McDonald's Rewrites Definition of Chutzpah
| Tue Mar. 20, 2007 9:59 AM PDT
I'm lovin' it. McDonalds has asked the Oxford English Dictionary to change its definition of "McJob." Since 2003, the OED has defined it as "an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, esp. one created by the expansion of the service sector." Mickey D's house lexicographer claims that such a definition "is out of date, out of touch with reality and most importantly it is insulting to those talented, committed, hard-working people who serve the public every day." Actually, the two definitions don't conflict at all; the OED just bothers to mention that service sector jobs are poorly paid. Maybe it should redefine "minimum wage" while it's at it; something like, "An artificially high, mandated wage that prevents the creation of exciting opportunities for talented, committed, hard-working people who want to make people smile." Hopefully, OED will stick to its guns. Otherwise, they may have to redefine "chutzpah," too.
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Comments
The quote that you put up from McDonald's lexicographer, though not mutually exclusive as compared to the OED definition of McJob, is describing the people in the service industrty and not the "Mc"-job itself.
McDonald's definition of McJob, according to the site you supplied, is "a job that is stimulating, rewarding and offers genuine opportunities for career progression and skills that last a lifetime."
And yes, that definition, as compared to the OED's, is VERY different.
The OED should really correct the entry:
"A demeaning, slave-wage job that has no rewards and makes the career of crack dealer look more promising every minute you are there. The only skill you learn from it is the ability to work under terrible conditions without cuttings your wrists at the first opportunity."
Everyone knows that Mickey Dees is crap food and a crap place to work. The funny thing is how they try and market thenselves now as either healthy or hip-hop style, trying to appeal to the black community- the commercials are funny. Lastly, what is really pathetic is the dumb people who eat at McDeath regularly and blame the restuarant more turning them into a Fat [deleted by moderator]. This isn't the problem-people can cook for themselves for cheaper and eat healthier but they would rather drive their lard [deleted] through the drive through and get they "Third Pounder wid Cheese" because it's easier. Parents who feed their kids this [deleted] everyday are also probably too dumb to be breeding anyway. Oh yeah, probably not a desirable place to work unless you happen to own the frachise.
The biggest part of the mistake on McD's part is to forget that dictionaries are descriptive NOT proscriptive.
It is the job of a dictionary to report word use, not mandate it. That's why it is now becoming acceptable to say "I am nauseaus" rather than "I feel nauseated". The two used to mean very different things. The latter would have indicated that the speaker felt ill. The former would have indicated that the speaker's presence caused nausea in others.
The origin of "McJob" as a word is really easy to find -- it was coined in the novel _Generation X_ by Douglas Coupland. His definition was:
"A low-pay, low-prestige, low-dignity, low-benefit, no-future job in the service sector. Frequently considered a satisfying career choice by people who have never held one."
I have to imagine that McDonald's lexicographer is one of those "people who have never held one."
It always amazes me that McD's gets away with calling it's outlets 'restaurants'. I hope the OED doesn't cave in to the pressure. McD's personnel should worry more about the conditions it imposes on it's workers and less about word definitions.
The line that OED is "insulting" McD workers is strangely (or not) reminiscent of the standard Bush admin. line that critics of Bush war policies are "insulting" our brave and dedicated troops.
You have to wonder if their PR people graduated from the same school.
Hmmm... If I had an investment in McDonalds, I'd consider liquidating it quick-smart.
If petitioning the OED to do something that it will never, ever, ever do in a million years is seen as good policy in McDonalds, then the corporation is run by idiots.
The OED is the most comprehensive historical dictionary of English. They never remove entries, and their definition of 'McJob' is, frankly, correct.
If you threatened to murder their staff members unless they removed the word 'McJob', they wouldn't do it. McDonalds has zero chance of getting them to revise this entry, and by following this ridiculous strategy, is reinforcing ridicule of their corporation.
I just love it. Every one of you seem to think that, unless you are interested in fast food management or franchising (very lucrative careers, by the way)that a job at McDonalds is anything more than an ENTRY LEVEL JOB.Don't remember what that means? It's now called "jobs Americans won't do" by those who have an interest in justifying the criminal behavior of the hoards of illegals streaming across our borders. Entry level has never meant that you were expected to make a career out of it. It has always been a place to learn the ropes of the free market society we have worked so hard to establish.A place to learn that the world no longer revolves around you like mommy and daddy taught you and that if you want to get anywhere in this world it means you have to start at the bottom in in a low pay, uninspiring job.You learn how to show up on time with a showered body and (if appropriate or possible) a close shave. You learn the value of money and how it relates to your effort. A days pay for a days work. This seems to have been lost to the kids comeing along. The McJob is nothing more nor less than an entry level job and we are letting them slip away to people who are willing to do them for less money than our kids want. Maybe the fool on the hill(Bush, in case you don't understand inuendo) was right when he says that the "hard workin' folk" ie illegals "are just lookin' for jobs Americans won't do to feed their families." which are growing at a rate three times faster than their legal counterparts.I sometimes wonder what it must be like to be loved by those from both sides od the aisle. The Republicans love them because they are a source of cheap labor. That is until they leave the job that an American wouldn't do to take a middle class job that an American would beg for. The Democrats love them because the are a people who needs rescueing. BULL SCHITE!!!!!
