Burger King's latest campaign, Whopper Virgins (by ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky) aims to determine the winner in the Whopper vs. Big Mac battle by taking both burgers to remote places around the world—such as areas in Thailand, Romania, and Greenland—and conducting tastes tests with people who don't "even have a word for burger."
Backlash against the Whopper Virgins documentary is pervasive. In The Daily News, Marilyn Borchardt, development director for Food First, calls the campaign "insensitive" and points out, "The ad's not even acknowledging that there's even hunger in any of these places." Dunca Riley of the Inquisitr also finds the campaign offensive, while Brian Morrissey of AdFreaks says it's "embarrassing and emblematic of how ignorant Americans still seem to the rest of the world."
Watch some teaser clips of the documentary, after the jump.
These guys have mastered perpetuating stereotypes- that every place that isn't America is backward and savage, and that Americans are gullible and ignorant.
Does one of the "virgins" spit out both burgers and then slap the taste out of the mouths of the film crew for trying to feed them fast food? Because that would be fantastic.
Marilyn Borchardt states, "The ad's not even acknowledging that there's even hunger in any of these places," and she is totally correct. However, when was the last time any food advertisement, fast or otherwise, noted that there is hunger in the world? In fact, there is quite a bit of hunger in the United States; should fast food advertisements acknowledge those problems?
I'm not sure I understand how it is "insensitive" to point out that there are people in the world who have never eaten a burger. It doesn't mean that people in other countries are less sophisticated or ignorant--it just means they eat differently than people in the United States. It's a fun, lighthearted campaign, and the advertising critics need to stop projecting their own biases.
Here here. Agreed. I'm not saying we should go around offending other people on purpose, but why does political correctness need to be taken to such an extreme?
Ehhh, at its core the logic of the ads doesn't even make sense. By their logic, if I wanted to know something about sex I should ask a person who has just lost the actual virginity. Which would get me what exactly? An inexperienced and relatively uneducated opinion? Ditto for the Whopper or anything else that one can be virginized (hello Webster's!) towards.
Honestly, what is even offensive about this commercial? I saw it for the first time today and thought it was pretty cool. And, I don't even like Burger King burgers (they're always dry). But I got to give credit to the BK advertising people. Whether it's with the King or this, they make fun commercials. I can't even think of the last McDonald's commercial I thought about...
my biggest problem is the same as Eazy B's. If they've never tried a burger, what the hell do they know about how one should taste, and why would i trust their judgement? If you had two people from Greenland make me two versions of their special national dish, i guarantee i'd have no idea which is better.
And I do think that there is something crass and distasteful about these ads, even if i can't put my finger on it.
Meh. I don't see anything wrong with the commercials. I don't see why it's necessary for BK or any corporation to spend advertising $ to enlighten people on hunger, homelessness, etc. Everyone knows it exists in every single country in the world.
@mr guy, maybe i can help. what's crass & distasteful about it is that its kind of patronizing. all these people are being portrayed as "backwards" (i can guarantee you that bucarest is not a rural backwater), and having them show up to taste the burgers in historical national dress doesn't help -- it kind of makes caricatures out them. If the French were making a food commercial with Americans, who they had dress up as pilgrims, would you assume that it was meant to be flattering?
Secondly, the reason it leaves a bad taste is that it leaves the impression that these are real folks, not actors. So you take some poor person out of a rural village, ask them to put on their best national costume so that they represent their country, and have them sample freaking FAST FOOD BURGERS for our amusement. That's what feels so uncomfortable.
Interestingly enough, one of the first things I remember seeing in Chiang Mai over twenty years ago was a Burger King. I had been staying with family in a town a couple of hours away for about a month...and had started, for whatever reason, to absolutely fiend for ketchup. Yeah, I don't get it either. We were traveling into Chiang Mai to visit a nearby mountaintop Wat, and had just been on a rather harrowing bus ride--did you know that a narrow two-lane mountain road could fit 4 vehicles side-by-side with one being a large truck and another a travel bus? Yeah, me neither. At any rate, I remember riding into Chiang Mai and seeing the heavy forestation open up to my very first sight of the city--a Burger King. I later begged my mother to go there for lunch so I could finally get my ketchup fix. There are three things I immediately visualize whenever I think of Chiang Mai: German tourists, Italian restaurants, and Burger King.
