As Americans, we are known as people with high demands and expectations in the fast food world. When sitting in a drive thru, we expect quality service in no time at all. Our thoughts seem to be "If I go through the drive thru, it will be quicker than going inside and waiting in line." Even though that isn't always the case, we expect too much because we are used to having the upper hand, caused by the thought that "We are the customer, and the customer is always right." Not very often can you go to a place that doesn't offer "take-out" anymore. More people are taking advantage of the thought of quick and convenient service. McDonaldization is causing the world to think of things in a new way, such as the convenience factor over quality factor. Instead of families making a nice and nutritious meal for dinner, they’re making quick things in the microwave and oven. Not only are the principles of McDonaldization taking over the world, but the idea of convenience is changing everyone’s outlook of certain things in the world. Bean007
I'm not sure it's anything other than the natural progression of capitalism (as Marx would say). We get short-term "convenience" at the cost of long-term suffering. For example, plastic bottles don't break down for 10,000 years, which we can really only justify by saying "We won't be alive then." Which would be convenient, yes, except that was George Bush's response to how history would judge his actions (at the least, 100,000 dead Iraqis and an enormous increase of birth defects due to decaying nuclear tank shells). How quickly we wanted to move on from Bush, and how he really represented us better than we thought. Heck, even the "Mission Accomplished" banner controversy thing was simply a matter of too much too soon. We ended up being at war way longer than we thought we would (and we're going back, apparently). The world benefits from "quick and easy" just as much as it benefits from "slow and difficult," and I think we'd do well to remember our place in each. Our minds are even changing, so when I say George Bush, no one even considers him a force anymore, though he was only president six years ago (which is not that long-- think of where you were six years ago). LittleJimmyBond007
The amount of influence that McDonalds have on our society is crazy. We can identify the ingredients in a big mac, but can not identify what the ten commandments may be! It’s shocking to see that it shapes us literal terms as well. It has obviously caused obesity and if that won’t stop us from eating it what will. There are plenty of commercials out there as well. Social media has a power over us and I think that we feed into it. nurse007
I like that you said "as Americans", because when Americans go over to Europe its completely different. They still appreciate and cultivate their past culture, and that means taking the time to enjoy a well cooked meal, or having a cab driver that doesn't drive like a maniac. And then Americans complain the whole time to "go faster" or "this is taking so long" instead of just enjoying the moment, however long it is. Rescue007
It's sad to me that we're not already talking about this as one of the greater problems of the 21st century. Not even McDonald's itself, but the fact that we're going to be replaced by machines ASAP. The fact that "quick and easy" isn't seen as an option, but the default way of doing things. Sure, some people will cling to older things (there will always be people who enjoy going out to eat and operas), but the fact is in daily life, this has already taken place. My freezer is full of pre-cooked meals. There's a new stage to relationships, "Facebook-official," which is somewhere between "we're dating" and "we're getting married!" in terms of descriptiveness. As soon as literally anyone says anything controversial, it gets put on Youtube and watched tens of thousands of times (the shorter the video, the better). It even extends out to the police, driving up to a scene and using force before anything else. That's obviously a broad-brush description of police, and I immediately found myself wondering if maybe this has always been the way it is, we just have cell phones now.
Cell phones that can take a high-definition video that we can upload through the air onto a video service where other people can pull it out of the air and watch it. Cell phones that we routinely drop on the floor and replace without a thought as to where the old one went. Cell phones that contain more technology than it took to get to the Moon, that we curse when they drop a call. This attitude is already here, and unavoidable. I don't know if it's a bad or good thing (the Luddite in me says "bad"), but I'm old enough to remember holding out for CDs as the first three iPods came out. When I finally got one, I thought, "Why did I wait so long to get one?" Convenience and speed. It's already here. It's only ramping up. LittleJimmyBond007
The frozen dinners are healthy thought. McDonald’s is not, as much as they may try to display the amount of calories, protein, etc. People don’t want the healthy stuff when they come for Mcdonald’s they want a burger and fries usually. There has been national news for quite sometime, I will back you up that cell phones, you tube and facebook has helped shaped the news and the way we view things. nurse007
Frozen dinners are not healthy, typically if it is convenient that means that it is lacking somewhere. If you actually read the ingredients instead of the nutrition facts you can see that it really isn't good for you and neither is McDonald's. The problem is that we are making worse food choices even though we know that the food we are choosing isn't good for us just because it is faster than cooking at home. I do believe that the world is being McDonaldized.
