you totally illegalize it, desperate people will still go to lengths to get it. Look at prohibition. Speakeasies, bathtub Gin... some people will always be addicts. The one problem with Junk food over every other vice, is it shows the most obvious, and shows up the quickest. Drugs, alchohol, tobacco... they all leave some scar on you that's visable, but fat comes fast and it's very conspicuous.

[Spike Spiegel]

If lower-income people can have access to healther foods that aren't processed fillers, there will be a MAJOR decline in childhood obesitty for their kids. Just because you don't have as much money doesn't mean that you don't have just as much right to healthier alternatives as the people who do.

[ThirdMarioBro]

you can't force morals or lifestyles on people. it's something you have to come to on your own.

Christ, that's the very basis of humanity. Humans in power desire to force their morals and lifestyles on other people. It's the rule of the planet. If they can, they will, because they know "their way is the right way/path/ordained/purpose/whatever".

Well, so much for the world. If Ronald McDonald has to start preaching healthy eating habits, I'm booking the next plane ride off this rock.

[Buslady]

Not to brag but...

my 11 year old son watches Nickelodeon quite often, loaded with adverts and all that crap...

he would rather have a basket of grape tomatoes than a Hershey bar. He likes his snacks, but he LOVES fresh veggies and fruit...never had to enforce it. He will drink OJ and Milk like it was going extinct...he won't eat McDonald's crapola burgers either. He WILL devour a fresh nummy In N Out burger though! He's not big on fries. On the non food front, he doesnt like violent games or movies with blood, guts or violence..I can fully trust my son to choose a game that I would approve of (he is a mario freak, lets just say that!), or he is mature enough that he could pick out a healthy meal for himself. Maybe I got a weird kid but that's how he is. He's very lean and healthy, doesnt get sick too often...

it's not tv, it's parents who allow their kids to beg for the junk until they give in. our world is overloaded with advertisment, it's our (parents) to do the job of educating and enforcing what they can have, can't have and let them know why and how this such food item is not good for them.

[Jo Dawn]

it's not tv, it's parents who allow their kids to beg for the junk until they give in. our world is overloaded with advertisment, it's our (parents) to do the job of educating and enforcing what they can have, can't have and let them know why and how this such food item is not good for them.

Here here.

And good for your son, Buslady. He sounds like a great kid. :)

[Drtooth]

If lower-income people can have access to healther foods that aren't processed fillers, there will be a MAJOR decline in childhood obesitty for their kids. Just because you don't have as much money doesn't mean that you don't have just as much right to healthier alternatives as the people who do.

For me, that brings up a major conspiracy theory on the part of multinational corporations, and they include the "organic" farms as well. But I don't want to go into that. Basically, I applauded the Fast Food companies for having salads on their menus, well... McD's and Wendy's (who pioneered it, IMO), Burger King? Not so much. It also has to do with people not being able to cook.

Well, so much for the world. If Ronald McDonald has to start preaching healthy eating habits, I'm booking the next plane ride off this rock.

Well....you might wanna start packing. If you look at the new ads, they promote activity, and now you can chose apples over fries. Not to mention a recent Nintendo Happy Meal had toys that were used for playing outside (a Tag meter and a Ball). Kinda mad they had to do that, but I got some anyway.

my 11 year old son watches Nickelodeon quite often, loaded with adverts and all that crap...

he would rather have a basket of grape tomatoes than a Hershey bar. He likes his snacks, but he LOVES fresh veggies and fruit...never had to enforce it. He will drink OJ and Milk like it was going extinct...he won't eat McDonald's crapola burgers either. He WILL devour a fresh nummy In N Out burger though! He's not big on fries. On the non food front, he doesnt like violent games or movies with blood, guts or violence..I can fully trust my son to choose a game that I would approve of (he is a mario freak, lets just say that!), or he is mature enough that he could pick out a healthy meal for himself. Maybe I got a weird kid but that's how he is. He's very lean and healthy, doesnt get sick too often...

it's not tv, it's parents who allow their kids to beg for the junk until they give in. our world is overloaded with advertisment, it's our (parents) to do the job of educating and enforcing what they can have, can't have and let them know why and how this such food item is not good for them.

You are a trooper, man! You really know how to raise your kid. As I've said before, why not stop at junk food? Why not tryn to ban EVERY commerical, since it brainwashes people into wanting stuff they don't need? You know, the backl bone of a capitalist society. I don't see how using Batman to promote a cereal is any different than using Batman to promote a Batman action figure.

I mean, it's the same logic that has parents let their kids watch ANYTHING they want without question, but at the same time, they'll go and complain to the network that they allow it.