I think mh330 said it very well, this is a very patronizing way to deal with other cultures. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I mean, traveling to poor areas of the world for no other reason than to use these people in a Burger King commercial? I know Burger King is a commercial enterprise and not UNICEF, but don't you think they could have used the money and time they spent on this ad campaign for something other than just expanding their corporation? Maybe by showing a little global awareness? Such a waste.
This is what you call American imperialism, an American corporation exploiting people stricken down by poverty in other countries, raping them by distorting their cultures to sell a product to the American public. And yet, people applaud this? Only the ignorant wouldn't understand to be part of the group. Only the ignorant wouldn't understand to be oppressed and exploited. Only the ignorant will applaud this ad campaign.
This is incredible. It's not enough that this corn-based food has brought the misery of obesity & type II diabetes to this country, we now have to export it to the few indigenous groups that have managed to maintain their traditional foods & lifestyles & absence of these diseases?? Doesn't Burger King make enough money already?? It used to be Coca-cola that did this in the 60s. Shame on us!
I'm sorry, but isn't a bit patronizing to think that just because these people came from a more rural setting that we need to infantilize them and assume that they had no clue what they were doing? Yes, I find these commercials more than a bit ridiculous and, outside of using them for a very odd foreign-food-ketchup-crave in the mid eighties, have never been the biggest fan of the fast food restaurant that they're shilling. But really? "Raping them by distorting cultures to sell a product"? I don't think these people were kidnapped and forced to be in these commercials. They seemed willing, and I'd imagine that they were paid. Just because they're rural doesn't mean they're idiots. I know that in the case of the village in Chiang Mai province, they live in a province that is a center of tourism within easy reach of the largest metropolis in the north. Having family still choosing to live in the more agriculturally-focused bits of the area, I have to say that there's something distasteful and condescending about this rhetoric of ignorance that purports to defend their purity as if they were children.
Respect their culture if you will. See the absurdity in how they're being portrayed. But to wag a finger at the corporations for treating their cultural heritage while purporting to defend them by falling for these ridiculous stereotypes of the easily-fooled country mouse is just as painful to read and look at. I say counter-program, find out about the people and regions as they actually are, learn about their food, and realize that tv fakery is...well, fakery. How often have you seen the tv or movie portrayal of a city that you've been to or lived in and thought "it's nothing like that"? Well, it happens everywhere.
I think many of you are taking this waaaaaay too seriously. It's a marketing campaign, not a public service announcement or an out-reach program. Lighten up, people.
Huh, anyone remember when Dannon yogurt went to Soviet Georgia and one of the oldest men in the world and asked her about their yogurt, his answer, "Yummy!" Plus, being a BK ad, you'll never see the footage of those who disliked the "whopper". This whole thing reminds me of Borat too :-)
I would not say they are offensive but should be looked at as foolish.
having spent 36 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand I can tell you it is not in the middle of Nowhere. If you were in Chiang Mai, trust that the last thing you may want would be Burger King...which they do actually have in the city of Chiang Mai !!! They have the best Northern Style Thai food in the country. The people they show are more of the Hill Tribe type, so it is equal here to say they are introducing Whopper to the Cherokee reservation...
I have lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand for many years. Not only has there been both a Mac Donalds and a Burger King here for years - but the recent popularity of American fast food in Thailand has sent obesity levels through the roof!
Additionally, because it is relatively expensive (the same price as the U.S. - you can by enough food to feed an entire family for the price of 1 whopper) Burger King and Mac Donalds have become a luxury that only the wealthy can afford, and the poor can only strive to afford.
Disgusting!
I find it amusing that someone from Romania liking a whopper, will make a person smack themselves in the head and go.... "WELL, I GUESS IT'S SETTLED THEN!"
I have no opinion on the commercials, however, for all the whinging about world hunger, where are these so called "activists" demanding that the food crops, that are being diverted to biofuels be used as food instead? Why are they silent about the fact that rainforest land is being plowed under in Brazil, so farmers can plant palm to make a quick buck, when the traditional sugar cane biofuel doesn't require the destruction of rainforest? Why are they so silent about the real hunger that exists in the US, or that Americans, black, brown and white are living in tent cities all across the US, with winter here early?