I'm curious why something being convenient must automatically be considered to be "lacking" in some other aspect and it can't simply be the fact that with modern methods and technology we're able to make things more convenient than ever before. We used to have cars that could only go fifty miles per hour, not very convenient for any long trip. Then what happened, using technology we were able to create newer cars that could go faster and were much more convenient. Does that mean those newer cars were lacking in quality? I challenge anyone to try to find someone who would give up their modern automobile in exchange for some obsolete machine that can only go fifty miles an hour and has zero safety features. The same can be said about almost all modern amenities, whether it be food, transportation, computers, cell phones, etc. Dynasty 007
Cell phones are all the rage these days! People are always holding out for the next best thing! It's sad when you think about it....I mean, is that really all we have to look forward to? When I look around our classroom when we are waiting for one o'clock to approach, all I see is cell phones in hands....and I'm just as guilty. What happened to a good book? Homework from another class, or getting ahead in this one? And to be quite honest.......I'm not sure what happens to cell phones after we discard of them! Just a little FYI.....I think I am going to broaden my horizons and see what I can't find out about that right now! :) blonndie78
It’s weird to think that McDonalds has become a symbol of U.S. culture. It is the process of rationalization or to me an excuse to eat something affordable and quick. We all may have many different reasons to grab McDonalds on the go. Whether you have to get to work in 30 minutes or you’re hungry between classes. Everything McDonalds does is supposed to be predictable and efficient, which normally is. All food is prepared using set formulas. There is not a whole lot that the workers must do to prepare your order because there are machines that do everything for you. McDonaldization has already affected us, and I think it will continue to develop further in the future. Societal functoions will become easier than what they already are. For instance, restaurants off the conveniance of ordering online and then paying with debit card and all you have to do is pick up the food, or it may be delivered. nuse007
I agree with you that it is absolutely obscure that McDonalds has become a symbol of the U.S culture. We have lost all touch to what our culture used to be and what it should be. There's hardly anymore family sit down dinners, its all go go go, no time taken for things that should matter like food, our health. The preservatives they put in their food is crazy, not very many people are aware of these things that are in our food such as gmo. Society isn't what it used to be and never will be again. We rely on technology and things being done as fast as possible, there's no time for things that matter anymore. Lala007
I suppose society has adopted McDonaldization so readily because we believe that technology and efficiency are the cornerstones of the future, and to do things yourself that might take longer is considered "old school". I know I am a product of society in that aspect because I like to run errands fast, get food fast, and a lot of other things. Now me personally I try my best not to sacrifice quality while encouraging my own efficiency, but I know that's not the case for everyone. And in other ways, I'm still very old school because I'm not a huge fan/user of new technology. I have very few apps on my phone, and I wouldn't even have a smartphone if it wasn't a present, and I don't like possibility that humans will become "obsolete". We just have to hope that society trys to find a good balance of quantity and quality, and doesn't make a sacrifice that we'll miss or regret later. Rescue007
Most people like to think that this "McDonaldization" is some sort of a huge societal problem when that really may not be the case at all. What I feel this process really is, is a symbol of the evolution of society. It is about simplifying certain small details in life so that we have more time to focus of the more pressing issues we all deal with on a daily basis. When you go to a fast food restaurant, you know exactly what you're getting because you've probably had it several times before and it is almost always exactly the same, you pretty much know the amount of time you will have to dedicate to getting the food because you know how long it took the last time you went through the drive thru, and you know it won't harm your wallet too much because the food is always cheep. Before we had fast food, all of these things were variables that were constantly changing and that we had to calculate every single time we wanted to go get food. With fast food all we have done is cut out those variables and simplify the process. So are we really supposed to feel bad for using the technology and machinery of our time to make our daily lives easier? I certainly don't. Dynasty007
I see your point, Dynasty, but I can't help but feel it IS a problem. Though you have some really good points in saying that one can visit McDonalds and receive exactly what he or she wants and can be able to predict what he or she will receive, it also begins to limit choice. What if the only available restaurants on the planet were McDonalds? What if the other homecooked-style restaurants vanished, leaving only efficient clones that offered burgers, nuggets, and fries? The problem with McDonaldizing society is that it begins to deprive us of choice, of having a 'human' hand in decisions and society as a whole. McDonald's may be a great place to go when you need food quickly and know what you want, but after a while, wouldn't it get stale and you would want some variety, some other sort of food, etc? But what if, after so long, that is the only choice left? To have no choice at all, because choice is a risk, costs money, costs energy and time? And we are stuck with only cheap efficiency from here on out? -- Rainshadow007
I'm not sure that I had ever heard the term McDonaldization however it is something that my family has found interesting for years. We all complain that we have such little free time however in reality we have more than our ancestors did 100 years ago. We don't have to kill, skin and de-feather our meat for dinner every night after a long day of work. We have the convenience of a bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts from the super center down the road. When calculating the true cost of feeding a family of four it is cheaper to feed them when you make the food at home then to buy it at McDonald's or some other chain fast-food restaurant.I do agree that there is some convenience associated with McDonald's however I prefer healthy foods and I do not mind spending time to get the things I want instead of for only the need of convenience.
A quick burger means, a burger that we want as fast as possible thats going to eventually kill us, Society is never going to be the same as it used to be. Our society is on the go constantly, not making time for anything that matters. I doubt that very many people have sit down dinners anymore, or find food that is actually healthy, even though its hardly possible to find healthy food anymore with everything they put in our food and water. The meat we eat is all injected with things that are basically killing us, between the hormones and GMO, there's fluoride in our water, all of our vegetation is sprayed with pesticides. The flouride they put in our water blocks our pineal gland (third eye). It is illegal to grow and sell your own vegetables without having GMO and other chemicals on them. In this day and age its almost impossible to live like we should be. We should be gathering food together, preparing meals as family, spending all day tending to our animals and crops for food supply, but life will never be like this again. It's sad. Our food manufacturing companies are killing us and I wish more people understood this. Lala007
I agree with you completely because the world walks quickly, eat quickly, and even our discussion. That’s why we last our concept of family also the intimacy between family members and between friends. We need to rethink everything and read our history and why was he doing our ancestors.
