Inappropriate Television Channel in McDonald's PlayPlace

I think it's patently ridiculous to tell somebody their complaint
isn't valid because they should be home cooking their child a meal. I
take my children to fast food restaurants occasionally too, I pity the
child who can't have a hamburger even as a treat.

I think CNN is a little inappropriate for a play center. Maybe it is
for adults, but the topic that happened to be on at the time was not
ok. I woudl have asked that they change it too.

I both agree and disagree with you. Obviously if the TV was in the
DINING HALL they would put it on CNN as that is a popular channel and
its what most adults would want to watch. And as for kids watching it
in the dining hall, I don't think they would be watching TV. They
would be more absorbed in the greasy mass on a tray infront of them.

However, if the TV was actually IN the PlayPlace, then the adults
wouldn't be watching it so it should really be set to other programmes
such as Nickelodeon. But even in the PlayPlace, I doubt the children
would be watching the TV as they have a TV at home and have better
things to do anyway, such as discovering new found worlds in the giant
hamster tunells.

Someone probably complained about the Hamburglar too.


Good Day

I have a big problem with the fact that you feed your children
McDonald's on a regular basis. If you'd stayed home and cooked a
healthy meal you never would have had this problem. While you're
worried about the negative messages your son may or may not be picking
up from CNN, you're sending the message that eating unhealthy food is
really fun and a great family activity. I guarantee that will affect
him adversely in life.

I also agree with the person who said that it's YOUR responsibility to
decide what your kids watch, not a restaurant's. I personally think if
kids are old enough to pay attention to news they're old enough to
talk about the topics, but if you don't, that's okay! You're the
parent. Actually, I think it's your responsibility to watch, read, or
listen to ANY media your child is consuming.

When I first saw the title, I thought it was Playboy Channel or
something similar.

Goodness! It's just CNN, which is broadcast in airports, hotels,
waiting areas... News is pretty much universally appealing and a
channel that will satisfy most patrons.

Also, I think that the TV is for the parents to watch, unless it was
specifically integrated into the play area in an area for children to
view. If the TV was on the wall in the "dining" area, then I doubt
that kids will be watching it.

Secondly, you think that the child was being exposed to sex and
murder, but if your child is as sheltered as you make him sound, then
he most likely didn't comprehend what was happening, and if he did, I
doubt that his attention span would allow him to focus on CNN for too
long before his "break" was up and he was going to get back to the
giant hamster tubes.

Ok, putting aside my belief that CNN is a liberal propaganda machine,
If your child is playing on the equipment, is he/she even watching the
TV? I would think that having a news channel on to entertain adults is
reasonable. As for the kid friendly channel choices, if most parents
have to sit through hours of an annoying yellow sponge talking to a
retarded starfish on their TV at home, i would think the news at mcd's
would be a welcome change.

When I worked at McDonald's back in the day, there was a television
set in the lobby installed for a short period of time. Only the
manager could change the channel or the volume and the rules were
stringent. Only generic programming, such as sports could be
broadcast.

It was a nuisance. Customers demanding that the station be turned to
something more to their liking, that the volume be increased or
decreased and the vandals who tried to steal it were a constant
problem. It was finally removed and, to our delight, never returned.

Customers have such differing opinions on The Way Things Ought To Be
that finding a common television station that will please everyone -
even a child-friendly station - is nearly impossible. Restaurants
should stick to what they do best and just serve food.

Here's my read on this: McD's put in the TV's to give parents some
entertainment while their kids play. They set it to a popular channel
like CNN because they figure that will make the most people happy.
Obviously, it angered one mom. If you want to shield your young kids
from certain realties that IS your right as a parent, just don't
expect the rest of the world to walk around on egg shells to
accommodate you. Take your kids to Wendy's or BK....no TVs there at
least not the ones I've been in. Look, you can only shield your kids
from anything you want in your house but as soon as you leave the
front yard there is a limit on what you can expect to shield your kids
from. At some point you have to ask yourself if you are really
helping your kids by reacting to things like this in such a way. I'm
not saying open the flood gates, but your right to control content
your kids see ends when you leave your home. Simple as that.

All that said, I agree with the others that have said they should
probably just deep six the TV's altogether. People have such wildly
different opinions on what is and is not "appropriate" that inevitably
somebody is going to get upset. Why go there? People get pissed off
about enough ridiculous things in the service world, why add another?

this is a great letter and i agree with you wholeheartedly. i grew up
during the vietnam war era and my dad did not allow us to watch
television coverage of it. some people gave him grief for it, but he
believed childhood should be a magical time and kids shouldn't be
exposed to that. i didn't turn out to be some sort of weirdo because
my dad shielded us from certain unpleasantness. honestly, mcdonald's
should make sure the tv is on an appropriate channel. what probably
happened is that they did have it on a kids channel and some adult
customer changed it and employees didn't notice.

The mom in me completely agrees with you. I don't believe in shielding
my children from the harsh realities of life, but if I went to a
kid-oriented place such as a McDonald's with a PlayPlace, I would
expect the entertainment be more kid-friendly. I also would prefer
that **I** make the decision on what my child watches and at what age.
But I'm sure if they turned Nickolodean on, some parent would object
to that.

So perhaps your suggestion that they take out the TVs entirely is the
best one.

Then again, I'm thinking of all the other public places TVs are
located, particularly airports, where children can see. Do we start
removing those as well?

