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Racist McDonald's hoax reveals a gullible world

William Parcher

Show me the monkey!
Joined
Jul 26, 2005
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'Seriously McDonalds' Hoax-Pic Angers Internet, McDonald's


Over the weekend, many people became acquainted with this photo for the first time. It's a hoax: McDonald's isn't charging African-American McDonald's customers an extra $1.50 "as an insurance measure due in part to a recent string of robberies." Nevertheless, the pic seems to have caused yet another PR problem for the dream McJob-generating giant of fast foods.

According to various sources on the Twitter, the picture is an old meme first posted on the 4chan message board. The photo also shows up in this blog post, dated June 17, 2010, on the website McServed. Yet somehow it began recirculating a few days ago, causing much alarm. On the Twitter, people tweeted and retweeted the photo, using the words "Seriously McDonalds" to express their disappointment with the fast-food chain.


Today, McDonald's took to its Twitter once again: "That Seriously McDonalds picture is a hoax." No matter: the picture kept spreading around as the afternoon went on, with many people upset at what they thought was a for-real photo. And who can blame them? The Internet has shown us that anything's possible.


Who can blame them for thinking this is real? The Internet has shown us that McDonald's really might create such a sign? WTF?
 

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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." --attributed to Albert Einstein.
 
Notice how the phone number is conveniently there so that people can swamp McDonald's with complaints.

Steve S
 
I love how the sign uses "African American"--as if a black surcharge wouldn't be offensive, but using a racial slur would cross the line! :p
 
4 Chan strikes again. Amazing what people are willing to believe in order to be outraged.
 
How do you know it's a hoax?

As someone said, use your brain! It's fun to use, and the price is right.

The sign is obviously pasted to the outside of a window with a single piece of masking tape.
 
Notice how the phone number is conveniently there so that people can swamp McDonald's with complaints.

Steve S

Yeah, about that. According to my friend, the phone number is actually for the KFC corporation.

So an angry african american person that attempts to lodge a complaint finds that they have been directed to a fried chicken seller. It would be admirably clever if it were not so despicable.
 
This picture was posted by one of my friends on their facebook wall, where it became the subject of a debate over it's authenticity.

I felt like it was an obvious prank, but several people were convinced it was real.
 
As someone said, use your brain! It's fun to use, and the price is right.

The sign is obviously pasted to the outside of a window with a single piece of masking tape.

Don't forget to use your eyes as well, cocky. ;)

There are two pieces of masking tape on the sign. :D
 
As someone said, use your brain! It's fun to use, and the price is right.

The sign is obviously pasted to the outside of a window with a single piece of masking tape.

That's exactly how McDonalds would post it to avoid responsibility.
 
I would have posted a 900 number. People too stupid to realize it is a hoax are probably too stupid to know that 900 numbers include surcharges.
 
Because I'm sure McDonald's has at least one competent lawyer on staff and because I'm sure they would like to continue to make money.

This one is a hoax, but there is always the possibility that an over-zealous manager or franchise owner could have had a "brilliant idea" and I bet they don't run everything past the corporation's lawyers.
 
Because I'm sure McDonald's has at least one competent lawyer on staff and because I'm sure they would like to continue to make money.

Or they're just backpedaling. Like when someone makes a racist joke and through a ****-eating grin sputters, "Heh, c'mon guys. Heh, I'm just kidding, heh. I can't be racist... I have a black president."
 

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