Comments on: Comments on 11166

Post number 11166

hotdoughnutsnow — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:30:05 -0800

Burger King employees have been burned in a firewalking exercise to build team spirit. More than 100 staff walked barefoot over white hot coals during the "corporate bonding" trip to Florida ... One employee who suffered burns says she has no regrets and the pain was just a case of mind over matter. - Who in their right mind would walk on hot coals for Burger King?

By: Postroad

Postroad — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:31:30 -0800

Perhaps this is "Empathy therapy" which teaches the workers how the burgers feel when they get put on the coals.

By: plinth

plinth — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:37:58 -0800

"Flame Broiled." Well someone had to say it

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:40:20 -0800

Only fair and rational that employees experience what their products do.

By: Bag Man

Bag Man — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:47:21 -0800

What's next? Is Burger King going to put their employees in Microwaves like the burgers?

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:47:26 -0800

Yeah - bolt-guns to the head, and dismemberment while semi-conscious...oh, I see what you mean. Whoops.

By: bjgeiger

bjgeiger — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:49:31 -0800

Anyone who intentionally walks on hot coals does not have the sense of a goose.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 09:12:53 -0800

Sorry, synaptic misfires aplenty tonight : I wasn't just being arbitrarily icky above... despite the fact that I've pushed a many a big greasy BK hamburger down my throat, it was always with an awareness of this nastiness.

By: gimonca

gimonca — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 09:21:49 -0800

Why not just paint grill stripes on the soles of their feet, like they do with the burger patties?

By: MAYORBOB

MAYORBOB — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 09:32:30 -0800

New ad campaign -- come to Burger King, where our hamburgers aren't the only thing we charbroil!

By: Optamystic

Optamystic — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 10:15:58 -0800

The bonding experience in Key Largo was meant to show how staff can reach beyond their limits and achieve things they never thought possible. Like quitting their jobs as minimum-wage fry monkeys?

By: MAYORBOB

MAYORBOB — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 10:26:19 -0800

I also enjoyed the comment from the guy who coordinated the "experience" -- "some people just have such sensitive feet". Obviously, some people also have a very deft sense of how to put the proper spin on things.

By: skallas

skallas — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 10:48:51 -0800

Anyone who intentionally walks on hot coals does not have the sense of a goose. Most of the liability falls on the BK people. This is their event, they probably claimed it was safe, and the corporate peer pressure probably drove most if not all of these people to do something that they normally wouldn't do. I think we've officially reached the point where corporate 'team mentality' is no different than religious 'cult mentality.'

By: skallas

skallas — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 10:51:15 -0800

If this isn't a cult-like brainwashed statement I don't know what is: One employee who suffered burns says she has no regrets and the pain was just a case of mind over matter.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 11:15:42 -0800

bjgeiger: does not have the sense of a goose. That line made me laugh -- something about the word "goose" just tickles me. And the even try to comprehend what "sense" a goose has...well, it's just plain funny. Back on topic...mmmmmmmmm...burgers...hey, at least BK burgers actually taste like MEAT, unlike whatever the hell McD uses. Wendy's used to have the best overall burgers in the fast-food arena, but lately they have really seen a dropoff in quality. Wendy's burgers are more often than not (anymore) thin, burned, and flavorless. BK now has the best overall burgers in the FF world.

By: hotdoughnutsnow

hotdoughnutsnow — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 11:24:30 -0800

for those of you still eating burgers, spend a couple of minutes here. Mmmmm, double Whopper with cheese...

By: jcterminal

jcterminal — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 11:33:19 -0800

WALK ACROSS THESE COALS OR YOU'RE FIRED!

By: rushmc

rushmc — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 11:35:33 -0800

BK now has the best overall burgers in the FF world. Bah! Nonsense! Fatburger serves real food! And In N Out beats BK. BK is way better than the rest, though. Not that I eat any of them (except Fatburger).

By: po

po — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 13:16:45 -0800

i hate peta. but the 'murder king' reminded me of my absolute all-time favorite burger place of all (with real meat, really cooked!): Murder Burger. unfortunately, this name was objected to by the peta-freaks in the area, and it is now Redrum Burger.. but it just doesn't have that same ring to it. anyway. < /offtopic >

By: bjgeiger

bjgeiger — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 13:27:07 -0800

That line made me laugh -- something about the word "goose" just tickles me. And the even try to comprehend what "sense" a goose has...well, it's just plain funny. I am old, so I know a bunch of old sayings. But I bet a goose would not walk on hot coals.