Nowadays, people get really mad if they have to wait more than one minute in the drive-through for their food. With this being said, I feel as if society has become impatient because we are able to have access to anything in the matter of minutes or even seconds. Like the internet, for example. We expect our browser to refresh in less than one second and if it doesn’t, we get impatient and mad and wonder why the hell our computer is so slow. But when we think about it, our society ten years ago would be absolutely astonished at the idea of how fast our computers are nowadays. Sure, having fast-everything is nice, but the fact that our society has become dependent on it may be a problem. Flxr007.
When I was in my country we know that the famous food in the USA is McDonald. Because the media show that and they persuade the people that the food is health and good for everyone. But when I come here I found that McDonald’s is the worst food and is not health at all. After that I discover that McDonald is just commercial food and has nothing to do with the culture of the community or society. McDonald’s does not care about the health of US citizen, that’s why for me there’s another thing that have importance value as tradition American food and historical events. hassan007
I couldn't agree more with this. The fast food industry really couldn't care any less about the health of the American population. They essentially make money off of ruining peoples lives. FireBoy007
This structure and efficiency of advancing societies is worrying to me. While it helps in some aspects, it also does indeed strip us of our humanity in many ways. Structures that are mcdonaldized tend to remove choice and personality, leaving only what resembles a "well-oiled machine".
The article itself talks about replacing its human workers with non-human technology. What will this mean in the future? Will we as humans stop having a place in our own society? At least, certain people, those who are perhaps uneducated or do not possess specialized, efficient skills? Will there become a gap or vacuum in our future society which oppresses certain types of people even further than they are now? We are socially moving toward greater equality and human rights, but in a sense, with the mcdonaldization of our society, we are also creating a new, chilling sort of possible inequality and erasure.
I write science fiction as my hobby. Part of what draws me to this genre is the fun and challenge of being able to look at our society now, its problems and strengths alike, and magnify them, to take them in one direction or another and try to envision a real possibility of what life may be like a dozen generations into the future. This mcdonaldization goes with one of my ideas, which is that as machines replace labor jobs and other roles people play in society currently, there may eventually be a divide where educated, skilled and specialized people do well, and those who don't complete school or don't have a specialized role fall into a strange and dangerous situation in which there simply is no work opportunities for them.
It makes me wonder how accurate that idea is, and the direction we're going to go as a whole. It also makes me wonder that, if we are able to understand our society and what it is becoming, if we can picture its future and try to solve problems that might arise from the direction we are going before we get there and before it becomes 'too late' to try to address such things. -- Rainshadow007
Also, rereading my comment, I realize how naive the "envisioning a future where uneducated persons might have trouble finding work" may sound. I understand that's already a -huge- problem in American society. What I meant was that it might come to a point where there is literally no options for them to support themselves, as any labor or non-specialized roles may become nonexistent entirely, given over instead to technology and machines. -- Rainshadow007
As Americans we think that because it says fast food it'll be fast. We would like for it to come at our discretional time, not a minute late. At times we a people can really be selfish. We are known as people with high demands and expectations in the fast food world. When sitting in a drive thru, we expect quality service in no time at all. Our thoughts seem to be "If I go through the drive thru, it will be quicker than going inside and waiting in line." When in reality it's pretty much the same wait time for going in as in the drive thru. The article itself talks about replacing its human workers with non-human technology. What will this mean in the future? All robots working save money. What will happen with all of us humans? This here is pretty deep, yet it leaves you thinking about several things from so many apects. Tricey007
I think George Ritzer was wise for using McDonald’s as an example of how fast food industries dominate society was a good idea because McDonald’s is a worldwide-known fast food chain. He explains how the process of McDonaldization is spreading to other restaurants and industries and how there are five concepts that are now common in society due to the fast-food industry. I think that all five of these concepts have play a major part in society. Efficiency is definitely a huge part of everyone’s lives. Every day, people strive to find new ways to get as much done as possible in a little amount of time, using little money and effort. Society has become more efficient through many inventions, which I believe is a positive impact to our world. I think this is true because society is able to accomplish more in shorter periods of time, thus being able to accomplish a lot in a long period of time. This has helped our world progress as quickly as it has been. The next concept, one that I do not agree with, is calculability, meaning choosing quantity over quality. I see people do this every day; I, myself, do this too without even being aware of it. It is how society has developed and I think that is should be undone and that society should start recognizing that quality overpowers quantity. I am between agreeing and disagreeing with predictability, because predictability does benefit society, yet having structured lives and knowing exactly what is going to happen next is not a content way to live. I am indifferent about the control and the replacement of human by non-human technology as well. I believe that this can be connected to efficiency, because while technology is doing the jobs of humans, we are able to focus on and accomplish other tasks. But then again, Ritzer says how, “who we are and how we interact is becoming defined by our dependence upon and subordination to the machine.” I do not think it is right for humans to be dependent on machines and technology. Humans are losing the ability to accomplish tasks that were once done by us because machines have taken over those responsibilities. All five of these concepts are really interesting and can be given a lot of thought. I think each and every one has an impact on our society and our future. Flxr007
