Vote: Creepiest fast food advertising image

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the creepiness of various fast food advertising images, specifically focusing on the Burger King King and Baby Ronald McDonald. Participants share their reactions to these advertisements, exploring their unsettling qualities and the implications behind them.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants find the Baby Ronald McDonald image particularly creepy, comparing it to horror movie imagery.
  • Others argue that the Burger King King ads are equally unsettling, with references to specific commercials that evoke fear.
  • A few participants express a desire for a poll allowing multiple selections, indicating that both images are creepy in different ways.
  • There are discussions about the nature of the Baby Ronald ad, with some suggesting it may contain social commentary.
  • Some participants question the authenticity of the Baby Ronald video, suggesting it may not be an official advertisement.
  • One participant notes that the Baby Ronald ad is from India, prompting questions about its airing and context.
  • Several comments highlight the unusual and campy nature of the Burger King ads, with some appreciating their boldness.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of the imagery used in these ads, with references to deeper social critiques.
  • There is a mention of a specific BK ad featuring a confrontation with Darth Vader, adding to the discussion of memorable creepy ads.
  • Some participants express confusion over the intent behind the ads, questioning whether they are meant to be humorous or disturbing.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that both the Burger King King and Baby Ronald McDonald images are creepy, but there is no consensus on which is creepier or the intent behind the advertisements. Multiple competing views remain regarding the nature and impact of these ads.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the origins and authenticity of the Baby Ronald McDonald ad, with some suggesting it may be a print ad rather than a video. There are also discussions about the potential for social commentary in the imagery used.

Who's creepier?

  • The Burger King king

    Votes: 5 20.0%

  • Baby Ronald

    Votes: 20 80.0%
  • Total voters
    25
Math Is Hard
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The Burger King king:
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/ceo_socnet/image/burger-king.jpg[/Img]


Baby Ronald McDonald:
[PLAIN]http://content4.clipmarks.com/image_cache/constantskeptic/512/3D4C4195-AC21-40F1-A90B-E589D50FC792.jpg
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/3316AE9A-6A0C-43ED-8623-86ABFCE0D4CA/
 
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Ugh, some poor baby had to get powdered up and made up for that!
...Wonder how long / how many takes it took?

EDIT: Burger King king Klingon!
http://superpunch.blogspot.com/2009/05/klingon-burger-king.html

I think I now want some BK with a side of Star Trek bobble-heads
 
The bebeh for sure is creepier. Looks like chucky or something.
 
The baby, what's creepy about the King?
 
I wish this was a poll where you could choose multiple choices. They're both creepy in their own way. I haven't seen the baby Ronald ad yet, but I can't stand the Burger King King ads.
 
the baby is creepy, but it's hard to believe it's an ad. there's some deep social commentary in that image, and it's not so positive.
 
Well in the pics in the OP, it's hard to say which is creepier...they are both weird.

The BK ads are definitely creepy...the one where he's in the forest? Whoa, reminded me of "Blair Witch Project"! But I haven't seen Baby Ronald ads yet. So I'll wait to cast my vote, until I see more of Baby Ronald.
 
I hate the commercials where the guy wakes up and the king is in his room.
 
I think the BK ads are great. It took guts for some ad exec to approve them - they're not the usual corporate fare. They are great for the sole reason that the King is so creepy.
 
  • #10
I haven't seen any ads with the baby, but the still looks like one of those quickly flashed nightmare images in recent Japanese horror flicks.

I think the BKK was intended to be 'campy' when they first introduced it. But at some point they gave up and accepted it was actually simply disturbing and now they're trying to go with that. Last one I saw, it was waking people up with an air horn.
 
  • #11
The baby ad is actually from India from what I read.
 
  • #12
Math Is Hard said:
The baby ad is actually from India from what I read.
Meaning it only airs in India?
 
  • #13
I think it is a print ad, for magazines, and such. But if it is.. I don't get it.
 
  • #14
Math Is Hard said:
I think it is a print ad, for magazines, and such. But if it is.. I don't get it.

Ah: the small text says: "Just opened. Near (something something)." So, it's an ad for a newly opened McDonald's.
 
  • #15
Oh, that at least makes some sense. Hmm...if it's only a print ad, maybe they didn't actually plaster all that makeup onto a baby and it's just a lot of photoshop type work. That would be a relief.
 
  • #16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3si3aRs3NLc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gMZ62PsvRM
 
  • #17
AHAHAH, I love the burger KING!
 
  • #18
Ok that mcdonalds video is WEIRD. What the HELL?
 
  • #19
Pengwuino said:
Ok that mcdonalds video is WEIRD. What the HELL?
The baby face is computer generated.
 
  • #20
The baby is worse, damn Japanese McDonalds commercials, they're all that weird.
 
  • #21
binzing said:
The baby is worse, damn Japanese McDonalds commercials, they're all that weird.

You're telling me. The geisha Ronald McDonald was straight out of a nightmare. Maybe I can find it again...
 
  • #22
Anyone else remember that BK ad where the King and Darth Vader are facing off, breathing at each other for like 30 seconds, and that's the whole ad?
 
  • #23
I think the BK ads are brilliant. They are creepy, which is what I find so fascinating. Who would have thought that "creepy" is a great basis for peddling burgers??
 
  • #24
Ivan Seeking said:
I think the BK ads are brilliant. They are creepy, which is what I find so fascinating. Who would have thought that "creepy" is a great basis for peddling burgers??

Cows.
 
  • #25
Okay, what did they do - buy a blow up doll from a porn shop and change the make-up? That's just wrong!

This McDonald's ad from Austria is pretty strange, too.

http://www.gewista.at/upload/249803f7757f_2002baby_mcdonalds_an.jpg

http://www.gewista.at/relaunch/www/plakatwerbung.php?id=106&fid=227&show=vergroessern
 
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  • #26
BobG said:
Okay, what did they do - buy a blow up doll from a porn shop and change the make-up? That's just wrong!

This McDonald's ad from Austria is pretty strange, too.

http://www.gewista.at/upload/249803f7757f_2002baby_mcdonalds_an.jpg

http://www.gewista.at/relaunch/www/plakatwerbung.php?id=106&fid=227&show=vergroessern

Weird. Almost looks like the baby is nursing a sesame seed covered breast. Is McDonald's recommending their hamburgers for weaning?
 
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  • #27
The Baby ronald mcdonald video is certainly creepy, but I don't think it's an official video. It was made with MotionPortrait software from a single still image, and only required someone to dub the voice crackle sound over it (a sound I enjoy disturbing people with quite frequently). There aren't even McDonald's logos..
 
  • #28
junglebeast said:
The Baby ronald mcdonald video is certainly creepy, but I don't think it's an official video. It was made with MotionPortrait software from a single still image, and only required someone to dub the voice crackle sound over it (a sound I enjoy disturbing people with quite frequently). There aren't even McDonald's logos..

I think you're right - I bet someone saw the McDonalds picture ad and thought, "Hmmm.. I bet I could make this picture into a really freaky video". It's nice work!
 
  • #29
Math Is Hard said:
Weird. Almost looks like the baby is nursing a sesame seed covered breast. Is McDonald's recommending their hamburgers for weaning?
Have to wonder if it's a real ad, or a social criticism.
 
  • #30
zoobyshoe said:
Have to wonder if it's a real ad, or a social criticism.

It does look suspicious.