Comments on: Reuben Rants No 1: Fast Food, freedom and “think of the kids” http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/ What Is The Third Estate? Everything. What Has It Been Until Now In The Political Order? Nothing. What Does It Want To Be? Something. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:39:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Owain http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-7010 Owain Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:25:00 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-7010 Tidy your room! Tidy your room!

]]> By: Reuben http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6956 Reuben Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:54:01 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6956 Jacob said much if what needed to be said. I would also say that informed consent is the concept that people wheel out every time people make choices others dislike. I think most people know that burgers are bad fir you and made out of manky shit. As I suggest in the video they choose ti buy them because the pleasure and convenience, for them, outweighs the risk to their health. Jacob said much if what needed to be said. I would also say that informed consent is the concept that people wheel out every time people make choices others dislike. I think most people know that burgers are bad fir you and made out of manky shit. As I suggest in the video they choose ti buy them because the pleasure and convenience, for them, outweighs the risk to their health.

]]> By: Jacob http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6951 Jacob Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:59:46 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6951 The problem, Julia, is that the video is clearly grasping at straws: 1) Ok so trans fats aren't great for you, but let's be honest, they're in all sorts of other things we eat. And they're cheap, and I'd rather have a well fed slightly less healthy population than an underfed population. And again, in moderation, trans fats aren't too much of a problem. 2) This thing about burgers travelling miles with "artificial preservatives" - well thank fuck they use the preservatives. The burgers wouldn't last much without them, and the use of artificial here is just a fetishisation of the natural. Oh, and it's considerably better for the environment (waste and energy) than, say, vacuum packing. 3) well obviously we have guidelines about what can be sold as food, and if manure is involved then it's illegal. 4) The only criticism that is good here is about workers' rights, but this, as far as I understand it, is a question of relations of production rather than the quality of the commodities that they are producing. I mean workers in an all-natural organic our-cows-get-to-run-around-a-magical-forest-and-feast-on-daffodils burger factory might get shat on too. The problem, Julia, is that the video is clearly grasping at straws:

1) Ok so trans fats aren’t great for you, but let’s be honest, they’re in all sorts of other things we eat. And they’re cheap, and I’d rather have a well fed slightly less healthy population than an underfed population. And again, in moderation, trans fats aren’t too much of a problem.

2) This thing about burgers travelling miles with “artificial preservatives” – well thank fuck they use the preservatives. The burgers wouldn’t last much without them, and the use of artificial here is just a fetishisation of the natural. Oh, and it’s considerably better for the environment (waste and energy) than, say, vacuum packing.

3) well obviously we have guidelines about what can be sold as food, and if manure is involved then it’s illegal.

4) The only criticism that is good here is about workers’ rights, but this, as far as I understand it, is a question of relations of production rather than the quality of the commodities that they are producing. I mean workers in an all-natural organic our-cows-get-to-run-around-a-magical-forest-and-feast-on-daffodils burger factory might get shat on too.

]]> By: Julia http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6950 Julia Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:48:00 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6950 This made me laugh, but it's a serious issue -- or rather two issues. You're right to challenge the control freakery and deceptive/manipulative tactics of government but political so-called leaders being complete bastards doesn't make fast food a good thing. You're right, too, about choice, but you should know what you're choosing. You might find you no longer fancy a burger made of random bits of hundreds of cows, lightly seasoned with manure. Have a look at this trailer http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-548917414639624495&ei=MExgS-axAYnt-QbN3r2AAQ&q=fast+food+nation&hl=en&client=firefox-a#docid=-243093836887737054 This made me laugh, but it’s a serious issue — or rather two issues. You’re right to challenge the control freakery and deceptive/manipulative tactics of government but political so-called leaders being complete bastards doesn’t make fast food a good thing.
You’re right, too, about choice, but you should know what you’re choosing. You might find you no longer fancy a burger made of random bits of hundreds of cows, lightly seasoned with manure. Have a look at this trailer
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-548917414639624495&ei=MExgS-axAYnt-QbN3r2AAQ&q=fast+food+nation&hl=en&client=firefox-a#docid=-243093836887737054

]]> By: Salman Shaheen http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6937 Salman Shaheen Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:26:02 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6937 Tubbies Special we used to call them, mighty fine. I still miss Beccles fish and chips when I go to other parts of the country... Tubbies Special we used to call them, mighty fine. I still miss Beccles fish and chips when I go to other parts of the country…

]]> By: Alan http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6936 Alan Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:07:33 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6936 I remember when I was at school reaching year 11 where one of the (few) priviledges was to be allowed to venture into the town at lunchtimes and without fail we would head straight to the chippy for a 'Toby's Special' (battered sausage and chips £1.20). That was a good mile away from the school. Kids in my day had to travel to get their carbs. Also, tidy your room! I remember when I was at school reaching year 11 where one of the (few) priviledges was to be allowed to venture into the town at lunchtimes and without fail we would head straight to the chippy for a ‘Toby’s Special’ (battered sausage and chips £1.20). That was a good mile away from the school. Kids in my day had to travel to get their carbs.

Also, tidy your room!

]]> By: Michael http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6932 Michael Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:29:34 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6932 As an inhabitant of the vast resedential desert that is the North Cambridge, the idea that resedential areas should have fewer greasy spoons seems problematic (perhaps florists count for -1 greasy spoons). I would also like to break with the main theme of the video slightly and say that fast food outlets one level above the most basic "cardboard chips, reconstituted chicken and MEAT" type would be an improvement. You sound surprisingly like Ben Goldacre. As an inhabitant of the vast resedential desert that is the North Cambridge, the idea that resedential areas should have fewer greasy spoons seems problematic (perhaps florists count for -1 greasy spoons).

I would also like to break with the main theme of the video slightly and say that fast food outlets one level above the most basic “cardboard chips, reconstituted chicken and MEAT” type would be an improvement.

You sound surprisingly like Ben Goldacre.

]]> By: John http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6930 John Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:02:04 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6930 It is generally considered best to position a camera below or on a level with the subject for those to camera pieces, and you clinical arrangement of branded items in the background I find a bit heavy handed. It is generally considered best to position a camera below or on a level with the subject for those to camera pieces, and you clinical arrangement of branded items in the background I find a bit heavy handed.

]]> By: Reuben http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6928 Reuben Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:19:21 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6928 LOL I was quite proud of that comment LOL I was quite proud of that comment

]]> By: Sam http://thethirdestate.net/2010/01/reuben-rants-no-1-fast-food-freedom-and-think-of-the-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-6927 Sam Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:52:38 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=3436#comment-6927 '...especially the ones at risk from obesity' lol, put very diplomatically. ‘…especially the ones at risk from obesity’ lol, put very diplomatically.

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