I completely understand the meaning of having something ready for you when you want it. It’s a lie that has been told to people for years now. Most times people are looking for that healthy meal that doesn’t sit for hours in a warmer. You can’t have something freshly made just take a few moments to cook. Just like when we create a great work of art. It takes time and sometimes mistakes to get it done correctly. Going to a fancy restaurant that you wait for 30 minutes for that meal is going to be healthier and much more worth the wait. You know that the person that made it takes pride in their work and you wouldn’t be disappointed. I understand the predictability since more times than not we are just going through the motions. In life you can look back and think “where did the time go, and what did I do in that time?” we also have the technology that has made life easier. Although it made it easier, it also caused people to become less sociable. Since we are able to do things faster we don’t have to wait around and make conversation. So we’ve lost a part of who we are along the way due to the technology and how fast we can do things. While its nice to have things work fast, we also don’t take the time for what truly matters. Lou007
I agree with you, about the technology it has almost ruined society, I feel as if one day people are going to forget how to converse with one another. When you look back and think where did the time go I think I want to look back and know I took the time to enjoy things and know i took care of not only my well being but others around me too. The 21st century is a mess, its moving forward but at the same time destroying us a healthy sociable society. Pysch007
McDonaldlization pretty much sums up the 21st century. Everything is all based on time versus quality, health, and well being. Society is nothing but constant on the go, nothing is tradition anymore. We pay people to cook for us, clean for us, mow for us, instead of taking the time to do these things ourselves. I understand its a different day and age, we cant just go out and take care of the farm and crops and support ourselves off of that anymore, its not possible. But at the same time we need to stop being such fast pace. Why do people want to live their lives so fast pace instead of taking your time and enjoying things. The food we eat from manufactures is literally killing us, not many people get that. It would be nice to see traditions come back, planting our own gardens for our produce and eating dinner together as a family. Society has changed and sadly it will never completely be back to how it used to be but I think we could work more towards older, better well being traditions. People need to slow down and take time for things that matter, you cant take it when you go anyways. Pysch007
McDonaldization is a perfect word to describe what the world we are living in has become. America is all about fast. Fast food, cars, and people. The quality of anything has decreased dramatically and it only matters how much of it people can pump out. What's weird is, is that is none of us even notice that we have turned into such a "Efficient" society where everything has to be done the minute we make our mind up. I notice it a lot at work but, what's nice is that in the fire service you still see a little bit of the old way of doing things in the older generation. That aspect is nice because they teach you how to slow down and really pay attention to what you're doing so that way you don't end up hurting or killing yourself or others.
I had to laugh at the part about self check out lines in the supermarket! I am the first one to head in that direction. For me, it is quicker and I don't have to wait in line behind someone with a million coupons, or an underage checker who has to wait for someone to scan the alcohol for them. It also made me think of my Dad, who is 60, and absolutely CANNOT stand the self check out at the store!! He wonders why anyone would want to do the job themselves, when there is already someone there, on the clock, to do the job for him! (That and I just think that maybe he gets a little frustrated with it because he may not be as good as the checkers in the regular lines!) I guess when I think about it that way, it is a little frustrating. I'm not on the clock, and in no way am I being paid to do the job of someone else! But it does go WAY quicker when I do it myself.
As far as McDonald's go.....I am just as guilty as the rest of you, I'm sure, of pulling up to that drive through to grab a quick meal on the go, or for the kids and we've got a busy night so nuggets it is. I think that McDonald's is a lot more predictable than the sit down restaurants. Although, those places can be predictable themselves, it's nothing like McDonald's. I'm glad that they started to post the nutrition facts on the menu, because I think in some cases, like myself, it may steer us away from the double quarter pounder with cheese meal (and a diet coke of course, come on people!) and help us to make a better choice (not that there really is one at Mickey D's) or maybe just walk out of the door, head home, and cook the meal ourselves! I get the that it is quick and easy, but is it really worth it?! blonndie007
I am not one to eat fast food or get it for my family very often. Maybe once a month. It seems someone has a upset stomach each time we do decide to get it. That tells me something negative right there. lol I like to cook our food, knowing my hands and kitchen counters are clean. And i feel better knowing that when i cook chicken at home,,it is REALLY chicken. It is sad how eating dollar menu is cheaper to feed a family rather than cooking a meal. I think it was engineered this way,by governmnt, to have people and children become overweight..which leads to other health problems,and ya gata keep/goin to the doctor,which takes more money,so ya run out,,and can ONLY afford the dollar menu. I found a old fry in my truck,and it looked new.The preservatives in the fries kept it lookn like it was edible.Scary.At least mcdonalds has yogurt cups,and salad! I think there should be healthy food drive thru,besides panera,they are outrageous! I never use the self checkout at the store tho,lol It seemed like something went wrong each time I did try to use it,I had to call help over,or it took too long. I would rather help a real person keep their job! I know i need mine!lol