Why are they silent about the fact that the CEO's of the UN NGO's that are supposed to be using our aid money to deal with world hunger are making over 1 million per year, and at times sitting on billions of dollars they've squirreled away? There was a huge scandal in Britain over this, this past week. Or the fact that the aid money taken from our taxes is being used in Africa to buy the weapons that are used to perpetuate the genocide in the Sudan?
No, these so called, "activists" are b*tching and moaning about a Burger King commercial, so they can feign concern about poverty and hunger.
For me, the most mind-boggling aspect of the whole brouhaha is all the protest and indignation about these commercials on a website devoted to hamburgers.
I find the second clip offensive. Those are my kin and there is genocide going on over there. The issue has been raised, but no one cares it's just a small ethnic minority. They have no land or oil for the West, so no one gives a crap. It's terrible that for promotional purposes they finally show Hmong people in their traditional costumes, but ignore the thousands still hiding in jungles as they are being hunted down by the neighboring communist countries.
You world hunger cry baby, politically correct bleeding heart liberals need to find something else to whine about. Stick with the "Save the Whales" or "Live Aid" concerts. The testers should be happy to have free burgers. You people will literally complain about anything. How about we focus on what's wrong here before we go boycotting BK for giving out free burgers to hungry people. I don't see you sending dinner overseas and I'm sure you don't always get the clean plater award. Get a life. I boycott your politically correct, dumbing down and sensitivization of America. People are hungry in the world, people die, people have diseases and children have flies on their faces. Get over it. Boycotting BK doesn't and never will even put a dent in world hunger, you people just want to bitch. Good commercials BK. I wasn't going to eat there tonight and now I am, probably for the rest of the week. How bout that for a boycott.
Seriously, to all those throwing stones from their glass houses, this is a complete waste of time and energy from my perspective. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Aren't we all allowed to say, and think as we see fit? Opinions that differenciate from others are what makes this world so unique, so to "rip" on the opinions of others, I think, is a total catastrophe in the way we all present ourselves as being understanding to the way the world has become. Who are we to decide what's right? I believe that judgement should not be given from anyone, and to accept that what's been done, is done. Get over it and go on with whatever else is going on in your own lives that you can control, because guess what control freaks? Your opinions mean squat!! And nothing you do will change what's already been done. I personally thought the commercial was interesing, and insightful. Kudos to those who are in agreement with me.
OK, the whole Burger King vs, McDonald's commercial thing in Chiang Mai was unfair from the start. Thailand is still a Kingdom, as the "Constitutional Monarchy" and Democracy concept is still having fits there, as demonstrated by the recent protests. The Thai all "Love the King." (As they are constantly exhorted to.)
The people really do have a deeply ingrained respect for their benevolent King Bhumibol and he is the world's longest reigning monarch. So, "Burger King" as a brand is already much more likely to garner the favor of the average Thai, especially the Hill Tribe types. The Thai King has taken special interest in them and their welfare.
All this to say, there are also Lese Majeste laws in Thailand and maybe the Hmong and Karen tribals were afraid to offend the "King." (Hey even the Burger King can be rather intimidating, perhaps you have seen him with his big plastic head lately, running around the NYC streets "reverse mugging" people, and also playing in the NFL!)
And, as far as our self-righteous fears of "contaminating" the poor Chiang Mai hill tribe folk and Whopper Virgins: They are not so naive as you might be led to believe. They have a long history of sojourning en masse to the Chiang Mai and Bangkok night markets, where they sell (rather insistently) silver jewelry, hats, and wooden frog noisemakers. At least it seems that they have given up the opium trade, for now.
There has been a McDonald's and Burger King in Chiang Mai for more than a decade, and no harm to the economy has resulted. Most of us real foodies will opt for the independent noodle stall any day. But here's a news flash: The pizza places in Thailand now offer a pizza with a crust that's STUFFED with hot dogs! Now that is Western culinary decadence at its finest.
OK, the whole Burger King vs, McDonald's commercial thing in Chiang Mai was unfair from the start. Thailand is still a Kingdom, as the "Constitutional Monarchy" and Democracy concept is still having fits there, as demonstrated by the recent protests. The Thai all "Love the King." (As they are constantly exhorted to.)
The people really do have a deeply ingrained respect for their benevolent King Bhumibol and he is the world's longest reigning monarch. So, "Burger King" as a brand is already much more likely to garner the favor of the average Thai, especially the Hill Tribe types. The Thai King has taken special interest in them and their welfare.
