Why I’m Lovin’ McDonald’s

I swung through McDonald’s drive-thru for lunch on Friday. Not the healthiest option, perhaps, but necessary. I usually pack lunch (or, to be more accurate, my Fab Hub packs lunch for me), but Friday looked like a snow dismissal day, so I figured I’d be home in time for lunch. Wrong.

We did dismiss early, but it wasn’t really snowing much yet and so I took advantage of the quiet to get some work done. The next thing I knew, it was way past lunch time. I was hungry and I still needed to stop at the store on the way home for emergency fondue supplies. McDonald’s was right on the way.

As I pulled in, I saw the sign…the sign that said Shamrock Shakes are back! Yesss! I knew what I had to do. I pulled up to the speaker…

McD: Can I take your order?

Me: Yes, a Filet-O-Fish sandwich with extra cheese, small French fries, and a Shamrock Shake, please. (Best fast food meal ever.)

Silence.

McD: Size?

Me: Uh, small.

McD: For the shake.

Me: Oh, yes, sorry. [Brain interrupts – BIG BIG BIG. Get a BIG shake.] Small on that, too, please.

McD: Do you want to try our new Fish McBites with that?

I thought about this for a second…

Me: Um, I just ordered a fish sandwich.

Silence.

McD: OK. So do you want to try the fish bites?

Me: Um, no. I think that would be an awful lot of fish. But thanks.

McD: OK, pull up to the first window.

Now, I completely understand that these Fish McBites are the hot new menu item – and they are intriguing without a doubt. I worked in more than one fast food restaurant when I was a teenager. I know that when there is a promotion or a new item, you are required to suggest this item to the customer. No problem. The McDonald’s person was just doing their job.

What bothered me is that the question clearly came with no active thought whatsoever – it was clearly just a programmed response. Now, I also understand that. After a four-hour shift on the drive-thru window, you do feel sort of automatic. But even so, this is one of my biggest pet peeves: people just do not think.

It just bothers me that so much of life is automatic, programmed, and done without thought. It makes me sad to see people, mostly young people, going about the business of their lives just going through the motions and without thinking about things. Asking someone if they want fish with their fish? Just silly. I would much rather possess the ability to think for myself, figure things out, and find an answer that I need than be able to regurgitate memorized facts and responses.

By the time I was finished letting that ramble through my head, the window opened and I was presented with this:

Ah, McDonald’s…I’m definitely lovin’ it!