As Americans, we are known as people with high demands and expectations in the fast food world. When sitting in a drive thru, we expect quality service in no time at all. Our thoughts seem to be "If I go through the drive thru, it will be quicker than going inside and waiting in line." Even though that isn't always the case, we expect too much because we are used to having the upper hand, caused by the thought that "We are the customer, and the customer is always right." Not very often can you go to a place that doesn't offer "take-out" anymore. More people are taking advantage of the thought of quick and convenient service. McDonaldization is causing the world to think of things in a new way, such as the convenience factor over quality factor. Instead of families making a nice and nutritious meal for dinner, they’re making quick things in the microwave and oven. Not only are the principles of McDonaldization taking over the world, but the idea of convenience is changing everyone’s outlook of certain things in the world. Bean007
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it's anything other than the natural progression of capitalism (as Marx would say). We get short-term "convenience" at the cost of long-term suffering. For example, plastic bottles don't break down for 10,000 years, which we can really only justify by saying "We won't be alive then." Which would be convenient, yes, except that was George Bush's response to how history would judge his actions (at the least, 100,000 dead Iraqis and an enormous increase of birth defects due to decaying nuclear tank shells). How quickly we wanted to move on from Bush, and how he really represented us better than we thought. Heck, even the "Mission Accomplished" banner controversy thing was simply a matter of too much too soon. We ended up being at war way longer than we thought we would (and we're going back, apparently). The world benefits from "quick and easy" just as much as it benefits from "slow and difficult," and I think we'd do well to remember our place in each. Our minds are even changing, so when I say George Bush, no one even considers him a force anymore, though he was only president six years ago (which is not that long-- think of where you were six years ago). LittleJimmyBond007
DeleteThe amount of influence that McDonalds have on our society is crazy. We can identify the ingredients in a big mac, but can not identify what the ten commandments may be! It’s shocking to see that it shapes us literal terms as well. It has obviously caused obesity and if that won’t stop us from eating it what will. There are plenty of commercials out there as well. Social media has a power over us and I think that we feed into it. nurse007
DeleteI like that you said "as Americans", because when Americans go over to Europe its completely different. They still appreciate and cultivate their past culture, and that means taking the time to enjoy a well cooked meal, or having a cab driver that doesn't drive like a maniac. And then Americans complain the whole time to "go faster" or "this is taking so long" instead of just enjoying the moment, however long it is. Rescue007
DeleteIt's sad to me that we're not already talking about this as one of the greater problems of the 21st century. Not even McDonald's itself, but the fact that we're going to be replaced by machines ASAP. The fact that "quick and easy" isn't seen as an option, but the default way of doing things. Sure, some people will cling to older things (there will always be people who enjoy going out to eat and operas), but the fact is in daily life, this has already taken place. My freezer is full of pre-cooked meals. There's a new stage to relationships, "Facebook-official," which is somewhere between "we're dating" and "we're getting married!" in terms of descriptiveness. As soon as literally anyone says anything controversial, it gets put on Youtube and watched tens of thousands of times (the shorter the video, the better). It even extends out to the police, driving up to a scene and using force before anything else. That's obviously a broad-brush description of police, and I immediately found myself wondering if maybe this has always been the way it is, we just have cell phones now.
ReplyDeleteCell phones that can take a high-definition video that we can upload through the air onto a video service where other people can pull it out of the air and watch it. Cell phones that we routinely drop on the floor and replace without a thought as to where the old one went. Cell phones that contain more technology than it took to get to the Moon, that we curse when they drop a call. This attitude is already here, and unavoidable. I don't know if it's a bad or good thing (the Luddite in me says "bad"), but I'm old enough to remember holding out for CDs as the first three iPods came out. When I finally got one, I thought, "Why did I wait so long to get one?" Convenience and speed. It's already here. It's only ramping up. LittleJimmyBond007
The frozen dinners are healthy thought. McDonald’s is not, as much as they may try to display the amount of calories, protein, etc. People don’t want the healthy stuff when they come for Mcdonald’s they want a burger and fries usually. There has been national news for quite sometime, I will back you up that cell phones, you tube and facebook has helped shaped the news and the way we view things. nurse007
DeleteFrozen dinners are not healthy, typically if it is convenient that means that it is lacking somewhere. If you actually read the ingredients instead of the nutrition facts you can see that it really isn't good for you and neither is McDonald's. The problem is that we are making worse food choices even though we know that the food we are choosing isn't good for us just because it is faster than cooking at home. I do believe that the world is being McDonaldized.
