Re:Why Your McD's Burger Doesn't Look Like the One in the Ad
by mbesto on Thursday June 21, 2012 @02:58AM
(#4140861)
I think what you're trying to illustrate is the systematic risk many of these companies fail to recognize. Or they recognize them and its in the best interest not to do anything about it.
This is the same thing as pointing to the banks for selling CDOs. Risky for the banks? No. Risky for the whole system to collapse? Yes. Since systematic risks are largely not direct risks they never get counted as risks to begin with, and therefore do not impact decision making.
Re:Why Your McD's Burger Doesn't Look Like the One in the Ad
by Hytosys on Thursday June 21, 2012 @02:00AM
(#4140734)
The real issue is that individuals lack self control and maintain ignorance, which leads to poor health related decisions. I see where you are coming from, but I insist that people should rely only on themselves in these cases. Placing the blame on businesses or government is particularly irresponsible. Note that I am not insinuating you make these poor health decisions, because clearly you are aware.
Re:Why Your McD's Burger Doesn't Look Like the One in the Ad
by ktizo on Thursday June 21, 2012 @08:17AM
(#4141584)
Businesses have thrown billions at turning the psychological research on persuasion into money and in the process have turned propaganda from an art into a science. They have a significant edge over the individual on this and have done it quite deliberately and in full knowledge of the aims, process and outcomes of these actions. I think they can afford to take some of the blame for the consequences.
Re:Why Your McD's Burger Doesn't Look Like the One in the Ad
by gensym on Saturday June 23, 2012 @01:14AM
(#4150117)
Indeed. It seems reasonable to hold partially accountable for customers' choices any business that employs psychologists for the purpose of creating new or cementing existing customers.
Frito Lay is possibly even more morally fraught than McDonalds, since a large part of their business involves marketing themselves into kids lunches.
I'm not sure where Campbells comes into this. It's not great soup, but it's soup.
Obviously, there are people who think there's nothing wrong with a particularly successful marketing campaign for an unhealthful product. There are plenty of people who think there's nothing immoral about selling cigarettes.
I don't think less of those people, but I strongly disagree with them.