All this to say, there are also Lese Majeste laws in Thailand and maybe the Hmong and Karen tribals were afraid to offend the "King." (Hey even the Burger King can be rather intimidating, perhaps you have seen him with his big plastic head lately, running around the NYC streets "reverse mugging" people, and also playing in the NFL!)
And, as far as our self-righteous fears of "contaminating" the poor Chiang Mai hill tribe folk and Whopper Virgins: They are not so naive as you might be led to believe. They have a long history of sojourning en masse to the Chiang Mai and Bangkok night markets, where they sell (rather insistently) silver jewelry, hats, and wooden frog noisemakers. At least it seems that they have given up the opium trade, for now.
There has been a McDonald's and Burger King in Chiang Mai for more than a decade, and no harm to the economy has resulted. Most of us real foodies will opt for the independent noodle stall any day. But here's a news flash: The pizza places in Thailand now offer a pizza with a crust that's STUFFED with hot dogs! Now that is Western culinary decadence at its finest.
If you were in Chiang Mai, trust that the last thing you may want would be Burger King...which they do actually have in the city of Chiang Mai !!! They have the best Northern Style Thai food in the country.
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38 Comments:
johnhutch at 2:24PM on 12/02/08
These guys have mastered perpetuating stereotypes- that every place that isn't America is backward and savage, and that Americans are gullible and ignorant.
DanielJ at 2:39PM on 12/02/08
For the record, my comment was an animated gif of the Scanners newscaster's head exploding. Because this whole thing is rather head-explodey.
johnhutch at 2:57PM on 12/02/08
The real test would be to see which is first to give the virgins diabetes.
christopher at 3:22PM on 12/02/08
Does one of the "virgins" spit out both burgers and then slap the taste out of the mouths of the film crew for trying to feed them fast food? Because that would be fantastic.
Dan Dickinson at 4:01PM on 12/02/08
Marilyn Borchardt states, "The ad's not even acknowledging that there's even hunger in any of these places," and she is totally correct. However, when was the last time any food advertisement, fast or otherwise, noted that there is hunger in the world? In fact, there is quite a bit of hunger in the United States; should fast food advertisements acknowledge those problems?
I'm not sure I understand how it is "insensitive" to point out that there are people in the world who have never eaten a burger. It doesn't mean that people in other countries are less sophisticated or ignorant--it just means they eat differently than people in the United States. It's a fun, lighthearted campaign, and the advertising critics need to stop projecting their own biases.
greenfield at 4:18PM on 12/02/08
I wonder if it offends fat people that have never had sex?
jword2001 at 4:30PM on 12/02/08
@ greenfield
Here here. Agreed. I'm not saying we should go around offending other people on purpose, but why does political correctness need to be taken to such an extreme?
cxg231 at 4:35PM on 12/02/08
Ehhh, at its core the logic of the ads doesn't even make sense. By their logic, if I wanted to know something about sex I should ask a person who has just lost the actual virginity. Which would get me what exactly? An inexperienced and relatively uneducated opinion? Ditto for the Whopper or anything else that one can be virginized (hello Webster's!) towards.
EazyB at 4:44PM on 12/02/08
I think the campaign is pretty smart. People need to lighten up.
davey at 5:43PM on 12/02/08
Honestly, what is even offensive about this commercial? I saw it for the first time today and thought it was pretty cool. And, I don't even like Burger King burgers (they're always dry). But I got to give credit to the BK advertising people. Whether it's with the King or this, they make fun commercials. I can't even think of the last McDonald's commercial I thought about...
film_score at 5:54PM on 12/02/08
my biggest problem is the same as Eazy B's. If they've never tried a burger, what the hell do they know about how one should taste, and why would i trust their judgement? If you had two people from Greenland make me two versions of their special national dish, i guarantee i'd have no idea which is better.
And I do think that there is something crass and distasteful about these ads, even if i can't put my finger on it.
mr guy at 6:04PM on 12/02/08
Meh. I don't see anything wrong with the commercials. I don't see why it's necessary for BK or any corporation to spend advertising $ to enlighten people on hunger, homelessness, etc. Everyone knows it exists in every single country in the world.