Deletehello_sweetie007
I'm curious why something being convenient must automatically be considered to be "lacking" in some other aspect and it can't simply be the fact that with modern methods and technology we're able to make things more convenient than ever before. We used to have cars that could only go fifty miles per hour, not very convenient for any long trip. Then what happened, using technology we were able to create newer cars that could go faster and were much more convenient. Does that mean those newer cars were lacking in quality? I challenge anyone to try to find someone who would give up their modern automobile in exchange for some obsolete machine that can only go fifty miles an hour and has zero safety features. The same can be said about almost all modern amenities, whether it be food, transportation, computers, cell phones, etc. Dynasty 007
DeleteCell phones are all the rage these days! People are always holding out for the next best thing! It's sad when you think about it....I mean, is that really all we have to look forward to? When I look around our classroom when we are waiting for one o'clock to approach, all I see is cell phones in hands....and I'm just as guilty. What happened to a good book? Homework from another class, or getting ahead in this one? And to be quite honest.......I'm not sure what happens to cell phones after we discard of them! Just a little FYI.....I think I am going to broaden my horizons and see what I can't find out about that right now! :) blonndie78
DeleteIt’s weird to think that McDonalds has become a symbol of U.S. culture. It is the process of rationalization or to me an excuse to eat something affordable and quick. We all may have many different reasons to grab McDonalds on the go. Whether you have to get to work in 30 minutes or you’re hungry between classes. Everything McDonalds does is supposed to be predictable and efficient, which normally is. All food is prepared using set formulas. There is not a whole lot that the workers must do to prepare your order because there are machines that do everything for you. McDonaldization has already affected us, and I think it will continue to develop further in the future. Societal functoions will become easier than what they already are. For instance, restaurants off the conveniance of ordering online and then paying with debit card and all you have to do is pick up the food, or it may be delivered. nuse007
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is absolutely obscure that McDonalds has become a symbol of the U.S culture. We have lost all touch to what our culture used to be and what it should be. There's hardly anymore family sit down dinners, its all go go go, no time taken for things that should matter like food, our health. The preservatives they put in their food is crazy, not very many people are aware of these things that are in our food such as gmo. Society isn't what it used to be and never will be again. We rely on technology and things being done as fast as possible, there's no time for things that matter anymore. Lala007
DeleteI suppose society has adopted McDonaldization so readily because we believe that technology and efficiency are the cornerstones of the future, and to do things yourself that might take longer is considered "old school". I know I am a product of society in that aspect because I like to run errands fast, get food fast, and a lot of other things. Now me personally I try my best not to sacrifice quality while encouraging my own efficiency, but I know that's not the case for everyone. And in other ways, I'm still very old school because I'm not a huge fan/user of new technology. I have very few apps on my phone, and I wouldn't even have a smartphone if it wasn't a present, and I don't like possibility that humans will become "obsolete". We just have to hope that society trys to find a good balance of quantity and quality, and doesn't make a sacrifice that we'll miss or regret later. Rescue007
ReplyDeleteMost people like to think that this "McDonaldization" is some sort of a huge societal problem when that really may not be the case at all. What I feel this process really is, is a symbol of the evolution of society. It is about simplifying certain small details in life so that we have more time to focus of the more pressing issues we all deal with on a daily basis. When you go to a fast food restaurant, you know exactly what you're getting because you've probably had it several times before and it is almost always exactly the same, you pretty much know the amount of time you will have to dedicate to getting the food because you know how long it took the last time you went through the drive thru, and you know it won't harm your wallet too much because the food is always cheep. Before we had fast food, all of these things were variables that were constantly changing and that we had to calculate every single time we wanted to go get food. With fast food all we have done is cut out those variables and simplify the process. So are we really supposed to feel bad for using the technology and machinery of our time to make our daily lives easier? I certainly don't. Dynasty007
ReplyDeleteI see your point, Dynasty, but I can't help but feel it IS a problem. Though you have some really good points in saying that one can visit McDonalds and receive exactly what he or she wants and can be able to predict what he or she will receive, it also begins to limit choice. What if the only available restaurants on the planet were McDonalds? What if the other homecooked-style restaurants vanished, leaving only efficient clones that offered burgers, nuggets, and fries? The problem with McDonaldizing society is that it begins to deprive us of choice, of having a 'human' hand in decisions and society as a whole. McDonald's may be a great place to go when you need food quickly and know what you want, but after a while, wouldn't it get stale and you would want some variety, some other sort of food, etc? But what if, after so long, that is the only choice left? To have no choice at all, because choice is a risk, costs money, costs energy and time? And we are stuck with only cheap efficiency from here on out? -- Rainshadow007
DeleteI'm not sure that I had ever heard the term McDonaldization however it is something that my family has found interesting for years. We all complain that we have such little free time however in reality we have more than our ancestors did 100 years ago. We don't have to kill, skin and de-feather our meat for dinner every night after a long day of work. We have the convenience of a bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts from the super center down the road. When calculating the true cost of feeding a family of four it is cheaper to feed them when you make the food at home then to buy it at McDonald's or some other chain fast-food restaurant.I do agree that there is some convenience associated with McDonald's however I prefer healthy foods and I do not mind spending time to get the things I want instead of for only the need of convenience.
ReplyDeletehello_sweetie007
A quick burger means, a burger that we want as fast as possible thats going to eventually kill us, Society is never going to be the same as it used to be. Our society is on the go constantly, not making time for anything that matters. I doubt that very many people have sit down dinners anymore, or find food that is actually healthy, even though its hardly possible to find healthy food anymore with everything they put in our food and water. The meat we eat is all injected with things that are basically killing us, between the hormones and GMO, there's fluoride in our water, all of our vegetation is sprayed with pesticides. The flouride they put in our water blocks our pineal gland (third eye). It is illegal to grow and sell your own vegetables without having GMO and other chemicals on them. In this day and age its almost impossible to live like we should be. We should be gathering food together, preparing meals as family, spending all day tending to our animals and crops for food supply, but life will never be like this again. It's sad. Our food manufacturing companies are killing us and I wish more people understood this. Lala007
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely because the world walks quickly, eat quickly, and even our discussion. That’s why we last our concept of family also the intimacy between family members and between friends. We need to rethink everything and read our history and why was he doing our ancestors.