In general, I find public TVs to be a nuisance. Whatever happened to
reading and - gasp! - enjoying the downtime by thinking?

I completley agree with your letter.

TVs in public places are getting out of hand. When I am trying to
remove my daughter from the temptation of watching too much TV, I
often take her out. Going to McDonalds is a treat, that we should
both be able to enjoy without having the risk of having to explain to
my child what rape is.

It is our responsibility as parents to protect our children from the
evils running rampant in our society. I wouldn't want my 7 year old
watching age inappropraite news anymore than I would want her logging
on to Parez Hilton's website.

I personally would rather my daughter have the chance to be a innocent
child for as long as possible. Tough realities come soon enough in
life as it is. Why should McDonalds think they are the ones who have
the right to introduce those realities to my children? Shouldn't that
be MY decision as a parent?

That is the best suggestion in the entire letter.

Parents in the PlayPlace should be watching their children or doing
something that does take their attention completely away from their
children. Watching television usually causes people to tune out
everything else.

Children certainly should not be encouraged to watch television while
eating.

I really dont see an issue with this, but it may be because I am not a
mom.


I figure CNN is good for the parents to watch while the kids tear
around and do their thing.

I mean, I cannot imagine a huge amount of parents ONLY having
childrens programs on TV when the little ones are in the house.

How is it that you did not konw this before hand? Did you not sit
with your child in the playspace area as required? In the McDonals
that I take my grandaughter to, there is NO TV and there are tables in
that area (an enclosed room) that clearly states on the door before
going in that all children must be accmpanyied by a parent.

There are 2 large screen TVs in the main dinning room that do have
channels set to CNN/FOX news. I eat with my grandaughter in the
playarea and therefore the TV's dont bother me. And as a matter of
fact if they did not have the play area for her then I would be
sitting in the main dinning room. IF something came up that she did
not understand and questioned me about, then I would take the
opportunity to explain to her what was happening and why.

Parents we have to be proactive in protecting our children. We as
parents have to check to make sure that there are NO dangers, real or
imagined out there that might harm our children. If that means
getting up off our duffs to check to see what is on the TV EVERY TIME
you go into that resturant (or any other place for that matter) then
so be it...Its OUR responsiblity to make sure that our kids are safe,
not McDonalds.

I raised my kids. I did not ask others to do it for me or to make
sure that all was safe and tidy in thier worlds, that was my job as
thier mother.

I have two views on this...
First...television should only be on when doing other things like
eating, playing, etc. Never should it be on during meals nor when
having family time.

Second...news is what is happening out in the real world whether we
want to believe it or not. While its not good for a 7yr old to sit and
watch it constantly I am sure this small bit that your child saw did
not impact him...just confused him probably as it was a bit much to
handle.

I think having the televisions not available for the kids to see while
they are playing is best. Kids should focus on playing with the others
and the play equipment supplied.
And parents should be enjoying watching their kids play. They are not
kids very long after all.

Watching TV while you eat is a bad habit anyway. I agree that they
should do away with the TVs altogether.

I will probably be blasted for this, but I think that when a child is
old enough to start noticing & paying attention to the news, he or she
is old enough to know some of the things that go on in the world. I
hope we all teach our children, from a very early age, to beware of
strangers & I just don't see how you can teach that with any type of
impact without scaring them a bit. And those are the kinds of things
that are reported on the news. Most of the kids in the play area are
there to play. If your son had sat down with you & started to discuss
what was being shown on the television, then you might or might not
have a problem. If you weren't ready to discuss those topics with
him, altho' in my opinion 7 yrs old is old enough to hear some things
like that, then you as a parent can certainly choose to leave. But
CNN may not be offensive to all parents. We took prayer out of the
schools because it was offensive to some parents - not to the
majority, by an means. Where can we draw the line in trying to be
inoffensive? I too am very glad that I don't run a business in this
climate nor do I have to deal with the public on a daily basis in my
profession.

I agree with you that some topics on CNN might not be appropriate for
children. However, not all kids like Nickelodeon and there are those
who would argue that it is inappropriate - now do you feel their pain?
It was probably put there as a nice gesture to 'entertain' adults
while their children were playing and now that's become an issue. I
am so glad I don't have to deal with the public.

I agree completely. Not to sound flippant, but I'm offended with the
McDs in my neighborhood has the TVs set to FOX News (sigh). VERY loud,
no less (probably because of the large number of seniors who
congregate).

Anyway, you're completely right. I was born in 1968. The Viet Nam war
wasn't over until 1975 (if I remember correctly; I'm too tired and
buzzed on tequila to look it up). But I was oblivious to the fact that
we were at war. My parents made sure the TV news wasn't on when we
were up and about.

There comes an age where you can no longer shield children from life,
but 5, 7 years old is young. (I guess I'm just lucky that we had no
family member in the war, or I would have known all about it, I
suppose.)

Thank you for speaking up not just for your kid, but for others. I
know McDs didn't think anything about having a generic news station
on, but... I wouldn't want my young kid watching the news at all.

Good comment. TVs in public spaces should be set to the "intended
audences". In McD's, all TVs should be kid-friendly. I agree that CNN
is not appropriate for McDs.

I also agree that McD's could remove any televisions from the customer
areas. You never know what might be acceptable to any customer. No TV+
= no offense.

It must be so difficult to run a business these days.