(no subject)

[symbioidlj]

CHICAGO - McDonald's says it deserves a break from the unflattering way the latest Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary depicts its job opportunities. Among some 10,000 new additions to an updated version released in June was the term "McJob," defined as "low paying and dead-end work."

In an open letter to Merriam-Webster, McDonald's CEO Jim Cantalupo said the term is "an inaccurate description of restaurant employment" and "a slap in the face to the 12 million men and women" who work in the restaurant industry.

...

Walt Riker, a spokesman for McDonald's, said the Oak Brook, Ill.-based fast-food giant also is concerned that "McJob" closely resembles McJOBS, the company's training program for mentally and physically challenged people.

"McJOBS is trademarked and we've notified them that legally that's an issue for us as well," Riker said.

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what the fuck ever.
The slap in the face to the "12 million men and women" isn't the job description, it's the shit wages and lack of real benefits that you give them. If you really thought they deserved respect, maybe you would fucking respect them yourselves.

Maybe things have changed since I worked at Taco Bell, but man... When they started to offer Health Care benefits, it was completely asinine. You had to pay an arm and a leg and for the most part you couldn't afford it.

McJOBS... what a Kroc(yeah, I spelled it the way I wanted to as a joke) of shit. If McJob is in common usage, the dictionary is doing their job to report the language as it sees fit.

What a pointless tirade this is.

Comments

[javina.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised they're not suing Douglas Coupland; he's the person who coined the term in his novel Generation X about ten years ago. He defined it in the book, too, but I don't have a copy with me to look it up. Perhaps he should sue Merriam-Webster for not using his definition. The legal battles could go on for a lifetime...

It's also been in common usage for a long time; I wonder why Mickey D's hasn't pounced on anyone else. In any event, it's a totally asanine suit and I doubt it will go anywhere. It'll be interesting to watch, though.

I'd love to invent a word that makes it into a dictionary. Hmm, will ponder. Do you have one?

[thaumaturge.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's pointless. Corporations have a huge effects on culture and its language. Think Disney (a veritable culture machine), Nike, Coke... All have had aspects of their marketing campaigns adopted into the nation's vernacular. While McJob is used as Webster's defines it, McDonald's can try to fix it with a lawsuit. But when it gets thrown out of court, they still have their marketing machine to alter everyone's perception of their business.

Interestingly, my ex (yeah, i never wanted to have one, but it wasn't my choice) who lives in WA, over on the west coast, seems to have a rather dismal view of McDonald's' employment, while mine was much more favourable of McDonald's. I don't know if this generalizes to America, but here in Canada, it seems somewhat respectable, at least. While I've never worked there myself, I have applied and would've been accepted had I not been leaving after the summer was through (which maybe I shouldn't be too flattered by, heh). And I've had several friends work there, and it obviously is 'dead-end' to the large extent, but I don't think it would've been that bad. I mean, it's just a place to get money for your time.

[zboson.livejournal.com]

Wow, I thought I was the only one who noticed the difference between the Canada and the US McDonald's experiences. I used to work there (in Canada) for a year back in high school. I'm not defending McDonald's in any way - I think it's atrocious - but when I worked there it wasn't a terrible job to have. We were given regular merit-based raises and a very high standard of customer service to achieve. Maybe it had something to do with the high unemployment rate in Ontario at that time, but I had to beat out 20 other applicants for that part-time server position. Though I can't say I enjoyed the job very much, I certainly did appreciate it. Also, it gave me some job experience so I could move up to better jobs.

However, I was a high school student, and it was my first real job. I think the story might be different for those in other situations. Also, from what I've observed here, the standards are considerably lower in the US.