DeleteNowadays, people get really mad if they have to wait more than one minute in the drive-through for their food. With this being said, I feel as if society has become impatient because we are able to have access to anything in the matter of minutes or even seconds. Like the internet, for example. We expect our browser to refresh in less than one second and if it doesn’t, we get impatient and mad and wonder why the hell our computer is so slow. But when we think about it, our society ten years ago would be absolutely astonished at the idea of how fast our computers are nowadays. Sure, having fast-everything is nice, but the fact that our society has become dependent on it may be a problem.
DeleteFlxr007.
When I was in my country we know that the famous food in the USA is McDonald. Because the media show that and they persuade the people that the food is health and good for everyone. But when I come here I found that McDonald’s is the worst food and is not health at all. After that I discover that McDonald is just commercial food and has nothing to do with the culture of the community or society. McDonald’s does not care about the health of US citizen, that’s why for me there’s another thing that have importance value as tradition American food and historical events. hassan007
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with this. The fast food industry really couldn't care any less about the health of the American population. They essentially make money off of ruining peoples lives. FireBoy007
DeleteThis structure and efficiency of advancing societies is worrying to me. While it helps in some aspects, it also does indeed strip us of our humanity in many ways. Structures that are mcdonaldized tend to remove choice and personality, leaving only what resembles a "well-oiled machine".
ReplyDeleteThe article itself talks about replacing its human workers with non-human technology. What will this mean in the future? Will we as humans stop having a place in our own society? At least, certain people, those who are perhaps uneducated or do not possess specialized, efficient skills? Will there become a gap or vacuum in our future society which oppresses certain types of people even further than they are now? We are socially moving toward greater equality and human rights, but in a sense, with the mcdonaldization of our society, we are also creating a new, chilling sort of possible inequality and erasure.
I write science fiction as my hobby. Part of what draws me to this genre is the fun and challenge of being able to look at our society now, its problems and strengths alike, and magnify them, to take them in one direction or another and try to envision a real possibility of what life may be like a dozen generations into the future. This mcdonaldization goes with one of my ideas, which is that as machines replace labor jobs and other roles people play in society currently, there may eventually be a divide where educated, skilled and specialized people do well, and those who don't complete school or don't have a specialized role fall into a strange and dangerous situation in which there simply is no work opportunities for them.
It makes me wonder how accurate that idea is, and the direction we're going to go as a whole. It also makes me wonder that, if we are able to understand our society and what it is becoming, if we can picture its future and try to solve problems that might arise from the direction we are going before we get there and before it becomes 'too late' to try to address such things. -- Rainshadow007
Also, rereading my comment, I realize how naive the "envisioning a future where uneducated persons might have trouble finding work" may sound. I understand that's already a -huge- problem in American society. What I meant was that it might come to a point where there is literally no options for them to support themselves, as any labor or non-specialized roles may become nonexistent entirely, given over instead to technology and machines. -- Rainshadow007
DeleteAs Americans we think that because it says fast food it'll be fast. We would like for it to come at our discretional time, not a minute late. At times we a people can really be selfish. We are known as people with high demands and expectations in the fast food world. When sitting in a drive thru, we expect quality service in no time at all. Our thoughts seem to be "If I go through the drive thru, it will be quicker than going inside and waiting in line." When in reality it's pretty much the same wait time for going in as in the drive thru. The article itself talks about replacing its human workers with non-human technology. What will this mean in the future? All robots working save money. What will happen with all of us humans? This here is pretty deep, yet it leaves you thinking about several things from so many apects. Tricey007
ReplyDeleteI think George Ritzer was wise for using McDonald’s as an example of how fast food industries dominate society was a good idea because McDonald’s is a worldwide-known fast food chain. He explains how the process of McDonaldization is spreading to other restaurants and industries and how there are five concepts that are now common in society due to the fast-food industry. I think that all five of these concepts have play a major part in society.
ReplyDeleteEfficiency is definitely a huge part of everyone’s lives. Every day, people strive to find new ways to get as much done as possible in a little amount of time, using little money and effort. Society has become more efficient through many inventions, which I believe is a positive impact to our world. I think this is true because society is able to accomplish more in shorter periods of time, thus being able to accomplish a lot in a long period of time. This has helped our world progress as quickly as it has been.
The next concept, one that I do not agree with, is calculability, meaning choosing quantity over quality. I see people do this every day; I, myself, do this too without even being aware of it. It is how society has developed and I think that is should be undone and that society should start recognizing that quality overpowers quantity.
I am between agreeing and disagreeing with predictability, because predictability does benefit society, yet having structured lives and knowing exactly what is going to happen next is not a content way to live.
I am indifferent about the control and the replacement of human by non-human technology as well. I believe that this can be connected to efficiency, because while technology is doing the jobs of humans, we are able to focus on and accomplish other tasks. But then again, Ritzer says how, “who we are and how we interact is becoming defined by our dependence upon and subordination to the machine.” I do not think it is right for humans to be dependent on machines and technology. Humans are losing the ability to accomplish tasks that were once done by us because machines have taken over those responsibilities.