By: Fat Elvis

Fat Elvis — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 13:29:42 -0800

Nobody can walk over "white hot" coals without burning their feet. The proper fire walk is simple heat transfer theory, and dictates coals that have burned down a LOT and have a layer of ash on them. IMHO, it sounds like someone screwed up in preparing the meat... er, I mean "feet."

By: skallas

skallas — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 13:50:11 -0800

Be the burger, be the burger, be the burger...

By: delpino

delpino — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 14:23:18 -0800

so Burger King is going to offer "Burger chicken feet" too :) thought thats only in chinatown the case..

By: ed

ed — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 15:01:17 -0800

I'll give Burger King one thing. At least they were relatively honest about their intentions here. To me, there's always been something oddly tribal about the whole notion of corporate bonding. Rather than an individual doing something as basic as, oh say, introducing himself to a fellow co-worker of his own volition and forming a bond that may very well extend past the term of employ (making for a happier work experience), for a company of substantial size, it always boils down to stepping in and providing a weekend warrior gathering in an attempt to prod humans about into the illusion of "excitement" like inanimate objects. Haven't the people who plan these sorts of things seen Westworld? It certainly didn't help Richard Benjamin and James Brolin. Whether it involves holding hands and singing "Kumbaya" or engaging in a outre team chant, corporate bonding in its own way involves a religious fervor. That it would be taken to the nth degree ("If you love your company, you will do anything for it.") fascinates me to no end. What next? Corporate executives hauled off to boot camp? Corporate executives stranded on a desert island? The line between corporate bonding and reality television seems to become thinner as the days past by. If only Yul Brynner were still around to step in on short notice with a cowboy hat and a six-shooter.

By: MonkeyMeat

MonkeyMeat — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 15:44:50 -0800

According to my Bronx-native parents, "murder burgers" are the name given to those little White Castle squares of beefy grease. So tasty. So lethal.

By: ilsa

ilsa — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 16:06:02 -0800

"Hold the pickles, Hold the lettuce," Now get on the giant bun!! Now seriously people, when can we all admit that Ananova is only a half step more credible than the National Enquirer when it comes to these stories of the weird? Can anybody find any mention of this story anywhere else online? Nope? Didn't think so.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 17:08:59 -0800

Yes, ilsa, it's in the freakin' story, already: An article in The Miami Herald. The only difference is only one of the 12 was actually "hospitalized," via an ER visit. The others were seen by a doctor the next morning with exactly the type of burns the article indicated. Otherwise, you have the same article. Open mouth, insert foot about 4/5ths to 7/8ths of the way.

By: jasonspaceman

jasonspaceman — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 17:27:07 -0800

reminds me of the cult like activities at lenscrafters, more information at ban lenscrafters

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 18:32:24 -0800

Actually, considering how often companies hire those "burning hot coals" organizations for confidence-building, I'm surprised blistered feet don't happen more often. Maybe it's an inspiring idea for some. If you can walk over hot coals you can do anything. Something like that. Think we'll see a 48 Hours or Dateline special report about this? Or is this really the old news I think it is, and it's just that a hamburger company's employees got hot feet this time which is a new twist and somehow makes this newsworthy?

By: ilsa

ilsa — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 20:54:45 -0800

My apologies raysmj. The last half-dozen times I have seen a weird/gross story on Ananova it has been completely unsubstantiatable. And I make my living by finding information online.

By: fleener

fleener — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 21:16:13 -0800

Walking on coals is safe as long as the coals are prepared properly. You can walk on broken glass too if the glass is prepared properly. These acts are only amazing to people who don't understand the scientific principles involved.

By: shinybeast

shinybeast — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 22:16:08 -0800

Wait... You wanted onions? I thought you said bunions!

By: lnicole

lnicole — Sat, 06 Oct 2001 23:43:03 -0800

those little White Castle squares of beefy grease mmmm... I'd walk over hot coals for a White Castle burger any day... Those are what fast food should be (hot, tasty, cheap).

By: lotsofno

lotsofno — Sun, 07 Oct 2001 08:49:00 -0800

maybe they're training their employees to become ninjas.