McAsian

May 7, 2004 3:57 PM

"We're Asian and Pacific Islander Americans 'living on the rim,' where our diverse cultures and the everyday American lifestyle become one...Whether we're sipping green tea or enjoying a Big Mac® sandwich, we're helping make the magic mix called America become even richer. And McDonald's is right there with us, everyday!" Learn more at i-am-asian.com
posted by punishinglemur (22 comments total)

I'm pretty sure this has been posted before. Too lazy to search right now.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 4:00 PM on May 7, 2004

It may be due to the NY cheescake plus spare Mud pie leftovers from my cohort but I feel a bit sick...
posted by i_cola at 4:05 PM on May 7, 2004

...yes, that is a trademark symbol next to the phrase "i am asian"
posted by punishinglemur at 4:09 PM on May 7, 2004

So....Great that McDonald's is reaching out to different cultures and highlighting the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders right?

Or is it bad because McDonald's is doing it?
posted by loquax at 4:10 PM on May 7, 2004

Seems a lot nicer than Apple's effort.

We are committed to diversity. Apple is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Bah. Or am I not getting the irony/cynicism?
posted by loquax at 4:14 PM on May 7, 2004

loquax, did you even read the site? It took me a few minutes to figure out that this wasn't satire.
posted by punishinglemur at 4:15 PM on May 7, 2004

So should McDonald's market their product to an increasingly affluent portion of the world, or not?

I don't see the big deal here.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:17 PM on May 7, 2004

Interesting, there was something on NPR or Pacific Time the other day about folks in that part of the world. Some island that used to have incredible health and longevity had adopted the above-mentioned American Lifestyle, which meant lots of McD's, etc. And now of course was suffereing from endemic obesity, heart disease, and so forth.

It fills me with pride that this is what the American Lifestyle means to the world. Brimming with pride.
posted by freebird at 4:18 PM on May 7, 2004

loquax, did you even read the site?

Yeah, I did, and sure, it was a little hammy. So? What's the point? I'm sure there's hammier. Meanwhile, they were acknowledging other cultures, whether or not it was to market to them. They also highlighted asian-americans working there, and scholarships to asian-americans. Again, what's the problem? You don't like their communication department? They have a feedback button right there on the site.
posted by loquax at 4:22 PM on May 7, 2004

There's no "big deal." It's just pathetic. Who's going to visit this website? People googling for "I am Asian where should I buy fast food"?

I only intend to eat fast food at chains that have websites that explain why I, a caucasian male, should patronize them. I demand that Pizza Hut appeal to my pride as a white man.
posted by waldo at 4:23 PM on May 7, 2004

Who's going to visit this website?

MeFites, apparently. Although when anyone visits this site for any other reason other than to point out the presence of "found satire", I am going to buy stock in the collapse of civilization.

Or McDonalds. I'm just not sure which, yet.
posted by namespan at 4:29 PM on May 7, 2004

Somebody high up suggests an ethnic burger website, knowing it sounds "vibrant and dynamic". Somebody low down builds it, knowing it's their job to do what they're told. Who needs a target audience? This is how business works.

Christ, those vibrating links are nasty!
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:37 PM on May 7, 2004

Why does everything have to be political with you people?! Can't we just all get together to make fun of cheesy crap on the web?!
posted by mr_roboto at 4:53 PM on May 7, 2004

The background features the emoticon :-))))))))) , which I can only assume is meant to represent the King of Tonga.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:57 PM on May 7, 2004

If you bone up on your McDonald's trivia, you can really impress your girlfriend, boyfriend, parents, grandparents, relatives, teachers, landlord, tenant, neighbor, plumber, gardener, sister, brother or boss.

Are we sure this isn't satire???
posted by xammerboy at 5:08 PM on May 7, 2004

Antarctica is the only continent that does not have a McDonald's restaurant - yet.

Oh, fuck off.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:11 PM on May 7, 2004

Why does everything have to be political with you people?! Can't we just all get together to make fun of cheesy crap on the web?!
posted by mr_roboto at 4:53 PM PST on May 7


DUED THEY HAVE A FEEDBACK BUTON ON THIER SITE , DONT MAEK FUN OF THEM THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO MAEK A BURGER FOR TEH CHINAMEN
posted by luckyclone at 5:20 PM on May 7, 2004

I'm appalled by this through and through. I mean, I felt crudely pandered to enough with the whole campaign, but "sipping green tea or enjoying a Big Mac® sandwich" is definitely a New Low.

But I'll confess that the journalist in me is most shaken by the fact that they've apparently plagiarized much of their textual content from the Web without credit.

During the period before the New Year everyone is busy buying or making holiday clothes, as well as sumptuous dishes for the festive weeks ahead. Cuisine is important in all Chinese festivals, especially New Year's. People eat dried meat and fruits, special sausages, sweet and salty cakes, and lots of other wonderful food. Leafy mustard greens, called "longevity vegetables," are often served, along with fish and a glutinous rice including eight various meats and vegetables called "Eight Treasure Rice."

-- http://www.aaalds.com/luna/luna-luna.htm

Rizal Day commemorates the death of Jose Mercado Rizal, a Philippino physician and author whose books denounced the Spanish administration. Rizal was an inspiration to those participating in the Philippine nationalist movement.

--http://www.jhu.edu/~hrtoday/dec2001/p4.html

posted by grrarrgh00 at 5:41 PM on May 7, 2004

Still not as bad as the McDonald's float during San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade a few months ago. (sorry, I can't find any photos).
posted by Down10 at 9:35 PM on May 7, 2004

Well, isn't McD's the only place to take a leak in New York's Chinatown?
posted by trharlan at 10:34 PM on May 7, 2004

Cries out for an "i-am-white.com" parody site, complete with obese whities in mustard-stained t-shirts.

"We're White Americans 'living in the trailer park,' where our lack of culture and the everyday American lifestyle become one...Whether we're sipping Pabst Blue Ribbon or enjoying a Big Mac® sandwich, we're helping make the magic mix called America become even richer. And McDonald's is right there with us, everyday!"
posted by RylandDotNet at 12:30 AM on May 8, 2004

This is a truly egregious piece of shit, of course, but it has been posted before.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:53 AM on May 8, 2004