Cassaendra at 6:51PM on 12/02/08
@mr guy, maybe i can help. what's crass & distasteful about it is that its kind of patronizing. all these people are being portrayed as "backwards" (i can guarantee you that bucarest is not a rural backwater), and having them show up to taste the burgers in historical national dress doesn't help -- it kind of makes caricatures out them. If the French were making a food commercial with Americans, who they had dress up as pilgrims, would you assume that it was meant to be flattering?
Secondly, the reason it leaves a bad taste is that it leaves the impression that these are real folks, not actors. So you take some poor person out of a rural village, ask them to put on their best national costume so that they represent their country, and have them sample freaking FAST FOOD BURGERS for our amusement. That's what feels so uncomfortable.
Its kind of like Borat, but not very funny.
mh330 at 7:32PM on 12/02/08
Interestingly enough, one of the first things I remember seeing in Chiang Mai over twenty years ago was a Burger King. I had been staying with family in a town a couple of hours away for about a month...and had started, for whatever reason, to absolutely fiend for ketchup. Yeah, I don't get it either. We were traveling into Chiang Mai to visit a nearby mountaintop Wat, and had just been on a rather harrowing bus ride--did you know that a narrow two-lane mountain road could fit 4 vehicles side-by-side with one being a large truck and another a travel bus? Yeah, me neither. At any rate, I remember riding into Chiang Mai and seeing the heavy forestation open up to my very first sight of the city--a Burger King. I later begged my mother to go there for lunch so I could finally get my ketchup fix. There are three things I immediately visualize whenever I think of Chiang Mai: German tourists, Italian restaurants, and Burger King.
mahlookma at 7:59PM on 12/02/08
I think mh330 said it very well, this is a very patronizing way to deal with other cultures. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I mean, traveling to poor areas of the world for no other reason than to use these people in a Burger King commercial? I know Burger King is a commercial enterprise and not UNICEF, but don't you think they could have used the money and time they spent on this ad campaign for something other than just expanding their corporation? Maybe by showing a little global awareness? Such a waste.
Splaine at 12:07AM on 12/03/08
This is what you call American imperialism, an American corporation exploiting people stricken down by poverty in other countries, raping them by distorting their cultures to sell a product to the American public. And yet, people applaud this? Only the ignorant wouldn't understand to be part of the group. Only the ignorant wouldn't understand to be oppressed and exploited. Only the ignorant will applaud this ad campaign.
Loleela at 12:25AM on 12/03/08
I'm just cringing with embarrassment, here.
mongoose at 2:30AM on 12/03/08
This is incredible. It's not enough that this corn-based food has brought the misery of obesity & type II diabetes to this country, we now have to export it to the few indigenous groups that have managed to maintain their traditional foods & lifestyles & absence of these diseases?? Doesn't Burger King make enough money already?? It used to be Coca-cola that did this in the 60s. Shame on us!
lurquizo at 2:42AM on 12/03/08
I'm sorry, but isn't a bit patronizing to think that just because these people came from a more rural setting that we need to infantilize them and assume that they had no clue what they were doing? Yes, I find these commercials more than a bit ridiculous and, outside of using them for a very odd foreign-food-ketchup-crave in the mid eighties, have never been the biggest fan of the fast food restaurant that they're shilling. But really? "Raping them by distorting cultures to sell a product"? I don't think these people were kidnapped and forced to be in these commercials. They seemed willing, and I'd imagine that they were paid. Just because they're rural doesn't mean they're idiots. I know that in the case of the village in Chiang Mai province, they live in a province that is a center of tourism within easy reach of the largest metropolis in the north. Having family still choosing to live in the more agriculturally-focused bits of the area, I have to say that there's something distasteful and condescending about this rhetoric of ignorance that purports to defend their purity as if they were children.
Respect their culture if you will. See the absurdity in how they're being portrayed. But to wag a finger at the corporations for treating their cultural heritage while purporting to defend them by falling for these ridiculous stereotypes of the easily-fooled country mouse is just as painful to read and look at. I say counter-program, find out about the people and regions as they actually are, learn about their food, and realize that tv fakery is...well, fakery. How often have you seen the tv or movie portrayal of a city that you've been to or lived in and thought "it's nothing like that"? Well, it happens everywhere.
mahlookma at 2:42AM on 12/03/08
I love this campaign. I think its really inventive and interesting. I missed the part where there was a gun put to the head of any taste-tester.