All five of these concepts are really interesting and can be given a lot of thought. I think each and every one has an impact on our society and our future.
Flxr007
I completely understand the meaning of having something ready for you when you want it. It’s a lie that has been told to people for years now. Most times people are looking for that healthy meal that doesn’t sit for hours in a warmer. You can’t have something freshly made just take a few moments to cook. Just like when we create a great work of art. It takes time and sometimes mistakes to get it done correctly. Going to a fancy restaurant that you wait for 30 minutes for that meal is going to be healthier and much more worth the wait. You know that the person that made it takes pride in their work and you wouldn’t be disappointed. I understand the predictability since more times than not we are just going through the motions. In life you can look back and think “where did the time go, and what did I do in that time?” we also have the technology that has made life easier. Although it made it easier, it also caused people to become less sociable. Since we are able to do things faster we don’t have to wait around and make conversation. So we’ve lost a part of who we are along the way due to the technology and how fast we can do things. While its nice to have things work fast, we also don’t take the time for what truly matters.
ReplyDeleteLou007
I agree with you, about the technology it has almost ruined society, I feel as if one day people are going to forget how to converse with one another. When you look back and think where did the time go I think I want to look back and know I took the time to enjoy things and know i took care of not only my well being but others around me too. The 21st century is a mess, its moving forward but at the same time destroying us a healthy sociable society. Pysch007
DeleteMcDonaldlization pretty much sums up the 21st century. Everything is all based on time versus quality, health, and well being. Society is nothing but constant on the go, nothing is tradition anymore. We pay people to cook for us, clean for us, mow for us, instead of taking the time to do these things ourselves. I understand its a different day and age, we cant just go out and take care of the farm and crops and support ourselves off of that anymore, its not possible. But at the same time we need to stop being such fast pace. Why do people want to live their lives so fast pace instead of taking your time and enjoying things. The food we eat from manufactures is literally killing us, not many people get that. It would be nice to see traditions come back, planting our own gardens for our produce and eating dinner together as a family. Society has changed and sadly it will never completely be back to how it used to be but
ReplyDeleteI think we could work more towards older, better well being traditions. People need to slow down and take time for things that matter, you cant take it when you go anyways. Pysch007
McDonaldization is a perfect word to describe what the world we are living in has become. America is all about fast. Fast food, cars, and people. The quality of anything has decreased dramatically and it only matters how much of it people can pump out. What's weird is, is that is none of us even notice that we have turned into such a "Efficient" society where everything has to be done the minute we make our mind up. I notice it a lot at work but, what's nice is that in the fire service you still see a little bit of the old way of doing things in the older generation. That aspect is nice because they teach you how to slow down and really pay attention to what you're doing so that way you don't end up hurting or killing yourself or others.
ReplyDeletethis was written by FireBoy007
DeleteI had to laugh at the part about self check out lines in the supermarket! I am the first one to head in that direction. For me, it is quicker and I don't have to wait in line behind someone with a million coupons, or an underage checker who has to wait for someone to scan the alcohol for them. It also made me think of my Dad, who is 60, and absolutely CANNOT stand the self check out at the store!! He wonders why anyone would want to do the job themselves, when there is already someone there, on the clock, to do the job for him! (That and I just think that maybe he gets a little frustrated with it because he may not be as good as the checkers in the regular lines!) I guess when I think about it that way, it is a little frustrating. I'm not on the clock, and in no way am I being paid to do the job of someone else! But it does go WAY quicker when I do it myself.
ReplyDeleteAs far as McDonald's go.....I am just as guilty as the rest of you, I'm sure, of pulling up to that drive through to grab a quick meal on the go, or for the kids and we've got a busy night so nuggets it is. I think that McDonald's is a lot more predictable than the sit down restaurants. Although, those places can be predictable themselves, it's nothing like McDonald's. I'm glad that they started to post the nutrition facts on the menu, because I think in some cases, like myself, it may steer us away from the double quarter pounder with cheese meal (and a diet coke of course, come on people!) and help us to make a better choice (not that there really is one at Mickey D's) or maybe just walk out of the door, head home, and cook the meal ourselves! I get the that it is quick and easy, but is it really worth it?! blonndie007
I am not one to eat fast food or get it for my family very often. Maybe once a month. It seems someone has a upset stomach each time we do decide to get it. That tells me something negative right there. lol I like to cook our food, knowing my hands and kitchen counters are clean. And i feel better knowing that when i cook chicken at home,,it is REALLY chicken. It is sad how eating dollar menu is cheaper to feed a family rather than cooking a meal. I think it was engineered this way,by governmnt, to have people and children become overweight..which leads to other health problems,and ya gata keep/goin to the doctor,which takes more money,so ya run out,,and can ONLY afford the dollar menu. I found a old fry in my truck,and it looked new.The preservatives in the fries kept it lookn like it was edible.Scary.At least mcdonalds has yogurt cups,and salad! I think there should be healthy food drive thru,besides panera,they are outrageous! I never use the self checkout at the store tho,lol It seemed like something went wrong each time I did try to use it,I had to call help over,or it took too long. I would rather help a real person keep their job! I know i need mine!lol
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