Keight at 8:14AM on 12/03/08
I think many of you are taking this waaaaaay too seriously. It's a marketing campaign, not a public service announcement or an out-reach program. Lighten up, people.
juliebugsmama at 9:09AM on 12/03/08
Huh, anyone remember when Dannon yogurt went to Soviet Georgia and one of the oldest men in the world and asked her about their yogurt, his answer, "Yummy!" Plus, being a BK ad, you'll never see the footage of those who disliked the "whopper". This whole thing reminds me of Borat too :-)
jkdrummer at 9:53AM on 12/03/08
Wait...those ads are for real? I thought it was a "mock"umentary. I'm still not convinced that this isn't a put-on.
Kerosena at 12:16PM on 12/03/08
I would not say they are offensive but should be looked at as foolish.
having spent 36 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand I can tell you it is not in the middle of Nowhere. If you were in Chiang Mai, trust that the last thing you may want would be Burger King...which they do actually have in the city of Chiang Mai !!! They have the best Northern Style Thai food in the country. The people they show are more of the Hill Tribe type, so it is equal here to say they are introducing Whopper to the Cherokee reservation...
manimalz74 at 1:23AM on 12/04/08
I have lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand for many years. Not only has there been both a Mac Donalds and a Burger King here for years - but the recent popularity of American fast food in Thailand has sent obesity levels through the roof!
Additionally, because it is relatively expensive (the same price as the U.S. - you can by enough food to feed an entire family for the price of 1 whopper) Burger King and Mac Donalds have become a luxury that only the wealthy can afford, and the poor can only strive to afford.
Disgusting!
ZJayL at 9:13AM on 12/04/08
pretty amusing
foodinmouth at 10:49AM on 12/04/08
This thread is pretty amusing.
alastor at 11:46AM on 12/04/08
I find it amusing that someone from Romania liking a whopper, will make a person smack themselves in the head and go.... "WELL, I GUESS IT'S SETTLED THEN!"
Pavlov at 3:23PM on 12/04/08
I have no opinion on the commercials, however, for all the whinging about world hunger, where are these so called "activists" demanding that the food crops, that are being diverted to biofuels be used as food instead? Why are they silent about the fact that rainforest land is being plowed under in Brazil, so farmers can plant palm to make a quick buck, when the traditional sugar cane biofuel doesn't require the destruction of rainforest? Why are they so silent about the real hunger that exists in the US, or that Americans, black, brown and white are living in tent cities all across the US, with winter here early?
Why are they silent about the fact that the CEO's of the UN NGO's that are supposed to be using our aid money to deal with world hunger are making over 1 million per year, and at times sitting on billions of dollars they've squirreled away? There was a huge scandal in Britain over this, this past week. Or the fact that the aid money taken from our taxes is being used in Africa to buy the weapons that are used to perpetuate the genocide in the Sudan?
No, these so called, "activists" are b*tching and moaning about a Burger King commercial, so they can feign concern about poverty and hunger.
Mares at 11:06PM on 12/04/08
For me, the most mind-boggling aspect of the whole brouhaha is all the protest and indignation about these commercials on a website devoted to hamburgers.
gentlyferal at 9:34PM on 12/06/08
I find the second clip offensive. Those are my kin and there is genocide going on over there. The issue has been raised, but no one cares it's just a small ethnic minority. They have no land or oil for the West, so no one gives a crap. It's terrible that for promotional purposes they finally show Hmong people in their traditional costumes, but ignore the thousands still hiding in jungles as they are being hunted down by the neighboring communist countries.
burgerdoodz at 12:18AM on 12/10/08
check out this clip on youtube if you think I'm just being sensitive or joking. It is graphic so be warned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtW08-HrGPI&feature=related
burgerdoodz at 12:37AM on 12/10/08
You world hunger cry baby, politically correct bleeding heart liberals need to find something else to whine about. Stick with the "Save the Whales" or "Live Aid" concerts. The testers should be happy to have free burgers. You people will literally complain about anything. How about we focus on what's wrong here before we go boycotting BK for giving out free burgers to hungry people. I don't see you sending dinner overseas and I'm sure you don't always get the clean plater award. Get a life. I boycott your politically correct, dumbing down and sensitivization of America. People are hungry in the world, people die, people have diseases and children have flies on their faces. Get over it. Boycotting BK doesn't and never will even put a dent in world hunger, you people just want to bitch. Good commercials BK. I wasn't going to eat there tonight and now I am, probably for the rest of the week. How bout that for a boycott.
JamieTwelve at 3:19PM on 12/10/08
Seriously, to all those throwing stones from their glass houses, this is a complete waste of time and energy from my perspective. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Aren't we all allowed to say, and think as we see fit? Opinions that differenciate from others are what makes this world so unique, so to "rip" on the opinions of others, I think, is a total catastrophe in the way we all present ourselves as being understanding to the way the world has become. Who are we to decide what's right? I believe that judgement should not be given from anyone, and to accept that what's been done, is done. Get over it and go on with whatever else is going on in your own lives that you can control, because guess what control freaks? Your opinions mean squat!! And nothing you do will change what's already been done. I personally thought the commercial was interesing, and insightful. Kudos to those who are in agreement with me.
bakergirl_80 at 10:17PM on 12/11/08
OK, the whole Burger King vs, McDonald's commercial thing in Chiang Mai was unfair from the start. Thailand is still a Kingdom, as the "Constitutional Monarchy" and Democracy concept is still having fits there, as demonstrated by the recent protests. The Thai all "Love the King." (As they are constantly exhorted to.)
The people really do have a deeply ingrained respect for their benevolent King Bhumibol and he is the world's longest reigning monarch. So, "Burger King" as a brand is already much more likely to garner the favor of the average Thai, especially the Hill Tribe types. The Thai King has taken special interest in them and their welfare.
All this to say, there are also Lese Majeste laws in Thailand and maybe the Hmong and Karen tribals were afraid to offend the "King." (Hey even the Burger King can be rather intimidating, perhaps you have seen him with his big plastic head lately, running around the NYC streets "reverse mugging" people, and also playing in the NFL!)
And, as far as our self-righteous fears of "contaminating" the poor Chiang Mai hill tribe folk and Whopper Virgins: They are not so naive as you might be led to believe. They have a long history of sojourning en masse to the Chiang Mai and Bangkok night markets, where they sell (rather insistently) silver jewelry, hats, and wooden frog noisemakers. At least it seems that they have given up the opium trade, for now.
There has been a McDonald's and Burger King in Chiang Mai for more than a decade, and no harm to the economy has resulted. Most of us real foodies will opt for the independent noodle stall any day. But here's a news flash: The pizza places in Thailand now offer a pizza with a crust that's STUFFED with hot dogs! Now that is Western culinary decadence at its finest.
colucciman at 11:48AM on 12/13/08
OK, the whole Burger King vs, McDonald's commercial thing in Chiang Mai was unfair from the start. Thailand is still a Kingdom, as the "Constitutional Monarchy" and Democracy concept is still having fits there, as demonstrated by the recent protests. The Thai all "Love the King." (As they are constantly exhorted to.)
The people really do have a deeply ingrained respect for their benevolent King Bhumibol and he is the world's longest reigning monarch. So, "Burger King" as a brand is already much more likely to garner the favor of the average Thai, especially the Hill Tribe types. The Thai King has taken special interest in them and their welfare.
All this to say, there are also Lese Majeste laws in Thailand and maybe the Hmong and Karen tribals were afraid to offend the "King." (Hey even the Burger King can be rather intimidating, perhaps you have seen him with his big plastic head lately, running around the NYC streets "reverse mugging" people, and also playing in the NFL!)
And, as far as our self-righteous fears of "contaminating" the poor Chiang Mai hill tribe folk and Whopper Virgins: They are not so naive as you might be led to believe. They have a long history of sojourning en masse to the Chiang Mai and Bangkok night markets, where they sell (rather insistently) silver jewelry, hats, and wooden frog noisemakers. At least it seems that they have given up the opium trade, for now.
There has been a McDonald's and Burger King in Chiang Mai for more than a decade, and no harm to the economy has resulted. Most of us real foodies will opt for the independent noodle stall any day. But here's a news flash: The pizza places in Thailand now offer a pizza with a crust that's STUFFED with hot dogs! Now that is Western culinary decadence at its finest.
colucciman at 11:51AM on 12/13/08
If you were in Chiang Mai, trust that the last thing you may want would be Burger King...which they do actually have in the city of Chiang Mai !!! They have the best Northern Style Thai food in the country.
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rapidshare_fan at 6:41AM on 03/15/09